The Workings of Terry Kelly

I know it's a bad habit, a bit like self falgellation I suppose, but I've been returning to Councillor Terry Kelly's web site a lot lately and sometimes trying to get some sort of interchangegoing with the great man. After all, he's a Labour party coucillor and was Wendy Alexander's election agent, so clearly a man well thought of within the Labour party. Particularly given that he spouts forth on so many subjects with views opposite to the Labour leadership,although he is also quite willing to call for Labour MP's to be de-selected for having views outwith those he holds. The emminently capable Jim Dobbin appears to have survived the attack so far.

Anyway, on a couple of threads now, Terry has simply resorted to accusing me of prejudice. Here's an example of how he works, when discussing the Renfrewshire Digital Inclusion project, which I was simply trying to understand the exchange went along the following lines, after Terry had described a cut in funding which was to cost 3 full-time and 8 part-timeposts. Of course the fact that the SNP had refused to honour Labour's guarantee of no compulsory redundancies heightened the indignation of the honourable councillor.

I asked him:

Can you explain this project and it's benefits please?

I've looked it up and can only find that it was a project to provide 400 homes in Ferguslie and Moonpark with PCs and Broadband internet access.

Presumably those homes have all been provided - What were all the staff needed for?
Presumably the PC's will still be in the homes, connected to the internet???? Given that the Libraries already provide free internet access and run computer training courses for free, I can't see the problem - am willing to listen to a sensible argument though. Can you quantify the issue in any way at all? (without describing it as a 'Shameful SNP attack on the weak and vulnerable' (c) Scottish Labour )



Fairly reasonable I thought, but suggesting that these people had actually learned something about the computers they had been given along with training, for free, is somehow a cruel joke, as Terry points out.

TK wrote :

It’s been done already these people were doing well and their support has been taken way. Many of them will not, for various reasons go elsewhere and their hopes have been dashed.

It was a terrible thing to do and suggesting that they fend for themselves after a year is no more than a cruel joke.



With hopes dashed and cruel jokes being played on an unsuspecting public, I was close to tears when I asked.

IP:
Seriously, someone capable of using a PC can't go to the library?
and doesn't have any alternative avenue of help?

Can you explain how the support was delivered?
It just doesn't make any sense the way you're describing it.


"IT backup" came the reponse.

TK:

They helped each other with IT back up and no,
lots of them will not go to the library for reasons that you
don’t have a clue about and I can’t begin to explain to you,
your prejudice and ignorance is too deep.


Oops! It's my deeply ingrained prejudice. Well, to be fair I've had plenty experience with IT departments and the big man is right, I think they're lazy conniving jobs-worths who spend as much time working out how to cover their arses for having achieved nothing than they do playing whatever the network game of the month happens to be, rather than delivering anything resembling "IT backup".

Still, I thought I'd ask further whether the people spending our money on "IT backup actually had any idea as to the benefits we were receiving. I was also interested in those who wouldn't go to the library - for reasons I couldn't understand - perhaps having an IT geek coming round to their house would be the last thing these people would be after.


IP asked:

So, how was that delivered?


and no, lots of them will not go to the library for reasons that you don’t have a clue about



I've already asked you to explain it to me, I'm willing to listen.

TK:

and I can’t begin to explain to you, your prejudice and ignorance is too deep.


IP asked again:

So, that's a no then, you can't explain it.

Isn't it more likely that these people have far more pressing needs than "IT backup" ?

I've got no idea how you think that providing someone unable to get out of the house and to visit the local library will have their job prospects improved by "IT backup" ...whatever that means.


Terry Kelly:

You are far too superior and arrogant to grasp what life is like in some places where poverty is rife, you remain in a position where you think that computer/internet access is not for people like this I’m happy to leave that up there.


I remain in the position that free internet access with "IT backup" is no kind of panacea for people unable to go to the library... for whatever reason. However, thankfully the good councillor has exposed me as superior, arrogant bigot.