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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Cash or Shares?

Gavin Oldham
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Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Cash or Shares?
The debate over Cash ISA limits and the need to re-invigorate public interest in UK stock market investing has re-awoken people's ongoing approach to risk and reward, as if it's an 'either/or' question for your finances. However the Child Trust Fund scheme has shown the real benefit of long-term stock market investment — the challenge for this huge initiative taken by the previous Labour Government is to ensure that it gets delivered in cash at the right time for low-income young adults. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Individual Freedom & Ownership for All

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Individual Freedom & Ownership for All
A comment article in The Times last Friday was headed, 'Starmer and Reeves must change to survive' — but which way? The backbench Labour MP uprising called for even more State spending, but the bond market and the July 22nd ‘Cost of Government Day’ say no — the public sector is already much too big. Of more concern is their preference to go for the 'stick' of welfare reduction rather than the 'carrot' of empowerment through individual ownership and freedom for all, drawing a sharp contrast between this Labour Government and that of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown two decades ago. Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero Image: happier days, from Wikimedia
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: The Linguistic Poverty of Love

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: The Linguistic Poverty of Love
The English language does a real dis-service to Love. How can we use the same word to show our appreciation of ice cream as to define the nature of God — and everything in between? But the driving passion which is often described by the word love is often more about control. In contrast, we turn once again to 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran to find his definition, which is much better phrased in terms of mutual trust and respect: both of which could significantly benefit inter-faith relations. Background music: 'Young And Old Know Love' by Puddle of Infinity
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Global Assembly for Faith

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Global Assembly for Faith
In ancient Roman religion and mythology Mars was the God of War but, judging by the fact that almost all wars in our modern age have their origins in disputes and disagreements over faith, you could be forgiven for thinking that Mars was still in the ascendant today. The difference is, today's wars can literally bring life on earth to a close. However almost all religions have love and peace at their heart; initiatives such as the 'Common Word' prepared in 2007 by leading Muslim scholars and teachers reflect Jesus's teaching to 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you'. This very irenic and ecumenical document is in ironic contrast with today's Iranian conflict. Background music: 'Beauty for Brokenness' by Graham Kendrick Image source: Wikipedia
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Has the rush for economic stimulation obscured joined-up thinking?

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Has the rush for economic stimulation obscured joined-up thinking?
The Chancellor was like a person sitting on the cliff-edge of colossal public debt last week, convinced that her massive 'investment' commitments can overlook the void below. It appears that economic stimulation is the only game in town for the British economy, and even that seems to avoid joined-up thinking in some key areas. Background music: 'Ether Oar' by The Whole Other
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Why Attitudinal Transformation Matters

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Why Attitudinal Transformation Matters
Author of 'Capitalism in the 21st Century' Thomas Piketty proposes an unconditional 'inheritance' endowment for all young people on reaching 25 years of age. Grants often appear to offer instant solutions to problems of inequality, but unless they are accompanied by conditional incentivised learning they will not achieve inter-generational rebalancing. In contrast, Muhammad Yunus has built accountability into his design for micro-finance, thereby enabling young people to look forward with a constructive approach towards achieving their potential in our fast-changing world. Attitudinal transformation takes time and commitment to take hold, but it does achieve results. Background music: 'World's Sunrise' by1 Jimena Contreras Image source: Wikipedia
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Bearing down on Spending

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Bearing down on Spending
On 11th June UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves presents her Spending Review against the backdrop of a gargantuan public debt liability which is costing the UK taxpayer £111 billion a year in interest. Further tax rises have been ruled out, so she needs to identify achievable, structural reductions in spending. Elon Musk thought he'd done just that as head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but only a small fraction of his planned reductions were achieved. In the UK at least we can break away from welfare universality — but will she do it? She's tried taxation and now she has to tackle spending, but the real elephant in the room is debt: all £2.7 trillion of it. Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Capitalism in need of a Moral Compass

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Capitalism in need of a Moral Compass
Vladimir Putin has the audacity to claim moral superiority over western democracy: for the full story of complicity between Russia's leaders and the the Russian Orthodox Church, read 'The Baton and the Cross' by Lucy Ash. However implausible Putin's claim may be, we do need to examine our own consciences and become more aware of the need for a moral compass for capitalism. In so many walks of life, this is also conspicuous by its absence in western democracies. Background music: 'Something Is Wrong' by Sir Cubworth
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: The Art of Conversation

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: The Art of Conversation
The definition of what is art and what is science is a key part of academic life; the former being a matter of subjective opinion, albeit developed with skill and practice, and the latter a matter of exploring and defining objective facts. While we may seek the latter in our conversation, there is no doubt that, in itself, conversation is an art. Kahlil Gibran wrote many words of great insight one hundred years ago and, in his book, 'The Prophet', he included a section on talking. In our modern era of social media, this has much to offer — and a few things which could be added, as young people struggle with the art of conversation. Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis
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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: The Fallacy of Male Headship

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: The Fallacy of Male Headship
Male dominance has tracked humanity throughout our evolution from the animal world, but it's now presenting an existential danger as our ability to threaten the future escalates. Meanwhile society's call for gender equality without addressing the doctrine of male headship is delivering a generation of 'lost boys'. Men need to learn what comes naturally to women: 'servant leadership'. Jesus showed his disciples what it means two thousand years ago, but Christian churches still struggle to understand. It will enable us to care for others and to plan for a better future including bringing inspiration, as opposed to aggression, for young men. Background music: 'Leaders' by Text Me Records — Jorge Hernandez
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