Horner's Corner

Fast Tube by Casper">September

September

The garden is in mourning.
Cool falls the rain upon the
flowers.
Summer shudders, quietly
to its end.

Leaf after golden leaf drops
down from the high acacia tree.
Summer smiles, surprised and weary
upon the dying dream of this garden.

Yet still it lingers by the roses,
longing for rest.
Then slowly closes its great
weary eyes.

(Hesse)

The Tories are planning to slash public spending – but they have no plans to seriously inconvenience the rich.

Here are a few points that ought to be made:

1. Taxpayers contribute 10 times more in pension tax relief to the richest 1% of earners than the state pays to all retired public servants. (Source: Office of National Statistics). If all higher rate income tax pension subsidies were to be abolished it would save 6bn – which is far more than public pensions cost.

2. Tax: if we really want to pay off debts then taxing those best able to pay would be a good idea.

* Capital gains on private homes would yield £3bn.

* 1% on National Insurance would raise 10bn.

* Abolishing tax relief on savings and investments (mainly benefits the rich) would raise 3bn.

* Banks have tripled the profit they made on last year’s mortages. Can we have some of that back?

This is without even considering Inheritance Tax or Trident missiles. But they should be considered, urgently.

3. A recent YouGov poll for Compass has found:

* 73% would support a new tax on bonuses over £10,000

* 63% support setting up a High Pay Commission.

Meanwhile the right want to cut deep into the NHS, Education, Local Authorities, and schemes like Sure Start.

If the Labour won’t make the case, then we have to do it – spread the word.

More on this at : Compass

and at

Cameron’s basic error will cost this country dearly | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian.

The Wheel

Through winter-time we call on spring,
And through the spring on summer call,
And when abounding hedges ring
Declare that winter’s best of all;
And after that there s nothing good
Because the spring-time has not come –
Nor know that what disturbs our blood
Is but its longing for the tomb.

Fast Tube by Casper">September Song – Walter Huston

The Horner Theory of the Months – Revisited

This is the month that in some ways makes me most uneasy. It’s the ‘bridge’ month between Summer and Autumn – it has a dying fall – the equivalent of the month of March, which takes us out of winter into Spring.

Not Summer anymore, dying into the colder weather and longer nights, without Summer’s luxury or Autumn’s beauty. Ah well – at least we’re not shepherding sheep on a windy hillside. Avoid all work that involves heavy lifting or being outside in all weathers.

Westerne wind bloweth sore,

That nowe is in his chiefe souereigntee,

Beating the withered leafe from the tree.

Sitte we downe here under the hill:

Tho may we talke, and tellen our fill,

And make a mocke at the blustring blast.

Now say on Diggon, what euer thou hast.