Congrats to the Labor party today.......

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Originally Posted by lynx

No-thinking is right. Just hoodwinked by Alistair "Goebbels" Campbell's propoganda spin.

What's changed since Labour took office in '97? Massive tax increases, millions looking forward to pension deficits, catastrophic housing price increases and unheard of levels of private borrowing caused by irresponsible loss of control of interest rates, extortionate increases in local government taxation and absolutely no improvement in public services. And absolutely no change in the attitude by government to the very things you complain about.

One thing people seem to have overlooked. There's been massive private borrowing, which means that record levels of VAT have been collected on the things bought with that borrowing. When the borrowing stops, and it must soon, so does the VAT income. How is the government going to fill that little gap?

Phew, at least when Blair goes and Brown takes over that will all change, won't it. Won't it? It's Brown who is responsible for this economic "miracle", not Blair. God help us all.

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Lynx

As I think Gramsci once said, "it doesn't matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in".

Given the above, I take it you didn't vote Labour. :whistling

However, apart from the stealth taxes, what is different? The last Government had a property price bubble, unfeasible spending by the public borrowed against said bubble, then negative equity, high inflation and high interest rates to boot - not to mention an awful trade deficit and low growth.

I would agree that Brown does not walk on water but I think many of the problems are endemic to western society (buy now pay later) and the colour of government will change little (as evidenced in the US where tax breaks for the rich have sucked in imports of finished goods rather than stimulate growth at home). His one real mistake, made as soon they took office back in 97, was cancelling the Pension tax relief. That £3 billion needs to be redirected back where it came from.

As a slight aside, I approve of taxes on spending over taxes on earning. These give one more control over how much tax one pays.

The basic principle is that someone who can afford (or wants to) spend £1,000 on a TV will pay £175 in VAT (assuming the £1,000 to be Net, obviously). Someone who can afford (or wants to) spend £500 on a TV will pay £87.50 in VAT (with the same assumption).

The same goes for things like duties and taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, fuel etc. One has control, to a degree, on whether one pays tax, or on how much. I like that.

Back on track, it is my opinion that Labour are for the most part doing a good job of running the country. Like I said with regard to both the economy and the socialist principle of "from each according to his means, to each according to his needs". I can see no viable alternative, certainly not the Conservatives and absolutely not with Howard at the helm.

As such I vote labour in general elections. I will do the same (probably) at the Scottish Executive election, but that's a wee bit away so one never knows. For local elections I am more interested in local issues, but to be honest would tend towards a labour candidate, simply because they are more likely to hold similar views to mine.

I voted Scottish Socialist. No chance of being elected but neither did anyone else, except New' Labour. New Labour, more right wing than Ted Heath and I dont mean the band leader. :)

The only problem I had with Scottish Socialists was their idea of giving hard drugs on prescription. Cant have it all I suppose. :(

There was no Monster Raving Loony Party candidate in my area or I would have voted for them. :lol:

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Originally Posted by bigboab

There was no Monster Raving Loony Party candidate in my area or I would have voted for them. :lol:

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Veritarse wasn't running in your constituency, I assume? ;)

Anyway - TBH I'm both happy & sad at the result. I would have preferred that Lib Dems got a cracking result that ousted the Tories as the official Opposition. It was a great result for them but no cigar - Maybe with the Tories in their current state, the time between now & the next election will make it so :)

Like many, Labour wasn't my first choice but it wasn't my last either - I couldn't really go with Labour after the past few years but being in a railway family meant there was no chance I could vote Tory either. Shame my vote got lost

Labour won - as many hated but wanted - but their majority is severly cut. Hopefully the time of the government expecting things to be passed without a hitch will now be over. :D I know for one that my local MP, being in a Labour stronghold, should now be watching what she votes for in the HoC after her majority got slashed from 14,000 to just over 1,000 :D

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Originally Posted by lynx
No-thinking is right. Just hoodwinked by Alistair "Goebbels" Campbell's propoganda spin.

What's changed since Labour took office in '97? Massive tax increases, millions looking forward to pension deficits, catastrophic housing price increases and unheard of levels of private borrowing caused by irresponsible loss of control of interest rates, extortionate increases in local government taxation and absolutely no improvement in public services. And absolutely no change in the attitude by government to the very things you complain about.

One thing people seem to have overlooked. There's been massive private borrowing, which means that record levels of VAT have been collected on the things bought with that borrowing. When the borrowing stops, and it must soon, so does the VAT income. How is the government going to fill that little gap?

Phew, at least when Blair goes and Brown takes over that will all change, won't it. Won't it? It's Brown who is responsible for this economic "miracle", not Blair. God help us all.

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The very thought of the Conservatives in power again brings on nightmares.. I'm so glad that they were stupid enough to put Howard in charge.

It was a tough Job to find someone as intensly disliked as Blaire is at the moment... but the Tories were upto that challenge.

As someone on TV pointed out (after the election).. how can we trust someone to run the country that doesnt even trust his hands to move independantly. If he is so desperate to hide his body language..what would it be saying?

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Originally Posted by bigboab

You mean you are forced to hear it before every sports game. If they played it at the end most people would just leave. :) As happened here when they played it in the theatres and movies 40 years ago and more. They eventually dropped playing it. :)

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Bottomline is America stopped bending to the British long ago and we turned out alright. ;)

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Bottomline is America stopped bending to the British long ago and we turned out alright. ;)

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yeah kinda.

but, now we're the benders :(

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Bottomline is America stopped bending to the British long ago and we turned out alright. ;)

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"Mr. Chairman, the Fed has offered to collect the British claims in full from the American public by trickery and corruption, if Great Britain will help to conceal its crimes. The British are shielding their agents, the Fed, because they do not wish that system of robbery to be destroyed here. They wish it to continue for their benefit! By means of it, Great Britain has become the financial mistress of the world. She has regained the position she occupied before the World War."

"For several years she has been a silent partner in the business of the Fed. Under threat of blackmail, or by their bribery, or by their native treachery to the people of the United States, the officials in charge of the Fed unwisely gave Great Britain immense gold loans running into hundreds of millions of dollars. They did this against the law! Those gold loans were not single transactions. They gave Great Britain a borrowing power in the United States of billions. She squeezed billions out of this Country by means of her control of the Fed."

Congressman Louis T McFadden - 1933

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Also, look up who the largest Landlord on wallstreet actually is..

You think we'd let you go that easy?

Bend over and take it like a man, biatch :P

At a rough guess...

5%, 0%, 5%

Only the 3 main parties accounted.

However, please take into account that I have an intense biase against all politicians :P

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Originally Posted by Busyman

Bottomline is America stopped bending to the British long ago and we turned out alright. ;)

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:lol: :lol: :lol: Yes the most loved country in the world. Followed by the UK In the same context. :(