Politics

[ChezGiven 0]

"Do you want to come back to mine to play with my robot?"

 

[Gemmill 46081]

Gonch Gardner was a hero of mine, as it happens. The perfect combination of cheeky and cool.

[Park Life 71]

Please boys...There's a place in my heart for both of you.

[Gemmill 46081]

I would never come between you two.

[Dr Gloom 22181]

 

9/11 happened on Labour's watch. But they didn't fucking cause that any more than they caused the global financial crisis, you tit.

 

they're also responsible for the thailand tsunami, the birth of e-commerce and the explosion in reality TV....all happened on their watch, must be down to decisions they made!

 

what an absolute fuckit man, we need him to post more again for the entertainment value.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Dr Gloom

[TheDimpleboy 0]

Stop whining about what might have happened the bottom line is it happened on Labours watch after 13 years of a wasteful Labour government.

 

As usual, they inherited a good economy from the conservatives and blew it. You gloss over PFI's which are crippling the NHS or selling the gold off or being directly responsible for mis-leading the country into an illegal war wrecking millions of lives.

 

That's before we get onto the bloated welfare system they put in place or the flood of immigrants they let in on purpose.

 

I'll listen to any point of view that is objective but yours just sounds like the usual one sided clap trap.

 

One sided clap-trap? Eh????

 

The Iraq war, along with PFI and the EU/immigration are the reasons I have decided not to vote for Labour, and instead have voted UKIP.

 

If you are coming from a neutral perspective than criticising Labour's spending is perfectly rational - but it makes fuck all sense to use it as a stick to beat Labour with if you're defending a party who wanted to do EXACTLY the same with more deregulation. Unless of course you're suggesting that deregulation + the sub prime mortgage crisis weren't the key factors in the global recession? Would it be fair if the roles were reversed and I was sat here saying 'vote labour because the tories crashed the economy' if the global crisis happened on the Tories watch and Labour had pledged to match all their spending plans?

 

You criticise PFI (fairly), but ignore the fact they were first introduced under a Major government, that they are still being used under this government - and that the largest wasteful PFI contract to date has been signed under this coalition government.

 

You criticise mass-immigration (and I agree), while failing to point out immigration has reached higher levels than under Labour.

 

You criticise the 'bloated welfare system' Labour produced, completely ignoring the massive amount of spending that was urgently needed on it when Labour inherited it in 1997 after it had been cut to the bones under a Major government. (I am NOT condoning the 'white dee's' of the world, they're fucking scrotes that deserve massive sanctions). You also ignore the fact that this coalition government has attacked the 'bloated welfare system' by literally killing people with sanctions and targeting the most vulnerable and genuinely needy with aggressive sanction quotas. Fecklessness pisses me off, but this turns my stomach.

 

And unless I'm mistaken didn't Brown sell off the gold to avoid a complete financial melt-down and bail one of the over-leveraged US banks?

 

This lad from the FT doesn't think it was too bad an idea: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5788dbac-7680-11e0-b05b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3ZOVkxwBj

[Park Life 71]

There is a reason why Labour 'sort of' caused the financial crisis but as a leftie I shall never reveal it.

[ChezGiven 0]

Tit.

[TheDimpleboy 0]

There is a reason why Labour 'sort of' caused the financial crisis but as a leftie I shall never reveal it.

 

Deregulation?

[Gemmill 46081]

It'll be something to do with astrology, I reckon.

[Dr Gloom 22181]

Tbf, Blair didn't help matters with the light touch regulation batton he took on from Thatcher but to suggest it was anything to do with public spending under New Labour is just nonsense - entirely in keeping with most of CT's arguments in other words.

[JJ 0]

I agree with pretty much everything Dimpleboy said in the last few pages, and then wondered why the hell he voted UKIP, but to be fair it sort of makes sense. I personally don't see immigration as a problem, even on the scale it is, but that's just a difference of opinion.

 

The Tories economic plan has been utterly dreadful the last 5 years. It'll be an utter disaster if we have to put up with them for another 5 years.

 

The only hope if they do squeak through is that there is a myth that we have to vote Tory because they are the party of "fiscal responsibility" when we all know they are the party of irresponsible ideology. The next five years would hopefully blow that out of the water.

 

That being said, if the polls are correct, then it'll be very hard for them to get a Queen's speech passed. I still suspect they will have a handful more seats than Labour, but Labour will end up forming a minority government. I know the right wing press will cry foul and call it illegitimate, but the problem won't be the outcome. The problem will be the constitution.

 

Regards the SNP, they won't have as much influence as people think in this scenario. There's not going to be a formal deal. But when it comes to mansion taxes and the 50p tax rate and extra NHS funding and anything else seen as progressive, Labour will get SNP support to pass the motion. When it comes to things like austerity and Trident the SNP will vote against them, but they'll get support from the Tories anyway so it won't matter what the SNP say.

 

Labour in minority can conceivably get at least 90% of their manifesto implemented with the SNP having no influence except in support. I'm sure that frightens people because they think Labour are bringing some form of socialism with this manifesto, but it couldn't be much more different to the reality.

 

Not much will change regardless of who is Prime Minister, but at least if it's Ed Miliband the economic plan will be less ideological.

 

Of course I wish everyone was voting Green, but oh well. Maybe next time.

[PaddockLad 17684]

I agree with pretty much everything Dimpleboy said in the last few pages, and then wondered why the hell he voted UKIP, but to be fair it sort of makes sense. I personally don't see immigration as a problem, even on the scale it is, but that's just a difference of opinion.

 

The Tories economic plan has been utterly dreadful the last 5 years. It'll be an utter disaster if we have to put up with them for another 5 years.

 

The only hope if they do squeak through is that there is a myth that we have to vote Tory because they are the party of "fiscal responsibility" when we all know they are the party of irresponsible ideology. The next five years would hopefully blow that out of the water.

 

That being said, if the polls are correct, then it'll be very hard for them to get a Queen's speech passed. I still suspect they will have a handful more seats than Labour, but Labour will end up forming a minority government. I know the right wing press will cry foul and call it illegitimate, but the problem won't be the outcome. The problem will be the constitution.

 

Regards the SNP, they won't have as much influence as people think in this scenario. There's not going to be a formal deal. But when it comes to mansion taxes and the 50p tax rate and extra NHS funding and anything else seen as progressive, Labour will get SNP support to pass the motion. When it comes to things like austerity and Trident the SNP will vote against them, but they'll get support from the Tories anyway so it won't matter what the SNP say.

 

Labour in minority can conceivably get at least 90% of their manifesto implemented with the SNP having no influence except in support. I'm sure that frightens people because they think Labour are bringing some form of socialism with this manifesto, but it couldn't be much more different to the reality.

 

Not much will change regardless of who is Prime Minister, but at least if it's Ed Miliband the economic plan will be less ideological.

 

Of course I wish everyone was voting Green, but oh well. Maybe next time.

 

I may have been tempted by the Greens down here but the anti nuclear power thing doesnt make sense to me. Good luck today mate, think my cousin's hubby in Innerleithen may know you..not sure if you can count on their vote either though

Edited May 7, 2015 by PaddockLad

[Renton 22006]

JJ, you talk a lot of sense so it's actually surprising to me you're standing as a Green (though I admire the fact you are doing something). To me, they are one of the most dogmatic parties and their manifesto is batshit crazy. (Would love to go into this more but unfortunately not having access to a keyboard prevents this).

[Gemmill 46081]

Slight wobble when I was told my street wasn't on the list at my polling station. Took them about 5 minutes of frantically scrabbling around with papers to realise it was on there, just not in alphabetical order.

[Renton 22006]

Not even sure I'm registered after moving house. Had problems with the council not accepting my identity, they say I am now registered but haven't got a polling card.

[Howmanheyman 33881]

I'll vote, it just doesn't seem as important in a safe seat. Almost feels like a small minority elsewhere has the say on the future of the north east.

[Christmas Tree 4843]

I'll vote, it just doesn't seem as important in a safe seat. Almost feels like a small minority elsewhere has the say on the future of the north east.

It doesn't feel like that, it is like that.

 

Think that's why most people are uninterested in politics because their vote doesn't count. That and all the inane sound bites and refusal to discuss politics properly by the politicians.

[The Fish 10972]

Done.

 

I voted for One Direction, Zane is dreamy.

[Monkeys Fist 43095]

It doesn't feel like that, it is like that.

 

Think that's why most people are uninterested in politics because their vote doesn't count. That and all the inane sound bites and refusal to discuss politics properly by the politicians.

When are you running for office?

[Andrew 4871]

It doesn't feel like that, it is like that.

 

Think that's why most people are uninterested in politics because their vote doesn't count. That and all the inane sound bites and refusal to discuss politics properly by the politicians.

 

Times are grave, vote for dave.

 

[The Fish 10972]

When are you running for office?

Jesus, don't fucking encourage him man.

 

He'll turn that thinly veiled dig into a "Well, my friends all said I should stand because I speak common sense." platform

[PaddockLad 17684]

CT you think discussing Politics properly is repeating Tory party rhetoric

[Dr Gloom 22181]

I agree with pretty much everything Dimpleboy said in the last few pages, and then wondered why the hell he voted UKIP, but to be fair it sort of makes sense. I personally don't see immigration as a problem, even on the scale it is, but that's just a difference of opinion.

 

The Tories economic plan has been utterly dreadful the last 5 years. It'll be an utter disaster if we have to put up with them for another 5 years.

 

The only hope if they do squeak through is that there is a myth that we have to vote Tory because they are the party of "fiscal responsibility" when we all know they are the party of irresponsible ideology. The next five years would hopefully blow that out of the water.

 

That being said, if the polls are correct, then it'll be very hard for them to get a Queen's speech passed. I still suspect they will have a handful more seats than Labour, but Labour will end up forming a minority government. I know the right wing press will cry foul and call it illegitimate, but the problem won't be the outcome. The problem will be the constitution.

 

Regards the SNP, they won't have as much influence as people think in this scenario. There's not going to be a formal deal. But when it comes to mansion taxes and the 50p tax rate and extra NHS funding and anything else seen as progressive, Labour will get SNP support to pass the motion. When it comes to things like austerity and Trident the SNP will vote against them, but they'll get support from the Tories anyway so it won't matter what the SNP say.

 

Labour in minority can conceivably get at least 90% of their manifesto implemented with the SNP having no influence except in support. I'm sure that frightens people because they think Labour are bringing some form of socialism with this manifesto, but it couldn't be much more different to the reality.

 

Not much will change regardless of who is Prime Minister, but at least if it's Ed Miliband the economic plan will be less ideological.

 

Of course I wish everyone was voting Green, but oh well. Maybe next time.

I voted Green, mate. My seat is safe Labour so my little protest against what the Labour Party have become. Though I have been way more impressed with the way Miliband has conducted himself in this campaign than I thought I would be. And surprised at how negative and desperate the Tories have been.

 

The Geens need to get a new leader if they ever want to gain the kind of momentum and coverage Farage managed with ukip. Bennet seems a nice woman but she's been entirely unimpressive, has zero charisma and is Australian. And the party needs electoral reform if they're ever going to progress into the mainstream.

 

Good luck today!

Edited May 7, 2015 by Dr Gloom

[Christmas Tree 4843]

CT you think discussing Politics properly is repeating Tory party rhetoric

Honestly, I say this with no hesitation, I probably talk more sense and am more politically balanced than everyone on here.

 

That's not being smug, just likely.