Eric Clapton gets CBE

[Huge]

[48 lines snipped]

[IMM]

Wisdom my boy. You wouldn't know it if it slapped you in the face.

I suppose poverty and deprivation is. What world do you live in?

[IMM]

It is. Remember Thatcher?

Thatcher manipulated unemployment figures over 20 times in the disgusting reign.

Are there some by you?

The government passed them.

It did not.

I agree too. Now for Tory biased Police forces to implement them properly, which many ignore.

[IMM]

LOL. must be New Year cheer.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Jeremy Paxmans book is really fascinatiing. Do you know, teh majority of pliticians - those who pontficate and pronounce on all weighty matters, have done nothing more exciting than being school teachers or sochul wurkahs? Even teh labour party has almost zero members from trades or manual work, and even the conservatives have almost zero members from top industrial management? They are all career politicians, and, a Jeremy points out the majoriy *arte earning more as MP's than they have, in any other job they have held*.

In short, its not about selecteing teh best and most skilled and lettng them have a crack at making sane descision, its a normal huerarchy of brown nosing career people, each greedy to get to the top and get their noises in the trough.

Its not the Lords that wants reforming, its the Commons.

>

[The Natural Philosopher]

And what does the relative value of one currency to another have to do with povery and deprivation?

If you examine facts (always distateful to you, I admit) you will find that many countries are desperate to devalue their currencies in order to be able to export their goods at all.

One where real hard facts rule, not wishful muddled thinking.

[IMM]

She never. She used it to pay the unemployed when her harebrained economic schemes naturally collapsed. Tony Benn described as reckless. One of the greatest legacies gifted to this country, that should have been used to create wealth was squandered.

For the past 6 years the right wing has predicted bust, they have been preying for it. It hasn't come.

[IMM]

Uh! One rule for one and one for another? If you are entitled to overtime pay then you get it it. Simple.

This is ludicrous. What about the insurance you pay on your car and never claimed in 20 years.

Those kids will pay into the system when you are old to maintain the NHS and social system which benefits you. If you don't want to take those benefits then that your choice. Don't whinge.

[IMM]

That has nothing to do with it. The Tory press, which most of it is, can sway public opinion on minor issues. The amount of people I have heard say Blair is full of spin, spin, I lost count of. Ask them what spin? And do they know what spin is? and they go quiet.

It is not even half way through a term yet., When the election comes see that people look at the economy and general standard of living. They will vote Blair back in. They don't give a toss about Iraq as they never gave a toss about N Ireland, which was never once an election issue.

Then look around and stop reading the Daily Mail and listening to that dirty scruffy blond haired bastard who is always on the TV, Boris something. Fitting: they have Dracula and Boris at the top.

[IMM]

It is indicative of the strength of the British economy. Britain is admired throughout the world the way it has handled its economy, with many looking hard at the way Britain does things.

A Tory voter ignores facts, as they so obsessed with petty snobbery.

It is a balancing act of cheaper exports to more expensive imports. Germany in the 1970s had a very strong currency that mad their products expensive. Yet people still bought them as they were/perceived to be well made so good value for money. If you make tat then the tat has to be cheap.

You are confused by petty snobbery, wanting an aristocracy that still rips us off, etc.

One good point was that the "real" and "true" king of England, King Michael

1st, who lives in Australia and has barbies and drinks tubes of Fosters, voted for a republic for Australia. Imagine this lot of parasitical impostors doing that.

[Mr E]

LMAO You do like to jump to conclusions, don't you. Hint: I don't read the Daily Mail (or the Telegraph).

John.

[IMM]

This old idea that top industrial management only support the Tories. Get real please. During Thatcher many top industrialist supported Labour and SDLP policies. Many would keep shut as if you showed your true colours the gates would close on you and your company. A bad time for freedom under the wicked witch.

Churchill was a career political. he crossed the house twice in order to be where the power was. Today he would be in the Labour party.

Both, with the Lords totally getting rid of all hereditary and religious peers. The seat of government should be in a more central location in the UK, instead of the bottom right hand corner, with a parliament building(s) totally capable of running a modern government. For e.g., each member should have their own office and the chamber semi -circular with space for everyone. the current old chapel can't even accommodate all the MPs and is formed like cockpit which creates a rather farcical chamber and atmosphere. The financial centre and government are all in one location, which is not good for good government. Power is then centred in one spot, as in the UK, which has the press, finance and government all centred. The ignorance of the UK regions by the London national press is too plain to see. Many top countries split these up in separate cities. We have a lot to learn from other countries.

[Andy Hall]

Have you ever heard that a strong currency leads to more expensive exports?

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

[Andy Hall]

What benefits and what social system? They are not worth having.

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

[IMM]

The Little Middle Englander speaks again.

[IMM]

You jest of course.

[Andrew]

In article , IMM writes

Personal debt up from £300 billion in 1992 to over £900 billion today. The economy isn't booming, house prices and imports are. It's like pulling a brick across a polished table with an elastic band. Eventually the brick hits you in the face. If labour get in again in 2005 expect Capital Gain Tax immediately on all property sales - they are quietly sending out 'feelers' to the media to see what the response is.

[Andrew]

The pound is not strong against the Euro, but the dollar is temporarily very weak - that's great for the US, bad for the rest of the world. Like Britain, Americans are spending more borrowed money that they can afford.

[Andrew]

In article , IMM writes

All bought with borrowed money because of 'low' interest rates. When did you last drive around Rural Devon or Somerset, or South Wales. Plenty of people having to make do with old cars there.

[Andrew]

You forgot JAG++, or maybe jag+=2