Cutting the budget

[bridge too far]

Here's some interesting data on national debt:

 

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html

 

produced by the CIA so it must be right.

 

We're way down that list.

 

And here is a picture, if you don't want to look at a table:

 

http://www.visualeconomics.com/gdp-vs-national-debt-by-country/

 

This is undated but, judging by the comments at the bottom of the page, I would imagine it is no older than 6 months.

[Clapham Saint]

sorry the blame lies squarely with the bankers worldwide for causing the worldwide slump,i don,t think gorden brown caused the meltdown in america under bush a rightie using your terminology .i don,t blame bush either but governments around the world for not regulating the casino banking system.

the labour party like thatchers tories before them had been in power to long and run out of ideas like all government do.

 

This is the attitude that really irritates me. The Investment bankers have to shoulder a large portion of the blame however blind scapegoating and pitchfork waving only goes to demonstrate a lack of understanding.

 

Yes the investment bankers are partly responsible, however the misregulation (again contrary to popular vitrol there was lots of regulation, a lot of which was put in place by Gordon Brown, it was just totally inadequate).

 

We would also not be in the current situation if the defecit had not been allowed to run as high as it was PRIOR to the crisis.

 

Had we not sold our gold reserves at the bottom of the market (again thanks to one G Brown who still refuses to even acknowledge that even with hindsight this was a teeny tiny mistake)

 

etc etc

[solentstars]

How do you explain national debt going up to record levels (£500 billion) BEFORE 2007?

 

I make that an increase of £200 Billion (up from the £300 billion inherited from the tories, which was incurred during a recession) after a long "boom".

 

Will you at least hold Gordon responsible for this?

 

I repeat, this £200 billion additional borrowing (and I am ignoring the fact that national debt fell in the first two years of his reign after following tory spending plans) was BEFORE the banking crisis/credit crunch/recession.

 

How can this possibly be the bankers fault?

 

I too blame bankers for part of the National Debt (and I have made my views known to the point where I believe some of them were criminal negligent and should be on trial) and the current defecit we face, but I also blame the other culprit(s).

 

Why can't you lefties bring yourself to blame Labour (even if it is just partially)?

Are you that blinkered?

Are you that biased?

Does union membership preclude you from thinking for yourself?

Does logic desert you when you join the Labour party?

unlike you i am open minded i did not vote for the labour party and label me a leftie if it does not fit into your viewpoint.

but i think you will find every economist points the finger squarely at the bankers( unlike you) for the fact we are pumping billions around the world to stop a world wide depression.

we have doubled the national debt to keep banks from going bust .

i think americas debt was much bigger but i,ve not heard you blame him for the slump . When Bush was sworn in on January 20, 2001, the national debt was $5,727,776,738,304.64.

When "W" left office on January 20, 2009, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

The growth in the national debt during his eight years in office: $4,899,100,310,608.44.

The average yearly growth in the national debt during Bush's presidency: $612,387,538,826.05.

During much of Bush's tenure, he had a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate.

He claimed that tax cuts would pay for themselves - they did not. He claimed that tax cuts would result in growth - we are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

[Clapham Saint]

Here's some interesting data on national debt:

 

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html

 

produced by the CIA so it must be right.

 

We're way down that list.

 

And here is a picture, if you don't want to look at a table:

 

http://www.visualeconomics.com/gdp-vs-national-debt-by-country/

 

This is undated but, judging by the comments at the bottom of the page, I would imagine it is no older than 6 months.

 

The figures don't even match up within the single document.

 

In the graphic UK debt = $1.05trillion

In the text below UK debt = $42.2 trillion

 

I don't know what the actual figures would be (although no doubt they are easily available to anybody with access to google) but I don't think that these are the best to use to make a point.

[dune]

You can all say what you like but Brown put nothing by, and continued to borrow, during the good times. The cupboard was bare when the recession struck. Just like in 79 this is what happens when you have a Socialist government mismanaging the economy.

[Saintandy666]

Our percentage national debt is actually quite low compared to most other rich developed countries. HOWEVER, the deficit only adds to it... our economy can sustain 30-40% debt though.

 

Also, how anyone can say the labour party of the 70's and 80's is extremely like the labour party of today is beyond me.

 

Labour has abandoned its socialist routes, it is no longer a socialist party(Blair, Campbell, Mandelson, Brown and co made sure of it!). When will people understand this?!??!

Edited 4 October, 2010 by Saintandy666

[Joensuu]

You can all say what you like but Brown put nothing by, and continued to borrow, during the good times. The cupboard was bare when the recession struck. Just like in 79 this is what happens when you have a Socialist government mismanaging the economy.

 

Come on Charles, quit being a WUM already.

[bridge too far]

The figures don't even match up within the single document.

 

In the graphic UK debt = $1.05trillion

In the text below UK debt = $42.2 trillion

 

I don't know what the actual figures would be (although no doubt they are easily available to anybody with access to google) but I don't think that these are the best to use to make a point.

 

I never claimed they did match. I don't know the publication dates of either set of figures. But I see what you mean about the text contradicting the graphic. It matches with other countries. That site claims its data comes from the CIA but it doesn't match the previous link I provided. So who knows what the actual figures are?

 

I did Google but couldn't find anything more current or, indeed, with any publication date.

 

But they do palpably demonstrate that, compared with many other 'developed' countries, we're actually not doing so badly.

Edited 4 October, 2010 by bridge too far

[Clapham Saint]

unlike you i am open minded [um no you're not, see below] i did not vote for the labour party and label me a leftie if it does not fit into your viewpoint.

but i think you will find every economist points the finger squarely at the bankers [um no they don't, just the ones that you (and your open mind) read] ( unlike you) for the fact we are pumping billions around the world to stop a world wide depression.

we have doubled the national debt to keep banks from going bust . [agreed, this is a bad thing. On the plus side we will probably make a profit from this investment in the long run (although it would obviously have been by far preferable not to have needed to)]

i think americas debt [you have your finger on the economic pulse then] was much bigger but i,ve not heard you blame him for the slump . When Bush was sworn in on January 20, 2001, the national debt was $5,727,776,738,304.64.

When "W" left office on January 20, 2009, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

The growth in the national debt during his eight years in office: $4,899,100,310,608.44.

The average yearly growth in the national debt during Bush's presidency: $612,387,538,826.05.

During much of Bush's tenure, he had a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate.

He claimed that tax cuts would pay for themselves - they did not. He claimed that tax cuts would result in growth - we are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

 

[At what point did anybody on this tread argue that we should now be cutting taxes or that we should follow the G. W. Bush financial model? Or are you just having an "open minded" rant based upon how you assume JB is thinking in his own "close minded" way?]

 

 

...

[Clapham Saint]

I never claimed they did match. I don't know the publication dates of either set of figures.

 

I did Google but couldn't find anything more current or, indeed, with any publication date.

 

But they do palpably demonstrate that, compared with many other 'developed' countries, we're actually not doing so badly.

 

I don't know what the actual figures are for debt as a % of gdp (they might well be as shown on that graphic but doing well comparatively to most of the countries shown does not actually mean that we are doing well.

[Saintandy666]

What annoys me most is when people say we are like Greece because our deficit last year was the same size. Greece's economy is several times smaller and not as diverse as ours. Our economy can take that hit as long as it isn't consistent (Greece's can't) Anyone who says that is clearly playing to crowds...

[solentstars]

You can all say what you like but Brown put nothing by, and continued to borrow, during the good times. The cupboard was bare when the recession struck. Just like in 79 this is what happens when you have a Socialist government mismanaging the economy.

 

wow how original another dune slogan:smug:you make me laugh,ha ha:rolleyes:

[solentstars]

What annoys me most is when people say we are like Greece because our deficit last year was the same size. Greece's economy is several times smaller and not as diverse as ours. Our economy can take that hit as long as it isn't consistent (Greece's can't) Anyone who says that is clearly playing to crowds...

 

well all opposition politicians do it when they are out of office.

[derry]

There should be qualifying criteria to receive any state benefits. Namely, you can only take out to the limit already paid in. I suspect to do that we would (not before time) have to come out of Europe.

[Clapham Saint]

I don't know what the actual figures are for debt as a % of gdp (they might well be as shown on that graphic but doing well comparatively to most of the countries shown does not actually mean that we are doing well.

 

What annoys me most is when people say we are like Greece because our deficit last year was the same size. Greece's economy is several times smaller and not as diverse as ours. Our economy can take that hit as long as it isn't consistent (Greece's can't) Anyone who says that is clearly playing to crowds...

 

On the assumption that the above post is what you are referring to... that isn't what I said. Doing better than another economy isn't actually that great if that economy is totally in the sh1t (and round the u-bend). You may as well tell Rickie that his loss of form isn't really that much of a problem because he's still better up front that me.

[solentstars]

...

 

sorry just comparing brown and bush governments for debts not policys.

[trousers]

Anyone ever thought of getting sponsorship for these quotation-a-thons?

 

The national debt would be wiped out quicker than you can say: "lol at those who benefitting from the banking boom now slagging them off"

 

*big wink*

[dune]

Just wait until all the Roma Gypsies start coming over.

 

Valentin Cojocaru, 40, forced back to Romania with his wife and four children, said: “We planned to return to France, but at the moment England is the best option.”

 

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/203187/Gypsy-families-flock-to-UK-

[badgerx16]

There should be qualifying criteria to receive any state benefits. Namely, you can only take out to the limit already paid in. I suspect to do that we would (not before time) have to come out of Europe.

So what happens to new graduates coming out of Uni with no job prospects ?

[dune]

So what happens to new graduates coming out of Uni with no job prospects ?

 

There's no excuse for not working. There's plenty of work out there if you want it.

[Johnny Bognor]

unlike you i am open minded i did not vote for the labour party and label me a leftie if it does not fit into your viewpoint.

but i think you will find every economist points the finger squarely at the bankers( unlike you) for the fact we are pumping billions around the world to stop a world wide depression.

we have doubled the national debt to keep banks from going bust .

i think americas debt was much bigger but i,ve not heard you blame him for the slump . When Bush was sworn in on January 20, 2001, the national debt was $5,727,776,738,304.64.

When "W" left office on January 20, 2009, the national debt was $10,626,877,048,913.08.

The growth in the national debt during his eight years in office: $4,899,100,310,608.44.

The average yearly growth in the national debt during Bush's presidency: $612,387,538,826.05.

During much of Bush's tenure, he had a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate.

He claimed that tax cuts would pay for themselves - they did not. He claimed that tax cuts would result in growth - we are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

 

Right, I don't mean to be patronising, but I'll explain what happened in English.

 

The crisis was triggered by sub prime mortgages going bad. The mortgage companies were lending money to people who were unlikely to pay it back - any economist will tell you that if you do that, they are likely to default. The regulators in the US (i.e. the Bush administration) allowed this to happen. In the UK, Brown turned a blind eye (no pun intended) to Northern Rock and the like offering 125% mortgages on income multples of 7 or 8 times annual income. G Brown allowed unprecendented consumer borrowing of £1.4 trillion and he actively encouraged this with his no more boom and bust bull. It was aways going to end in tears and he should stand trial for criminal negligence (as should Bush).

 

As for the investment bankers, as I have said numerous times before, I believe that some in the system damn well knew what was going on when these sub prime mortgages were re-packaged and re-sold. It is akin to repacking food not fit for human consumption and passing it off as Tescos finest. Obviously, people should be locked up for this, perhaps sharing a cell with Brown and Bush.

 

So there you have it, I have blamed Bush (of the right) and the bankers, but I will never let Brown off the hook.

 

He misled the country and the markets with his no more boom and bust s-h-i-t

He went on a massive borrowing spree before the crisis

Sold of the gold reserves

Failed to stop the economy overheating (the debt fuelled 'boom')

Failed to stop completely irresponsible lending (remember he set up the Financial Suicide Authority - FSA to most people)

Allowed unprecedented personal debt - £1.4 trillion of it

He failed to deal with the Public Sector final salary schemes - with a net liability that is twice that of the financial crisis / recession

Introduced more stealth tax than anyone in history

Oversaw the increasing wealth gap between the rich and the poor

Broke his own rules regarding balancing the books

Broke his own borrowing rules before the crisis

 

 

I thought I would share a leftie US presidential quote with you:

"Part of the reason this crisis occurred is that everyone was living beyond their means—from Wall Street to Washington to even some on Main Street,"

Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said on Oct. 13

 

I could go on, but perhaps it is easier to blame the bankers.

Edited 4 October, 2010 by Johnny Bognor

[bridge too far]

Judging by the Panorama programme I've just been watching, the Insurance industry needs to hang its head in shame too.

[badgerx16]

There's no excuse for not working. There's plenty of work out there if you want it.

You do come across as such a @@@@.

 

From the ONS

 

"The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (the claimant count) increased by 2,300 between July and August 2010 to reach 1.47 million. This is the first monthly increase since January 2010. Between July and August, the number of male claimants fell by 2,600 to reach 1.04 million, but the number of female claimants increased by 4,900 to reach 426,300.

 

The number of vacancies for the three months to August 2010 was 467,000, down 14,000 over the quarter. The sector showing the largest quarterly fall was education where the number of vacancies fell by 11,000 to reach 39,000."

 

As our American cousins would say "Do the math".

Edited 4 October, 2010 by badgerx16

[dune]

You do come across as such a @@@@.

 

It's true though. There is no reason why anyone should be out of work. There's plenty of agency jobs out there to fill a gap.

[Smirking_Saint]

You do come across as such a @@@@.

 

TBF, i can see what he was getting at. It can sometimes be a shame that graduates find it hard to find a job when leaving uni, but TBF, i would never entertain creating a mammoth debt for pretty much under 50% chance of getting a job at the end of it, and have put off a lot of my mates who were thinking of embarking on that journey as that is 'where the money is' because it isn't.

 

And i havn't even begun to talk about those that go to Uni and do pretty much useless degrees.

 

Don't get me wrong i am a graduate, but i secured that degree and a job at the same time by applying for positions at companies and actually using a bit of nonce and showing a bit of drive by sending a few CV's around and getting my name out there. I then went to a company who funded me through and set up my on job training around my degree time whilst being paid for my job, THAT is the way to go about it.

 

On the other side of his arguement, there are still far too many work shy people out there, if for whatever reason i lost my job i would find work anywhere to ensure some sort of income until positions arose that were perhaps more fitting of my experience, abilities and qualifications. This country makes it all too easy for some to avoid contributing anything to the economy, and unfortunately as much as i would love to fund those that are 100% genuine in regards to benefits there are far too many who flout the system.

[badgerx16]

It's true though. There is no reason why anyone should be out of work. There's plenty of agency jobs out there to fill a gap.

The problem is that what jobs there are are not where the unemployed are. And before anybody gets on the 'well move then' hobby-horse, relocating to another part of the country for a minimum wage or even zero hours contract just isn't feasible for many people.

[dune]

The problem is that what jobs there are are not where the unemployed are. And before anybody gets on the 'well move then' hobby-horse, relocating to another part of the country for a minimum wage or even zero hours contract just isn't feasible for many people.

 

Trust me, if you you want work and you're not fussy it's out there. This is why i'd bring back work houses and anyone who's able bodied and out of work for over 6 months i'd stop all their benefits and give them a choice between the workhouse and the streets. You'd soon see them getting off their arses then.

[Johnny Bognor]

The problem is that what jobs there are are not where the unemployed are. And before anybody gets on the 'well move then' hobby-horse, relocating to another part of the country for a minimum wage or even zero hours contract just isn't feasible for many people.

 

 

Maybe in some areas, but there are plenty of claimants in Chichester + Bognor and I didn't see a "sold out" sign in the window of the job centre when I last drove by.

[Clapham Saint]

There are always jobs available.

 

They might not be ones that people want to do, especially if they are only marginally worse off by staying on benefits instead

[dune]

What are all your views on castration/sterilisation for the slobs?

[bridge too far]

There are always jobs available.

 

They might not be ones that people want to do, especially if they are only marginally worse off by staying on benefits instead

 

There is something wrong when people are better off on benefits than in work and maybe, if some people were able to earn a decent, living wage instead of the peanuts some jobs offer, they would be more inclined to work.

 

If I was in a position where my family would be better off on benefits then I would do what was best for my family. They would come first.

[LGTL]

TBF, i can see what he was getting at. It can sometimes be a shame that graduates find it hard to find a job when leaving uni, but TBF, i would never entertain creating a mammoth debt for pretty much under 50% chance of getting a job at the end of it, and have put off a lot of my mates who were thinking of embarking on that journey as that is 'where the money is' because it isn't.

 

And i havn't even begun to talk about those that go to Uni and do pretty much useless degrees.

 

Don't get me wrong i am a graduate, but i secured that degree and a job at the same time by applying for positions at companies and actually using a bit of nonce and showing a bit of drive by sending a few CV's around and getting my name out there. I then went to a company who funded me through and set up my on job training around my degree time whilst being paid for my job, THAT is the way to go about it.

 

On the other side of his arguement, there are still far too many work shy people out there, if for whatever reason i lost my job i would find work anywhere to ensure some sort of income until positions arose that were perhaps more fitting of my experience, abilities and qualifications. This country makes it all too easy for some to avoid contributing anything to the economy, and unfortunately as much as i would love to fund those that are 100% genuine in regards to benefits there are far too many who flout the system.

 

And no doubt that was all done during the "Boom" years?? I've tried the very same approach, only during the worst recession in living memory, and guess what happens? It's hard enough to get VOLUNTARY work at the moment!!

[dune]

And no doubt that was all done during the "Boom" years?? I've tried the very same approach, only during the worst recession in living memory, and guess what happens? It's hard enough to get VOLUNTARY work at the moment!!

 

Especially if you're a mod that isnt very good at his job, and your boss goes a bit bonkers.

[badgerx16]

There are always jobs available.

 

They might not be ones that people want to do, especially if they are only marginally worse off by staying on benefits instead

Come up here and have a look ! My son was made redundant earlier this year and has tried applying for everything he can find, whether his experience & qualifications are relevant or not - plenty of "nearly but not quite"'s, and I know for a fact he couldn't survive if he was left with just his benefits.

[Big John]

You see the Doc for free but then have to pay for a prescription. People are happy with that,

 

Who says we are happy with that? I certainly am not happy that my lowest paid friends pay for being diagnosed with an illness which might be keeping them off work. many already struggle when ill as more and more companies do not offer decent sick pay. Whereas well paid people are getting medices at a relative snip. And it is immoral, I want my taxes paying towrds helping those less fortunate than me.

 

Back to the family allowance discussion. We need to also remember that women are still paid less than men on average, that in itself convinces me that the current system helps redress the balance a little. In fact I would like to the allowance increased.

[solentstars]

Right, I don't mean to be patronising, but I'll explain what happened in English.

 

The crisis was triggered by sub prime mortgages going bad. The mortgage companies were lending money to people who were unlikely to pay it back - any economist will tell you that if you do that, they are likely to default. The regulators in the US (i.e. the Bush administration) allowed this to happen. In the UK, Brown turned a blind eye (no pun intended) to Northern Rock and the like offering 125% mortgages on income multples of 7 or 8 times annual income. G Brown allowed unprecendented consumer borrowing of £1.4 trillion and he actively encouraged this with his no more boom and bust bull. It was aways going to end in tears and he should stand trial for criminal negligence (as should Bush).

 

As for the investment bankers, as I have said numerous times before, I believe that some in the system damn well knew what was going on when these sub prime mortgages were re-packaged and re-sold. It is akin to repacking food not fit for human consumption and passing it off as Tescos finest. Obviously, people should be locked up for this, perhaps sharing a cell with Brown and Bush.

 

So there you have it, I have blamed Bush (of the right) and the bankers, but I will never let Brown off the hook.

 

He misled the country and the markets with his no more boom and bust s-h-i-t

He went on a massive borrowing spree before the crisis

Sold of the gold reserves

Failed to stop the economy overheating (the debt fuelled 'boom')

Failed to stop completely irresponsible lending (remember he set up the Financial Suicide Authority - FSA to most people)

Allowed unprecedented personal debt - £1.4 trillion of it

He failed to deal with the Public Sector final salary schemes - with a net liability that is twice that of the financial crisis / recession

Introduced more stealth tax than anyone in history

Oversaw the increasing wealth gap between the rich and the poor

Broke his own rules regarding balancing the books

Broke his own borrowing rules before the crisis

 

 

I thought I would share a leftie US presidential quote with you:

"Part of the reason this crisis occurred is that everyone was living beyond their means—from Wall Street to Washington to even some on Main Street,"

Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said on Oct. 13

 

I could go on, but perhaps it is easier to blame the bankers.

 

whos leftie is he a banker or a boxer

[Big John]

Obviously he doesn't have time for the red tape and cost of establishing a system that regulates the benefit in a more complicated way.

 

This will apparently save £1bn each year and is quick and easy to implement and isn't going to push anyone into poverty IMO. A sensible way of trying to balance the ridiculous balance sheet he inherited. Over time, once the absurd finances have been put back on an even keel then maybe the rules can be adjusted to take account of that anomoly.

 

Yippee! That is all that some people want to hear I fear, just so long as it doesn't make me a victim of the changes eh? If we tolerate this then are children will be next. Oh.

[Smirking_Saint]

And no doubt that was all done during the "Boom" years?? I've tried the very same approach, only during the worst recession in living memory, and guess what happens? It's hard enough to get VOLUNTARY work at the moment!!

 

2 years ago, and they are still taking on people now.

 

Plenty of jobs left like it, depending on the industry and what your priorities are. I had to take an 8k paycut originally, not that it started on crappy money but i was already in a decent position. Sometimes you need to realise you have to go backwards to go forwards. (same as Saints )

 

Many many employers are going down the apprenticeship, trainee positions line because it allows them not only to get who they want, but save money by going straight to the Uni's and saying 'i will put 20 people through a year if you can give me an offer for education' and also to ensure that the graduates that are employed also have on job skills and not just pub golf.

[dune]

Johnny I have admire your thorough researching to back up our case against the scourge of Socialism. But that is not enough. While on holiday, sat in a bar to watch ssn, that wasn't on, instead i was watch a couple of other games and the Socialist conference where red ed was unveiled. Sat behind me was some nice scousers and the wife/gf who they should left doing some washing/ironing/eating (a few more stone wouldn't have shown) and gobby scouse wife was announcing quietly to her people (but inadvertantly speaking loudly enough so everyone else had the pleasure) that the bar was full of southerners and liverpool game wasn't on. Well i'd just come out of the bar 10 yards down the hill where i was on and i was going to tell them, but toffee came over fro the german bar and i scratched him behind his ears, which was his favourite, and i forget. Any fake blond, fake tan, fat, mouthy, staying in a cheap hotel with russians that didn't boil hot enough water for the tea Scouse slag was saying she didn't know how anyone could vote tory, then a bit later he husband who i thought was ok showed he was infact a perfect compatible match for his scrubber and said to my missus i bet you've got loads of money, like where the **** did that come from. Now i'm bored with writing and can't even remember what i was writing about but to cut a long story short Red Ed was then unveiled and punched the air and cheered like saints had scored and turned to them and said that'll keep your bloody labour lot out for another 5 years. They left and we didn't form a friendship. Must try harder next time.

[solentstars]

2 years ago, and they are still taking on people now.

 

Plenty of jobs left like it, depending on the industry and what your priorities are. I had to take an 8k paycut originally, not that it started on crappy money but i was already in a decent position. Sometimes you need to realise you have to go backwards to go forwards. (same as Saints )

 

Many many employers are going down the apprenticeship, trainee positions line because it allows them not only to get who they want, but save money by going straight to the Uni's and saying 'i will put 20 people through a year if you can give me an offer for education' and also to ensure that the graduates that are employed also have on job skills and not just pub golf.

i agree and because of the money pumped into the economy unemployment has not rocketed like the 1980,s which to me was the worst recession i have lived threw with 15 % interest rates and vat going up from 7 to 15%, a 2 or 3 day week i don,t know how i kept my house unlike alot of my friends who had theirs repossessed.

good start by the present government cutting back child benefit.

[Weston Super Saint]

 

Don't get me wrong i am a graduate, but i secured that degree and a job at the same time by applying for positions at companies and actually using a bit of nonce

 

Gary Glitter was your careers advisor?

[solentstars]

Johnny I have admire your thorough researching to back up our case against the scourge of Socialism. But that is not enough. While on holiday, sat in a bar to watch ssn, that wasn't on, instead i was watch a couple of other games and the Socialist conference where red ed was unveiled. Sat behind me was some nice scousers and the wife/gf who they should left doing some washing/ironing/eating (a few more stone wouldn't have shown) and gobby scouse wife was announcing quietly to her people (but inadvertantly speaking loudly enough so everyone else had the pleasure) that the bar was full of southerners and liverpool game wasn't on. Well i'd just come out of the bar 10 yards down the hill where i was on and i was going to tell them, but toffee came over fro the german bar and i scratched him behind his ears, which was his favourite, and i forget. Any fake blond, fake tan, fat, mouthy, staying in a cheap hotel with russians that didn't boil hot enough water for the tea Scouse slag was saying she didn't know how anyone could vote tory, then a bit later he husband who i thought was ok showed he was infact a perfect compatible match for his scrubber and said to my missus i bet you've got loads of money, like where the **** did that come from. Now i'm bored with writing and can't even remember what i was writing about but to cut a long story short Red Ed was then unveiled and punched the air and cheered like saints had scored and turned to them and said that'll keep your bloody labour lot out for another 5 years. They left and we didn't form a friendship. Must try harder next time.

 

a good story do you write fiction for a living.

[dune]

a good story do you write fiction for a living.

 

Bounce me some ideas for a general scene and i'll give it a whirl

 

p.s toffee didn't really come over, good spot, soz, well nice dig though although fur a bit greasy so didn't overstroke.

Edited 4 October, 2010 by dune

[Smirking_Saint]

Gary Glitter was your careers advisor?

 

Indeed, and for some reason needed to carry out a full physical, which was weird.

[Smirking_Saint]

Bounce me some ideas for a general scene and i'll give it a whirl

 

A jellyfish, a small polishman pretending to be a leprechaun and a nunnery.

[dune]

A jellyfish, a small polishman pretending to be a leprechaun and a nunnery.

 

OK, but i only do serious stories, so the pole is actually a catholic sent by the pope to join the IRA.

[dune]

A jellyfish, a small polishman pretending to be a leprechaun and a nunnery.

 

There once was a saying, when the corn doth wither and die, and the wind doth blow from land orr the sea, the jellyfish will mutliply and and converge and multiply again and the see shall turn to jelly. And so it came to pass and food stocks ran out and the germans converged on the loungers around the pool, whilst the English rose above it all and remember the empire and the land of rhodesia and smilled - they never put towells down, why claim a plastic lounger and collect a foam map when you claim a country and get a native to do it for you. And so whilst the Jellyfish multiplied and devoured all the little things they like to eat, the English knew that there were fresh lands and empty beaches free of the plague and they sat at the pool bar and got lashed.

 

And now i can't be arsed feel free to add chapter 2.

[badgerx16]

"We will preserve child benefit, winter fuel payments and free TV licences. They are valued by millions." - George Osborne, Conservative Party Conference, October 2009.

 

"There are some things we have specifically ruled out. Take the issue of child benefit. Of course any party would have to look at it but my judgment is that it is a good benefit, it goes straight to the mother, it is very simple." - David Cameron, Sky News, May 3, 2010.

 

"There are some benefits and I think child benefit is one of them, where actually I think it's quite important that everybody, rich or poor, wherever they live, feels they have got a stake in it." - Nick Clegg, The Politics Show, March 7 2010.

 

"We are not cutting child benefit. (There is) absolutely no threat to child benefit." - George Osborne, Radio 5 Live, March 11, 2010.

 

:blush::blush:

[bridge too far]

Never mind, they've had a last-minute new policy making session to deal with all this.

 

They're going to introduce a married couples tax break before the next election for couples in ALL tax bands.

 

Tough titties if you're a couple of many years' standing and don't believe in marriage.

[The Cat]

Come on Clegg, sort it out and don't allow this married couples tax break nonsense.

 

I'm not married but have been with my missus for 15 years. We have 2 kids and a mortgage. Why would signing a bit of paper make us less likely to separate? Know quite a few couples who got married since we've been together and are already divorced. Making that extra "commitment" didn't help them did it Cameron??

 

Typical Daily Mail pandering policy from the Tories.