Off Topic The Politics Thread

Juncker just said we will lose privileges when we leave.
Jaguar said we need a deal or jobs could go.
Cadbury's said the cream eggs would go back to tasting like they did before (let's leave now)!
No one wants May's Brexit deal
All the Brexitiers fell asleep at the meeting yesterday (JRM Boris Davis). They took a picture which is on the front pages.
The ginger girl on Sky is sounding more stupid by the day.
Interesting committee meeting yesterday where 3 bankers all sad we could adapt to a no deal (this wasn't reported that much).
Growth figures are good
and....
apparently we are leading the way in those new cars/bikes that don't use petrol.

 

I can’t explain it Dipper, other than to note that the metrics people have access to are the ones set by government, not necessarily the ones that make a difference to the way people feel about their lives, but you can’t really expect Joe Bloggs to set and then track his own metrics. Although of course people will know how they feel and measuring that would be more useful - I think the Brexit, Trump and recent votes in Europe are a pretty good proxy to show that many people are pretty pissed off. Of course I doubt they way they voted will ultimately make them any happier, but that’s my opinion. As I have said on here before those who don’t like these trends, like me, have to take some accountability for them rather than only whine about the results, as we have created the conditions that led to these cries of rage and pain.

Some of the figures published yesterday are good news - the fact that wages are finally rising faster a bit more than inflation mainly. The number of job vacancies, 870,000 I think, should help this trend continue, unless lack of workforce starts to damage our eternally poor productivity. If a lot of those jobs require skills we don’t have enough of in the UK, we are back on the immigration merry-go-round. Apparently there are 107,000 vacancies in the NHS alone, 11.8% of all nursing and midwifery posts unfilled. No matter how much money is thrown at the NHS today it will take years to close this gap with trained professionals unless we import them.

The stock market, a giant gambling scam, is an especially malign measure, but it is in fact very important for anyone who has a pension in addition to the state one. Sadly. And I will confess to playing, in a very small way, on this online gambling site.

The thing that politicians rarely talk about is what globalisation really means. As far as I can see both the hard line Leavers and the Remainers and everyone in between is in favour of ever increasing trade. My job, prosperity and pension rely on globalisation. And over the last 20 years it has had positive results - hundreds of millions of people (250m in China alone) have been lifted out of absolute poverty as a result, for example, of 77% of all clothes sold in the EU being made in Asia. Of course many are still relatively very poor compared to many in the West, and who can deny them the chance to match our living standards? But there has been an explicit consequence for some of the old industrial areas, like the north of England and the US rust belt where there has been woefully inadequate investment in business and infrastructure and people are getting poorer because they can’t compete on a global basis. I suspect that the complexities and subtleties of the consequences and potential future impact of globalisation, which I am instinctively in favour of, are far too much for most politicians (and economists) to understand (I don’t) let alone engage in an informed public debate on. No matter where you live, if you lack the skills, and the infratsructure and enterprises that the global economy wants, you are on a downward path.

A long ramble with no answers, as always.

 

Bob we are way beyond that bus rubbish now mate. To say Brexit hasn't happened yet is also incorrect. It happened the minute after the result... remember the pound?
This feels like groundhog day.
However, we were all told that the day after Brexit the UK would disappear into a black hole (you must remember that), it never happened and we took a hit but as I have said many times this country and the Pound is resilient. We bounced back and now we are getting stronger Brexit or not. This should be welcomed news.

 

Just heard Tom Watson on the radio talking about diabetes. He has done brilliantly to lose 7 stone after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Most of the 3.7 million people with diabetes in the UK have type 2, which can be halted or even reversed with diet and exercise if done early enough. Thus saving 120 people a week the inconvenience of having toes or feet amputated, and of course the NHS and taxpayers the cost.

Watson described this as a ‘public health scandal’, with the implication I think that people don’t get the advice, education and support to help them manage the disease. I am, professionally, far too close to this to comment objectively, but I have the strong impression that there is plenty of information and help about obesity, which is the root of the problem. I suspect people are well aware of the risks they face but are simply in denial (as Watson himself said he was for years). It’s hard to lose weight, just like it is to stop smoking and cut down drinking, but ultimately it’s about personal motivation and determination, there is plenty of support and education available I think, if you choose to use it. Not I think a ‘public health scandal’ and transferring the responsibility from the individual to the state won’t help.

Statistically a few members of this forum must be obese and have diabetes, sincerely no offence intended. And I know that type 1 diabetes is a very different disease and that not all type 2 diabetes is weight related.

 

Oh I didn't realise we had already left!!! What's all the debate about then?? Why the chequers agreement? Why the constant ****e? It hasn't happened yet at all so please check your facts! There has been a vote on to leave or stay and as it stands we are still in th EU. Come on Ellers you're better than that. As for the bus, I used that as an example. NOBODY and that actually includes YOU, knows what will happen after we leave, whether it will be better or worse.

 

Sorry Bob I can't agree with that statement. We may not have left in body but we have in spirit. Many things have changed since the vote. Changes that are preparing us for the date in March. We are leaving day by day. Don't try and tell me we are not because we are. As some have mentioned, companies leaving, EU figures for coming here down and so on. The date is only a symbolic thing. So I don't need to check my facts. As for knowing what will happen? I don't but I believe it will be an exciting time for this country's future. Good luck to the EU and all it's bureaucracy. I am happy here.

One other thing before I forget...
The EU is sending 10,000 troops to protect its borders. That is funny because a year ago they said there would not be a European army? Juncker as also said that the EU needs to flex its muscles on the world stage...mmm interesting comments.

 

Left in spirit. That is hilarious mate, you must admit that. We will have to agree to disagree. We haven't been leaving day by day as nothing is in place for us to leave as we don't know how we are leaving!!!!

 

isn't that what you want? More border guards to stop illegal immigration?

Also when did border guards equate to an EU army?

 

Okay firstly please do not try to make it look like I voted Brexit due to immigration. Show me one post of mine where I have said that or retract your comments.
Also
What do you think these armed border guards are, the stewards that work at QPR?

 

Many companies have already made contingency plans. Just read some of the papers. That date in March 2019 is just symbolic.

 

No shame in wanting less illegal immigration. I want less illegal immigration into the country.

I'll retract it if that is not the case. You can let me know if you want less or more illegal immigration.

I'm assuming the border guards are similar to what we have, i would not class them as the army.

 

Thank you.
This border guard thing is the start. Macron wants a big Euro army and many smaller countries in the EU want the protection, especially eastern European neighbours of Russia. The EU is getting more integrated. Even today they were calling for Romania/Bulgaria and Croatia to be part of Schengen. . This Euro dream will end in tears and I want us as far away as possible.

 

I'm against the euro dream.

However if what you say is true, and there is a sinister motive behind an EU army if:

1. they create one
2. they use it for dark motives.

Surely, being outside of this secret army would be a BAD thing. We wouldn't be able to take it down from the inside rather than being seen as the enemy at the doorstep

 

I don't think it will be sinister or have dark motives. I just think they are trying to create some super army which won't work (sadly you can't turn water into wine). I see future problems with Russia and its neighbours and if the EU is not careful they will be on a collision course with Russia especially if they accept anymore smaller counties that Russia believes belongs to them.
After Brexit we need to change things. A bigger defence force and more money spent on health and welfare and infrastructure. If that doesn't happen then we can ask why.

 

Where's all this money going to come from, Ellers? Even your mate Mogg reckons it could take 50 years to feel any fiscal benefit from Brexit.

 

Yes, yes, you're quite right. Us "ordinary" people really shouldn't try to understand all that complicated stuff. Far better to let more intelligent people, such as yourself to explain it all to us.
Oh, and thanks ever so much for advising me on what I should and shouldn't comment on. Very helpful, thank you.

 

I think you should get off your high horse and take your chips off your shoulders, matey.

Reread the first sentences of my post. You're the one who said:

I voted Remain and I was speaking for myself and others like me when I wrote:

Which is me telling you why I, who voted Remain, isn't making comments about the small swings one way or another as we travel towards 2019.

I wouldn't dream of telling you what you should or shouldn't comment on.

 

More sound and helpful advice.
Thanks.

 

Sorry that we’ve not all been programmed to proclaim Brexit a Shangri-La, Col.

 

I was referring to Dippers "advice" on complicated economic matters, not brexit.
But thanks for your input nevertheless.