Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister, Old World. Barack Obama, New World.

What a glorious day occurred yesterday for the whole world with the inauguration of Barak Obama as the new US president.  Now we must all pick up the message, Yes We Can.  That means facing up to reality.

After a whirlwind of galas surrounding his inauguration, Barack Obama begins his first full day as U.S. president Wednesday with a full plate of reality staring him in the face.

Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister says that he sees this as a new chapter
in both American history and the world’s history.  However others have commented before that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is out of touch.

If you will permit a short rant, I note that today’s word in my Forgotten English calendar is mumbudget.  That is an expression denoting secrecy as well as silence.  It seems to be a word beloved by Gordon Brown.

The Times headline today is Gordon Brown backs moved to block full publication of MPs expenses.

Gordon Brown has imposed a three-line whip to force a move to block full publication of MPs’ expenses through the Commons.  Labour MPs could face sanctions if they rebel in tomorrow’s vote on an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act that would exempt MPs from disclosing exactly how they have been spending their annual £22,000 second-home allowance.

The Guardian had already pointed out that the move to make MPs exempt from publishing expenses will antagonize a large number of people.

The move next week will allow parliament to nullify all the long-fought victories by campaigners and journalists to force MPs to publish details of all their individual receipts for their second homes, including details of what they spent on furnishings, maintenance, rent, mortgage payments, staffing, travel, office staffing and equipment.

Public opposition is growing against the move.  At the time of writing this, almost 7,500 people have signed a Facebook campaign led by mySociety.  mySociety runs the “theyworkfor-you” website, that urges MPs not to push through the change.

What a stark comparison.  Gordon Brown in the Old World.  Barak Obama in the New World.  Thankfully the Internet forces openness and makes ever truer those words of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg: a government of the people, by the people, for the people.  Please smell the coffee, Mr. Brown.

STOP PRESS: Gordon Brown withdraws plan to keep details of MPs’ expenses secret:
Surprise announcement follows the collapse overnight of a bipartisan agreement between the prime minister and David Cameron

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