Off Topic The "Discuss Anything Else" Thread

I would swear too if all it was was cookies and coffee

 

Too close to home, Dan! Had to be just...........friendly! As I said, it was difficult, a very sexy baggage withall. Oh, I made an addendum to the above comment. Just an opinion, mind you!

 

Man, this pilot and crew deserve medals for this emergency landing. They got it absolutely right; could have been a disaster if they'd gone in too fast or too slow?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35667406

 

Simply acting on instructions from ground control Swanny. "Don't come in too fast or too slow and you'll be alright" they said

 

The civil service should not be working for either side. My understanding is that the Electoral Commission will give a ruling on which bodies officially represent both sides of the argument; and they will allocate funding allowances to those parties. The civil service is paid for by all of us taxpayers and, therefore, is expected to be politically neutral (they work for the government of the day irrespective of its political leaning).

 

Nothing like distorting the real argument to score a few points...

Those of us in the Brexit camp do not want to stop immigration from Europe totally. What we want is control of immigration. The Brexit campaign should focus on immigration because it is an argument that the Remain camp has already lost – uncontrolled immigration equal permanent low pay for the people at the bottom. The fact that hard-left Corbyn now favours staying in the EU (and signing up for all the Socialist rubbish from which we have opt-outs) illustrates just how misguided and unelectable Labour has become.

 

Naturally, those that favour the status quo are opposed to the idea of a Referendum as after the fact (if victorious) they will be claiming it was a waste of time and money.

Cameron put the EU Referendum in the Tory manifesto to (a) keep his Eurosceptic backbenchers happy; and (b) help some of his other MPs fight off the threat from UKIP in their seats at the 2015 election.

The fact that UKIP only hold one seat in Parliament is a result of the electoral system. They polled a very significant number of votes across the country, especially in traditional Labour heartlands in the North where cheap immigrant workers are keeping wages down while the government continue to peddle lies about the success of George Osborne’s Economic Plan. As the net migration statistics showed over a third of a million more people living here over the last year (EU migrants rising, Rest of World migrants falling), presumably they are doing some of the million jobs that have been created.

 

If the democratic will of the Australian people is to be a Republic (i.e. do away with their historic association with the British monarchy), then I for one will not stand in their way. Doubtless the issue will be presented (again) to the Australian populous at some point soon and we in the old colonial ruler will accept their decision.

 

I would advise everybody to steer well clear of all banking shares. Most of the European banks are being kept afloat thanks to intervention by Central Banks and governments to move their bad debt off balance sheet. QE has given some of them the illusion of strong capitalisation whilst failing the wider economy.

I own shares in Standard Chartered and they have tanked over the last year because of their massive over-exposure to Chinese debt (most of which they will end up writing down). Towards the end of last year they offered me the opportunity to buy some more (discounted) shares in a rights issue that they were forced into because of their horrendous debt position. It took all of a nano-second to decline throwing good money after bad. No wonder that they sponsor those consistent losers at Liverpool FC.

 

That really is terribly decent of you old chap!

 

I think it's all going to end up a bit of a non event actually in respect that the in's will win quite convincingly. I feel the exit supporting side of the media are going to build it up to be a close run thing in an attempt to encourage people to vote but the result will likely be 65 -35 in favour of in, the bookies call it at 2-5, which to us punting fans means it's quite a sure thing, even though they sure things do lose this one is not running at Southwell.

I think fear will be a big player on both sides with the in's suggesting the economy will collapse and the out's that we will be over run with immigrants. Ultimately people will vote according to their fears on this one and the in's argument may be seen to hold more water on this one.

One thing I find strange and did so with regard the Scottish referendum was when people would criticise those who made the argument of potential detriment as if it was wrong. Fear is and will always be a way in which a human being discriminates, it is essential to maintaining ones safety. There is of course the difference between a legitimate fear and an over exaggerated one, and this referendum I am convinced will be decided by which fear do people imagine to be the more real - that we will be consumed by immigrants or that the economy will collapse quickly.

Ultimately my view is that Europe is flawed, perhaps fatally. Should it unravel I would not seek to prevent it but would rather be someone in the middle of maintaining an orderly unravelling in which there is less detriment to ourselves, rather than take a huge step out on our own and be the first explorer of potentially treacherous terrain. Other countries will begin to feel the strain soon and we will find friends for a deep overhaul of Europe, something we can then support without taking all the risk on ourselves.

 

Totally agree Blue

 

The EU will collapse in its current form anyways as you insinuate Blue in the not too distant future as it is financially dying. If we do vote out that might kill it more quickly as others will hold a referendum soon after, the EU will of coarse demand a re-vote with a jig of what they offered us as France/Holland/Ireland found out when the "correct" result is not given.

 

Yes but, mallafets, can you see any advantage in Britain instigating its early demise, when we could just agree with the rest later to end it all amicably.

 

Still a mighty bit of work though, keeping the front off the ground as long as he/she did.

 

The Civil Service is required to represent and enact the policies of the Government. The policy of the current Government is to remain within the EU.

 

Yes the advantage is to get off the sinking ship as quick as you can before it drags you down with it.

 

How is it going to do that, may I ask? If it's about to go under it will be the currency that suffers. We will still have the British Pound. Anyway, if it gets to that point, surely at least one country would jump ship. All we need to do is jump with them.

 

Too much doom and gloom me thinks.

 

Not all doom and gloom - England won the rugby and Liverpool are going to get a right royal rogering at Wembley this evening. Life is good