Caitlin Moran (2010 columnist of the year) had an interesting piece in The Times at the weekend. It’s about tradition and mentions the Duke of Westminster (traditionally not paying inheritance tax on his late father’s estate worth £9bn – it’s a tradition, you know, for the very rich not to pay much in taxes).
I think Caitlin would like this post, the story of which I have used in countless talks on the subject of driven grouse shooting. In fact, I have a much smoother version in my talks!
That was last year – this year we have zoomed past 100,000 signatures and are on 118,000+ signatures and heading for a debate in parliament on why driven grouse shooting, traditional though it is, should be banned. You, and Caitlin Moran, can sign up until 20 September and add to the call for reason to replace unreasonableness, wildlife crime and damage to ecosystems – traditional though they are.
[registration_form]
Wasn’t there one where children were sent up chimneys and into the mines?
Nostalgia masquerading as tradition which we must continue ad nauseum has, IMHO, no place in a modern society. Not paying due taxes, especially in such situations is alongside allowing voluntary codes of practice? Failure to address the utter contempt displayed by the ‘few bad apples’ across various ‘topics’ requires regulation to sort, and a robust government willing and prepared to face up to delivering for the many not just the few?
Our “dear leaders” still traditionally send their children to boarding school at too young an age too. Giving them a sense of entitlement to cover up the damage done and us the sort of wounded leaders that enjoy such things as killing wildlife for fun and having jolly japes over Brexit votes.
Tradition simply means people have been doing the wrong thing for way too lonh.