doublesaint Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 From todays news, a colliery in West Midlands is to break the record for annual production of coal, and other expansion/exploration projects are being carried out now or in the pipeline. So far so good, yet one downturn is that the profits of a national asset will be going to European private companies mostly, maybe it is time for renationalisation, after all if we can do it for the banking industry in effect, why not here? Then perhaps have the completely radical idea of turning this country back into a major manufacturing base, instead of a nation/society built on the absurdities of stock market trading and quick profiteering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 Then perhaps have the completely radical idea of turning this country back into a major manufacturing base Only if you're prepared to work for a couple of quid a week....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 From todays news, a colliery in West Midlands is to break the record for annual production of coal, and other expansion/exploration projects are being carried out now or in the pipeline. So far so good, yet one downturn is that the profits of a national asset will be going to European private companies mostly, maybe it is time for renationalisation, after all if we can do it for the banking industry in effect, why not here? Then perhaps have the completely radical idea of turning this country back into a major manufacturing base, instead of a nation/society built on the absurdities of stock market trading and quick profiteering. which has made us one of the most wealthiest countries in the world..by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 It's good to see that the tree hugging leftie environmental policy has been put on the back burner. When you've got countries like China and India belching smoke into the atmosphere there's no point in us going all green as we're a drop in the Ocean. In any case man made global warming is one big lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 another one that has made me laugh....for years the environmentalists pined for the closure of nuclear power plants...now it seems, it will be more "green" open them.. wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 It's good to see that the tree hugging leftie environmental policy has been put on the back burner. When you've got countries like China and India belching smoke into the atmosphere there's no point in us going all green as we're a drop in the Ocean. In any case man made global warming is one big lie. Nonsense as usual. Coal will only make a true comeback in this country when carbon capture and storage technology is in place at power stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 There will come a time when it is economically viable to reopen mines in this country on a mass scale. It is not far away at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 Re-nationalise the coal industry? Excellent news for the Unions, they haven't had a decent strike in years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 Re-nationalise the coal industry? Excellent news for the Unions, they haven't had a decent strike in years! And it'll give a few coppers another chance to put the boot in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 And it'll give a few coppers another chance to put the boot in Then we could re-introduce the poll tax and really get things going backwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisthehulk Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 Nonsense as usual. Coal will only make a true comeback in this country when carbon capture and storage technology is in place at power stations. The problem with this is that we need to build Kingsnorth in order to be able to experiment with CCS, unfortunately the usual set of trustafarian hippy workshy "protest" groups dont want this to happen. In fact they like to demonstrate this by breaking into my companies offices and threatening people who are just trying to do a days work. I wonder if any of these people have considered removing their main fuse and generating their own power? I expect to be honest they get home at night after a hard days protesting and switch on their mains powered essential oil burners and leave them on all night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 If the rabid anti-union Thatcher hadn't been such a spiteful cow, the coal mines would have helped us through the energy crisis, and made a bundle of cash in the last 15 years. Mind you, if the gas and electric hadn't been privatised the taxpayer would either be pocketing the profits now, or being charged a fairer rate. Well done, Tory ***ts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 The problem with this is that we need to build Kingsnorth in order to be able to experiment with CCS, unfortunately the usual set of trustafarian hippy workshy "protest" groups dont want this to happen. In fact they like to demonstrate this by breaking into my companies offices and threatening people who are just trying to do a days work. I wonder if any of these people have considered removing their main fuse and generating their own power? I expect to be honest they get home at night after a hard days protesting and switch on their mains powered essential oil burners and leave them on all night. Three proposals are currently on a shortlist for a demonstration CCS project. The winner will be announced in the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 8 December, 2008 Share Posted 8 December, 2008 If the rabid anti-union Thatcher hadn't been such a spiteful cow, the coal mines would have helped us through the energy crisis, and made a bundle of cash in the last 15 years. Mind you, if the gas and electric hadn't been privatised the taxpayer would either be pocketing the profits now, or being charged a fairer rate. Well done, Tory ***ts. That seems to be a very fair assessment although I feel you let the ***** Thatcher of a tad lightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 which has made us one of the most wealthiest countries in the world..by the way You cannot simply measure the wealth of a country in monetary terms. I am sorry, but what Margaret Thatcher (the snatcher) did, in ripping the heart out of honest hard-working mining communities was ugly and horrible. I witnessed it at close hand, and will never, ever forgive that *****. She is the primary reason that we are now living in a society where people do not respect each other, and all of the associated problems that we are now witnessing. She was a bully on a massive power trip and we as a nation are still in denial of these facts. All IMHO of course, but I do still hate Thatcher, and that is FACT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 You cannot simply measure the wealth of a country in monetary terms. I am sorry, but what Margaret Thatcher (the snatcher) did, in ripping the heart out of honest hard-working mining communities was ugly and horrible. I witnessed it at close hand, and will never, ever forgive that *****. She is the primary reason that we are now living in a society where people do not respect each other, and all of the associated problems that we are now witnessing. She was a bully on a massive power trip and we as a nation are still in denial of these facts. All IMHO of course, but I do still hate Thatcher, and that is FACT. things change...what, were we going to send people down mines forever...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublesaint Posted 9 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 9 December, 2008 things change...what, were we going to send people down mines forever...? The pit closures brought about hardship on mining communities that lasted a long time and as can be seen from the latest figures on coal production, if anything there was a need for more investment rather than closures, this is one reason why I personally dislike Thatcher, I respect peoples opinions on who to vote for on a party level depending on their instincts and in many cases their morals. But her decision was not a political one as such but a statement of direct intent to destroy the unions by defeating the biggest or one of the biggest in the NUM. And Arthur Scargill and Mick McGahey were equally as responsible for egging on the workers for a battle that they could not win, as coal had been stockpiled knowing there would undoubtedly be industrial action. Never to my knowledge has a Prime Minister of any party systematically decided to change the country from what its strengths actually are, in being an industry/manufacturing base into a 'nation of shopkeepers'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 The pit closures brought about hardship on mining communities that lasted a long time and as can be seen from the latest figures on coal production, if anything there was a need for more investment rather than closures, this is one reason why I personally dislike Thatcher, I respect peoples opinions on who to vote for on a party level depending on their instincts and in many cases their morals. But her decision was not a political one as such but a statement of direct intent to destroy the unions by defeating the biggest or one of the biggest in the NUM. And Arthur Scargill and Mick McGahey were equally as responsible for egging on the workers for a battle that they could not win, as coal had been stockpiled knowing there would undoubtedly be industrial action. Never to my knowledge has a Prime Minister of any party systematically decided to change the country from what its strengths actually are, in being an industry/manufacturing base into a 'nation of shopkeepers'. i see your point..but the change eventually led to the UK being very very wealthy..we spend more on public services, NHS etc than ever before..things that derectly effect you and me...more and more people own their own homes...more and more people have had more disposable income than ever before..of course you will say that it is credit etc..but people had a choice...that was never really a choice before... we give more to other countries in terms of aid than ever before, we help out asylum seekers than ever before.. i dont think it would be wrong to say that in most parts...quality of life in britain is better in 2008 than in 1988...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 i see your point..but the change eventually led to the UK being very very wealthy..we spend more on public services, NHS etc than ever before..things that derectly effect you and me...more and more people own their own homes...more and more people have had more disposable income than ever before..of course you will say that it is credit etc..but people had a choice...that was never really a choice before... we give more to other countries in terms of aid than ever before, we help out asylum seekers than ever before.. i dont think it would be wrong to say that in most parts...quality of life in britain is better in 2008 than in 1988...? Part of the reason for the increased spending on the NHS these days is, in fact, due to the need to restore it to how it was before Thatcher came to power. I worked in the NHS then, and I can tell you that the cut-backs that were made at that time were horrendous. Hospital buildings were being run down and waiting lists were incredibly long. And it was at this time that so many support services were contracted out to the private sector - we all know what happened with cleaning services, for example. It's taken a couple of decades to get it back on course and then move it forwards. I shall remember to my dying day her creed that there was 'no such thing as society'. I am sure that this view has contributed to many of the societal ills that we have these days. Even her own party thinks so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 i see your point..but the change eventually led to the UK being very very wealthy..we spend more on public services, NHS etc than ever before..things that derectly effect you and me...more and more people own their own homes...more and more people have had more disposable income than ever before..of course you will say that it is credit etc..but people had a choice...that was never really a choice before... we give more to other countries in terms of aid than ever before, we help out asylum seekers than ever before.. i dont think it would be wrong to say that in most parts...quality of life in britain is better in 2008 than in 1988...? Poverty is more widespread in 2008 than 1984 for sure. A new generation of underclass on estates represented by the likes of Karen Matthews has been the social legacy of Thatcher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 Part of the reason for the increased spending on the NHS these days is, in fact, due to the need to restore it to how it was before Thatcher came to power. I worked in the NHS then, and I can tell you that the cut-backs that were made at that time were horrendous. Hospital buildings were being run down and waiting lists were incredibly long. And it was at this time that so many support services were contracted out to the private sector - we all know what happened with cleaning services, for example. It's taken a couple of decades to get it back on course and then move it forwards. I shall remember to my dying day her creed that there was 'no such thing as society'. I am sure that this view has contributed to many of the societal ills that we have these days. Even her own party thinks so. would you say that in general...quality of living in the UK in 2008 is better than ever..? and the UK offers more in aid more than ever (something im sure you agree with)...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 Poverty is more widespread in 2008 than 1984 for sure. A new generation of underclass on estates represented by the likes of Karen Matthews has been the social legacy of Thatcher. i just love this... maggie left office what..? 18 years ago...nu labour have been in power what? 11 years...yet she STILL gets the blame... i think enough time has passed for others to have made complete changes... i wonder how old karen matthews is and whether she was really influenced by the evil thatcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 would you say that in general...quality of living in the UK in 2008 is better than ever..? and the UK offers more in aid more than ever (something im sure you agree with)...? Yes, generally I do think the standard of living is better than ever. But that's inevitable with the general increase in technology and science, isn't it. I think for some people, the standard of living may have increased but not at the same rate as for others. I think the gap between the top and the bottom hasn't narrowed. I don't know much about overseas aid that this country makes available but this is quite interesting: http://www.europaworld.org/issue37/uknowfourthlargest1601.htm Equally interesting is an article by Robert Peston, from the BBC, talking about the New World Order that will come about because of the financial downturn. It's his view that capitalism will be far more benign because developing countries will hold more economic power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 Yes, generally I do think the standard of living is better than ever. But that's inevitable with the general increase in technology and science, isn't it. I think for some people, the standard of living may have increased but not at the same rate as for others. I think the gap between the top and the bottom hasn't narrowed. I don't know much about overseas aid that this country makes available but this is quite interesting: http://www.europaworld.org/issue37/uknowfourthlargest1601.htm Equally interesting is an article by Robert Peston, from the BBC, talking about the New World Order that will come about because of the financial downturn. It's his view that capitalism will be far more benign because developing countries will hold more economic power. of course it wont be for everyone..that will never be the case in any country in the world....im sure you would agree that in developing new technology, medicine and science that the UK has played a major part in that..in terms of cure for cancer etc...im sure i read somehwere that in general, life expectancy has gone UP...now, that would not have been the case if we were still sending people down mines... i remember my uncle telling me he was 30 before he bought his first house and due to the climate he was litterally broke for years in order to pay for it... i was alot younger when i got mine and i was/am not broke what so ever...and he was in the forces too...of course you will mentin credit etc..but that is a CHOICE on offer...something he never had.. of course that is just one example and im sure you can point out opposite examples..but the fact remains....quility of living in the UK is better than ever... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublesaint Posted 9 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 9 December, 2008 i see your point..but the change eventually led to the UK being very very wealthy..we spend more on public services, NHS etc than ever before..things that derectly effect you and me...more and more people own their own homes...more and more people have had more disposable income than ever before..of course you will say that it is credit etc..but people had a choice...that was never really a choice before... we give more to other countries in terms of aid than ever before, we help out asylum seekers than ever before.. i dont think it would be wrong to say that in most parts...quality of life in britain is better in 2008 than in 1988...? The 'wealth' of the nation was sold off to private individuals during the privatisation programme of national assets that now have the responsibilty to earn shareholder dividends and return as much profit as possible whaich is not always directly re invested back in the business, most noticeable in the rail industry where thee have been several deaths attributable to this motive, where money should have been spent on improving safety systems, or even the upkeep of a recognised maintenance programme. And while the right to own your own home is one I cannot argue with in reality, my concern then and now is coming to fruition, if the money gained from the sales of council houses was re invested by the government in creating affordable social housing, then we may not have the problems in the housing market that we are seeing now. As a democratic and fairly wealthy country we surely have the moral obligation to offer aid to countries and to genuinely dispossed people from abroad. And as for squandered wealth, the largest part of that must be put down to the upgrade of the Trident defence system, it saddens me how a Labour government can sign up to that while there are many in society in need of help, such as the pensioners who are denied a decent increase in their basic pension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublesaint Posted 9 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 9 December, 2008 We do not live in Victorian times anymore, people are not 'sent down' mines ,and no doubt there will be a fairly stringent HES policy in place, I seriously doubt that life expectancy rates will drop off if there is a resurgence of the UK coal industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 The 'wealth' of the nation was sold off to private individuals during the privatisation programme of national assets that now have the responsibilty to earn shareholder dividends and return as much profit as possible whaich is not always directly re invested back in the business, most noticeable in the rail industry where thee have been several deaths attributable to this motive, where money should have been spent on improving safety systems, or even the upkeep of a recognised maintenance programme. And while the right to own your own home is one I cannot argue with in reality, my concern then and now is coming to fruition, if the money gained from the sales of council houses was re invested by the government in creating affordable social housing, then we may not have the problems in the housing market that we are seeing now. As a democratic and fairly wealthy country we surely have the moral obligation to offer aid to countries and to genuinely dispossed people from abroad. And as for squandered wealth, the largest part of that must be put down to the upgrade of the Trident defence system, it saddens me how a Labour government can sign up to that while there are many in society in need of help, such as the pensioners who are denied a decent increase in their basic pension. does it matter that we have become more wealthy by selling of part of industry...really? by doing so, a small country like us spends massive amounts on health, education etc... as for not enough housing..well, the last 10 years of unrelented open borders has not helped...for so long so many have cried out for that to stop due to the very fact that there was not enough social housing....so i cant see how you can blame the government in selling off houses in the past when we have not helped ourselves what so ever at all in the last decade... as for selling council houses..what is wrong in people having the opportunity in actually owning their own house..? creates a stable family environment..im sure you will point out that some people abused the system but that will happen in a free society on anything...but in the main..i think being able to own your own house is a good thing.... as for trident...hmmm it is a toughie....having it, cements our place as a permanent member of the security council, thus, being able to exert influence in foreign policy more so....we can push alot more for peace keepers in sudan, east timor, push for russia to stop invading other states etc.....you say we HAVE the moral obligation to help others....this is yet another way we do...like it or not..also, there is another reason we have them but you wont agree what so ever.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 We do not live in Victorian times anymore, people are not 'sent down' mines ,and no doubt there will be a fairly stringent HES policy in place, I seriously doubt that life expectancy rates will drop off if there is a resurgence of the UK coal industry. i watched a programme ages ago about this...and in wales, the standard of living, education,health etc has greatly improved over the years since their mines were closed.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 of course it wont be for everyone..that will never be the case in any country in the world....im sure you would agree that in developing new technology, medicine and science that the UK has played a major part in that..in terms of cure for cancer etc...im sure i read somehwere that in general, life expectancy has gone UP...now, that would not have been the case if we were still sending people down mines...... You're right and some research on this has just been published http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7773035.stm But I don't think this is entirely due to people no longer working in the mines. My mother is in her eighties and is being kept alive by drugs that weren't available 10 years ago. She never worked in the mines However, these life extending drugs are very expensive. The cost to the state of an increasingly aged population who are being kept alive by expensive treatments funded by fewer people of working age is quite worrying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 i watched a programme ages ago about this...and in wales, the standard of living, education,health etc has greatly improved over the years since their mines were closed.. But this would have happened anyway TDD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublesaint Posted 9 December, 2008 Author Share Posted 9 December, 2008 does it matter that we have become more wealthy by selling of part of industry...really? by doing so, a small country like us spends massive amounts on health, education etc... as for not enough housing..well, the last 10 years of unrelented open borders has not helped...for so long so many have cried out for that to stop due to the very fact that there was not enough social housing....so i cant see how you can blame the government in selling off houses in the past when we have not helped ourselves what so ever at all in the last decade... as for selling council houses..what is wrong in people having the opportunity in actually owning their own house..? creates a stable family environment..im sure you will point out that some people abused the system but that will happen in a free society on anything...but in the main..i think being able to own your own house is a good thing.... as for trident...hmmm it is a toughie....having it, cements our place as a permanent member of the security council, thus, being able to exert influence in foreign policy more so....we can push alot more for peace keepers in sudan, east timor, push for russia to stop invading other states etc.....you say we HAVE the moral obligation to help others....this is yet another way we do...like it or not..also, there is another reason we have them but you wont agree what so ever.... 'we' already had a share in the wealth before it was sold to private shareholders, we no longer are benefitting from the wealth that is created from these companies. I think I said I had no issues with selling council houses as such, just that the money would be better re invested in creating socially affordable housing instead of for example.......propping up the shortfall caused by the sell off of nationalised industries? In my opinion the Trident issue is again both a moral and political one, morallly it is wrong to have it in the first place, probably even more so to upgrade it. And I don't think the issue of whether we have a nuclear defence system really exerts much foreign policy influence anyway, and seeing as how Germany does not have a nuclear deterrent yet is quite a major player on the European political front at least, that kind of backs me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2008 Share Posted 9 December, 2008 'we' already had a share in the wealth before it was sold to private shareholders, we no longer are benefitting from the wealth that is created from these companies. I think I said I had no issues with selling council houses as such, just that the money would be better re invested in creating socially affordable housing instead of for example.......propping up the shortfall caused by the sell off of nationalised industries? In my opinion the Trident issue is again both a moral and political one, morallly it is wrong to have it in the first place, probably even more so to upgrade it. And I don't think the issue of whether we have a nuclear defence system really exerts much foreign policy influence anyway, and seeing as how Germany does not have a nuclear deterrent yet is quite a major player on the European political front at least, that kind of backs me up. mate...the real decisions on the world do's and don'ts are by the security council...of which the UK is one of the 5 permanent members along with the changing temporary members.....the world is a bigger place the europe..and as you said..we have a moral obligation to help others...one way, albeit expensive, is to remain on the security council and do just that....like it or not it is the military influence that get decisions through on the world stage...sad as that seems but it is true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 All this talk of home ownership is distorted anyway IMO. For example, the initial increase through 'right to buy' was countered by the lack of available social housing, only evident after the damage of non re-investment was done. I would like to ask how many on here know the name of they're neighbour (be honest)? Using the collier example; someone not only knew they're neighbours names, they worked with them, they respected them and they're children learnt that mutual respect from they're parents. As a nation we were conned into thinking that the path to follow was the 'I'm alright Jack' one, and that, I believe is exactly what some on here are measuring our 'wealth' by; biggest LCD telly, most foreign holidays, newest (on HP) car. It is all ******** I am afraid. At the end of the day, we now all sit in traffic queues seething, to get home to our 'luxury apartments (flats for the stupid), that aren't worth what we paid for them, and eat our microwave dinner (cos we're far too busy to actually cook something healthy), in front of our (credit card paid for) 57" LCD Blue Ray HD TV set, rubbishing reality TV shows of people who actually are not that far removed from the reality of our crappy little lives, and pop our diazepam and temazepam to help us through another sleepless night or crappy day......... And to cap it all we do not even know the name of the family next door, can't even have a 'natter' over the fence. Oh yes, an Englishman's home is without doubt his castle now, and we do not welcome outsiders to our cosy little worlds Yep, cheers Maggie, life is good. You ****ing *****. I do of course, also blame Rupert. That is all. xx's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 All this talk of home ownership is distorted anyway IMO. For example, the initial increase through 'right to buy' was countered by the lack of available social housing, only evident after the damage of non re-investment was done. I would like to ask how many on here know the name of they're neighbour (be honest)? Using the collier example; someone not only knew they're neighbours names, they worked with them, they respected them and they're children learnt that mutual respect from they're parents. As a nation we were conned into thinking that the path to follow was the 'I'm alright Jack' one, and that, I believe is exactly what some on here are measuring our 'wealth' by; biggest LCD telly, most foreign holidays, newest (on HP) car. It is all ******** I am afraid. At the end of the day, we now all sit in traffic queues seething, to get home to our 'luxury apartments (flats for the stupid), that aren't worth what we paid for them, and eat our microwave dinner (cos we're far too busy to actually cook something healthy), in front of our (credit card paid for) 57" LCD Blue Ray HD TV set, rubbishing reality TV shows of people who actually are not that far removed from the reality of our crappy little lives, and pop our diazepam and temazepam to help us through another sleepless night or crappy day......... And to cap it all we do not even know the name of the family next door, can't even have a 'natter' over the fence. Oh yes, an Englishman's home is without doubt his castle now, and we do not welcome outsiders to our cosy little worlds Yep, cheers Maggie, life is good. You ****ing *****. I do of course, also blame Rupert. That is all. xx's i know my neighbours quite well to be honest you could always move to russia if this country is that repulsive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 All this talk of home ownership is distorted anyway IMO. For example, the initial increase through 'right to buy' was countered by the lack of available social housing, only evident after the damage of non re-investment was done. I would like to ask how many on here know the name of they're neighbour (be honest)? Using the collier example; someone not only knew they're neighbours names, they worked with them, they respected them and they're children learnt that mutual respect from they're parents. As a nation we were conned into thinking that the path to follow was the 'I'm alright Jack' one, and that, I believe is exactly what some on here are measuring our 'wealth' by; biggest LCD telly, most foreign holidays, newest (on HP) car. It is all ******** I am afraid. At the end of the day, we now all sit in traffic queues seething, to get home to our 'luxury apartments (flats for the stupid), that aren't worth what we paid for them, and eat our microwave dinner (cos we're far too busy to actually cook something healthy), in front of our (credit card paid for) 57" LCD Blue Ray HD TV set, rubbishing reality TV shows of people who actually are not that far removed from the reality of our crappy little lives, and pop our diazepam and temazepam to help us through another sleepless night or crappy day......... And to cap it all we do not even know the name of the family next door, can't even have a 'natter' over the fence. Oh yes, an Englishman's home is without doubt his castle now, and we do not welcome outsiders to our cosy little worlds Yep, cheers Maggie, life is good. You ****ing *****. I do of course, also blame Rupert. That is all. xx's So todays society is based on what Maggie did 20+ years ago, brilliant. What did Maggie do wrong that the 'nu labour' have done right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 So todays society is based on what Maggie did 20+ years ago, brilliant. What did Maggie do wrong that the 'nu labour' have done right? i dont get how she can still be blamed for anything of note..it was 18 years ago she left...plenty of people have had plenty of time to change things that were that bad.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 i dont get how she can still be blamed for anything of note..it was 18 years ago she left...plenty of people have had plenty of time to change things that were that bad.... I blame Henry VIII for all of our problems. If it wasn't for him, he wouldn't have so many divorces and broken families, everyone would be much happier and there would be less crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 10 December, 2008 Share Posted 10 December, 2008 Never to my knowledge has a Prime Minister of any party systematically decided to change the country from what its strengths actually are, in being an industry/manufacturing base into a 'nation of shopkeepers'. Romantic dillusions. Manufacturing decline started in the 1970's and over the period of 1975 to 1985, Manufacturing's share of GDP fell in ALL major western economies - how was this the fault of Thatcher? She may have been part of the process, but clearly not her fault individually. The decline in the United States manufacturing share of GDP was similar to that of the UK's over the same period. Did she run the US too? The fact of the matter is that western nations were and have been de-industrialising (albeit to a lesser extent in Japan and Germany) since the early 1970's. The services sectors have been increasing in all of these economies over the same period. Had we stuck with the heavily unionised manufacturing base, our position as the 'sick man of Europe' would have deteriorated into the 'terminally ill man of Europe'. The labour market needed to be revolutionised and made more flexible in order to be able to compete in an increasingly global economy. You don't have to like the woman, but she was a necessary evil to bring this country back from the brink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyFartPants Posted 12 December, 2008 Share Posted 12 December, 2008 I can remember figures being mentioned during the coal strikes of it costing the British tax payer £5 for every £1 of coal our mines produced. No matter how honest, proud and hard working our miners were, it wasn't cost effective and the nation did not owe them a living. I always said that one day it may be cost effective to open up some of them and maybe that time will be sooner rather than later. Thatcher did something that had to be done at that particular time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabbageFace Posted 12 December, 2008 Share Posted 12 December, 2008 Coal is cleaner than wind power. FACT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 12 December, 2008 Share Posted 12 December, 2008 did you know that denmark are the worlds leaders in wind power and have thousands of wind turbines around the country...something like 6k give or take a few...it produces something like a quater of denmarks energy....guess how many conventional power stations they have shut down....NONE..infact, ALL of their power stations still run at 100% and will remain so... reason being, they will get no real warning when it stops being windy and potentially put 1/4 of the country powerless.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyFartPants Posted 12 December, 2008 Share Posted 12 December, 2008 did you know that denmark are the worlds leaders in wind power and have thousands of wind turbines around the country...something like 6k give or take a few...it produces something like a quater of denmarks energy....guess how many conventional power stations they have shut down....NONE..infact, ALL of their power stations still run at 100% and will remain so... reason being, they will get no real warning when it stops being windy and potentially put 1/4 of the country powerless.. What about marmalade covered sponge cake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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