Ex-Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair Slams Labour For 'Playing With Fire'. In Attack On Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer And His Rivals

What has Sir Tony Blair said?

Former Labour PM Sir Tony Blair has accused Sir Keir Starmer's government of

having no plan and risking losing the next election without change.

So, what did Blair say?

- Labour lacks a "coherent plan" and is in "the wrong political position from which we can devise one and win a second term"

- The party should enact policies including removing obstacles to business growth, cheaper energy and electrification, welfare reform, action on immigration, a reindustrialisation strategy, and a drive on skills and training in the age of Al

- Labour is governing in its "soft left ... comfort zone", and in the last budget increased "tax to pay for additional welfare spending, when the public already thinks welfare bills are too high"

- Changes such as new workers' rights laws, phasing out oil and gas, and raising the minimum wage faster than inflation have given "headwinds not tailwinds to British business"

- Labour lacks a defining purpose, saying that governments that succeed don't start with a "political question - how do we 'save the country' from Reform UK? They start with an idea, a project, a governing purpose, an analysis of what is wrong and a plan to put it right"

- Neither do they succeed when they start with a "personality contest", and that "trying to force the prime minister out before we know what policy direction we're bringing in, is not a serious way of conducting ourselves"

- Europe needs to "wake up" to the "home truths" it is being told by America, and "needs to build economic competitivity and military capability"

- Rejoining the EU is not the answer to the UK's problems

- Labour needs a "reimagined state in which taxes and spending can be lower, productivity higher and government seen as enabling not directing"

Full Text from Sir Tony Blair

the Hartz Reforms (Hartz-Reformen) - Germany Reform in 2003

In 2003, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder announced a massive, controversial package of economic and labor market reforms known as the Hartz Reforms (Hartz-Reformen).

At the time, Germany was widely referred to as the "Sick Man of Europe" (Der kranke Mann Europas). The country was suffering from economic stagnation, rigid labor laws, and a staggering unemployment rate that peaked at over 11% (around 5 million people).

The Hartz reforms radically altered the German welfare state, shifting it from a system that comfortably supported the unemployed to one that aggressively pushed them back into the workforce.

Gerhard Schröder presenting Agenda 2010. Source: German History Intersections

The Origin: Agenda 2010 and Peter Hartz

The reforms were part of a broader socio-economic program called Agenda 2010, which Schröder officially introduced to the Bundestag (German parliament) on March 14, 2003.

To design the labor aspect, Schröder appointed a committee led by Peter Hartz, the Chief Human Resources Officer of Volkswagen. The committee proposed a four-stage plan implemented between 2003 and 2005.

The guiding philosophy of the reforms was "Fördern und Fordern"—which translates to "Support and Demand." While the state would help you find a job, it would heavily penalize you if you refused to take one.

The Four Stages of the Hartz Reforms

The reforms were rolled out sequentially, completely restructuring the Federal Employment Agency and redefining unemployment benefits.

Hartz I & II (Implemented 2003)

• Staffing Agencies: Created "Personnel Service Agencies" (Personal-Service-Agenturen) to act as temporary employment agencies helping the jobless ease back into full-time work.

• "Mini-Jobs" & "Midi-Jobs": Introduced low-wage, tax-free or low-tax part-time jobs (initially capped at €400/month) to encourage the growth of the service sector.

• Ich-AG (Me, Inc.): Offered financial grants to encourage unemployed individuals to start their own micro-businesses.

Hartz III (Implemented 2004)

• Overhauling the Bureaucracy: Restructured the massive, inefficient Federal Employment Office into a consumer-focused, streamlined "Federal Employment Agency" (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Job centers were redesigned to act more like recruitment firms.

Hartz IV (Implemented Jan 2005) — The Flashpoint

This was by far the most consequential and fiercely hated part of the package. It completely merged two separate long-term state programs: Unemployment Benefit (Arbeitslosenhilfe) and Social Welfare (Sozialhilfe).

• Drastic Cuts: Before Hartz IV, long-term unemployed people could receive up to 60% of their last salary almost indefinitely. Hartz IV cut the duration of these earnings-related benefits to just 12 months (for most adults).

• The Flat Rate: After 12 months, if you still didn't have a job, you were dropped down to a bare-minimum flat rate—originally around €345 per month plus basic housing costs.

• Means Testing: To qualify for this basic allowance, you had to completely deplete your personal savings and assets first. Furthermore, job centers could cut your benefits if you rejected a valid job offer, regardless of whether it matched your career background.

The Fallout: Protests and Political Suicide

While economists debated the math, the social reaction was swift and furious. Millions of Germans viewed Hartz IV as an aggressive dismantlement of their beloved post-war social safety net.

Weekly protests against Hartz IV across Germany. Source: Wikipedia

• Monday Demonstrations: Echoing the famous 1989 protests that brought down the Berlin Wall, hundreds of thousands of people marched every Monday, particularly in East Germany where unemployment was highest.

• Political Realignment: Schröder belonged to the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). By squeezing the working class, he deeply alienated his own political base and fractured his party. A leftist faction split off from the SPD and eventually merged with former communists to form Die Linke (The Left party).

• Schröder's Downfall: Plagued by plunging approval ratings and defeats in regional elections, Schröder called a snap federal election in late 2005. He narrowly lost to Angela Merkel, ending his chancellorship.

The Legacy: Economic Miracle or Social Divide?

The verdict on the Hartz reforms remains one of the most polarizing topics in modern European history.

The Success Arguments (Economic)	The Criticisms (Social)
The "German Economic Miracle": By the late 2000s, Germany's unemployment plummeted, and its economy became the powerhouse of the Eurozone.	The Low-Wage Sector: The reforms created a massive sub-class of working poor who relied on "Mini-Jobs" and temporary contracts without long-term security.
Global Competitiveness: Lower labor costs made German exports incredibly competitive on the world stage.	Stigma and Inequality: "Hartz IV" entered the German vocabulary as a derogatory slang term synonymous with systemic poverty and bureaucracy.
Merkel's Foundation: Many historians argue that Angela Merkel's stable, prosperous 16-year tenure was entirely built on the tough economic foundation Schröder laid down.	Deepened Wealth Gap: Critics argue it permanently chipped away at middle-class financial security and fueled the rise of populist politics.

Ultimately, the political ghost of Hartz IV lingered for nearly two decades until the German government officially abolished the name in January 2023, replacing the controversial system with a less punitive program called Bürgergeld (Citizen's Allowance).

台灣真的需要 "獨立" 嗎?

中華民國沒滅亡，中華民國在台灣 (事實)

中華民國建國於1912，中華人民共和國建國於1949 (事實)

中華人民共和國的領土是從中華民國手上奪得 (事實)

那麼邏輯告訴我，

中華民國 是不可能從 中華人民共和國 "獨立" 出去的

因為中華民國 建國 早於 中華人民共和國
而且中華民國本身就是一個國家
是 中華人民共和國 從 中華民國"分裂"出來

Taiwan is a country? Yes, it is!

中華人民共和國外交部

開羅宣言 (22-26/11/1943)

1943年11月22日至26日，中國、美國和英國三國政府首長在埃及首都開羅舉行會議，簽署了《開羅宣言》，並於12月1日公佈。全文如下：

羅斯福總統、蔣委員長、邱吉爾首相偕同各該國軍事與外交顧問人員，在北非舉行會議，業已完畢，茲發表概括之聲明如下：

三國軍事方面人員關於今後對日作戰計劃，已獲得一致意見，我三大盟國決心以不鬆弛之壓力從海陸空各方面加諸殘暴之敵人，此項壓力已經在增長之中。

我三大盟國此次進行戰爭之目的，在於制止及懲罰日本之侵略，三國決不為自己圖利，亦無拓展領土之意思。

三國之宗旨，在剝奪日本自從一九一四年第一次世界大戰開始後在太平洋上所奪得或占領之一切島嶼；在使日本所竊取於中國之領土，例如東北四省、台灣、澎湖群島等，歸還中華民國；其他日本以武力或貪欲所攫取之土地，亦務將日本驅逐出境；我三大盟國稔知朝鮮人民所受之奴隸待遇，決定在相當時期，使朝鮮自由與獨立。

根據以上所認定之各項目標，並與其他對日作戰之聯合國目標相一致，我三大盟國將堅忍進行其重大而長期之戰爭，以獲得日本之無條件投降。

波茨坦公告 (26/07/1945)

（一）餘等美國總統、中國國民政府主席及英國首相，代表餘等億萬國民，業經會商並同意對日本提出勸告，予以一機會以向三國無條件投降，免日本全體人民遭受戰爭之慘。

（二）三國陸海空部隊已增強多倍，其由西方調來之軍隊及空軍即將予日本以最後之打擊。彼等之武力受所有聯合國之決心之支持，對日本全面作戰，不至其停止抵抗不止。

（三）德國無效果及無意識抵抗全世界自由人民之力量所得之結果彰彰在前，可為日本人民之殷鑑。此種力量，當其對付抵抗納粹時，不得不將德國人民全體之土地工業及其生活方式摧殘。但現在集中對付日本之力量則較之為龐大不可衡量，吾等之軍力加以吾人之堅決意志為後盾，若予以全部使用，必將使日本軍隊完全毀滅，無可逃避，而日本之本土亦終必全部殘毀。

（四）時機業已到來，日本必須決定一途：其將繼續受其一意孤行計算錯誤而將日本帝國陷於完全毀滅之境之軍人統制？抑或走向理性之路？

（五）以下為吾人之條件，吾人決不許更改，亦無其他另一方式。猶豫遷延，更為吾人所不容許。

（六）欺騙及錯誤領導日本人民使其妄欲征服世界者之權威及勢力必須永久剷除，蓋吾人堅持非將負責之窮兵黷武主義驅出世界，則和平安全及正義之新秩序勢不可能建立。

（七）直至如此之新秩序成立時，及直到日本製造戰爭之力量業已毀滅而有確實可信之證據時，日本領土須經盟國之軍隊予以佔領，俾吾人在此陳述之基本目的得以完成。

（八）開羅宣言之條件必將實施，而日本之主權必將限於本州、北海道、九州、四國及吾人所決定其可以領有之小島在內。

（九）日本軍隊在完全解除武裝以後，將被允許其返鄉，得以和平從事生產生活之機會。

（十）吾人無意奴役日本民族或消滅其國家，但對於戰罪人犯（包括虐待吾人俘虜者在內）將處以法律之裁判。日本政府必須將阻止日本人民民主趨勢之復興及增強之所有障礙予以消除，言論宗教及思想自由以及對於基本人權之重視必須成立。

（十一）日本將被許維持其經濟所必需及可以償付賠款所需要之工業，但可以使其重新武裝作戰之工業不在其內。為此目的，可準其取得原料（別於統制原料）日本最後參加國際貿易關係當可準許。

（十二）上述目的達到時，日本得依人民自由表示之意誌成立一保障和平及負責之政府，屆時三國佔領之軍隊即撤退。

（十三）吾人勸告日本政府立即宣布所有日本武裝部隊無條件投降，並對此種行動誠意實行予以適當之各項保證。除此一途，日本即將迅速完全毀滅。

日本投降條款（摘錄）（2/9/1945）

我們奉日本皇帝、日本政府與日本帝國大本營之命並代表他們茲接受中美英三國共同簽署的、後來又有蘇聯參加的1945年7月26日的波茨坦公告中的條款，該四國嗣後即稱為盟國。

我們茲為日本皇帝、日本政府與他們的繼任者承擔忠誠履行波茨坦公告各項規定之義務，並發布盟國最高統帥或盟國為執行該公告而指派之任何其他代表所要求之任何種命令與採取其所要求之任何種行動。

=================
既然中華民國尤在台灣沒有被消滅，台灣主權就是在中華民國手裡。
有別於中國大陸在中華人民共和國手裡，因此台灣是一個國家是有歷史依據，它叫中華民國。

小學作文唔畀寫「雪糕」？老師圈錯改「冰淇淋」港媽大控訴：香港只有雪糕車 掀網民總動員考證｜Juicy叮 來源網址 : 小學作文唔畀寫雪糕老師圈錯改冰淇淋港媽大控訴香港只有雪糕車-掀網民總動員考證Juicy叮

 小學作文唔畀寫「雪糕」？老師圈錯改「冰淇淋」港媽大控訴：香港只有雪糕車 掀網民總動員考證｜Juicy叮

有港媽昨日（14日）在社交平台發帖，為讀小學的孩子抱不平，其小朋友的作文功課，寫「雪糕」兩字被老師用紅筆圈起，並在上方寫上「冰淇淋」作更正，老師「改錯」行為令她非常困惑：「點解中文作文唔可以寫雪糕？要寫冰淇淋？」

帖文發布不足一天已掀起極大迴響，錄得逾36萬次瀏覽及1.1萬個點讚，逾千名網民湧入留言區，掀起一場關於「雪糕」與「冰淇淋」的用語大戰。

來源網址 : 星島頭條

https://www.stheadline.com/local-topics/3552946/

女人很麻煩 - 彭秀慧

在男人心中,女人是喜歡吃醋、超敏感的動物,總之麻煩。」這番話,是一個已婚男士對我說的。

我有很多不同的朋友圈,當中也有一些已經結婚,或者已經有女友的男生,他們從來不會讓另一半曝光,話題中也鮮有提及自己的感情關係,偶然真的被問起,他們都不約而同一樣反應:「我女人唔鐘意我成日同你哋玩。」「每次她知道我約了你們,她就會大發脾氣。」「為免再吵架,下次乾脆不告訴她。」

有一次鬧得大了,約法三章,以後我見你們,她不聞不問,每次我回家她靜默,我不作聲,第二天就沒有事的了。」「為甚麼我不可以有自己的圈子?其實這麼大班朋友,我光明正大,她要吃甚麼醋?」

我總會建議這些男生:「把她介紹給我們認識吧,或至少介紹我們給她認識,讓她知道你的朋友其實很可愛!」很多猜忌,都是由疑團開始,從好奇到疑心到幻想,有了誤會,就會發狂,最後指罵。因為在女人心中,以為男人都是狡猾的動物,她們可能不知道,更多男人是怕麻煩的動物。這些互相的不明白,締造了男女間一條條的鴻溝。

我試過真的邀請她加入聚會,結果她出席,但黑面!」那是因為她心裹早對你這班朋友分了敵我,有所芥蒂,一時間要融入你們一起嘻嘻哈哈,應對自如,除非她本身是做公關吧。見面前多點提及你朋友的性格和小故事,讓她對大夥兒都有基本認識,打了個底,就像公關做定功課,當她認識了你的朋友,感興趣的話她自然會和你一樣喜歡他們,不感興趣的話,即使你邀請她出席她可能會說:「你自己去啦!」那就大家也安心了。

有些女人的確喜歡吃醋,又是超敏感的動物,不過更多的女人其實是脆弱,加少少八卦的動物,是有點麻煩,但最緊要是,你光明正大。 

愛情感恩大使 - 朱佩君

好多女讀者回應,說她們不介意放工後帶着疲憊身軀為深愛的人煮一頓晚飯,但遺憾是很多時候另一半的反應都讓她們失望:

一、應份,吃慣了,就像吃母親煮的飯一樣,好不好味、菜式是否有新意都不在意,反正吃得飽便好,甚至連一聲感謝都沒有,令女友好失望;

二、男友像變身為八級鋼琴高手般,左彈右彈,若不,就是廚神上身,對於女友的烹飪方式指指點點,諸多批評,令女友極之無癮。這令很多原本想花心思盡顯女性賢淑一面的女友覺得灰心。

與其在廚房忙完一輪後不被欣賞,那不如到外面吃好了,反正又不是「前世未做過」。說到尾,愛情就是需要互動的一件事,當對方付出了,便想得到你的回應。像女友悉心為你煮一頓晚飯,女友想要的就是男友一聲讚賞及感激。

要緊記,儘管女友本身廚藝精湛,你也不要忘記她不是「奉旨」煮給你吃,感恩之心不能少;如女友不會入廚,但為了男友而學煮飯,也請緊記鼓勵說話不能少。要知道為對方做一件事,就是想對方快樂,若你表現一副不領情或「頂硬上」的表情,甚至像食家般批評對方的心思,對方怎會再有心機為你做任何事呢?

儘管我們都長大了,但其實心底還是一個小朋友,時常渴望得到對方稱讚。男友們要學習讚賞女友為你煮一頓飯而在廚房流了一身汗一臉油;女友也要感激男友不管好吃與否都吃光光,飯後還幫忙收拾洗碗。當兩人間不管做甚麼事都帶感激對方、讚美對方之心時,兩人相處才能保持互相尊重。今天起,我們化身成為愛情的感恩大使,感激對方樂意為自己付出。

www.facebook.com/olaforada

老公 - 林二汶

什麼人值得嫁?雖然題目叫「老公」,但「老公」只是一種身份,是家庭關係的部分。這個人要具備的條件,首當其衝的,一定是他能夠給你時間。

假如一個人對你好,但他從來不願意給你足夠的時間跟你相處,無論他口說對你多好,那都不是真的好。時間,不以長短計,一個待在你身邊,但其實不花一秒跟你溝通的人,他也不算給了你時間。只要一個人願意花時間跟你有質素地相處與溝通,就算那只是一星期一天的時間也可以是足夠。肯為你花時間,遠勝肯為你花錢。時間是屬於他生命的,每一秒他為你付出的時間·都是燃燒他的生命,一付出就收不回來了,但錢不是,錢花了還可以再賺。從一個人願意為你花的時間,你看到你在他心中的地位是什麼。

第二個條件,是他要夠成熟。成熟不等於知天下事,成熟是對自己和對你的感受懂得細心處理。當一個人懂得照顧別人感受,或者,起碼有其他人在心中眼中,就算他還年輕,這個也是成熟的表現。只要這個人不是目中無人,他就有條件慢慢學習變成一個更好的人,只要他在做人方面會一直進步,你們的關係才有條件慢慢變化和長大。

最後一樣最重要的條件是,他是你最好的朋友。愛侶關係當中假如沒有友誼,關係就沒有核心,除下一切愛慾與期望,剩下的一定要是深刻的友誼。

老公,不代表經濟依靠,不代表一紙婚書的一半,他是你們世界中的一半,是一個戰友,也是一個老友。 

時間的錯 - 彭秀慧

兩個人，遇上了，百分百投契，互相傾慕，卻沒有走在一起，只因雙方早有所屬，結果拖拖拉拉，兩人肝腸寸斷，那是甚麼?他們說，是時間的錯。一個說如果兩個人早點遇上，另一個說如果早點知道對方心意，也許兩個人可以開花結果。

另外兩個人，遇上了，一個百分百傾慕，另一邊愛理不理，兩個人就在一起與否之間拖拖拉拉，一個肝腸寸斷，另外一個深感遺憾，最後丢下一句:「不是你的錯，是時間的錯。」

是的，在愛情裹，時間(Timing)真的很重要。但怎樣是時間錯了?那不過是因為事情的發生未如你意，讓我們招架不來，又或者是面對不了自己的軟弱時最好的藉口。讀過一印度諺語，大意說「每一件事情發生的時間永遠都是最好時間，每一個遇上的人永遠都是最對的人」。我想，撇除每一件事和每一個人有可能為你帶來的猶豫、不安甚至痛苦，其實他們的出現都是生命對你的拷問，讓你在最毫無防備間刺痛要害，進入反思、自省的狀態，從中作出選擇。於是細心想一下，那個口裹說愛你但沒有和你在一起的人，不過是因為他覺得你還有些地方叫他感覺不對勁;那個選擇了留守在六年關係而沒有和你破釜沉舟的人，不過是因為他對你的愛未及叫他離開舊愛。想通了這點就會發現，每一個在錯的時間所出現的，都值得叫你感恩，只因為有他的出現，才讓你知道自己的愛可以如此壯闊，或者可以如此脆弱，但在傷痛後總會更看清前路。

一段沒有成就的關係，我們當然會覺得無可奈何，把未能開花結果的原因，推說成時間的錯，大家也就好過一點。是時間的錯，也可以是陰差陽錯，更可以是天氣的錯，即使有過錯，也錯不在我，時間過了，大家不會這麼難過。

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UK Problem

If you tax people who work

and pay people who don't work

Don't feel surprised people start to not working