General Election - 8 June 2017

[C8RKH 4,244 2 Vehicles]

8 hours ago, basalte said:

Hello Theresa , we`re firefighters police ambulance drivers and paramedics. We came in quite useful in the past few weeks I think you`ll agree. Could you give us more staff and a pay rise ?

Theresa : There is no Magic Money Tree. Of course we can print our own money but we only do that for our mates the bankers. Its not for the likes of YOU.   

Hello Theresa, Our 10 MPs will support you - on the basics  anyway-if you give Northern Ireland 1.5 billion quid.

Hello ,Queen here,  I need 82 million for Buck House. Can you sort it or I`ll have to doss down at Windsor Sandringham or Balmoral.  

Theresa: No probs. 

 

Only problem I have with this post is the sly attack on the Queen. Now, let's see how this goes shall we as I really do get pissed off when people knowingly miss-represent facts. Anyone with half a brain knows that the civil list is given by the state in return for the proceeds from the Crown Estate being retained by the State. This was the deal that was done and was very much done to ensure the majority of the benefit went to the State and therefore the people.

So can we just put this one to bed once and for all and stop the miss-information and the cheap shots at the Queen - yup, I'm a royalist and make no apologies for it.  So the Queen gets £82m (not for Buckingham House as you state - yet another crass non fact). Well, the State got an 18pc increase in returns from the Crown Estate this year which pushed this to a new high of £1.1bn.  Then add in the tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, boost to the economy that is directly down to the monarchy and events like Trooping the Colour etc through merchandising and tourism etc. To be honest, it all seems like a bloody good deal, and a damn fine rate of return, to me for the Country, the State and her citizens.  As you now hopefully know the facts ( I'm sure you knew them already but were just being a rascal to get a rise! ) you can stop propagating this crass and biased propaganda.

Thanks. I'm off to lick her carriage wheels clean. Bless her

 

 

[Chillidoggy 3,567]

Couldn't agree more.

Anyone who thinks Her Maj is not VFM should emigrate to Equatorial Guinea.

[Dan E 1,159]

I got to be honest, not into getting into the argument but I am pleased we have the royal family and funnily enough I saw Queeny Cup Cake the other day in her Roller with full Police escort by the Blackwall Tunnel, stuck in traffic, she was all dressed in blue, I was with one of the apprentices so gave her a wave in the traffic and yes she did wave back ( you know the one) it was genuinely brilliant. Was on the phone to the Missus ( hands free ?) within a minute. 

I also have a bundle of time for William and Harry they have had a tough time but are true gents. I like Harry having a fag, I know I did, but they make me feel full of that lovely Great Britain feeling. Charles not so sure! 

[basalte 108]

I can see how my post above can be interpreted as a personal attack on the Queen and I apologise for that because it was certainly not my intention. Her devotion to public duty is exemplary by any standards and I was moved to see her and Phil standing steadfastly in the wind and rain on the occasion of their procession down the Thames when people half their age would have buckled. (An ancestor of mine also foiled an assassination attempt on George II believe it or not-he pushed the offending firearm out of the hand of the intended regicide  !

What I intended to attack was the institution of Monarchy and I do indeed of course accept that the mechanism is not directly at the disposal of the Royal Family although there is necessarily a degree of acquiescence in any decIsion made. I also note that the renovation bill for Buck House is actually over £300 million; I do not think that the family themselves offer good value for money although they should undoubtedly be paid over the odds for their service to the Nation. It is a cliche I know but the low profile example of the Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian monarchies are more proportionate to national resources and national priorities. If the Royals are indeed such money spinners that is surely all the more reason for them to pay their way with lesser need for State allocations.. 

On an abstract moral level I do not believe the hereditary principle to be apppropriate for these times and in 1776 a hell of a lot of those pesky colonists called Americans would have agreed with me to often lethal effect . The idea of gaining public office by merit of course led to a best -seller by Thetford`s very own Tom Paine at the time.

However you will be pleased to note that  I believe that Republicanism also has its deep flaws as Americans are discovering right now ; best if the Head of State is not a politician, an ex-politician or TV reality star trying to be a politician !

I believe that the benefit to tourism  can be satsified by the opening up of the royal palaces-not even the Bolsheviks  seriously considered demolishing their Monarchy`s rich heritage that was part of the fabric of Russian life  and the Faberge Eggs remain on display to this very day.

Perhaps more pertinently, do the Royals themselves really want to carry on ? The media makes them into a sort of reality soap opera when their origins amidst ancient claims to divine status as the Head of the Established Church and their residual executive powers sit very awkwardly and (in typically British fashion), are not codified.  Prince Charles once quipped to Chris Mullin MP that when someone shouted "abolish the Monarchy " at him he had to restrain himself from shouting "I`ll just run for President instead then " back  at them. Good man ! Similarly with Prince Harry`s recent remarks that no-one really wants to do the job.

So, no, I don`t have anything personally against the Queen. It would be a mistake to personalise it. But the institution itself needs an overhaul and needs to cost a lot less.

     

Edited June 27, 2017 by basalte
typo

[oilmagnet477 614 2 Vehicles]

It makes me laugh when people talk about the institution of the Monarchy as if it is a bad thing and overly expensive.

So, we get rid of the Monarchy. All the buildings and trappings of state that go along with the whole thing would still exist and require cash to maintain - that isn't suddenly going to cease just because there is no Royal Family.......

And then there is the replacement as Head of State - surely the idea of a President is enough to deter anyone with a functioning brain....how much would that cost? I reckon £82m would pale into insignificance.

What about the large number of other Commonwealth Countries that our Monarch is HoS for? Still countries applying to join the CW. Can't see them wanting President Blair as HoS.

We already have 1 farcical election process in this Country - please God, let's not have another.

Wars have been fought in this country over the fall and rise of the Monarchy - the last time we had a republic, I believe that went really well.

I would personally stand up and fight to defend our Constitutional Monarchy. It is the 1 true asset in this Country that the Govt cannot sell off.

[lotusesprit1 24]

don't 

3 hours ago, oilmagnet477 said:

It It is the 1 true asset in this Country that the Govt cannot sell off.

Don't be sure on that pretty sure a someone is thinking of a way, something along the lines of selling all the palaces and buildings to a private company for £1 after claiming they are too expensive to maintain that is then floated on the stock market or sold to the Chinese the queen can can claim benefits to pay the rent although she will be clobbered by the spare rooms tax.

 

 

 

[Chillidoggy 3,567]

24 minutes ago, lotusesprit1 said:

don't 

Don't be sure on that pretty sure a someone is thinking of a way, something along the lines of selling all the palaces and buildings to a private company for £1 after claiming they are too expensive to maintain that is then floated on the stock market or sold to the Chinese the queen can can claim benefits to pay the rent although she will be clobbered by the spare rooms tax.

 

 

 

That'll be Corbyn, then.

[Barrykearley 5,360]

Corbyn would just move all the unfortunates who can't find a job in to the palace.

they deserve so much more and are just made to sign on and do nothing by the rest of society. One thing I do know - is it's never their fault - always someone elses

[lotusesprit1 24]

 

Have you noticed the smile Corbyn has when he lets his communist roots show? example on the Andrew Marr show when he said something like well its about time we redistribute the wealth, another time something along the lines of giving / taking the rich peoples houses to the poor.

He has no respect of property rights.

Sadly I think he or someone similar will be voted in by generation rent.

Things are wrong in our country but Corbyn and Momentum are definitely not the solution and neither are the Tory's the way they are carrying on at the moment. I just wish there was a competent political party out there, I never had much confidence in May and once I read her manifesto I realized who really was running the Tory party/ May and her team.

 

 

 

[basalte 108]

Well considering 1% of the UK population own 14% of the wealth and 15% of the UK population own nothing of any value or are in debt, Corbyn is perfectly correct to raise wealth redistribution as an issue. But no I hadn`t noticed him smiling, the last politician whose smile I noticed a lot was Blair-not a good example to follow. Anyway if you follow politics as I do, you will be interested to know that Mr. Sainsbury (he of the supermarkets) has stopped funding Mr. Blair`s wing of the party.

Good, how bloody working class was Mr. Sainsbury ?! Same as Tristram Hunt who swans off to run an art gallery. Anyway I digress...      

You need have no fear for your bricks and mortar ! What Corbyn was actually suggesting (before the Daily Mail put its lying boot in)  was temporarily letting survivors and bereaved families stay in empty properties of which there are plenty in Kensington. Frankly if you buy a house as an investment opportunity and then swan off leaving it completely empty , why not move in families who`ve just seen their relatives burnt to death ?  Its called having a heart.

Labour proposes raising Corporation tax to 26 %. Under Margaret Thatcher it was 28 %. Now come on, that might be a lot of things but it sure ain`t Communism.

Yes he rightly wants to nationalise rail water gas and electricity industries. "Taking Back Control" of Britain`s arteries in other words, in a very direct and practical way.

-well, by the same token that makes Winston Churchill, Harold MacMillan and Edward Heath`s Governments  Communist as well !  

Things are wrong in our country and no-one will have all the answers or make everyone happy but I know Corbyn acts with integrity and honesty. And if you are wondering-no, he won`t be addressing any more pop festivals, Glastonbury is where specifically progressive causes get espoused (although less now the glittery welly crowd have moved in) and he is a long-time mate of the organiser.

 If you want some proof of integrity, he has the lowest expenses claim of any MP and that was before the expenses scandal broke which I am sure you were all outraged about !

Anyway look, nobody`s perfect. But I want someone who is not a grovelling slave to the billionaires (clue they have lots of money and power) who currently run the show and give ordinary folk a look in again.    

 

[C8RKH 4,244 2 Vehicles]

18 hours ago, basalte said:

. If the Royals are indeed such money spinners that is surely all the more reason for them to pay their way with lesser need for State allocations.. 

 

I agree with you! Scrap the agreement that gives them the civil list payments and give them back the Crown Estates. So the State saves £100m and loses £1.1bn.  Great deal. Even Corbyn would be proud of that.

You seem to be under an allusion the Royal Family is a nett cost. Well just on the return from the crown Estates the state is over 11 times better off.

Don't know how else I can explain they are not a nett cost. What don't you get?

[PaulCP 412]

59 minutes ago, basalte said:

15% of the UK population own nothing of any value or are in debt,    

 

Hmmm, & how many of these are the heavy smoking heavy drinking brigade who expect everything handed to them on a plate & complain that the govt doesn't give them sufficient hand outs to be able to afford to buy shoes for their kids.

[basalte 108]

Well Paul we are constantly being told how low unemployment is (although cynically they always include the impoverished self-employed in those figures) so that in itself would suggest that its a smallish number who prefer intoxicants to their kids.

...which leads us on to the Royal Family. They are incredibly wealthy simply for who they are and that is morally wrong. That is my real beef with them . Plenty of Americans and French felt the same way once -( much angrier than me about it !) 

That`s where we must resoundingly agree to disagree, I strongly suspect.

Same with the footballers (obviously skilled, but honestly.....terrible taste in cars too) and bankers (where do I start?)

Compare the earnings of the 1966 World Cup Squad and those of today and its just laughable. (That goes for the bankers too incidentally). 

This isn`t me being "jealous" of them as someone claimed, although I can`t prove that (which is exactly why it gets said in this context quite a lot).

I could do with quite a few quid and an XK120 don`t get me wrong, but these are veritable Himalayas of cash that I am talking about and am against. Billions not millions.

This is where me and the most gun-totin` GMC drivin` redneck are likely to agree-wealth ought to be earned through sweat, initiative and enterprise .

And again-(this is the difficult bit to get right and I can`t be the judge and jury, only a democracy can be) -the sky can`t be the limit anymore when it comes to wealth.

  -Incidentally I do not have to personally dislike people to think that they should not be filthy rich, even if they got there through accident of birth.

It`s a toughie. Some people will have worked really hard and/or are incredibly talented. Telling them they can`t have more than  a few million each will be tough and I can`t see it happening any time soon. But I think it has to be done if we are not ultimately to end up like that film "Elysium" -which was kind of trying to make that point. Not the best film I`ve ever seen incidentally.     

     

[silverfrost 1,386]

Corbyn needs a slap, watching him walk into parliament the other day when everybody dipped their heads to her Majesty the Queen who was present that day.   But Corbyn refused !  

If I had been present that day I would of clipped him on the the back of the head to make him do it.

 

 

[oilmagnet477 614 2 Vehicles]

"All pigs are equal, just some pigs are more equal than others"

Dan, your utopian view of the world is I fear fundamentally flawed. The human race just doesn't work like that, however much you might wish it did.

Divide up all the wealth in the country, evenly between everyone. In 10 years time, many will have pissed it up the wall and be looking for a hand out again. Others will have invested it or used it to further their aspirations and be considered the 'wealthy elite' again. Rinse and repeat ad-nauseum.

I would love it if it were easy to make lots of money, however, wherever it starts from, some people will just get lucky and be handed things on a plate - that, by your own admission accounts for a very small % of the population. The majority that do succeed have worked bloody hard for it and I will never ever agree that it is right for the Govt (of whichever colour) to take more than 40-50% - they do nothing for that money and who's to say that the Govt will spend it more wisely than any individual?

Funny how 99% of people living in Communist style countries end up at the bottom of the heap, where it is even more difficult (if not impossible) to work upwards, with a few mega rich individuals creaming off the top.

No system is perfect but ours does at least give those that want it an opportunity to get on in life. I appreciate that there will ALWAYS be some that can't or don't want to, but we don't and never will live in a 1 size fits all world.

[Buddsy 1,456 1 Vehicles]

3 minutes ago, silverfrost said:

Corbyn needs a slap, watching him walk into parliament the other day when everybody dipped their heads to her Majesty the Queen who was present that day.   But Corbyn refused !  

If I had been present that day I would of clipped him on the the back of the head to make him do it.

In the main I think Corbyn is a bit of a knob but this is the one thing that makes me respect him a little.

I refuse to give my sovereignty to anyone let alone a monarch.

 

buddsy

[oilmagnet477 614 2 Vehicles]

@Buddsy - showing someone due respect (and she has earned it unlike some) doesn't mean giving up your sovereignty (not even sure I know what that means to be honest lol)

[oilmagnet477 614 2 Vehicles]

Interesting read - courtesy of Serge King

PERSONAL SOVEREIGNTY
by Serge Kahili King
copyright by Serge King 1996

Personal sovereignty is an issue which affects each of us as individuals and as a society, whether we realize it or not. Understanding it can help us to interpret what is going on within us and around us. Increasing it can radically transform our existence.

The word "sovereign" means to be in supreme authority over someone or something, and to be extremely effective and powerful. Therefore, it is usually applied to gods, royalty and governments. We speak of kings and queens as sovereigns (even when they are figureheads), and of the sovereign rights of nations and States.

Personal sovereignty, then, would imply the intrinsic authority and power of an individual to determine his or her own direction and destiny. If that sounds suspiciously like free will, it's because personal sovereignty and free will are the same thing.

Just as being a sovereign nation means having the right and power to make decisions and take actions in the national interest without being forced to by another nation, so being a sovereign person means being able to choose oneÌs actions and reactions without being forced to by another person. To the degree there is free will in all such choices, national or personal, there is sovereignty.

Although sovereignty also means to be powerful and effective, it doesn't necessarily follow that once you have it you can do anything you want. Whether you are a nation or a person, you also have to consider the sovereignty of others. Of course, you could try to diminish or destroy the sovereignty of others to get what you want, the way nations and people sometimes do, but human experience shows that you can usually accomplish more by cooperating than by conquering.

Ultimately, however, we each have only as much sovereignty as we can demonstrate. Having sovereign rights and being sovereign are not the same thing.

The way to increase your personal sovereignty is to increase your use of free will. The way to do that is to decide for yourself what actions to take and reactions to have in any situation, and to decide for yourself how to interpret your actions and reactions whether they are freely chosen or not.

For instance, if you work for someone and are ordered to do an unpleasant task, it can feel like you have lost some of your free will. But in addition to remembering that you can always quit, you can also decide for yourself that you are not working for the boss; you are providing a compensated service, and you can decide to do the task because you choose to, not because you are ordered to. The point is, you can always choose your actions and reactions.

Beware, though. Personal sovereignty has a high price. It's called personal responsibility. As you increase your use of free will, you also increase your responsibility for your own actions and reactions. Increase it enough and you won't be able to blame your parents, your enemies, your friends, your lovers or spouse, society, fate, Satan or God for anything having to do with your experience.

If a lot of people were to greatly increase their personal responsibility our society would undergo tremendous change. Co-dependent and manipulative relationships would all but disappear; untold numbers of trial lawyers would have to find new professions; politicians would be held accountable for their decisions; insurance companies would have to change a lot of policies; people of different faiths would be more tolerant of each other, humanity would act more from love than fear... Now what kind of world would that be?

[franjipane 245]

Party leaders aren't supposed to bow for the Queen's speech, most leaders on both sides in the past have not bowed either, while some forget like Teresa or Gordon Brown, break protocol and bow anyway.

It is not a snub it is following correct protocol for the occasion.

The media are telling you fibs again, they like to do that to keep you on their side so check your facts...  Just a moment of research will clarify what is a fib and what isn't.  Jeremy was recently on tele stating the following

...Labour leader rejected suggestions he would abolish the British monarchy, saying: “It’s not on anybody’s agenda, it’s certainly not on my agenda.”

Appearing on The Battle For Number 10 on Sky News and Channel 4, he added that he had recently had a “very nice”chat with the Queen.

“We got along absolutely fine… I don’t think she should be brought into political discussion,” Corbyn said.

 

Anyway, i like the Queen, she's awesome.  I also think Jeremy is doing a pretty good job at the moment too.  Teresa... not so much.

 

[C8RKH 4,244 2 Vehicles]

22 hours ago, oilmagnet477 said:

"All pigs are equal, just some pigs are more equal than others"

Dan, your utopian view of the world is I fear fundamentally flawed. The human race just doesn't work like that, however much you might wish it did.

Divide up all the wealth in the country, evenly between everyone. In 10 years time, many will have pissed it up the wall and be looking for a hand out again. Others will have invested it or used it to further their aspirations and be considered the 'wealthy elite' again. Rinse and repeat ad-nauseum.

I would love it if it were easy to make lots of money, however, wherever it starts from, some people will just get lucky and be handed things on a plate - that, by your own admission accounts for a very small % of the population. The majority that do succeed have worked bloody hard for it and I will never ever agree that it is right for the Govt (of whichever colour) to take more than 40-50% - they do nothing for that money and who's to say that the Govt will spend it more wisely than any individual?

Funny how 99% of people living in Communist style countries end up at the bottom of the heap, where it is even more difficult (if not impossible) to work upwards, with a few mega rich individuals creaming off the top.

No system is perfect but ours does at least give those that want it an opportunity to get on in life. I appreciate that there will ALWAYS be some that can't or don't want to, but we don't and never will live in a 1 size fits all world.

Great post and you are so right about dividing it up and some will piss it up the wall.  Damn right about them whinging about the injustice of those who didn't and now have more than them.  This is what is wrong with society today. Entitlement syndrome.  Get off your flooking arse, work hard, and anyone can make a better life no matter where they start from.

Just sit around whinging about how sh1t life is and how it is not your fault will get you precisely, errr, nowhere. We should stop pandering to and feeling sorry for the latter. They are not worth it. Don't tell me they have no choice or opportunity. That is tosh.

[Barrykearley 5,360]

Ahh @C8RKH they are the most vulnerable people in our society. We should be helping them and giving them anything they want - last I heard hard drugs aren't cheap. Maybe that way we could cut the crime figures

[Chillidoggy 3,567]

I'm liking the bit about getting a shedload of cash and pissing it up the wall, then coming back for another free hand out.

[Bibs 8,933 4 Vehicles]

Sounds like your payday every month?

[Barrykearley 5,360]

9 minutes ago, ian29gte said:

I'm liking the bit about getting a shedload of cash and pissing it up the wall, then coming back for another free hand out.

Typical alcohol manufacturers and sellers - they are just exploiting them.....

[Winter 17]

Homework, or as I believe in certain circles, it's called "Prep": Read Robert Tressell's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.  I suspect, but don't know for sure, that Dan has read it and embraced the sentiments.  I have.