Earl Aelfheah

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > rahrahrah Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > > This is fine - but do you or would you willingly > accept that many people who say vote Tory do > exactly the same thing? Because they do - but most > people from the left are completely unwilling to > accept this. Tories are all selfish, > self-interested, not believing in society etc Errr, yes. Where did I say otherwise? I was responding to the suggestion that people only vote in their narrow self interest and pointing out one obvious example where that's not the case - of the wealthy person voting for a party that would generally raise taxes on them. I could easily have used another, perhaps a less affluent person voting against redistributive policies, but thought the former more interesting because it's often, strangely portrayed as dishonest or unprincipled somehow.

Again (and at risk of being accused of 'virtue signalling') - I genuinely vote (or at least consciously I do - I'm sure there are all kind of bias' that come into it) for the policies I think are best for the country and the society I want to live in. I think it's not unusual to be honest (hence the notion of 'Champagne Socialists' - which while meant as a pejorative, could also be seen as quite a noble position).

Refurb

The CPZ won't calm traffic, it may well have the opposite effect. Camberwell Grove reopening will improve things.

I think many would pay more tax if it were hypothecated.

Lou, you OK?

... personally, I'd go for option 3.

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was always a fan of the concept of an extra 1p > on tax to fix the NHS. Then I read the other day > that 1p on income tax would raise about ?4.6 bn. > That, whilst useful, would not go anywhere near > solving any of the current problems. > > I am starting to think the NHS cannot survive in > its current form. But I have no idea what a > different NHS would look like. > > All I do know is that it MUST stay free at the > point of delivery. The NHS is incredibly efficient. That doesn't mean it's the best service, but that it delivers great value relative to what we put in. Really what we need to decide is whether we want (1) a less efficient service, paid partly via taxation, delivering different levels of service, with higher quality care to those willing to pay more. (2) the current system, efficient, cheap, delivering the same service to everyone, but not as high quality as it could be with better funding. (3) similar to the current system, efficient, delivering the same service to everyone, but with higher funding in order to provide higher quality care, paid via taxation. (4) a private system, more expensive, less efficient, delivering only to those willing to pay.

From the King's Fund: "Whatever the flaws of international comparisons, it?s clear the UK is currently a relatively low spender on health care ? as the Barker Commission pointed out ? with a prospect of sinking further down the international league tables. The question is increasingly not so much whether it is sustainable to spend more ? after all, many countries already manage that and have done for decades. Rather, it is whether it is sustainable for our spending to remain so comparatively low, given the improvements in the quality of care and outcomes we want and expect from our health services." source: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2016/01/how-does-nhs-spending-compare-health-spending-internationally

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So only immigrants are guilty of "bed-blocking"? Clearly not. It would be good to hear an account of what the real problems are in the NHS, from someone with first hand experience of working there. My guess would be that that lack of funding is the biggest challenge right now. We spend considerably less as a percentage of GDP than the European average and with big cuts to social care, it's not at all surprising that people are getting stuck in hospital.

It's hard to disagree TheCat. I suspect (if those accounts are true) that they're pretty atypical - but maybe I'm wrong. Would be interesting to hear the experiences of others actually working in the NHS themselves who frequent the forum.

'Anchor babies'?* *[EDITED TO ADD] ...just googled this term. I had never heard it before, but seems to be from the US, specifically related to American citizenship and not what is being talked about on this thread https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/21/anchor-babies-2016-election-immigration

Things can only get better 😉

How about some bunting strung over Northcross Road. That'd be nice.

The vets is definitely moving. I spoke to them today

Kellyanne Conway's interview techniques:

IlonaM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Just been sent this about the checks on > President's tweets: > > http://www.lawfareblog.com/thoughts-strange-day%E2 > %80%94and-very-strange-presidential-tweet Wow.

JJ@260 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seems a shame to open a vet on a main high street, > would have been a great spot for a new independent > restaurant. It's a shame that they had to move from their current location opposite the park. It'll be much more difficult to take the cat there without parking.

uncleglen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ...I still think > that because of the contradictions on both sides > people voted Remain or Leave according to their > own personal circumstances and experience, or by > Virtue Signalling Can we please retire the phrase 'virtue signalling'.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am, for the first time in my life, completely > with Blair. > > But because it's Blair, he's probably done more > harm than good. ^this

It's interesting that MPs who campaigned relentlessly for us to leave the EU in the decades following 1975 referendum, now call anyone campaigning against the outcome of last years vote 'enemies of democracy'. @nxjen - I agree that Blair's intervention is probably unhelpful.

Jenny1 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ...I've just thought of someone else Trump reminds > me of. Chairman Mao. It's that endless anger thing > he's got going on. > > ...edited to add ....and that unshakeable belief > in himself as the sole fount of all wisdom. That's > very Mao. I was thinking of the guy from the tango adverts.

Whilst his intervention is probably counterproductive - what he said is correct IMO. The reaction from Gove et al, is as depressing as it is predictable. The idea that because you've lost a vote, you should stop campaigning, stop discussing the issues, or challenging different views is ridiculous. The idea that failure to 'shut up' is somehow anti democratic is absurd and seems to muddle democracy with autocracy.

Fox reporting that the 'alt-left propaganda media' got a 'historic beatdown' from Trump yesterday: http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/16/hannity-monologue-trump-news-conference-epic-beatdown-press The only voice on Fox to break rank: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/17/fox-news-anchor-shepard-smithangers-trump-supporters-attacking/