Politics

[MylesHSG]

The article on "my favourite newspaper", which you linked to, doesn't say anything about VAT, which is what we were talking about.

I think he just proved your point...

[Root]

By linking to an article that didn't mention it? That doesn't prove anything. I can quite easily find articles where Labour's proposed VAT cut has been mentioned as recently as yesterday. It seems like it's still part of their plans.

[MylesHSG]

I meant your point on him using the wrong arguements to attempt to make points.

Though tell me if im completely wrong lol

[Starkey7]

The reason I supported the No campaign [against AV] was that if you are going to have a run-off system then EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE AGAIN, not just those people.

But they do, don't they? If someone votes for someone who doesn't get through a voting round, then their second vote is counted. If someone votes for someone who does get through a voting round, then their first vote is counted (again).

[MylesHSG]

I think it was the fact that you could vote only once if you wished too.....tbh the who AV thing confused the heck out of me and I did vote NO simply becuase I did not fully understand proportional representation in any form.

[Root]

^ That much is apparent - AV isn't proportional

Sorry for getting the strong end of the wick a moment ago, I thought you meant I had inadvertently proved HT's point!

[MylesHSG]

AV isn't proportional....ey ey ey......

Oh and dont worry, could have worded it better.

[tubeguru]

The recent spats in this thread highlight just what happens when kids get involved in adult issues.

One day HT, you WILL look back on this and cringe. I can remember back to when I was your age (about three times as young as I am now) and recoil in acute embarrassment when I remember some of the things I said and did. And as an adult, I can see the one-sided immaturity and naivety in your posts, both of which go completely over your head. However, I'm sure you will improve with age, and in ten years' time will have hopefully adopted a more rounded view on politics.

I used to be what you'd call a sort-of-die-hard Tory voter, but over the last ten years my views have softened somewhat - I have become more liberal with age, and it happens to a lot of people. It's easy for you, with no responsibilities in life (job, mortgage, kids, bills) to take a hard-line view, as you have no life experience to base your politics on. But it's usually the case that as you take on each of these responsibilities in life, your view changes despite which political party you fanatically support.

For example, let's say you have a wife, two kids, a mortgage and a job. If the Tories decided to raise interest rates by 5% (mortgage goes up steeply), reduce child benefit by 50% (wages stretching further) and cut your job in the public sector (er, no wages at all), would you still stand by them as if they could do no wrong?

Right now, I want to personally strangle each and every one of the Conservative-voting NIMBYs in the Chilterns who are opposing HS2 simply because it runs past where they live - what a bunch of selfish c***s. None of them can see the bigger picture, which is kind of where you are right now with politics. It's not about which political party is "in charge" of the constituencies through which the railway will run - it's about an overcrowded rail network that needs relief, and this line will help. And their argument about "we won't be able to use it" is bogus - there are going to be very few intermediate stations, so NO ONE on the route will be able to use it - it's a high-speed, DIRECT route. Anyway, I digress.

A minister was once banned from the Commons for saying "Yes, I would lie to the house." So, technically, no one lies.

So if I ban someone from this forum for saying they would lie on here, that makes no one on the forum a liar? That's amazing logic.

[MylesHSG]

@Tubeguru, very good post and I agree almost 100% with what your saying.

Shall we strike up a HS2 debate here or start another thread as I have a different view point I would like to make?

[tubeguru]

@Tubeguru, very good post and I agree almost 100% with what your saying.

Shall we strike up a HS2 debate here or start another thread as I have a different view point I would like to make?

New thread please. This is general politics.

[Garion]

Right now, I want to personally strangle each and every one of the Conservative-voting NIMBYs in the Chilterns who are opposing HS2 simply because it runs past where they live - what a bunch of selfish c***s. None of them can see the bigger picture, which is kind of where you are right now with politics. It's not about which political party is "in charge" of the constituencies through which the railway will run - it's about an overcrowded rail network that needs relief, and this line will help. And their argument about "we won't be able to use it" is bogus - there are going to be very few intermediate stations, so NO ONE on the route will be able to use it - it's a high-speed, DIRECT route. Anyway, I digress.

Edit: First i'm not starting an off topic discussion here, I'm just simply agreeing with you Neil.

Well said. You could compare that to roads in the UK. The M42, M3 and A34 had massive opposition when they were planned/built but now they perform vital routes on our road network. I agree with you, some people dont see the bigger picture. Some (maybe most) are just thinking of themselves and the here and now, not about the future and the possible effects it can bring.

And also, what you said about no-one being able to use it, so what? They still have other transport links. I sense a bit of greed here. Was there this sort of opposition when HS1 was built? (I cant remember). But anyway, today HS1 is a vital rail link to Europe and people reply on that. People might even asked how they coped before it was built. I say in 10 or so years (or however long HS2 takes to complete), people will probably say that it was a good idea and that it's a handy new link in our rail network.

And since this is a politics thread, I might as well say something on topic...Labour for me the only party I've known in my 21 years to do decent stuff.

[Root]

I cringe when I read things about politics that I wrote just one or two years ago. My opinions change all the time - and I'm glad they do. It means I'm not loyal to any particular party.

Anyway, speaking of politics generally, I'm off to vote in the Finnish presidential election today. It's nice to live in a country which has an elected head of state.

[MylesHSG]

Does he get a £100 Million Yacht?

[Root]

I'm going to assume that was a rhetorical question

Also: she. Finland's president for the last twelve years has been a woman.

[tubeguru]

Talking of heads of state, I support the Royal Family, and can't see the problem with them. After all, they perform only a ceremonial role, and have devolved ALL of their ruling and political power to the Government.

And they carry out loads of charitable work, despite the press moaning that the Duchess of Cambridge's recent choices were "somewhat safe". How much charitable work do newspaper editors carry out? Not much I'd guess.

This political ranting stuff is good innit?