david_carnell

Magpie - welcome to the forum - you seem like the type of person we need more of.... measured, intelligent and not shouty at the first sign of dissent. Anyhoo - as you agree the wealth gap is increasing do you think this is acceptable (or even desirable) when all the evidence is to the contrary. Repeated surveys have shown that countries where the gap is smallest are the happiest and with the least social problems. And finally, I do not believe that Cameron would do anything to address this. Do you?

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think that your average member of a Union > has much say on how ther union does things. If you > disagree, you either get pushed out, or ignored. > Most people tow the line, because they're scared > not to. Not wanting to divert too far off topic but this isn't what I've experienced. As a fellow public service worker Keef I imagine you might well be a PCS member. We get to vote for branch reps and other officials all the way up to the Gen Sec all of whom have a say in policy decisions. Industrial action is balloted and majorities needed for it to go ahead. What were you expecting, personal phone calls from head office asking your opinion? I'm also not sure who is "scared" or of what? Does your union rep rule your office like some Stalinist apparatchik? Or have you been a blackleg and been given the skunk-eye by some brothers and sisters who were on the picket line? C'mon, seriously?! And whilst in the past, unions have been less accountable than they are now I'll take them over ICI et al anytime.

Hmmm - well I would counter that unions are mass-membership, democratic organisations so their input into the political process could be seen to have more representative of society than say "big business" which, by-and-large, supports and backs the Conservative Party. Business does not have societies interest at heart - merely it's shareholders. Essentially, if the share price rises, business couldn't give a flying ?$%^ about society. Only when it is forced to by government (and by that I also include the public who influence govt policy) does business become responsible or accountable.

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Well given how few companies can build nuclear power stations there wasn't much competition anyway. Your point is no less valid though.

No, you're probably pretty spot-on Quids. That's what I mean. Without a clear manifesto based on ideological principles all governments are susceptible to this sort of thing. The Ecclestone debacle was, in hindsight, a horrible sign of things to come under Blair. I'd disagree with you on the union link but perhaps that argument is for another time and another thread.

mockney piers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You do realise that we don't vote for a prime > minister don't you. You vote for your own elected > representative, the majority party(ies) form a > government and choose a first minister, the > electorate have never voted one in. > > Blair may have behaved like a presidential > executive but that doesn't mean he was one. > No wonder people don't engage wih the political > process if even old warhorses like Steve don't > understand it. I'm glad I'm not the only one who get's fed up with this "Brown wasn't elected" argument. Err, yes he was - by his constituency. On topic though: As a Labour supporter I am fed up with a government that fails to set out a belief system. I want them to tell the electorate what they stand for and why "policy x" will work towards that. When was the last time a politician stood up and announced, "....this is what I stand for" beyond the usual cliches of "hard-working families" etc? If Brown and the other cabinet ministers would at least do that then I could be vaguely optimistic, even if we lost the election, but currently it feels like they aer clinging to the last vestiges of power and will spend the 6 months rushing out any policies they feel will win a few votes. As for Cameron - is he that bad? Probably not actually. But neither is he good. Once more we will have a PM who has little ideology or creed to follow. And that leaves him susceptible to policy on the hoof. Only today in the Guardian is this danger exposed with the news that the pro-Israel lobby are major donors. The Tories are there to be bought and swayed. And that is very worrying indeed.

Posting the same thing twice? Sign of old age, dear.

Hmmm....not sure I want to go here but anyway: Mid-Twenties going on 56.

Barry Well done for all your hard work - it is much appreciated. Following on from Timster's post there are similar issues relating to the timeliness of the 8:32am service from Peckham Rye to Victoria. It is always late. And I mean always. Sometimes by two minutes, often by five or more. But what is more annoying is that up until 8:32am the info screens say it is on time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, it's late. If it is always going to be late, just be honest and change the time of this train so we know. I know these few minutes may seem inconsequential but it proves more fustrating than you'd imagine.

"You there, Palaeologus, if that is your real name, - stop running in the corridor. And put that curry down! What have I told you boy?!"

"You there, Palaeologus, if that is your real name, - stop running in the corridor. And put that curry down! What have I told you boy?!"

LegalEagle-ish Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lol, what you on about? I at least wait until > they've left school! Harsh but fair.

LegalEagle-ish Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lol, what you on about? I at least wait until > they've left school! Harsh but fair.

Electro-folk anyone:

Sometimes I just get the alcohol directly injected into my blood stream. Syringe drinking.

Because the French and Italians are never pompous?! But back on topic - the nub of the problem is that for decades we have had government's that have wanted an armed forces to be able to fight wars in far-flung corners of the globe but steadfastly refuse to pay for it. And the Army, because it doesn't get as much flash, expensive toys as the other forces (no boats, submarines, jet fighters, helicopters etc) - those things that Defence Ministers love to boast about buying - they are often the ones who suffer. The SA80 standard asssault rifle being a case in point. Piece of junk for twenty years yet we can find the cash for other white elephant projects. I can speak from first hand experience on the sums that are wasted on exploratory research and outside consultants yet troops on the ground go without. For me, that's pretty shocking behaviour.

Huguenot - the French overseas presence (mainly in Africa) eats up a lot of cash.

Jeremy ? I don?t have any of the latest figures on TA deployment to hand but ??in 2003, 9,500 reservists, the vast majority of them from the TA, were mobilised to take part in Operation Telic, the invasion of Iraq, in contrast only some 420 Regular Reservists were called-up. Approximately 1,200 members of the TA continue to deploy annually on tours of duty in Iraq, Operation Herrick in Afghanistan and elsewhere, normally on 6 month-long roulements.? (Wikipedia) We do have the highest military spending in Europe and I am happy to listen to arguments that this should be cut or at least made more efficient. But whilst we have government and opposition united in their belief in interventionist policies, the number of infantry soldiers required will remain high. Battleships and jet fighters are all very well but they have a tendency to be a bit cumbersome in a policing/security/hearts&minds role.

Hmmm.... I'm not convinced Anna. Name celebs and music stars that have died due to falling over or electrocuting themselves. Now name celebs who have died due to drugs/alcohol overdoses/mishaps. Which list is longer?

Suspicious = foul play Mysterious = not knowing why "Mysterious circumstances" would seem appropriate to me. The police have ruled out a crime but they've hardly illuminated the situation. And this forum thrives on gossip, be it about local shops, local characters, politicians or food. Just be glad the EDF wasn't running when that fella died in Barrymore's pool!

Yes it matters. Not only is it disastrous for all concerned but after a long break it is harder to get people back again as they pursue new activities and pastimes etc. Not to mention the skills fade and the need to retrain personnel when qualifications lapse - and then there is a large waiting list to get back on courses during the next couple of months of restarting etc. And what about all the recent recruits awaiting to join the next courses having done the entrance and perhaps weekend one- will they wait 6 months to get in, I think not. I think this is a cunning ploy by the MoD to make people leave the TA without them making swingeing cuts where publicity may go against. There is a plan out at moment to cut TA again by 10,000 so if a load leave who cannot train etc then this helps that overall effort. At a time when the TA still gives significant help to the regulars it seems the height of madness. If the defence budget needs trimming (and by god it needs restructuring) then there are far better candidates that the TA which is, for the main, a thoroughly worthwhile and respectable outfit.

In attempt to save money, the TA have been told to cease training their troops/members. This will save an estimated ?20million. When a single Eurofighter is estimated to cost ?95million is this the most efficient manner to cut costs in the armed forces? Should the defence budget be ring-fenced whilst we have troops fighting in Afghanistan and still pulling out of Iraq?

Oh come on..... that one practically wrote itself.

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Do organic rugs taste any better than non-organic? Not being a rug-muncher myself, I wouldn't know.