September 17, 2009

1 BC

Posted in Other blogs, Welcome at 1:12 pm by Paul Sagar

Today is Bad Conscience’s first birthday.

The blog has come a long way. From nothing 1 year ago, Bad Conscience is now listed on Wikio as the 201st most read politics blog in the UK. That’s pretty good, I reckon.

But it’s also a bit superflous.

I’m more please with the way this blog has served as a useful focal point for debate and discussion.  There have been some lows over the past year – a slightly ill-considered attack on the Tory party and resulting tirades of hate stands out – but mostly it’s been highs of debate and discussion.

Over the past year, this blog (and blogging generally) has forced me to sharpen-up and consider my thoughts and positions across a whole host of theoretical and practical issues, as well as to mature in the way I view and treat other people’s positions. That simply wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of readers – both regular and passers-by – over the past year.

So thank you.

To mark today’s special occasion, I’m going to do something I’ve not done over the past year: a round-up of other blogs I want to recommend. The following is based very much on what I’ve been reading over the past few months, and represents in my opinion the best of the left:

Liberal Conspiracy, despite an increase in deliberately disruptive rightists and morons over the summer months, remains the best place for constructive left-wing debate and intelligent insight on the web.

Though Cowards Flinch is moving steadily higher in my estimations, with a series of collaborations leading to really high-quality output. The comments threads are also excellent centres of informed debate.

Stumbling and Mumbling is a massive and well-read blog, and remains a great resource for both original articles and also links to some of the best pieces on the web.

Giles Wilkes at the CentreForum FreeThink blog has some of the best economics blogging in the UK at the moment, in terms of clarity and willingness to engage (often on other blogs too) with opponents and lay readers.

Next Left still has some of the best original articles on offer, dealing with the more conceptual side of UK politics.

Left Outside is always worth a read for passionate, and frequently irreverent, analysis and comment.

Consider Phlebas is recommended for anyone with a theoretical inclination on matters political.

Tax Research UK and the Tax Justice Blog remain the essential resources for offshore finance, tax haven and secrecy jurisdiction issues.

Penny Red is a must for feminist, gender and wider leftist issues.

Interns Anonymous are still doing good, important, work.

Right, that’s your lot.

Happy Birthday BC.

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