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You think there’s just a dial somewhere marked ‘waste’ that they can turn down, and yet no-one’s thought of it?
There is; it's marked PFI.
Turn that off and suddenly there's an extra £5 billion a year.
Red Jezza is all for bringing BT into state ownership, but won't touch the Blair/Brown money tree.
BJ just doesn't want to.
why is the answer to the NHS problem ‘more money’?
Because the boomers didn't pay enough tax to support their future healthcare needs
NHS is struggling on many levels , staffing crisis being a huge one, we are utterly dependent on immigrants to fill jobs, but immigrant bashing is a political favourite . Removing bursaries for nurses was a similarly daft bit of austerity that's seen trainees nurse numbers plummet , costing the NHS even more seeking agency staff from oversees
But austerity & restricting immigration are policies boomers love so ...
Because the boomers didn’t pay enough tax to support their future healthcare needs
Didn't? Shouldn't that be 'isn't'? Is the NHS not funded constantly?
Besides WTF is a boomer? I got my user name from Marc Maron's cat, now it's a pejorative term...
Besides WTF is a boomer?
Exact definitions vary, but they're all definitely worse than Hitler
Well, everything's worse than Hitler.
Boris, Donald, Nigel...Hitler was just appealing to the electorate
why is the answer to the NHS problem ‘more money’?
Pretty simple, because it needs more money - straight forward supply and demand.
The demand is higher than ever due to increased longevity of the population yet funding (supply) has not increased in line with it.
You can either increase the supply to maintain the service of you can under supply and offer a lesser service (per last decade)
Social care should also be added to it as it is the same problem.
But austerity & restricting immigration are policies boomers love so …
Change the bloody record kimbers.
Ok Boomer.
The same would still be true if Labour won.
That’s what happens when both parties diverge away from the centre – you alienate more people and make a few people happier.
True ... it's a bit chicken and egg now with Brexit being used to push through what would normally be unelectable. (IMHO)
I absolutely agree with that. Under normal circumstances (Aaaaah....remember them?) no serious political party would dare go into an election campaign with manifesto's this laughably unrealistic and packed with such transparently undeliverable and completely unaffordable nonsense.
But the Brexit campaign has shown that you can promise any old shite (which describes both main parties present proposals) and not only will people vote for it, 3 years down the line they still aren't holding you to account for it.
It seems that in Brexitland you can use emotive, populist bullshit as a cover for pretty much anything. And with both parties as bad as each other, where that does leave the rest of us who can see both of them for what they are?
How on earth did we end up so far through the looking glass that our political system now looks like this?
Tonights 'debate' will involve 2 charlatans pedalling 2 contrasting bundles of credulous claptrap
cinnamon_girl
Subscriber
But austerity & restricting immigration are policies boomers love so …Change the bloody record kimbers.
look, I backed up my assertions with some numbers, I know you dont like me CG, but respect the stats!
>
I absolutely agree with that. Under normal circumstances (Aaaaah….remember them?) no serious political party would dare go into an election campaign with manifesto’s this laughably unrealistic and packed with such transparently undeliverable and completely unaffordable nonsense.
Nope.
Intense Government spending is the only credible way out of the junk we're in.
It's not unaffordable by any shot.
Tonights ‘debate’ will involve 2 charlatans pedalling 2 contrasting bundles of credulous claptrap
We won't bother watching it because you've be at your crystal ball again.
Maybe you could peg back your predictions as fact?
If you can't see the difference between Corbyn and Johnson for the benefit of the nation as whole, then you see nothing.
look, I backed up my assertions with some numbers, I know you dont like me CG, but respect the stats!
The stat's posted say nothing of the sort.
It just shows that fewer older people voted labour and voted conservative, it doesn't show WHY.
It certainly doesn't cover the droves of labour voters who voted for Brexit ... many of whom did so because of their perception of immigration or perhaps due to the Labour position on immigration.
Nor does it really cover why older people seem to beleive there is no such thing as a free lunch regarding austerity and more puzzling why they thought leaving the EU was a free lunch?
If you can’t see the difference between Corbyn and Johnson for the benefit of the nation as whole, then you see nothing
I didn't say that there's no difference between them. Theres a yawning chasm.
But what they both share is the one essential quality when wanting to be put in power for the next 5 years - the total absence of the slightest shred of credibility when it comes to implementing the glaringly unicorn-based nonsense they're both presently peddling.
You think either of those idiots are presently putting forward a credible economic position which they truly believe isn't comically implausible?
They may be planning very different routes to economic calamity, but that's where both their roads will take us.
My only hope is that neither think they'll get a majority so they're promising all kinds knowing they'll never have to deliver it.
But then we all know what happened the last time someone did that...
i'm mostly puzzled by the 4% of UKIP supporters who voted remain...
But the beauty is … promising to increase borrowing to spend on public service hides the fact that both have no choice but to increase borrowing hugely to get us through Brexit. At least with Labour they do have some proper revenue raising plans as well.
Nope.
Intense Government spending is the only credible way out of the junk we’re in.
As if to prove the unicorns.... just spend money for the sake of increasing spending and push UK PLC further into debt in some bizarre belief that by increasing our GDP will actually make the people better off.
i’m mostly puzzled by the 4% of UKIP supporters who voted remain…
At some point even some UKIP supporters realise sticking a dildo on a donkey isn't a unicorn.
just spend money for the sake of increasing spending
Who is proposing that? I haven’t seen any “just keep people busy” or “build it for the sake of it” proposals from any party. In fact, most of it looks more like “other countries are laughing at us for not already doing that”… although some of it is likely to take much longer than currently proposed/presented (again, for all parties).
But the beauty is … promising to increase borrowing to spend on public service hides the fact that both have no choice but to increase borrowing hugely to get us through Brexit. At least with Labour they do have some proper revenue raising plans as well.
I don't disagree ... but had Corbyn got off the fence before the referendum and made it clear that Brexit was a train-crash for the working population we wouldn't even have this mess.
Intense Government spending is the only credible way out of the junk we’re in.
Even if you spend £100bn on free BB so that the masses can all watch cat videos? Is that justifiable?
Just saying "spend" is another worthless soundbite. You have to spend wisely and well
Which party is setting themselves up to do that?
the masses can all watch cat videos
Ok Boomer.
Even I'm not sure about the just announced Labour policy to de-list companies who 'don't tackle climate change' from the LSE. Might be a step too far for the current political climate.
As if to prove the unicorns…. just spend money for the sake of increasing spending and push UK PLC further into debt in some bizarre belief that by increasing our GDP will actually make the people better off.
Understand how the money system works... The government spends first and taxes after.
i) Even the most middle-ground Economists agree that given the cost of UK borrowing - that kick starting the economy through rapid investment of infrasturcture would yield huge returns over the medium turn. The Tories failed to capitilise on this. Completely.
ii) Debt as a ratio of GDP is still not anywhere near post-war levels. When - guess what we needed to massively invest in the economy.
https://obr.uk/box/post-world-war-ii-debt-reduction/
iii) A sovereign country that is the sole issuer of its own currency shouldn't be concerned by debt per se. In fact a country in surplus (which very rarely happens) is a negative in the private sector. I.e No growth.
What did we do in 2008? Yep Q/E and it didn't affect inflation to any notable degree.
Read Stephanie Kelton, Randall Wray or Richard Murphy.
look, I backed up my assertions with some numbers, I know you dont like me CG, but respect the stats!
kimbers, I don't dislike you and haven't a clue why you think that, am sorry that you do. Stats can be manipulated every which way depending on what you're trying to prove. That pic is taken from a small percentage of the population.
To be clear I stopped voting Tory some 20 years ago, on some occasions I haven't voted and latterly have voted Labour. Yes, I voted for Brexit but that did not mean I in any way supported the Tories. I don't and loathe everything about them. You must stop believing that all Brexiteers are Tories, it's often not true.
Who is proposing that? I haven’t seen any “just keep people busy” or “build it for the sake of it” proposals from any party. In fact, most of it looks more like “other countries are laughing at us for not already doing that”… although some of it is likely to take much longer than currently proposed/presented (again, for all parties).
It's simply been extended mileage from the backlash over Tory implemented austerity that itself was a backlash over Labour led overspending .... back and forth with one extreme or the other.
You think either of those idiots are presently putting forward a credible economic position which they truly believe isn’t comically implausible?
Christ man cheer up! I know we've been living under this corrupt upside down system for a long time but you really have been brainwashed by the economic orthodoxy haven't you? To hear someone like yourself describe the moderate, sensible, investment-led policies that labour propose as 'unicorns' and not credible is truly depressing. If you really think this then we might as well all give up.
There really is another way, and it's not that difficult to achieve given a modicum of political will and vision. It's been done before in the post-war years, and it can be done again, and it's not nearly as revolutionary as you think. It does however require people to believe in it, and to fight for it. If we don't then we only have ourselves to blame.
I am always infuriated by this; why is the answer to the NHS problem ‘more money’?
Because the two most expensive things the NHS spends money on are drugs and staff, and the cost of drugs is going up, and we have a staffing shortage.
iii) A sovereign country that is the sole issuer of its own currency shouldn’t be concerned by debt per se.
There is a world of difference between issuing currency and repaying debt in other currencies.
In fact a country in surplus (which very rarely happens) is a negative in the private sector. I.e No growth.
Once again the narrative goes away from trade deficit and we talk about the govt spending deficit.
Has anyone seen Diane lately, I haven't seen much of her during the campaign.
Is she being kept in a bunker out of harms way or on jezzas allotment planting next years spring crops.
Has anyone seen Diane lately, I haven’t seen much of her during the campaign.
The two parties reached an electoral pact.
She's being kept hostage in a remote farmhouse for the duration of the election, with Jacob Rees Mogg to keep her company.
They're killing the hours by her re-sitting her maths GCSE and him learning all about 20th century post-war history, a lot of which is proving quite challenging to them both
I think JRM needs to further back else he'll still have gaps in history
Kind of difficult having a hypocrite like Diane about, what with the pledge regarding private education.
FWIW, I used to like Diane many moons ago, before she sent her kids to private school whilst being ideologically opposed to them.
I think JRM needs to further back else he’ll still have gaps in history
They're having to do all this in stages.
He's still reeling from he whole welfare state and formation of the NHS thing. He's been sat rocking back an too, gently sobbing for quite a few days now. Not even nanny can console him
FWIW, I used to like Diane many moons ago, before she sent her kids to private school whilst being ideologically opposed to them.
... and then fiercely berating anyone who had the temerity to point out that there might be an ickle bit of an inherent contradiction in this position.
… and then fiercely berating anyone who had the temerity to point out that there might be a ickle bit of an inherent contradiction in this position
This is the nugget for me ... had she turned round and said she was wrong rather than what's good for my kids is too good for yours.
The whole Dianne Abbott private school thing did lend itself to a classic episode of the Thick of It, where Julia Murray refuses to send her daughter to a comprehensive school and went private, which led to an epic Malcolm Tucker outburst
Oh, well that's great. That's *ing great. That's another *ing thing, right there. Not only you've got a *ing bent husband and a *ing daughter that gets taken to school on a *ing sedan chair, you're also *ing mental!
😂
https://twitter.com/ftukpolitics/status/1196795054880415744?s=21
Well, there you go… PM to only do a USA style 2 person head to head… might as well call him Mr President now.
Well, there you go… PM to only do a USA style 2 person head to head… might as well call him Mr President now.
Because he's scared shitless that Nicola Sturgeon will tear him an extensive selection of new arseholes on live TV?
I agree with every word of this…
https://twitter.com/tictoc/status/1196800824229474310?s=21
…but it still feels like he’s actively trying to stop people listening to those words! Is it just me? Do I just need more coffee?
Catatonic
I actually think he's got a massive barbiturate habit. He's clearly been on the jellies.
Maybe it was nearly afternoon snoozy-bye-bye's time in the shed on the allotment, curled up with his favourite tartan blanket over his knees
Catatonic
FFS man stop being an arse. They cut the video to start at the exact point he was blinking, so that dullards who didn't watch it think 'oh look, he's half asleep, he must be tired, that's because he's to old to be PM'. Clearly it works!
Raise the reality shields!