Website offers chance to have a say

Giving people in Oldham a say on the big issues

Have you ever wanted, when some big event occurs whether locally or nationally, to give an opinion or make a proposal about what should be done about it?

I have long felt that there needs to be a public forum where there can be a quick interactive exchange of views about how the problem should be handled.

I want to propose one way in which this might be done which I hope and believe would be useful and valuable to all those who are interested in how we run our society.

For the last year or two, I have been running a website on which I have been posting my comments on some of the leading issues of the day.

The address of that website is www.michaelmeacher.info. Most of my comments have been at around 400-600 words, but there is no reason why comments cannot be much shorter, even occasionally a single sentence.

The comment of mine which gained most coverage in recent months was when I wrote, in just 17 words: “Bringing back Peter Mandelson must be the most extraordinary political appointment since Caligula made his horse consul!”

Recent opinions or proposals which I have published on this website include:

::Should British industry be bailed out?

::Gaza: when will Britain take a moral stance?

::The fiscal stimulus is being done all wrong.

::How an Iraq War inquiry can be secured.

::Why the Royal Mail should not be privatised.

::Oldham shows social housing is the most neglected issue today.

::What’s wrong with the proposed welfare reforms?

::Accountability has all but vanished in Britain.

::Stopping the energy companies exploiting oil and gas prices.

::No to privatising Oldham Council’s 12,000 homes.

::Changes needed in climate change policy.

::Irish pork isn’t the only food worry.

::Animal rights: we need a debate.

::Need for a wider peace settlement to end the Gaza atrocity.

::Housing: a disaster area.

::Is public ownership of the banks still a taboo?

::Holding the criminal executives at Lloyds TSB to account.

Many of these topics are controversial, some extremely so.

They invite a response because, while I have clear opinions, I am well aware that other people have equally strong but different opinions which deserve to be given an airing.

I would therefore like to see a debate on matters such as these, both local and national, as and when they arise. I believe that such a sounding board for ideas and opinions would raise greater awareness of public issues in Oldham and enrich the public debate we need to have on matters important to all of us.

Alternative and contrary opinions are all welcome, so long of course as they are not abusive, racist, indecent, or purely scurrilous, and so long as those offering views are identified.

I therefore warmly invite contributions to the website. A public forum isn’t merely a soapbox for an MP — it has to be a place where others can join in freely and engage in sharp debate where necessary between themselves. I, as your MP, need to listen as well as talk or write.

There are many issues on which I try to represent the views of my constituents, but I would be better guided if I had more knowledge of what people are really thinking.

So please take advantage of this facility, and I look forward to hearing from you.