Zebedee Tring

I'm not blaming you for the inequalities in society. However, it is you, not I, who have made this suggestion, so if the cap fits, wear it. I am very aware that Cameron went to Eton (not Eaton), as did a disproportionate number of leading politicians such as Boris Johnson, Zac Goldsmith and other government members. However, you don't seem to be very concerned about this; maybe you should be. To quote the old private school motto, "Quis paget, entrat".

Well it's unfortunate that so many people feel that they are obliged to send their kids to private schools because they can't be bothered to investigate the suitability of state schools. As another poster says, London has some of the best state schools in the country and these schools have improved enormously over the last decade or so. Or do parents go into the private sector so that their children don't have to mix with "the wrong kind of children" (euphemism for something else) and then whine endlessly about how poor they are after paying the fees?

Oh my gawd. Sainsbury's in Dulwich Village? That'll mean that more of the hoi polloi will do their shopping there (irony alert).

It is only in the UK that someone would say that they've let their child down by moving them from a private school to a state school. It's no wonder that the country is in such a bloody mess and that there is so much inequality.

Only two uses of the word "socialist" in your latest post, fazer. Perhaps you're on the road to recovery.

You're getting a bit paranoid, fazer. I was suggesting, in an obviously too subtle way for you, that you might wish to have a word with a professional who might be able to work with you in order to reduce or minimise what I consider to be your obsession with socialism. If you don't regard it as an obsession, then so be it. However, it might help to stop me thinking that it is an obsession on your part if you stopped referring in a derogatory way to socialism in so many posts that you make on the EDF.

Fazer, you included six derogatory references to "socialism" or "socialists" in your last post. I would call that an obsession. Perhaps you could have a word with someone about it.

Several of us, on the EDF and by email, warned Southwark officers and councillors that the remodelling of the junction would prove to be a total cock up and would make things more dangerous. But did they listen? No, we were just nimbies and agitators who thought that we knew better than them, in spite of having amongst our number several people with professional and/or experience as cyclists.

"Grand old age of 89". How patronising can you get? What about the people who can't manage it? I'm not defending the people who drive for short distances. My comments were directed at cyclists who seem to be saying that everyone should cycle regardless. This is a bit like the attitude of the Southwark Council ruling party.

Fazer, haven't you noticed that the extremely unsocialist Cameron is running the country and the extremely unsocialist Boris is running London. And if you think that Blair and Brown were socialists, then you're obviously deluded. Your obsession with the so-called scourge of socialism is becoming somewhat tedious.

Wulfhound, what about the people who are too old, infirm or disabled to cycle? Don't you care about them?

In other words they have implemented a remodelling of the Townley/EDG junction which seems to have had the effect of making traffic worse in Calton Avenue, which effect they have ignored when coming up with a further proposal that will increase the traffic in Calton Avenue even more. And that's just talking about the potential chaos for Calton Avenue, let alone many other roads in area. The words "brewery","piss up", "organise"and "couldn't" spring to mind.

I would like to make a practical suggestion. Perhaps we could all club together and buy fazer some packets of earplugs. That might go some way to alleviate the problem.

Fazer, judging from your previous posting history, you sound as if you are a fan of Margaret Thatcher, the woman who said "There is no such thing as society". In other words, she was really saying "As long as I get what I want, then sod you even if you're inconvenienced by my needs". So an unfettered flights policy is the logical conclusion of Thatcherite philosophy. I hasten to add that Thatcherism is virtually the opposite of what I believe, since in my opinion there should be severe constraints on flights, especially when so many businesspeople can communicate with each other by Skype and the like without needing to fly. But fazer, surely you can see the inconsistencies in your ideological position.

DulvilleRes, I defy you to point out exactly where I (as opposed to anyone else) have said that I was in favour of aircraft noise. I am in fact very much opposed to aircraft noise and indeed have only flown twice during the last fifteen years. I am in no doubt that climate change very much exists. Satisfied?

I hear what you say, fazer. Now may I suggest that you go and lie down for a bit, since you seem somewhat overwrought. Even if people haven't heard the term "birthers", they will certainly have read about fanatics like Trump saying that Obama shouldn't be President and their spurious reason for saying this.

On one level I find Fazer's stance amusing and indeed contradictory since, on the basis of his posting history, he appears to be a free market enthusiast who believes that the market is always right and that state intervention of any kind constitutes dogmatic socialism. One would therefore expect him to say that if the market demands unlimited flights and airport runways, then this should be allowed. However, since I am a compassionate man, I would like to offer him an argument that will enable him to climb out of the hole that he has dug for himself. Instead of comparing climate change deniers to Holocaust deniers, a better analogy would be the "birthers" in the USA who, in spite of all the evidence produced, still argue that Obama wasn't born in the USA and therefore shouldn't be President.

Fazer, knowing your political views, I am sure that you would fully support a system of taxing unoccupied land, or indeed the taxation of the notional rent payable on all property (owner occupied and otherwise) that was in force during most of the term of the 1951-64 Tory Government (Schedule A tax).

Thanks for your summary, Robin.

Rch, I couldn't get to the Dulwich Society open meeting. Perhaps you or someone else who attended could give us a rundown of what happened.

Spot on, slarti b. You've hit the nail on the head. And since you are an active cyclist, you can't be tarred with the anti-cyclist brush. When will Southwark and their partners in crime be held accountable?

James, I've amended my post and have answered your question. Satisfied?. I think that I'm doing more to save the world than the trendies who boast about how much they recycle their rubbish and ride their bikes but who then fly off on holiday annually to the USA or Kenya and kid themselves about how wonderful they are. You seem to have forgotten that it is we, the general public, who hold you politicians to account and not vice versa.

Hi, JB. One of the answers is for a political party not to join in coalition with another party that in government over five years has contributed to the increase in all the ills that you mention. I think that you know which party I mean. I think that you are making your pro cycling inclinations a bit too obvious, which would account for the stance that you have been taking on many local issues. I should add that although we have a car I am now driving less than in nearly 50 years of driving and use public transport most of the time. I have also flown only twice in the last 15 years. My carbon footprint is therefore lower than virtually anyone than I know. So I think that I'm doing my bit.

Can't someone get hold of the draft minutes of the 9 September meeting and find out what was decided? How about that Councillor for the East Dulwich Ward (can't remember his name)? Can't he do this? Indeed can't any member of the great unwashed ring up the Committee Clerk and check?

I would love to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. It would be lovely if everyone sat down on great bean bags in the middle of the Townley Road/EDG junction in the rush hour and gave each other a big hug, rather trying to get to work. However, I think that I live in the real world rather than some fantasy existence.