|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 7152 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2005 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Dec 2020 | Jun 2020 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Cibaman"Sturgeon was easily the best performer. The SNP, Green and Plaid leaders all had an advantage in that they were able to take pot shots at Cameron and Miliband without their own policies coming under any scrutiny. Sturgeon had the advantage over the other minor parties' leaders in that she's battle hardened by the independence campaign.
I can't gauge whether the debate will have done UKIP any good. I always think that Farage is a complete idiot, but he still seems to be popular.'"
Sturgeon knows she's on to a winner, and could end up deciding the path of the UK for the next term. She can therefore be as suitable confident and cocky as she wants to.
I don't think there was a clear winner. Cameron took a slightly aloof 'statesmanlike' stance but gave a good performance, Miliband came across as a bit lightweight to me, Sturgeon simply annoys me and has for a long time, Farage did his job pretty well apart from the idiotic HIV comments, Clegg was ok but looked a bit like Oliver begging for more, Bennett is out of her depth and her fluffy begging was pathetic, that Welsh woman looked like she'd just come out of the pub.
Did it do UKIP any good? I've seen very little comment on my social media feeds apart from a few long-term Labourites posting a few bits, but a few people I've never seen comment on politics have commented they thought Farage was the only one telling the truth. That's the big issue for many people - the lies, spin, rhetoric and complete lack of straight answers from the other parties is just plain boring and doesn't tell anyone anything. People find Farage's direct approach refreshing.
It didn't help make my mind up. I like policies from a couple of manifestos, but I'm still not swayed by anyone in particular.
Quote ="cod'ead"Farage came across like the shouty drunk down the pub, who keeps butting into other peoples' conversations with the same argument.
Which I suppose is what he actually is'"
Not really, in reality he was one of the few who didn't keep interrupting. That gobby Welsh housewife and the frightened looking Australian tended to butt in the most.
But then no matter what he did or said you were always going to have a bitch, were't you?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 18064 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Leaguefan"Can I make things clear and concise?
If you are employed by someone else and you vote Tory you are out of your mind, you are illogical, you are being ripped off and conned, in fact lets make it even simpler YOU ARE STUPID!!!
Now go vote for whom you "think" will be better for YOU.'"
Alternatively you could vote Labour and look really stupid - one thing everyone knows if you vote labour you will be worse off - at least with the Tories you have a chance of being better off.
The thought of the two Ed's and Yvette running the country should be sufficient to stop anyone voting Labour.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3605 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jul 2012 | 13 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
May 2016 | May 2016 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Leaguefan"
If you are employed by someone else and you vote Tory you are out of your mind, you are illogical, you are being ripped off and conned, in fact lets make it even simpler YOU ARE STUPID!!!
Now go vote for whom you "think" will be better for YOU.'"
Setting aside those who vote for the colour of a flag irrespective of the merits of those who currently stand underneath that flag, then thats exactly what most will do, they will vote for those who they "think" will be better for them.
And if they are currently employed (as per your example) then they could feel that with a new tax code of 1060 against a tax code of 647 in 2010, they are better off and will be in future - because very often thats what it all boils down to, do I have more money now and if I vote for "xxx" will they raise revenue from tax codes ?
It can be as simple as that.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 9721 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2001 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2020 | Apr 2020 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Sal Paradise"Alternatively you could vote Labour and look really stupid -[size=200=#0000FF one thing everyone knows if you vote labour you will be worse off[/size - at least with the Tories you have a chance of being better off.
The thought of the two Ed's and Yvette running the country should be sufficient to stop anyone voting Labour.'"
I don't know that and probably millions of others don't know that either, BUT in the interest of fairness, plus I'm always willing to learn, please do explain where you this "KNOWN" is from, its derivation and where we can all see and understand it.
Over to you.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BobbyD"You didn't need to trawl the internet to find something that didn't say anything at all, you could have just read the manifesto! Here, let me help you
So, for the umpteenth time, just why did you vote to privatise the NHS?'"
You must live in a strange world if you think that:
[iGiving Local Health Boards the freedom to commission services for local people from a range of different types of provider[/i
Is a mandate for privatisation
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 18064 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Leaguefan"I don't know that and probably millions of others don't know that either, BUT in the interest of fairness, plus I'm always willing to learn, please do explain where you this "KNOWN" is from, its derivation and where we can all see and understand it.
Over to you.'"
Labour position is to borrow more to fund spending on welfare and public services. The levels of borrowing are significant, that debt has to be funded somehow - you do the maths it isn't difficult even for you.
The Tories have had to borrow to fund the deficit they inherited - and that has cost us all, increased VAT for a start. Do you seriously believe Labour will be able to borrow these billions without anybody being worse off?
I personally don't like Cameron but I dislike him less than Miliband and Brown's merry band of hatchet men/women. I can't see a situation whereby Cameron can stay in charge so Labour will have to do deal with the SNP and that is where the problems will start. Salmon will want some influence and a heap of money - you reap what you sew.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Sal Paradise"Labour position is to borrow more to fund spending on welfare and public services. The levels of borrowing are significant, that debt has to be funded somehow - you do the maths it isn't difficult even for you.'"
At no point have Labour even hinted at borrowing more to fund welfare and social services. They have said they are not averse to borrowing for capital expenditure, such as house-building etc
Quote ="Sal Paradise"The Tories have had to borrow to fund the deficit they inherited - and that has cost us all, increased VAT for a start. Do you seriously believe Labour will be able to borrow these billions without anybody being worse off?'"
The tories have borrowed to fund the shortfall in tax-take and to pay for increased spend on welfare, in the form of housing benefit and tax credits
Quote ="Sal Paradise"I personally don't like Cameron but I dislike him less than Miliband and Brown's merry band of hatchet men/women. I can't see a situation whereby Cameron can stay in charge so Labour will have to do deal with the SNP and that is where the problems will start. Salmon will want some influence and a heap of money - you reap what you sew.'"
Alex Salmond's potential influence is being blown out of all proportion by the right-wing press. Typical scaremongering.
On the subject of national debt. This country has ALWAYS been in debt, often at considerably higher rates than than we have seen since 2008. We usually inflate our way out of debt but you can only do that with a growing economy. To grown the economy you require stimulus, a national programme of housebuilding would provide that stimulus, in the same way that it did post-WW2.
Jeremy Hardy gave one of the best analogies I've heard on the deficit: "Would you stop feeding your children, simply to pay your mortgage down quicker?"
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 18064 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead"At no point have Labour even hinted at borrowing more to fund welfare and social services. They have said they are not averse to borrowing for capital expenditure, such as house-building etc
The tories have borrowed to fund the shortfall in tax-take and to pay for increased spend on welfare, in the form of housing benefit and tax credits
Alex Salmond's potential influence is being blown out of all proportion by the right-wing press. Typical scaremongering.
On the subject of national debt. This country has ALWAYS been in debt, often at considerably higher rates than than we have seen since 2008. We usually inflate our way out of debt but you can only do that with a growing economy. To grown the economy you require stimulus, a national programme of housebuilding would provide that stimulus, in the same way that it did post-WW2.
Jeremy Hardy gave one of the best analogies I've heard on the deficit: "Would you stop feeding your children, simply to pay your mortgage down quicker?"'"
What has happened with successive Labour governments including the one that the two Ed's and Yvette were major players in? The size of the state grows - the are already saying more money needs putting into the NHS and education etc. where is that going to come from if it isn't borrowing/taxation?
To grow the economy you need the private sector to keep growing something Labour seems at odds with - increasing corporation tax seems a strange way of encouraging firms to grow profitability. Increase taxes on the wealthy yes definitely needs doing actually collecting the proper taxes from companies again yes. Make sure government contracts are only awarded to companies who pay the correct amount of CT
I am not sure Keynesian economics is what is needed here - is building future slums in the form of cheap public housing the rent for which is predominantly going to funded out of welfare is the right way forward? If it is - bigger infrastructure projects - not just in London, better public transport, improved roads better school facilities etc.
I am not convinced we have a housing shortage - we have an inability of youngsters to get on the property ladder - I know you consider ownership to be a negative - but to most ownership is aspirational and should be encouraged IMO. There needs to be a solution to unlocking the deposit issue, the ISA is not the answer.
On Salmond - he will hold the balance of power, time will tell how he uses his influence. The issues around the referendum still fester and he looks to me a man who is looking for a pay back.
On the cuts the Tories have instigated in local government, whilst most don't see it as a positive most will accept that it has forced them to be more creative and more agile with the funds at their disposal. I pleasant change from the flabby, inefficient councils we all have suffered for generations.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 4649 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2010 | 15 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Leaguefan"Can I make things clear and concise?
If you are employed by someone else and you vote Tory you are out of your mind, you are illogical, you are being ripped off and conned, in fact lets make it even simpler YOU ARE STUPID!!!
Now go vote for whom you "think" will be better for YOU.'"
You're not far off there. My last job was at a company where the MDs were lifelong Conservative voters. I was there 5 years and had a total of zero pay rises along with the rest of my colleagues. When we all asked about pay rises we were told there was no money and were often referred to look at the state of the nation's economy. A few fell for it and when the new machinery started arriving they were the ones who fell for the old 'speculate to accumulate' lines they were fed too. The only accumulating going on there was at the top. It wasn't until the new sports cars started rolling in that the blinkered few realised there was actually money, and plenty of it. Even so, they're the ones who are still there on the same money they were on 10 years ago, unhappy and moaning everyday, the rest of us have gone and left them to it.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 210 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2013 | 11 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2016 | Sep 2015 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead"You must live in a strange world if you think that:
[iGiving Local Health Boards the freedom to commission services for local people from a range of different types of provider[/i
Is a mandate for privatisation'"
Ah, so all these different types of provider are charities simply giving away healthcare. Bless. It's quite sad to see you scrabbling around trying to to come up with anything that'll try and make it seem you didn't vote to sell off the NHS to the Tories and their chums. Spineless and hypocritical, quite the combination.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Well, where to start?
Quote ="Sal Paradise"What has happened with successive Labour governments including the one that the two Ed's and Yvette were major players in? The size of the state grows - the are already saying more money needs putting into the NHS and education etc. where is that going to come from if it isn't borrowing/taxation?'"
The state grew during 1997-2008 simply because the previous tory administration had decimated the NHS and education to the point of near collapse. Patients on trollies in corridors, children educated in leaking "temporary" classrooms. Labour inherited that and something needed to be done to redress the problems.
Quote ="Sal Paradise"To grow the economy you need the private sector to keep growing something Labour seems at odds with - increasing corporation tax seems a strange way of encouraging firms to grow profitability. Increase taxes on the wealthy yes definitely needs doing actually collecting the proper taxes from companies again yes. Make sure government contracts are only awarded to companies who pay the correct amount of CT'"
Labour is not anti-business, it is however pro-business paying its share and making a fair contribution to the state costs of infrastructure. The US has a rate of corporation tax almost double ours and yet they still seem to allow companies to emerge and thrive.
Quote ="Sal Paradise"I am not sure Keynesian economics is what is needed here - is building future slums in the form of cheap public housing the rent for which is predominantly going to funded out of welfare is the right way forward? If it is - bigger infrastructure projects - not just in London, better public transport, improved roads better school facilities etc.'"
"Building future slums"?
In 1953 my parents and I moved from a back bedroom in my grandmother's house, into a newly built, 2 bedroomed terrace house on a brand new estate, built on the outskirts of Hull. Built on land that had previoulsy been agricultural, so acquired for a song. The estate was a mix of 2,3 & 4 bedroomed houses, 2 pubs, 2 parades of shops with 1 & 2 bedroomed flats above. A fair amount of "pensioner bungalows", an "old folks home", a coupleof six-bedroomed homes for foster families and two doctors' surgeries (actually two 2 bedroom houses). The original tenants were spread across a wide range of careers: manual workers, office workers, managers, shop-owners - even the doctors originally lived in coucil houses on the estate. There was no shame in renting and nor should there be.
Quote ="Sal Paradise"I am not convinced we have a housing shortage - we have an inability of youngsters to get on the property ladder - I know you consider ownership to be a negative - but to most ownership is aspirational and should be encouraged IMO. There needs to be a solution to unlocking the deposit issue, the ISA is not the answer.'"
You must be the only person in the country who isn't
Quote ="Sal Paradise"On Salmond - he will hold the balance of power, time will tell how he uses his influence. The issues around the referendum still fester and he looks to me a man who is looking for a pay back.'"
Salmond will hold less power than Clegg. The main bitterness following the referendum has ed around Cameron's cynical attempt to make the result work to the Tory party, rather than the UK's benefit.
Quote ="Sal Paradise"On the cuts the Tories have instigated in local government, whilst most don't see it as a positive most will accept that it has forced them to be more creative and more agile with the funds at their disposal. I pleasant change from the flabby, inefficient councils we all have suffered for generations.'"
Cuts in the local authority social funds have directly led to problems in the NHS, hence the bed-blocking we see currently
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 210 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2013 | 11 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2016 | Sep 2015 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead"Labour is not anti-business, it is however pro-business paying its share and making a fair contribution to the state costs of infrastructure.'"
Utterly. Utterly. Priceless. Vodaphone/Starbucks are the proof that'll you'll believe utterly anything that you read in the Guardian or Morning Star. Mug.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BobbyD"Utterly. Utterly. Priceless. Vodaphone/Starbucks are the proof that'll you'll believe utterly anything that you read in the Guardian or Morning Star. Mug.'"
Just what is that garbage supposed to relate to?
Care to expand?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 210 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2013 | 11 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2016 | Sep 2015 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead"Just what is that garbage supposed to relate to?
Care to expand?'"
The Morning Star and Guardian? They're left wing rags which are lapped up by the terminally stupid.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BobbyD"The Morning Star and Guardian? They're left wing rags which are lapped up by the terminally stupid.'"
No, the Vodaphone/Starbucks reference, or do you believe that they do actually pay a fair and proportionate rate of tax?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| The Tories are really pulling out all the stops now and the levels they will stoop to are simply jaw dropping.
The sight of Samantha Cameron giving an exclusive to the Mail on Sunday, about the death of her and her husband's disabled son, really shows the depths that they will sink to in order to try and garner some type of public sympathy for them and their vile, heartless party.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 14970 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Nov 2021 | Nov 2021 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| I find it very sad that they've done this, I don't care which party they're representing, it's incredibly low in my opinion.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 37704 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2018 | Aug 2018 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Him"I find it very sad that they've done this, I don't care which party they're representing, it's incredibly low in my opinion.'"
Cameron has never missed an opportunity to mention his son Ivan, especially if anyone dare criticise the systematic dismantling of the NHS by his party.
Lower than vermin
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 210 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2013 | 11 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2016 | Sep 2015 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead" especially if anyone dare criticise the systematic dismantling of the NHS by his party'"
You certainly won't criticise it, it's what you voted for.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 1978 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Dec 2023 | Dec 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BobbyD"You certainly won't criticise it, it's what you voted for.'"
According to Cod'ed scaremongering the NHS died on 1 April 2013. What is left to talk about?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 9721 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2001 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2020 | Apr 2020 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Ajw71"According to Cod'ed scaremongering the NHS died on 1 April 2013. What is left to talk about?'"
Your lack of basic economic theory and the fact the education system has let you down so badly you cannot answer simple straight forward questions?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 3092 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Mar 2023 | Feb 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="JerryChicken"Not being a fan of the party whips and toe-ing the party line for five years of sheep-herding and establishing rules and dogma behind closed doors while conveniently ignoring the tales you spun at the sales pitch (the general election), I simply vote for my representative and not his party. He is a good bloke, works hard in the constituency, tweets every time he goes for a p1ss break in the Commons so I know exactly where he is and what he's doing, and he campaigns in the House on constituency issues.
All of which is 100% more than I knew about the previous Labour and Conservative MP's who held this seat before Greg Mulholland came along, admittedly they didn't have the advantage of a smart phone but nor did they ever bother to let anyone know via other media what they were up to.'"
Judging by the fact that Hetherington gave Mulholland a full page in the Leeds programme today to set out his case, alongside a picture of the pair of them and Sinfield, it seems Leeds are very keen for him to be re-elected
However I do think Mulholland's personal vote is very substantial indeed and this isn't uncommon in Lib Dem-held constituencies. My mum and dad have lived in Leeds NW since before I was born and voted solid Conservative from Donald Kaberry, through Keith Hampson to the various no-chance Tories in 01 and 05. But they are so resolutely in the "Mulholland is a great bloke" camp it's quite startling.
I live now in the other West Yorkshire constituency with a Lib Dem MP, albeit a slightly more controversial one. I'm going to vote for him, but he's unlikely to withstand being swamped by Labour - but again from what I can see his personal vote seems very strong.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3605 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jul 2012 | 13 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
May 2016 | May 2016 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="The Ghost of '99"Judging by the fact that Hetherington gave Mulholland a full page in the Leeds programme today to set out his case, alongside a picture of the pair of them and Sinfield, it seems Leeds are very keen for him to be re-elected
'"
It might also help that Mulholland plays in the parliamentary RL team in the charity games they organise, I think they had one just the other weekend, he's also in the parliamentary RL group.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 18064 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Feb 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="cod'ead"Well, where to start?
The state grew during 1997-2008 simply because the previous tory administration had decimated the NHS and education to the point of near collapse. Patients on trollies in corridors, children educated in leaking "temporary" classrooms. Labour inherited that and something needed to be done to redress the problems.
Labour is not anti-business, it is however pro-business paying its share and making a fair contribution to the state costs of infrastructure. The US has a rate of corporation tax almost double ours and yet they still seem to allow companies to emerge and thrive.
"Building future slums"?
In 1953 my parents and I moved from a back bedroom in my grandmother's house, into a newly built, 2 bedroomed terrace house on a brand new estate, built on the outskirts of Hull. Built on land that had previoulsy been agricultural, so acquired for a song. The estate was a mix of 2,3 & 4 bedroomed houses, 2 pubs, 2 parades of shops with 1 & 2 bedroomed flats above. A fair amount of "pensioner bungalows", an "old folks home", a coupleof six-bedroomed homes for foster families and two doctors' surgeries (actually two 2 bedroom houses). The original tenants were spread across a wide range of careers: manual workers, office workers, managers, shop-owners - even the doctors originally lived in coucil houses on the estate. There was no shame in renting and nor should there be.
You must be the only person in the country who isn't
Salmond will hold less power than Clegg. The main bitterness following the referendum has ed around Cameron's cynical attempt to make the result work to the Tory party, rather than the UK's benefit.
Cuts in the local authority social funds have directly led to problems in the NHS, hence the bed-blocking we see currently'"
Where to start?
You are very selective about the points you comment on - let's take your points:
The NHS needs to be more efficiently run, just pumping money in as Labour did just increased the waste that already existed. Not enough clinic staff too many managers. Whoever takes on the NHS will have some difficult choices, I can't see how this can be funded and developed without a serious overhaul of how it is run and massive cash injections especially in preventative education.
On education you have to question what we are getting for our money - it needs investment but it needs an overhaul. When you have the likes of Ian Murch calling for a strike on a whim that there might be job losses you have to question if some of the power in the teaching unions are in the correct vocation.
USA is very different economy to here - its internal market is the size of Europe - they put barriers up to stop non American competition. If the CT system is so good how come the likes of Apple, Google etc don't pay their share in the US? Labour is not pro business if it were it have policies to support business I don't see any?
Whilst I take your point about renting, ownership should be seen as aspirational and not elitist as you seem to view it. Renting is barmy in my view - you are just paying out ever increasing amounts to a landlord who will be paying out ever decreasing amounts as the property ages. If there was a massive housing shortage you would not be able to find anywhere to rent - that is simply not the case. There maybe issues in certain areas where renting is expensive but there is accommodation to be had.
We must agree to differ on Salmond - it wasn't just Cameron everyone went in to bat against him over the referendum.
Cuts in local authority funding may have lead to bed blocking but that is more a case of resource and departmental management. Let's face it few could argue that social care in this country has been well managed.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 9721 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2001 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2020 | Apr 2020 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Sal Paradise"
Cuts in local authority funding may have lead to bed blocking but that is more a case of resource and departmental management. Let's face it few could argue that [size=200=#FF0000social care[/size in this country has been well managed.'"
Interesting comment.
This government, especially the IDS operated part, could well argue that social care has been "well managed". Some of the "horror stories", that have done the rounds regarding elderly couples, one being a carer for another with multiple requirements and having "beneits" cut would seem to fit the IDS model perfectly and they could argue that this is a success.
Its down to perspective and original starting point. Cuts were all that IDS has wanted and implemented. Basic humanity was a long way down the list and still is.
The trouble is there is no "one size fits all" solution to social care, simply because everyone is different in needs, BUT there are core skills/requirements which could/should be in place and when these are being eroded/eliminated how can these people call themselves "civilised".
If people want more of the same, or worse, then people know to vote for.
|
|
|
|
|