[Archived] Election

[jim mk2]

Labour didn't 'wreck' the economy...they just subscribed to the standard Washington Consensus that somehow 'financial services' can build a prosperous society. As if replacing investment in industry and manufacturing with speculation in assets bubbles would somehow lead to a happy ending.

Correct. The financial bubbles in Britain over the past 30 - 40 years have with odd exception (the dot-com boom of 2000) been caused by excessive property speculation fuelled by loose credit. The latest housing boom which ended in 2007 was just another example and was of course taken to extreme in the US with the sub-prime loan farago that precipitated the worldwide financial crisis of the past 3 years.

Labour have not "wrecked" the economy but can be accused as the taxi-drivers' favourite politician, Vince Cable, pointed out of failing to spot the impending crisis and failing to regulate the financial services industry. The blame for Britain's current economic woes can be laid directly at the door of the Thatcher government and deliberate Tory policy of the 1980s which saw great swathes of British manufacturing industry decimated in the name of political ideology and a vindictive desire to destroy the trade unions in the mistaken belief that it could be replaced by a liberated and unregulated financial services industry.

Labour have been good for Britain over the past 13 years. From my own experience local hospitals and schools and much of the fabric and infrastructure of the nation so disgracefully neglected by the Tories over the previous 19 years have been transformed thanks to the hundreds of billions of pounds that needed spending and continue to need to be spent. Reports in the press today show the recovery of the British economy is gathering pace and is now growing at a faster rate than most of our competitors, vindicating Brown and Darling's hands-on approach to their management of the economic crisis in contrast to the do-nothing laissez-faire Tories. The deficit is manageable and reducing and stronger economic growth coupled with higher taxes on the rich who have benefited so much under Labour will see it wiped out over time.

David Cameron's slogan is the meaningless need for "change" but for those who lived through the Tory misery of the 1980s that change will undoubtedly mean a change for the worse. The cuts in services and government spending the Tories are proposing will plunge Britain back into recession to solve a problem that will correct itself anyway. Britain needs strong and experienced government to guide it through the worst worldwide economic crisis since the 1930s that only Labour can provide.

[Mattyblue]

Correct. The financial bubbles in Britain over the past 30 - 40 years have with odd exception (the dot-com boom of 2000) been caused by excessive property speculation fuelled by loose credit. The latest housing boom which ended in 2007 was just another example and was of course taken to extreme in the US with the sub-prime loan farago that precipitated the worldwide financial crisis of the past 3 years.

Labour have not "wrecked" the economy but can be accused as the taxi-drivers' favourite politician, Vince Cable, pointed out of failing to spot the impending crisis and failing to regulate the financial services industry. The blame for Britain's current economic woes can be laid directly at the door of the Thatcher government and deliberate Tory policy of the 1980s which saw great swathes of British manufacturing industry decimated in the name of political ideology and a vindictive desire to destroy the trade unions in the mistaken belief that it could be replaced by a liberated and unregulated financial services industry.

Labour have been good for Britain over the past 13 years. From my own experience local hospitals and schools and much of the fabric and infrastructure of the nation so disgracefully neglected by the Tories over the previous 19 years have been transformed thanks to the hundreds of billions of pounds that needed spending and continue to need to be spent. Reports in the press today show the recovery of the British economy is gathering pace and is now growing at a faster rate than most of our competitors, vindicating Brown and Darling's hands-on approach to their management of the economic crisis in contrast to the do-nothing laissez-faire Tories. The deficit is manageable and reducing and stronger economic growth coupled with higher taxes on the rich who have benefited so much under Labour will see it wiped out over time.

David Cameron's slogan is the meaningless need for "change" but for those who lived through the Tory misery of the 1980s that change will undoubtedly mean a change for the worse. The cuts in services and government spending the Tories are proposing will plunge Britain back into recession to solve a problem that will correct itself anyway. Britain needs strong and experienced government to guide it through the worst worldwide economic crisis since the 1930s that only Labour can provide.

'Taxi drivers favourite', another way of saying 'white van man' I presume? He was still bang on.

Of course at a macro level a lot of 2008 was outside Brown's control, but his spendthrift ways has left us down s*** creek without a paddle. However, on the economy there is an argument to be had.

On social and cultural issues, the country we knew has gone to be replaced by an Orwellian left-liberal nanny state that leaves me worried about the very fabric of the nation.

[koi]

I just hope the Tories dont get it.... all for the rich them lot!

That's a strong opinion, what examples can you give to support that?

[RibbleValleyRover]

That's probably all very true except for the last sentence. If you're implying people should not vote you could not be more wrong. We live in a democracy for which millions have given their lives at one time or another. We are very privileged to have the freedoms we enjoy. Not voting casts scorn on that freedom.

Not having a go at you Gordon but anyone who doesn't vote should not complain about the government we get. You have your chance, take it.

Spot on.

I'll be voting at this election as i have done ever since i reached the age to be able to cast a vote. It would take something radical or serious for me to ever consider not doing so.

[stuwilky]

Somebody has to pay the taxes that the govt demands so I'm mighty glad they do! Aren't you Stu? Never mind your personal indoctrination if it weren't for the wealthmakers we'd sooner or later become a 3rd world country ourselves.

I have to pay more than enough taxes thanks Drog, and today I found out they have gone up for some reason I am yet to have explained to me by HMRC.

But I was of course referring to AFTER taxation..... but I suspect you knew that already.

[thenodrog]

I have to pay more than enough taxes thanks Drog, and today I found out they have gone up for some reason I am yet to have explained to me by HMRC.

Borrowing huge amounts to bail out the banks is one reason. Putting the Public sector over the Private sector simply to garner votes is another.

[adopted scouser]

whoosh!

Must be 'whooshing' me an all, I thought that was a valid question. What do you do Gord, Burkha outfitter ?

[stuwilky]

Borrowing huge amounts to bail out the banks is one reason. Putting the Public sector over the Private sector simply to garner votes is another.

Whilst they may be general issues facing the country Gordon, they should not have affected my personal taxation..... not without warning anyway.

But still it was a throwaway comment rather than any kind of discussion point!

[thenodrog]

........ The blame for Britain's current economic woes can be laid directly at the door of the Thatcher government and deliberate Tory policy of the 1980s which saw great swathes of British manufacturing industry decimated in the name of political ideology and a vindictive desire to destroy the trade unions in the mistaken belief that it could be replaced by a liberated and unregulated financial services industry.

Congratulations. Youve successfully managed to erase the causes of Mrs Thatchers policies completely out of your memory banks. Here let me help you......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7598647.stm

[Kelbo]

This is worth considering!! valid and very true!

I asked my friend's little daughter what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be Prime Minister some day.Both her parents, Labour supporters, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all those poor people on benefits." Her parents beamed, and said, "Welcome to the Labour Party!"

"That's a worthy goal!" I told her, and continued, "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house, mow the lawn, pull weeds, sweep my drive and I'll pay you £25. Then I'll take you over to that homeless chap who hangs out in front of the store. You can give him the £25 to use towards food."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless man come over and do the work himself and you can just pay him the £25?"

I smiled and said, "Welcome to the Conservative Party."...

[thenodrog]

I've just been sent this.... Very timely and doubtless applies equally to em all.

Heaven and Hell

While on his morning walk, Prime Minister Brown falls over, has a heart attack and dies because the 'accident and emergency' dept at his nearest hospital is too understaffed to treat him in time.

So his soul arrives in Heaven and he is met by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. 'Welcome to Heaven,' says Saint Peter, 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a Socialist around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in; I'm a good Christian; I'm a believer,' says the PM.

'I'd like to just let you in, but I have orders from God. He says that since the implementation of his new HEAVEN CHOICES policy, you have to spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven. Then you must choose where you'll live for eternity.'

'But I've already made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven,' replies Gordy

'I'm sorry .. But we have our rules,' St Peter interjects. And, with that, St. Peter escorts him to a lift and he goes down, down, down ...all the way to Hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a lush golf course.

The sun is shining in a cloudless sky. The temperature is a perfect 22C degrees. In the distance is a beautiful club-house. Standing in front of it is Michael Foot and thousands of other Socialist luminaries who had helped him out over the years --- John Smith, Robin Cooke, Harlod Wilson even Kier Hardy, in fcat the whole of the past Labour Party leaders were there.

Everyone laughing, happy, and casually but expensively dressed.

They run to greet him, to hug him and to reminisce about the good times they had getting rich at the expense of 'suckers and peasants.'

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. The Devil himself comes up to Brown with a frosty drink, 'Have a tequila and relax, Gordy!'

'Uh, I don't really drink anymore, says Brown, dejectedly.

'This is Hell, son. You can drink and eat all you want and not worry and it just gets better from there!'

Brown takes the drink and finds himself liking the Devil, who he thinks is a really very friendly bloke who tells funny jokes like himself and pulls hilarious nasty pranks, kind of like the ones the Labour Party pulled with their master strokes on Education, Immigration, Petrol prices, Tough on Crime promises.

They are having such a great time that, before he realises it, it's time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves as Gordon steps on the lift and heads upward.

When the lift door reopens, he is in Heaven again and Saint Peter is waiting for him. 'Now it's time to visit Heaven,' the old man says, opening the gate.

So for 24 hours Brown is made to hang out with a bunch of honest, good-natured people who enjoy each other's company, talk about things other than money and treat each other decently. Not a nasty prank or short-arse joke among them. No fancy country clubs here and, while the food tastes great, it's not caviar or lobster. And these people are all poor. He doesn't see anybody he knows and he isn't even treated like someone special!

'Whoa,' he says uncomfortably to himself. 'Michael Foot never prepared me for this!'

The day done, Saint Peter returns and says, 'Well, you've spent a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Now choose where you want to live for Eternity.' With the 'Deal or No Deal' theme playing softly in the background, Brown reflects for a minute ... Then answers: 'Well, I would never have thought I'd say this -- I mean, Heaven has been delightful and all -- but I really think I belong in Hell with my friends.'

So Saint Peter escorts him to the lift and he goes down, down, down, all the way to Hell.

The doors of the lift open and he is in the middle of a barren scorched earth covered with garbage and toxic industrial wasteland. He is horrified to see all of his friends, dressed in rags and chained together, picking up the roadside rubbish and putting it into black plastic bags. They are groaning and moaning in pain, faces and hands black with grime.

The Devil comes over to Brown and puts an arm around his shoulder.' I don't understand,' stammers a shocked Gordy, 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a club-house and we ate lobster and caviar and drank tequila. We lazed around and had a great time.. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and everybody looks miserable!'

The Devil looks at him, smiles slyly and purrs, 'Yesterday we were campaigning; today you voted for us!

[Amo]

Having said all that, if I was a British citizen I'd vote Lib Democrats, because their finance guy isn't some party hack..rather he's lived in the real world for a while and seems to know what he's talking about.

They got my vote! I don't care if people consider it a wasted vote, it's my prerogative.

[broadsword]

Most votes are dead votes anyway, so you might as well vote for what you believe in.

[pg]

Any vote for anyone who isn't in the backpocket of the finance lobby is a good vote IMO.

[koi]

They got my vote! I don't care if people consider it a wasted vote, it's my prerogative.

What are the reasons for voting Lib Dem?

[Rovermatt]

This once great country is on its knees and is so because of one reason only.

LABOUR are responsible for it and some of you are still praising the idiot Brown and his lying, cheating sleazebag compatriots.

Some of you need to realise just how close this county is to bankruptcy and how close we are to losing our standing in the world.

Labour have almost ruined us. We have gone all soft and PC, we bow down to the goody goody brigade and no-one is willing to stand up and be counted. This is ALL down to Labour.

How anyone can think of supporting Brown is beyond all comprehension.

Yes because things really were awesome under the Tories last time around.

It's a pity that, in the midst of a recession, the government is changing hands from Labour to Conservative. Anybody who thinks that Cameron and his mates have any understanding of the average citizen's problems is living in a dream world. The Tories are even more useless than Labour.

[philipl]

Not doubting that phil, little bit of a different issue in deprived northern towns though, is it not?

They are Bradford-based.

[thenodrog]

Yes because things really were awesome under the Tories last time around.

It's a pity that, in the midst of a recession, the government is changing hands from Labour to Conservative. Anybody who thinks that Cameron and his mates have any understanding of the average citizen's problems is living in a dream world. The Tories are even more useless than Labour.

I'm making no comment cos I really don't know how you can say that. You make that sound like it's a fact rather than just your opinion.

btw Can you rem what it was like BEFORE the Tories in the late 70's? I can. Here this may help you Matt. Read this if you cannot remember. This is not penned by a right wing source eother it's from the Socialist Workers Party.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=11511

[philipl]

How much is your vote worth?

[Amo]

What are the reasons for voting Lib Dem?

I think they represent a healthy middle-ground.

[koi]

I think they represent a healthy middle-ground.

In what way?

[RibbleValleyRover]

Frucking scumbags!

Labour hit by cancer leaflet row

"LABOUR has become embroiled in a row about the use of personal data after sending cancer patients alarmist mailshots saying their lives could be at risk under a Conservative government.

Cards addressed to sufferers by name warn that a Labour guarantee to see a cancer specialist within two weeks would be scrapped by the Tories. Labour claims the Conservatives would also do away with the right to be treated within 18 weeks.

Cancer patients who received the personalised cards, sent with a message from a breast cancer survivor praising her treatment under Labour, said they were “disgusted and shocked”, and feared that the party may have had access to confidential health data."

[Kelbo]

Frucking scumbags!

Labour hit by cancer leaflet row

"LABOUR has become embroiled in a row about the use of personal data after sending cancer patients alarmist mailshots saying their lives could be at risk under a Conservative government.

Cards addressed to sufferers by name warn that a Labour guarantee to see a cancer specialist within two weeks would be scrapped by the Tories. Labour claims the Conservatives would also do away with the right to be treated within 18 weeks.

Cancer patients who received the personalised cards, sent with a message from a breast cancer survivor praising her treatment under Labour, said they were “disgusted and shocked”, and feared that the party may have had access to confidential health data."

Typical!!

[Kelbo]

This is my view!!

I asked my friend's little daughter what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be Prime Minister some day.Both her parents, Labour supporters, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all those poor people on benefits." Her parents beamed, and said, "Welcome to the Labour Party!"

"That's a worthy goal!" I told her, and continued, "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house, mow the lawn, pull weeds, sweep my drive and I'll pay you £25. Then I'll take you over to that homeless chap who hangs out in front of the store. You can give him the £25 to use towards food."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless man come over and do the work himself and you can just pay him the £25?"

Welcome to the Conservative Party I said.

[adopted scouser]

This is my view!!

I asked my friend's little daughter what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be Prime Minister some day.Both her parents, Labour supporters, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all those poor people on benefits." Her parents beamed, and said, "Welcome to the Labour Party!"

"That's a worthy goal!" I told her, and continued, "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house, mow the lawn, pull weeds, sweep my drive and I'll pay you £25. Then I'll take you over to that homeless chap who hangs out in front of the store. You can give him the £25 to use towards food."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless man come over and do the work himself and you can just pay him the £25?"

Welcome to the Conservative Party I said.

Posted 08 April 2010 - 22:31 PM

This is worth considering!! valid and very true!

I asked my friend's little daughter what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be Prime Minister some day.Both her parents, Labour supporters, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all those poor people on benefits." Her parents beamed, and said, "Welcome to the Labour Party!"

"That's a worthy goal!" I told her, and continued, "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house, mow the lawn, pull weeds, sweep my drive and I'll pay you £25. Then I'll take you over to that homeless chap who hangs out in front of the store. You can give him the £25 to use towards food."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless man come over and do the work himself and you can just pay him the £25?"

I smiled and said, "Welcome to the Conservative Party."...

This post has been edited by Kelbo: 08 April 2010 - 22:32 PM