????

Waves up the hill

I think that the economics may possibly be true MM but I think the politics is awful. I think that Labour are winning the politics on the economy which is truly truly laughable and does show how poor DC and the Tories have been. They seem to have lost their bottle once they got significantly ahead in the polls and therefore passed the initiative back to Labour. I'm not going to vote Labour - who are the only party I've ever voted for in a GE) but as you know was considering voting Tory..can't see it now. Labour has successfully passed all the blame for the recession onto the global economy and the evil bankers and the tories have let them get away with this. The Tories have also decided eralier on an austerity approach - always risky - and suddenly today in the light of poor polls suddenly it's tax cuts (or no planned increase anyway). 2nd rate politics IMO and a lack of conviction... with the risk of 5 more years of Gordon.

I think it's a political own goal actually Keef - we've massive debts to repay and a reversal in the proposed National Insurance increase paid for out of apparent efficiencies with no effects on service delivery looks pie in the sky. Labour must be rubbing their hands with glee. Osbourne looks a massive liability and the Tories just look opportunistic idiots. Increasingly it looks likey to me that we'll get another term of GB who really, really deserves nothing else but the boot, Depressing all round....still I'm not sure if anyone really wants to win this election, the next 5 years will be carnage - strikes, cuts and very poor economic growth.

Have you a licence for these waters DrDom?

Good Rockumentary on Stiff records on the wireless yesterday....er Smooth FM :-$

Not on my tips!

Went to Newbury races on Saturday for my mum's birthday - crap racing, big fields, novices etc but still a good day out and a family tradition...but my nephew won the Placepot...?2 to win ?245, not bad for a 13 year old but you could see he's got the bug!

Monday in one to one; Me: "I think the best approach for this is ABC" Boss: "No I don't like that" Tuesday in team meeting Boss: "Right everyone, I've had a think about this and the best aproach is ABC"

HonnieB knows mine... I like punk and I like sham I got nicked over at west ham Cockney Rejects

"only 5 months to Milwall, 5 months to Millwall" :-S

MM I think that they're are vacous and meaningless but I'm equally unconvinced by the Conservatives now. If they've a vision or strategy, I don't see or hear it. All I increasingly see is a set of clearly negative and tactical/opportunistic attacks on an admittedly awful government but with no clear direction themselves and what appears to be a major lack of confidence and gravitas.... they look lightweight. And, from seriously considering it I am now almost certainly not voting Conservative....they are thoroughly unconvincing in my opinion. Luckily the Liberal Democrast are the best 'anyone but Labour option round here. Tony Blair may have been a charlatan but the contrast in terms of actual clear pledges with clear targets that Labour put out in 1997 and this set of touchy feely 'progressive' nothingness is sharp.

oooh gawd please let the election be over asap

My flounce will be shortlived and only prolonged by a weekend away :))

yup, Russia was a far better place in the 1980s............ ... this debate had stopped long ago, I bought it back and have contributed and was answering questions put to me You should take off your ideological and slightly angry hat and stop basing your responses on a whole load of pre-conceived ideas you have on my politics.... they're largely wrong by the way.

Bollox sean, I answered the question that LM asked and then yours......post not poster? Never works in here. Seriously I'm out - wasn't sure in the first place and actually far less civilised than the Lounge. You lot all stay and agree with each other.

I'll go away then from your coy consesus...you should learn some stats about averages and outliers btw teacherman Carnell...in those societies the huge vast majority of people had equal opportunity and equal resources ie practically none. The fact that a few didn't is statitically worth zilch. Those examples were in response to Sean's fairly unconsructive post. The point is that philisophical acceptance and unquestioning of equality=good whatever can lead to some unattended consequences that in some cases can be detrimental to good intentions (Eg Comprehensives) and in other cases murderous - eg most 'Socialist' countries. Plenty of abuse I get on this thread from you especially this time I'm really f*cked off with it .Same old left reactions not in with the consensus get a load of abuse and then discuss 'debate'. You are out of order David and I'm well f*cked off with your abuse Mr sanctomonious. I'm finished with the drawing room just a cosy room for middleclass liberals who soon start abusing anyone who disagrees. Drawing room a place for civility...my arse, same old sh1te.

China USSR Cambodia

But whose got the biggest Dad?

"Perfectly good" would be over the top but I believe the old system was helping 'mobility' and therefore equality of opportunity more than the one that replaced it. Of course it was based more on mobility than equality which seems to annoy those who would advocate equality. Inspite of the more equal=happier mantra, the most equal societies have also been among the most murderous and sapping of human dignity and spirit of any produced in history....happy places? *sits back and awaits "but look at Sweden"*

Well I admit to having a sneaky admiration for those very few adults that stand in the playground park smoking. I quite admire them standing there taking the massive projection of hatred from all the parents without a flicker.

The Mash on Zola

Or Zola

Rearrange the following Brendan "Hold dont breath your". As I'm currently inclined to vote for Thingy what are his and Vince wotsinames plans too?

yup and didn't we once have an educational stystem that gave the brightest kids from any backgrounds a decent education and also channeled many non-academic kids into more technical skills rather than say 'Media Studies' and was seriously undermining private education until those that preach 'equality' without thinking got hold of it?....or is that the other thread?

It's an aside, and nothing to do with the merits, but makes me laugh a bit how the report thinks that New Labour has shifted views to the 'right'...it is just as likely in fact more probable that New Labour followed opinion. People working in social science/policy and politics still have a rather endearing, statist and centralised view of how the state etc is the driver of opinion.