tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post5531519198846789698..comments2023-11-19T17:31:49.939+00:00Comments on Bristling Badger: green party hydrogen response 1: caroline lucasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post-39693599346546872852009-03-13T15:27:00.000+00:002009-03-13T15:27:00.000+00:00Punkscience, At least they did refer you to the re...Punkscience, <BR/><BR/><I>At least they did refer you to the relevant point of contact</I><BR/><BR/>But there's no point in doing that if it's a dead-end fob-off.<BR/><BR/>It's now many months later and both Brian Heatley and Claude Turmes have ignored repeated polite emails.merrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959849087751101034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post-15629295704696910942008-09-10T15:18:00.000+01:002008-09-10T15:18:00.000+01:00Punkscience, you're right that having such a tiny ...Punkscience, you're right that having such a tiny number of people responsible for such a wide range of policies can only lead to ill-informed judgement.<BR/><BR/>However, I don't think I'm guilty of expecting too much of Lucas. If someone's there advocating a policy, they should be keeping their ears open in case their supporting information is wrong.<BR/><BR/>If someone comes up with credible reasons why a policy won't achieve its stated goal and in fact will do the opposite, they are duty-bound to stop and take a look. If the new information is true, they should act on it.<BR/><BR/>As opposed to hiding behind 'I'm not an expert, so I'll just advocate what someone told me to even if it's wrong'.<BR/><BR/>To do anything else is to abdicate responsibility and thereby undermine the whole point of being in that political position in the first place.merrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959849087751101034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post-38866589835760226232008-09-10T00:04:00.000+01:002008-09-10T00:04:00.000+01:00You're bang on with the analysis but I think you e...You're bang on with the analysis but I think you expect too much from an MP. The modern world is incredibly complex and no-one can begin to comprehend every aspect of our civilisation. This isn't the fault of the MPs- its one of the many problems of our democracy. With respect to nation- and global-level policies your only accountable point of contact is still your local MP. This is why electoral reform is the most important policy the Green Party push (because they are a small party and would benefit). At least they did refer you to the relevant point of contact- my Labour MP- Alison Seabeck- is simply pathetic (she's a whip now) and still tries to defend the Iraqi genocide and Labour's apocalyptic energy policy in our exchanges. Please do pass your comments on to Brian Heatley and the policy committee. Every voice helps. <BR/><BR/>Word.punksciencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post-72207410824761595382008-09-09T17:44:00.000+01:002008-09-09T17:44:00.000+01:00G, I completely agree that it's a far better respo...G, I completely agree that it's a far better response than I'd expect from any other party, and that the reply isn't a cut-n-paste. <BR/><BR/>however, it does defend hydrogen using arguments I'd rubbished in what I'd sent to them.<BR/><BR/>Also, it's not that I'm disagreeing with the statement that Lucas is an expert on hydrogen, nor am I expecting her to be. My point is that she doesn't need to be an expert to oppose hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.<BR/><BR/>I am no expert either yet it's pretty clear to me. More, the report on the hydrogen bus trial that the Greens supported is very clear that hydrogen's worse than diesel.<BR/><BR/>It's a really clear case, except for the 'but it could be from electrolysis from renewable electricity' argument. That, though, it clearly taken apart in less than a minute, and I did so, twice.<BR/><BR/>Thus, there's no reason for them to still support it. Now, I hope it's that there not going to just take the word of one unsolicited amateur about it and they're looking into and may change policy. <BR/><BR/>However, the lack of any reply from the two people i was passed on to (and the distinct between the lines impression that Lucas never saw any of this) makes me doubtful.<BR/><BR/>Or am I still being too half empty?merrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959849087751101034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441439.post-67510431345443147552008-09-09T11:13:00.000+01:002008-09-09T11:13:00.000+01:00To be honest, I think you got a good reply, clearl...To be honest, I think you got a good reply, clearly not a pro forma, and they are passing your input to the party's policy committee and gave you a specific contact name there. That is actually quite something - would you get that from any other party? I think it is perfectly fair for them to say that CL is not an expert on the technical aspects of hydrogen transport - not many people are, and you shouldn't expect her to be. I think you need to be a bit more glass-half-full about the response you got.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com