1,000 Books

A Country of Old Men, Joseph Hansen

• Closing in on the end of A Country Of Old Men, the valedictory Dave Brandstetter mystery. The mystery itself, in this slim volume, is less important than the excuse it gives to bring back old characters, all struggling with varying infirmities, a little like the new Le Carre novel.

A statesman found dead The dagger struck through his heart Blood shines in the light "Close the gates Lock the doors Summon the labourers the servants the family" A household gathered The weapon passed hand to hand Blood drips from the blade The L plate poet

The sun is shining, the world is still beautiful

On Friday I listened to Stephen Whittle's speech to LSE in a podcast (10 January 2017). In dark depressing times it is worth remembering the progress that has been made as well as recognising the challenges remaining. Looking back four decades Whittle recalled his struggles as a trans man. Losing his job seven times in ten years for being a transgender person, trying to persuade doctors to provide the medical intervention he desired, the misconceptions and basic prejudice he faced and the attempts he and his wife made to receive artificial insemination. The protections, greater understanding and acceptance today are the result of the hard, brave work of people like Stephen. Amongst the interesting points he made is the disconnect between even well-meaning experts and professionals and members of the trans community themselves. What we were told, what the text books said, what legal papers focused on was that all transsexual (the term used at the time) people wanted was to have the operation, change their birth certificate so they could get married, and disappear into ordinary life. When the community themselves articulated their main concerns they were not conventional marriage, many felt that was not a priority, what they wanted was equal access to employment, personal safety, protection from physical abuse, including at work, access to medical provision and lack of privacy, keeping your medical history private. Similarly, when approaching the medical profession, if you did neatly fit the one accepted model described in the single textbook you would struggle to have your needs accepted. There was then little appreciation of the diversity within the community. From a campaigning point of view he emphasised the need to be inclusive, learn about and understand each other and not adopt a narrowing definition of trans people, not have internal disputes about who should and should not be included. He also highlighted the need to keep your integrity: don't exaggerate or mislead, don't give them and excuse to ignore you. One piece of advice they received (from MP Alex Carlile) was make yourself visible as citizens, tell your story, but don't put transsexual in the title at first otherwise it won't be read. And keep pushing for attention, one of their approaches was to write to every MP, then arrange for a trans constituent to meet every MP, and show them what they are like. Ultimately this is a success story, according to the LSE description the work of Stephen Whittle and others campaigning "using social education, legal case work, and parliamentary lobbying ... successfully change[d] the UK into what is now one of the most Transgender-friendly countries in the world".

Trump's first actions make fools of those who thought once elected he would become more moderate. You can judge priorities from his first acts, and those were to remove reference to LGBT rights and the Office of National AIDS Policy from the White House website. This is not someone who is unconcerned with LGBT rights, it is someone who wants to reduce LGBT rights and make our lives worse.

The world still has its natural beauty

The new US administration's economic policy is an experiment in modern mercantilism, the (false) idea that what is good for businesses is good for the economy, the people and the country. Businesses want their market position protected to minimise competition and the threat of challenges, while relying on others (the nation, government or individuals) to provide the legal and physical infrastructure to run their business, and a sufficiently educated workforce all with a minimal contribution. If this model is followed we can expect a loosening of competition laws, more investment in infrastructure but lowering of business taxes, stronger protection for intellectual property, copyright and patents with weaker consumer protections and employee rights. And with a cabinet full of businessmen and bankers we can expect decisions that favour the firms they come from (oil and other fossil fuel producers, investment banks, etc) and their executives, with fewer obligations and lower taxes on firms and high earners. All of which is against the national interest with firms passing on costs, such as pollution, infrastructure, global warming onto the state, while reducing their contribution, and exploiting their position with fewer rivals. Remember cutting foreign trade reduces competition in the market, raising the monopoly power of the remaining firms.

Everything Obama did sought to put America's interests first; and the same was true of Bush and Clinton and the president's before. The difference now is not the intention but the language (bullying and threats in place of persuasion and compromise) and the strategy. Trump, it seems does not think America needs allies to support it, and so does not need to help its allies. Threats to foreign nations from Russia need not concern America, it seems, because attacks on small European countries are not thought to lead to wider aggression and thereby threaten the USA. Only radical Muslims are a danger, and persecution and blanket condemnation of the whole religion are presumably not expected to raise the stakes, increase radicalism or heighten anti-American sentiment.

For some it might have been their original intention, others might just be exploiting the opportunity. In either case, the economic crisis facing Britain as Brexit approaches is used as an excuse to shift Britain from an economy with good wages, good working conditions, strong consumer protection, and good public services to a low business tax, limited, protection business friendly, consumer and worker unfriendly nation. The petulant threat to cut business taxes in retaliation to the obvious and expected EU desire to ensure Britain's trading terms with Europe are less favourable after withdrawal is just the start.

Today's papers included articles trying to lessen fears of the Trump presidency. Even some liberal voices (such d Sean O'Grady in the i) try to suggest most Americans might find life better after four years. These articles must have been prepared before an inauguration speech that showed no understanding of the deep dislike felt by a majority for the new president, and no intention to address their fears or ameliorate their concerns.

A little Brexit light reading.

“Clearly describes referendum’s consequences”

At the weekend the New York Times published an article about favourite bookshops, in fact there were several bookish articles through the travel section, well worth reading. The article picks out Munro's in Victoria. If you're there I recommend walking a few blocks further to Russell Books, in effective two rambling shops full of second hand books. Wonderful. I had three nights in the city and spent several hours there on two days. Dublin has several good bookshops, Hodges Figgis in the city centre is in a lovely building near the college and houses a huge selection including, importantly, a good choice of Irish writing. If you like second hand books you must visit Hay-on-Wye on the border between England and Wales: Addyman's, Murder and Mayhem, Booth's and most of all the Hay Cinema Bookshop. A converted cinema a musty, slightly damp smelling, wonderful two stories of all kinds of books. The Gower Street Waterstones in London is recommended by the New York Times and may be their best branch, with new and second hand books side by side and a section devoted to Penguin paperbacks. I miss the great branch of Barnes and Noble in Union Square, San Francisco, Alexander Books was an admirable stand-in not too far away on my last visit. And in Sydney there is a fine downtown bookshop where I spent many hours, Kinokuniya in The Galeries shopping centre. Finally, if you are in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, there is a small perfectly formed second hand shop in the High Street. Cornell Books has a passage full of mystery novels and three rooms of fiction, nonfiction, biography, children's books and maps.

1. Free speech must mean the right to make offensive comments, anything else implies limitations on that freedom and censorship. 2. Free speech also means that you have the right to speak out and criticise the comments. 3. The freedom to cause offence does not mean you are under an obligation to do so. 4. When speaking you need to consider whether the importance of the message you have to convey justifies the offence you will cause. 5. You need also to decide whether offensive language will detract from your comments, whether the reaction will obscure your message. 6. If you use offensive language others have just as much right to point out that offence; to highlight the prejudice, the sexism, the racism you demonstrate. 7. And in all cases the right to free speech cannot be used to justify inciting others to illegal actio.