Pardon the period of exile. This humble blogger has been extremely busy with other personal projects. So, forgive me, I've neglected this blog quite a lot. But, this is significant platform for discussing local issues in Kent – especially those which effect you and I.

After careful consideration, I will be starting a guest feature for this blog. Rules are simple;

1. Must be a resident of Kent.

2. Guest posts needs to be relevant to the nature of this blog (.i.e politics)

3. In line with the blogging T&C's of KentOnline.

4. Needs to be appealing.

5. Word length between 500 – 800 max.

If you would like the opportunity, please e-mail me (daniel at gmail.com)

“Boris Island”, or the construction of an airport in the Thames Estuary, is the most controversial design in history – apart from Emperor's Palpatine's Death Star. As we can see (from the image I've included) the whole design is deeply flawed and a logistical nightmare. I cannot fathom the words to describe the idea of the terminals located on land and, yet, the runways to be stationed at sea.

I foresee transportation problems, especially when we experience bad weather. And planes might be rather sophisticated machines -ability to operate unaided- but I admire the pilots navigating towards two tiny runaways in the Thames Estuary. In fact, the tiny “ditch” in the Estuary reminds me of the Death Star. Which lead to the inevitable destruction of the space station....His Greatness, the Mayor of London, has perpetuated the environmental benefits towards this devilish scheme – including a potential flood barrier. Yes, that is correct. An airport substituting as a flood barrier. The word “fear” comes to mind....

When this revelation made its début and gleefully graced my presence, I did study the economic argument at great lengths. Kent does require significant upgrades to infrastructures and investment, too. An airport would provide jobs to the economy, including an influx of tourist to sections of Kent. But, after careful meditation on the matter, this airport is a very bad idea – and the majority of Kent agree.

Boris metamorphose into Lex Luthor is quite hilarious, yet alarming too. Both envision bizarre and ludicrous concepts; with a passionate thirst for world domination and terrorising cities in their spare time. Leaving facetious comparisons aside, a message to Boris: politicians don't make good architects

(Below, the "Design". Credit to London Evening Standard)

KCC would have known many months ago that its proposals for a shake-up of its remaining care homes would touch a raw nerve, which is one of the reasons it embarked on such a lengthy consultation and took pains to hold countless public meetings.

Care homes inevitably have an emotional resonance for families and the upheaval involved in closing homes can trigger great anxiety. No-one could accuse social services chiefs of being either insensitive or unaware of these feelings but at the end of the day, it has opted to make no changes at all to the original proposals, which will unfortunately and probably unfairly make it look rather cavalier.

Where the authority has perhaps been a little disingenuous is in its argument that this is not about money.

It is, for the very simple reason that the costs of providing in-house care far outstrip the costs of buying care in the independent sector. This was reinforced at a cabinet meeting this week, when in a presentation about the proposals, an officer made the point that KCC's costs were double what it would need to pay in the private sector.

Furthermore, KCC has always made it plain that it doesn't have the cash to do up the homes it runs to the standards it wants - again, a money related motivation.

And in a press statement about the decision issued today, the council makes much of the fact that its decision for Bowles Lodge at Hawkhurst, Cornfields at Dover and Manorbrooke at Dartford will see a £70m investment by using the sites for extra care housing schemes, built in partnership with district councils.

That's £70m that with the best will in the world, even the most prudent county council would never be able to lay its hands on.

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I was among the hundreds of people who suffered the consequences of the latest fiasco on Southeastern rail services yesterday as I struggled to get to London.

So, too was Private Eye editor Ian Hislop who joined the train at Staplehurst at the very moment that an announcement was made that it was stuck in a growing queue behind a broken down freight train and was not going anywhere at any time soon. Even though the breakdown happened at 7.30am no-one had the foresight to alert Ashford station.

There was much derision from angry passengers when a guard appeared and said the train was to have been diverted via the Maidstone line but the driver "did not have a licence" for that particular line - a very novel excuse.

The surreal nature of events took another twist when we all trooped over to the other side of the line to return to Ashford to get a fast train to London. Having been told that the London-bound train was not going anywhere, guess what it did a few minutes later? Yes, move off in the direction of London...

Apologise for the lack of activity, one has been deeply busy with Christmas shopping and endless amounts of baking. But still, the political narrative of localism continues today. Eric Pickles march against town halls moves a step forward with the Localism Bill. The bill contains the following;

Give councils a general power of competence

• Give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue and the power to veto excessive council tax increases

• Grant greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups

• Return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils and communities

• Abolish Regional Spatial Strategies

• Give communities the right to bid to take over local state-run services

• Require public bodies to publish online the job titles of every member of staff and the salaries and expenses of senior officials

• Create Local Enterprise Partnerships (to replace Regional Development Agencies)

• Review the Housing Revenue Account

At first glance this is quite positive and reflective of the current anti-big government sentiment in this country. However, there is one potential problem with the local referendums – especially if we highlight the plight of California.

In this American state, referendums occur on a near religious basis – most notably on tax issues. The deficit problem of California, which it cannot contain (much worse than Greece), is due to numerous campaigns to reverse the power of taxation. In other words, local referendums denied the state government to generate the income it needed. California had no choice but to keep borrowing in order to finance the services.

Populism might ran havoc against city hall and the taxpayer might have to end up bailing out counties instead.

I feel (as a blogger) I need to comment on the wikileak saga and the rise of Julian Assange. Let us for a moment forget the revelations and the content and just focus on the disturbing nature of this event. It will have major implications for freedom of the press and the blogosphere.

Imagine if an individual e-mailed me information regarding our council and involvement in a corruption scandal, with me then leaking the content on this blog. How would my readers, fellow bloggers at KentOnline and Kent residents react if I was compared to a “terrorist” for presenting the truth of how the country is really run? I foresee protests and demonstrations, if that ever happen. Julian Assange is a whistle-blower – which is legally protected under international law.

Assange only crime is showing the world how government truly operates – he is victim for speaking the truth and being brutal honest with people. Publicly we are told war is justified and winnable, but in private, the same politicians think the complete opposite. The ambivalence towards policy is frighting by diplomats – the hubris of governments is even more astonishing. And the Orwellian “criminal” operation against him should highlight to all what happens if the State becomes malevolent towards individuals.

If this blog was based in America, this post would be flagged by the Department of Homeland Security and my name will be on a watch list. Just for simply discussing wikileaks. Even though I never perpetrated a crime or considered such acts, I would be guilty for simply reading or expressing an opinion on it. Ladies and gentlemen, that is thought crime. Officials in the US have already brought bills forward to restrict websites, such as wikileaks, and told students not to discuss it on social networking sites. If they do, you can forget about a career with the Federal government. Also, White House officials will find wikileaks and any site related to the content blocked from web access.

You might be thinking, what on Earth does this have to do with Kent? There is an element of truth that this might be irrelevant for some, but I passionately believe in the freedom of speech. You have a sovereign right and moral duty to question everything the government does in your name. If you don't, it literally can get away with murder. As Orwell passionately said;

In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.

With the move towards violence and quasi Marxist revolutionary ideas (not to mention the bizarre anarchists who demand state funding education), I have to ask;

Why should the majority of the country-who never went to university-pay to support those who do?

After all, I had to finance my education.

Oh the joys of election day, that wonderful moment in which we get to hold our officials to account. Democracy is a wonderful, beautiful and the most significant form of government known to man – true reflection of a civilised society.

But what about those who violate and betray the trust? The criminals, and those who are -more importantly- removed from society and isolated in prisons. Should this group cast a ballot?

Answer: No.

You betray the trust of the wider society then you must be punished. This includes exclusions to participate in the functioning of government and society. Voting is not a human right, but a democratic one – you cannot guarantee an open and free election in a prison. Voting is not a birth rate, there are requirements before you are entitled to it

But, more importantly, this is a moral issue. Victims uphold the decency and moral right for their antagonist to be held accountable. Including facing strict punishment, if necessary. The decision by the European Court of Human Rights signals another decline in the criminal justice system within Europe. The victim is now the little guy, with the criminal regard more important in the eyes of the law.

Save Sampson Court protest walk from the Castle through town to Deal Town Hall, by TERRY SCOTT.

The greatest act of heroism is to serve one's nation. In the 20^th Century we saw two brutal conflicts, that resulted in the deaths of millions but the Second World War was a conflict between good and evil. Liberty versus repression and it was vital for the free world to be victorious against the Nazi war machine and the military state of Japan.

Our modern world is, tragically, built on the graves of those who risked everything for us to live and strive in a better tomorrow. They fought for us.

It is immoral, repugnant and a damn right insult for Tesco to forbade a widow from selling poppies outside one its stores. I grant them, the injustice has been corrected but this gross violation should have never taken place.

And please, do not get me started on the health and safety reasoning for the rejection of her request.

May be this story depicts and represents an ugly side of a selfish Britain, which refuses to acknowledge the sacrifices of war hears and rather glorify violence, sex and deviant behaviour.

When it comes to the act of wasting money, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is now among the elite. After months of scandals surrounding Members of Parliament and some facing criminal prosecution we find out our councils are far from saints.

The grand council chiefs decided to borrow £20 million from government to purchase the towns land registry office. Every six months, £1 million interest is due. A reasonable idea, it protects the jobs at the office. However, one problem. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council failed to purchase the property – the money is still in the account.

From my own conclusion, correct me if I am wrong, but one cannot see any plans to actually purchase the office. So, a loan has been acquired for no real reason.

The interest rate is 2.38% over 10 years.

Taxpayers are paying £1,000 in interest a day on a loan that was never used. Simply priceless.