Knee bone ‘s connected to the thigh bone

The connectedness of things, whether expected or not, and perceptions or appreciation of  these inter-dependencies is gloriously exposed during this volcanic election season.

Just at a time when politicians are keen to deliver simple messages, the Icelandic volcano eruption and its impact on air travel in Northern Europe has served up many useful reminders of the complex interdependencies of modern life.

The logistical nightmares of supermarkets dependent on fresh produce from Africa, or the crocodile tears of children unable to return from holiday in time for exams, or the grounding of  election campaign flight plans, are not even the half of it.

Other eruptions, like the ‘unexpected’ Liberal Democrats’ surge to popularity at a time when the old parties are obsessed with point-scoring off each other, have also helped to show the public that this time around they really do have a chance to upset the applecart.

And, for those who are now inclined towards ‘deep packet inspection’ the simple manifesto messages are getting a vastly better scrutiny.  The contradictions are beginning to show.  On many matters of policy the lack of joined up thinking or awareness of unintended consequences is now more obvious, even to casual thinkers.

The nonsense of talking about economic growth but denying infrastructure investment is a contradiction that no manifesto drafter would recognise.  To discuss Health and Transport, Education and Energy, Finance and Housing, Employment and Planning, Social policies, Crime or Global affairs, or Defence, as if they were in separate boxes independent of each other and unrelated to income inequality, is an insult to the intellect of the electorate.

And to discuss any of these policies without reference to the urgent need to transform the utility infrastructure for broadband access is almost beyond belief.   In the USA they are upset that the broadband performance in Boston is pathetic compared to Bucharest.  They do not take any comfort from knowing that Boston is way ahead of Belfast (see notes).

Somehow the two main parties have been suckered into believing that BT or Virgin Media are national champions.  Unfortunately they do not realise that in matters of digital infrastructure the UK is close to relegation from League Division 4.

In a priceless moment of negative ambition, the government has declared that 10% of the UK will depend for its broadband on satellite and mobile phones.  They can do that because the UK’s Universal Service ambition is set at a level of one fiftieth of the service regarded as normal in some of the countries we are supposed to compete against.

And last year the opportunity for local councils in England and, more recently, Scotland to allow the advertising for planning notices to be done via the Internet and mobile phones was vetoed because of the digital divide (not enough real and affordable broadband or good mobile internet coverage) and, of course, to not upset local newspapers as we approach an election.

In matters digital, neither of the two main parties has covered itself in glory – and it’s not obviously much better in the LibDem camp although they did at least raise late objections to the Digital Economy Bill as, driven by the last-generation media lobby, it was hustled through the dying days of that now dead parliament.

And yet, their various prescriptions for Health, and Education (and almost everything else that’s dependent on having a decent infrastructure to live and work in a modern and competitive world) are apparently going to benefit from 'efficiency savings' that can only be realised by adopting a very different ‘on-line’ way of doing things.

Granny can manage her remote control to change channels.  She knows exactly where the ‘off’ button is.  Maybe, for last generation politicians, it’s as well that granny is not allowed to use it to vote in this General Election.

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Notes:

Best available broadand packages: 

Bucharest,        Upload speed  81.08Mb/s , download speed  84.16 Mb/s 

Boston, MASS  Upload speed  20.32Mb/s , download speed  28.41Mb/s

Belfast, NI        Upload speed  1.76 Mb/s  , download speed  10.17Mb/s

(data from www.speedtest.net    April 2010)

For commentary on UK position on broadband future preparedness see: Broadband Quality Study

For analysis of societal interdependencies on relative income inequality see: http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resource/the-spirit-level