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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted -
28/04/2011
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07:37
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Political comment is a high risk activity on the site these days so I thought I'd try again to give those who are interested in politics a safe haven!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk
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Tardis
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Posted - 14/12/2011 : 14:59
Ouch!
Wonder if wierd Ed will call it a day after today's evisceration at PMQ's. Might give Labour a chance, as I see his ratings amongst his own ranks is at only 26% now (labourlist)
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catgate
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Posted - 14/12/2011 : 19:45
quote: Tardis wrote:
Telegraph has today picked up the RBS report...only 3 politicians mentioned...Bliar, Brown, Balls They were only working to orders.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2011 : 04:33
In a way Catty I agree. Whilst they were culpable and I hold no brief for them, in a way they were victims of the system of deregulation that started in the 1960s. No political party is free from blame. Remember that even the Tories supported the handling of the economy, they were all hoodwinked by the Lords of the Universe. Far better to work together for real reform. At least the Lloyds branches will be operated by a Mutual if the Co-op Bank takeover comes off.
Unemployment figures. Worst since 1994. Now let's see, who was in power then? Is there a track record? Women and young people worst hit and remember that these are minimum figures massaged as low as possible. It is a disgrace and despite their protestations and ya-boo performance the Coalition could do more. The resemblance to the 1930s is uncanny.
EU situation doesn't improve. The signs are not good and the timescale to any denoument may be shorter than anyone thought. There is a flight from the Euro and this might be the last straw.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2011 : 05:40
Just heard a report that the Euro is at an 11 year low.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
belle
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Posted - 15/12/2011 : 11:02
I can't think who will be rushing to buy euro's it's time Germany bit the bullet and started to use some of it's funding..the only reason everyone is so cross with Britain is it's what they would like to do too!
Life is what you make it |
Tardis
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Posted - 15/12/2011 : 16:22
Just in case you missed this in economics. Unemployment is a visible symptom of the way an econmy is run, and all the impacting factors.
If we were to look at those who were employed in the 1950's how many would have a greater skill level today?
Plus, how much of an impact (real or not) has the mass immigration been on the welfare state system?
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 16/12/2011 : 05:29
Harold Wilson said that one man's unemployment is 100%. Those out of work are not interested in economic theory or fancy questions. They are suffering a personal tragedy and deserve sympathy. There are human beings behind all these statistics, important to concentrate on them.
Did you hear the president of the French bank saying that if their AAA rating was reduced so should the UK's. A good example of how shallow and hysterical much of the comment is. Melvyn will not be amused!
Feltham amd Heston by election result carries some interesting messages. At 29% the turnout was the lowest for 11 years. Labour increased their majority by 8% and Lib Demms only scraped in third a few votes in front of UKIP
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 16/12/2011 : 06:41
Christine Lagard of the IMF has issued a statement saying that global action is needed to save Eiro. She warns that if this is not done there could be a rerun of the 1930s Depression. She has evidently been reading the history! Thank God someone has a sense of the past and can draw attention to the lessons that can be learned.
Meanwhile, disturbing signs of something I mentioned a while ago. Very covert at the moment but there are signs that Protectionism is raising its head. In particular there is a call here to re-examine the loss of the rail contract which would have kept Bombardier in Derby working. It was given to the German firm Siemens. This is the sort of decision that should be looked at very carefully and proper cost/benefit analysis applied. First cost is often not the full story. This is not protectionism but common sense.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
belle
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Posted - 16/12/2011 : 09:16
Stanley as i heard it the French were saying the uk should have it's AAA rating reduced instead of them!
Life is what you make it |
Tardis
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Posted - 16/12/2011 : 10:34
I am reminded of : correlation is not necessarily causatality.
I liked the Matt cartoon from the Telegraph today:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/
It is, however, inconceivable that the UK would be isolated if the Euro went down. It is also noticeable that whilst the policitcal rhetoric has been stepped up on the continent it is not supported by their media, and is explicity contracdicted by the efforts of Rumpoy to get the UK back "inside the tent" for the negoitiations. After all, most of those bond auctions for the euro will have to go through London.
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handlamp
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Posted - 16/12/2011 : 15:30
I gave up on the French all of 60 years ago in the days of when we were inclined to safely call 'em the `Roaming Frogs'. All their today's rhetoric regarding `Our Dave' using our veto should be viewed in the context of the number of times they have used it to protect their small farmers against urgently needed amendments to the CAP. Me thinks they're worse than the Lancastrians!!!!!
Ted |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 17/12/2011 : 05:18
I listened to the French explanation of why UK rating should be downgraded based on comparative indices. Interesting that what they failed to flag up is the fact that their ratings are in danger because of their membership of the Euro and the massive exposure of their banks to the inevitable Mediterranean defaults. They are tied to a millstone but in denial. Credit rating agency Fitch says that a solution of the Mediterranean default problem is both politically and economically impossible.
Reports suggest that the 'rescue packege' for the Euro is not going well. UK can attend meetings as 'an observer' but will have no veto.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 17/12/2011 : 05:58
I'd missed Cameron's 'back to basics' speech. Always dangerous when a politician scrapes the bottom of the barrel and either wraps himself in the flag or embraces religion for political purposes. 'Family Values' comes under this heading. Let's see, what effect did it have when John Major attempted it?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Julie in Norfolk
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Posted - 17/12/2011 : 06:17
Yup, its that old chestnut again. Went onto the BBC pages to see if I could become more informed - but reading what Cameron said, I don't need to be - he does.
Measure with a micrometer. Mark with a pencil. Cut with an axe. |
Tizer
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Posted - 17/12/2011 : 12:06
quote: Stanley wrote: Feltham and Heston by election result carries some interesting messages. At 29% the turnout was the lowest for 11 years. Labour increased their majority by 8% and Lib Dems only scraped in third a few votes in front of UKIP.Only 29% voted! Wouldn't it be interesting to get the other 71% together and force them to make a decision? Perhap it would show Labour support was even greater. Or that many of the other 71% would vote Tory if pushed into making a decision. Or vote for some unknown. Who knows? The 29% turnout is so low that we've got no idea what those people really want.
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