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Post by Purpledawn on Mar 17, 2016 19:09:01 GMT
Ugh, has your doctor done a blood test? My grandparents (mother) both were diabetic. Not that it didn't have it's issues, they managed very well into their late 80's and quite nearly made it to 90yo each. As for politics, at least you don't have Trump running for office there....yet.    Yes, waiting for results of second one. You're right about Trump....that could be something else to chunter about. What a tosser  |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Mar 17, 2016 20:25:13 GMT
We have sleep-walked into 10 years of tory rule with no effective opposition. Unfortunately, we on the left need a genuine uniting voice and there is none that I can see. Hard to see an end to this coming even in 4 years. This is true, Shindig0, the Liberals are effectively dead, Labour has reacted to the right wing government by it's leaders lurching to an equal position on the left. There is no effective party that can represent the people who sit in the "Centre Right", "Centre" or "Centre Left". If I use Kent County Council as an example (my County), Tory controlled and the official opposition? UKIP for Gods sake! Liberals will take 10 years at least to be forgiven, so we can forget them for now, but what the hell is Labour doing??? The Labour leadership should shape it's self up and act like it is ready to lead one of the strongest Countries in the World on the World stage and stop acting like they are members of a private school boys debating society. GET OUT THERE LABOUR AND LEAD THIS COUNTRY. This is one of the most sensible posts I've read on politics on a WOMAD forum (in all its guises). I myself was left baffled by Labour's choice of Leader, the Tories must love having Corbyn the other side of the dispatch box rather than a (David) Milliband, Tristam Hunt or Chuka Umuna as they would have put up more of a challenge. Or even Yvette Cooper.
Not just regarding the budget but the Labour Leadership's view on Europe seems to be very weak to me. All I've heard is the odd comment on a more "Social Europe". What on earth that means I don't know. If Labour wins next election, are they intending to renegotiate all over again? It would be nice to hear them support the benefits of being in the EU more and provide more clout to the Remain Campaign.
Back to Osborne, the Fizzy Drink tax get the thumps up from me. Lets not kid ourselves, its nowhere near a "Sugar Tax". However, I do share support with some of the previous posts. The retirement deal for women of a certain age seems to be pretty harsh, but as someone where luckily retirement is a little way off I have no issues if it means I'm working to 68 or 69. It stands to reason if we're living longer on average we must work longer as someone has to pay for it. Possibly we could apportion some blame on previous Governments for not moving the goalposts soon enough.
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Post by calndel on Mar 17, 2016 23:55:55 GMT
your just luck your not ruled but a party who talk left wing but act right wing and uses Nationalism to distract the masses from the fact they have forced through cut to public services and education that would make Margaret Thatcher blush!
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Post by olirow on Mar 18, 2016 0:36:30 GMT
Listen to what Corbyn says, not how it's reported by the Tory press, and you will see there is already a very effective opposition. There are now two real options, rather than just one that we had before. A lot of Labour MPs are really Tory left, and it will take some time for that to change. Nearly all media comment needs cleaning to rid it of right wing bias, which is hard to do all the time, but remember to try, at least some of the time. Hopefully, a strong left wing media outlet will develop over the next few years. In the meantime, read the Morning Star sometimes to get some balance. PS like the new forum, hope it goes from strength to strength  |
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Post by sc on Mar 18, 2016 1:48:00 GMT
Not just regarding the budget but the Labour Leadership's view on Europe seems to be very weak to me. All I've heard is the odd comment on a more "Social Europe". What on earth that means I don't know. If Labour wins next election, are they intending to renegotiate all over again? It would be nice to hear them support the benefits of being in the EU more and provide more clout to the Remain Campaign.
I also am not sure what is meant by "Social Europe" but my assumption is that it is a symptom of the dilemma that the current leadership is feeling because of their and the Labour Parties history. As I am sure most people know (sorry if this is sucking eggs but I'm on a roll), traditionally (1950's to 1980's) Labour was anti Europe (although Harold Wilson did apply for membership in 1967 but that was for economic rather that ideological reason), in fact the 1983 General Election manifesto promised to remove the UK from the EU. However, under Tony Blair's government we did sign up to the "Social Chapter" giving workers rights that Europeans had had for years, but the Government was still against a Superstate and pro a Superpower. But the "Social Chapter" did start to turn Labour towards Europe, although the "Old School"/"Traditional"/"Old Labour"/"Far Left" (please use phrase you prefer ) still resisted and remained anti Europe. Jeremy Corbyn was in this anti Europe camp and is well known for it. He therefore has a problem, he is anti what most middle of the road Labour voters support and his party is not allowing a free vote on the issue so many Old Labour MPs cannot vote for what they have faught for all their political lives, as the current Labour line is Pro Europe. I believe therefore that stating phrases like "Social Europe" is actually being used to remind the left of the party of the good that came from the Social Chapter and to give some face saving. The biggest mistake that Labour has made (on the Europe question) is not to allow a Free vote, Europe is outside of and larger than party politics, of course you can be a good Labour or Tory MP and still be pro or anti Europe. But to force MPs to vote and promote what they do not believe in will only result in silly phrases or silence. |
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Post by Rendrags on Mar 18, 2016 11:14:47 GMT
Just to lighten the mood, I've had some long tailed tits feeding on my fatty balls in the garden this morning.  |
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Post by sc on Mar 18, 2016 11:30:34 GMT
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Post by Purpledawn on Mar 18, 2016 20:32:55 GMT
Listen to what Corbyn says, not how it's reported by the Tory press, and you will see there is already a very effective opposition. There are now two real options, rather than just one that we had before. A lot of Labour MPs are really Tory left, and it will take some time for that to change. Nearly all media comment needs cleaning to rid it of right wing bias, which is hard to do all the time, but remember to try, at least some of the time. Hopefully, a strong left wing media outlet will develop over the next few years. In the meantime, read the Morning Star sometimes to get some balance. PS like the new forum, hope it goes from strength to strength You could do with this T Shirt too, well said Olirow, couldn't agree more |
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Post by calndel on Mar 18, 2016 22:22:24 GMT
is this the right thread to mention IDS has resigned?
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Post by Purpledawn on Mar 18, 2016 23:32:54 GMT
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Post by digitalmonkey on Mar 19, 2016 19:05:11 GMT
Call me a cynic but IDS resignation is a ploy to hurt Osborne and cozy up to Bo Jo when the Tory leadership campaign gets under way more than anything else
Ah....I forget, the Tory leadership campaign already is underway. Silly me
Wrong thread, but sod it; Adele!!! I think I picked wrong year to go to Glasto what with her and Coldplay
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Post by digitalmonkey on Mar 19, 2016 19:06:17 GMT
Actually it is the right thread as Glasto has nothing to do with Womad.
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Post by sc on Mar 19, 2016 21:27:30 GMT
Call me a cynic but IDS resignation is a ploy to hurt Osborne and cozy up to Bo Jo when the Tory leadership campaign gets under way more than anything else Ah....I forget, the Tory leadership campaign already is underway. Silly me That fits perfectly You've hit the nail on the head |
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Post by Purpledawn on Mar 19, 2016 22:16:05 GMT
Call me a cynic but IDS resignation is a ploy to hurt Osborne and cozy up to Bo Jo when the Tory leadership campaign gets under way more than anything else Ah....I forget, the Tory leadership campaign already is underway. Silly me That fits perfectly You've hit the nail on the head Yep, article with that theory and more here The real reason behind IDS resignation |
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Post by sindigo on Mar 20, 2016 11:13:55 GMT
As for politics, at least you don't have Trump running for office there....yet. This much is true, perhaps we should count ourselves lucky. I think there are strong parallels to be drawn between the situations with the US Republican party and the UK Labour party. They may have lurched in opposite directions but the end result is the same--both seem to be devouring themselves. If it weren't for the fact that we're all so intimately involved it would be tempting to simply watch dispassionately from the sidelines for whatever emerges from the wreckage it will certainly be interesting. |
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