????

"We are all individuals" "I'm not"

It was an example of an area which many families don't need it. The facts on this are actually posted somewhere further up on this thread so rather than thinking we're all snooty not caring tories why don't you read back a bit and see that in fact a significant 5 of kids in southwark really don't need their meals paid for, those that do can get it (although some a few 1000 are reckoned not too becuase of failure to claim or stigma)and given cuts that will be coming won't it be better not to use council money in looks like a poor attempt to get family votes. If you'd read through this earlier rather than jumping to conclusions as you think that all on this threa are on a anti politicains rant, you'd have maybe come up with a better defence.

er.....it's means tested now. Labour are going to make it universal

do you think many families in ED need their school meals paid for Sean especially when serious cuts are on the way? Looks like am attempt to buy votes....

Day after congrats are the new birthday as you know TT ;-) Many congrats for (yesterday) PGC* .....I think it was yesterday

Oh thank you for deeming our conversations as useful and important, I shall tug my forelock any minute. A council/governemnt can also have the most self-serving and useless policies in the land and dress them up as all sorts of things via various communication channels.

Eat the Rich PJ O'Rourke - Very good on all of this *extends wrist for slapping*

Originally used to describe the new Foxton's when it opened Sandperson which makes it even better

Yeah, Jah if you'd just got those bleedin 6 points against Wolves *shakes fist in direction of Lane*

..and back to solutions for the forum Technically they should be in the 'business' sections, especially given there marketing approach to politics! (unpractical I iknow) Technically why should their signatures be allowed when say Sue's or Peckham Roses aren't? As for engagement, did they have the manners to approach Admin and ask where and how they should be? I suspect not becuase given their tendancy to self importance I suspect they though we'd all be absoulutely delighted to have their politics on here. The internet and forums do have a capability to change engagement but not if it's all Pravda like. How about a link to party websites and then just letting them on to the forum to dicsuss and even start political threads but as individuals. The tedious debates and prepepared 'stuff' about how much the council spent on paperclips can be avoided as that just end up as politicians arguing at each other with their various lines on it. All my opinion obviously.

I'd made the alteration before your post Sean - I didn't mean the original to be as strong by any means, hopefully it's clearer what I was thinking. They are politicians they are up there to be criticised and scrutinised MORE than us mere mortals which Is why the expense thing riled me especially the 'oh everyone's at it' tone that them good old 'metroplitan elites' seemed to adapt as defence. I've met a few reasonably famous politicians...not impressed, I dunno wot the answer is but I'm not going to just accept being told rather than engaged with or blatant idiocy because of party lines 9see drugs debate etc) The reverse...I am suspiscious of Iamhere's providence

It's not really engagement Sean, it's applying party line and party political point scoring to a local forum. Engagemant on a forum like this is either getting involved in debates in ways such as political posters we know and love do. Or offering a true service say as JB does. It's not appearing at elections with the party line, 'telling us' from on high and slagging 'the other lot off' They, one party, in particular are great at that from TJMPs occasional non-replying missives including false claims of success on say the school budgets success (which was apparently cross party) to the latest set of piling into a useful point of genuine political engagement with political tit-tat. They don't know better than me, you or other forumites.... go away with their preachy we know best crap or come and engage properly. The recent stuff looks like "Strategy for South Southwark results from Brainstorm session - 'Get on EDF, undermine Liberal Democrats, tell um stuff we think they'd like to hear...free meals for all kids yup great for all that nappy valley place". I'm probably missreading but it sometimes seems to me that you have a slightly subservient tone to the political classes I think they are largely visionless, out of touch, directed to by those that must be obeyed from on high...no wonder we don't get proper debates on Newsnight, Question Time, etc. Profesionall politicians...I spit on them. Plus I have a bad taste in my mouth about that post about non-contact with JBarber from a newbie who has since gone...probably someone with an odd grievance but.....

Come On Huge, I didn't think that you believed in conspiracy theories? Thats's 1980s Sociology lecturer at a Poly in the Midlands stuff. Even dismissing the moral issues, and yes many companies do have these, proper investment in countries is encouraged mainly by A reasonable seperate and independent legal system - to uphold contract/copyright etc Safety of investment - both in terms of security ownership and actual infrastructure (plant etc) and safety of workforce Clear realatively predictable revenus straems and investment ie not a whole load of mandatory unexpected 'drinks' Now, of course some companies (oil and arnamnets spring to mind) are happy to bypass or build in the risks of poor governace on the basis of potential ROI but to say that poor governance isn't a major (and in some cases the major contributor) to a countries poverty is cloud cukoo stuff from a 1980s SWP march.

What's the solution? It's already getting right on my t!ts and it's only going to get worse this year. Any ideas? A seperate thread for each party? (though the tories don't even seem to bother on here). Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with political threads and posters having viewpoints and stated affiliations such as DavidC and MamoraM - but it's all the extension of the Southwark Council debating chamber stuff that PISSES me off. Is it just me? Personally, I'm just going to start being anatagonistic, sarcastic and aggressive...well even more than normal.

So great, a thread set up to for a means of contact to a local councillor is now turning into 'my dad is bigger than yours' crap......why don't the Labour lot stick to their own thread and leave this as it was set up to be. Fairly contemptible to start playing party politics on this -to the electorate as well as Mr Barber. It reminds me of why so many of us distrust and dislike politicians.

And what's the Labour party line on bullying in schools......:-S

No points was my predicter score... we'll still be 12 with 42 points!

Annoyingly we can't give Gilbratar away (strategically now of little importance) as it's a dive and a half (though and odd and slightly fascinating place) but given that in the last referendum a grand total of 7 out of 23,000 of the population voted to go back to Spain, no chance. Technically the moors had it far longer than Spain ever did anyway.

That's it bloody rain...I'm packing up my rod (geeedit) and going home. Bah.

700

..presumablty after they've had a crap?

Now, that was funny

Yup, I've even noticed they have a ball thing called a pouk or something I never even knew that featured in Ice Hockey before

CC - I think you're being a bit grumpy as on both of those recent questions you put up as examples... 1) The Reading one asked for experience in terms of driving vs The Train during rush hour not basic "Where's Reading how do I get there" stuff 2) The one about the bus was asking if there were roadworks on the Strand and where they still effecting the route (i'd think TFL were about as useful as a choccy teapot on this). I think they're reasonable requests. "What line is E&C?" on would probably not be.

...I liked this bit. The article's crap though many of these blog ones are