I'm really copying the mostly well attended 'Ask Andy' meetings that Mayor Andy Street holds around the West Midlands. I'm trying to whip up more interest in politics and what our politicians and their professional officers and experts are doing in the region. In particular, I would like church goers, atheists and agnostics to think about the morality of what is being done in our name - whether it is £1.38 billion to 2026 of WM Metro trams to replace buses and trains, the over £2 billion for the 87 Kms Western Orbital Motorway, the £55.7 billion for HS2, the £3 billion of arm sales to Saudi Arabia in the first 18 months of the Yemen civil war (CAAT). £7 billion for two sitting duck aircraft carriers that now need more billions for a flotilla of warships to protect them when out at sea and, £100 billion to replace Trident WMD. YET, a struggling, a poorly endowed in some areas NHS with some shortages, growing homelessness but large homes being built for the well heeled. AND, the more we spend the less we have and the more damage we do to our life support systems.
Our three speakers are well worth hearing. Mark Dowd, in particular, is a most articulate, engaging, well thought of public speaker who is always goes down like a bomb with audiences (non violent bomb, of course). He is on our side - the side of the poor, the disadvantaged and vulnerable and, on the side of the climate. He will be the grand finale to the meeting. I, personally would welcome good natured, humorous heckling and other contributions from the floor.
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