Happy hump day*!
We have two cheery photos for this morning. Above is Sheffield’s own Olympic gold medal-winning heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, who celebrates her 29th birthday today.
Our second cheery photo (below) is of birthday boy Alan Alda, who is 79 years old. Alda is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author best known for his roles of Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H and Arnold Vinick in The West Wing. He wrote, directed and starred in one of the funniest films ever (IMHO), Betsy’s Wedding.
The next post on Liberal Democrat Voice will be reserved for infrequent and new commenters. It will follow in ten minutes’ time.
* American term for Wednesday.
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.



One Comment
As I am not in the category of new or infrequent contributor I will not be permitted to comment in the next bit.
I make no complaint about that but I hope I might be allowed a factual pointer here.
Stephen Phillips in his article says —
“..At the other extreme is those who appear to believe that collectivism and common ownership are actually good for the economy”
He thinks he is criticising policies of “the other parties”.
He is perhaps unaware of what Liberal Democrats believe.
We believe in common ownership and that it is actually good for the economy.
We believe that the market alone does not distribute wealth or income fairly.
We want to see democracy, participation and the co-operative principle in industry and commerce.
It says so in the Preamble to the Liberal Democrat Constitution which includes –
“…We will foster a strong and sustainable economy which encourages the necessary wealth creating processes, develops and uses the skills of the people and works to the benefit of all, with a just distribution of the rewards of success.
We want to see democracy, participation and the co-operative principle in industry and commerce within a competitive environment in which the state allows the market to operate freely where possible but intervenes where necessary….”
“…..We will work for a sense of partnership and community in all areas of life. We recognise that the independence of individuals is safeguarded by their personal ownership of property, but that the market alone does not distribute wealth or income fairly. We support the widest possible distribution of wealth and promote the rights of all citizens to social provision and cultural activity. We seek to make public services responsive to the people they serve, to encourage variety and innovation within them and to make them available on equal terms to all”
http://www.libdems.org.uk/constitution