Off Topic The Politics Thread

[sb_73]

I've read a suggestion that we might be seeing our politics change from the right/left paradigm and morphing into libertarian vs authoritarian strands. I can understand it, and you can guess where I sit on that spectrum.

Tempting, and probably better than left/right, but I suspect an oversimplification. In the US 'libertarian' is definitely a conservative, pro totally free market, low/no tax, minimal regulations descriptor. I don't think you are one of them.

That-a-boy! Now you're starting to sound like Hitchens P.

I'll let you know when God has spoken to me, like he/she/it has to Pete, thus removing the need for me to think for myself ever again.

 

[TheBigDipper]

Tempting, and probably better than left/right, but I suspect an oversimplification. In the US 'libertarian' is definitely a conservative, pro totally free market, low/no tax, minimal regulations descriptor. I don't think you are one of them.

No, you're right, I'm not.

 

[GoldhawkRoad]

Let's hope so, we are badly in need of some kind of political re-alignment in this country. I have little idea how I would vote if there was a general election tomorrow.

I always thought you were moderate Momentum, Strolls.

 

[GoldhawkRoad]

Tempting, and probably better than left/right, but I suspect an oversimplification. In the US 'libertarian' is definitely a conservative, pro totally free market, low/no tax, minimal regulations descriptor. I don't think you are one of them.

Good point, I hadn't focused on the distinction. All these terms are making things pretty complicated.

 

[Uber_Hoop]

Tempting, and probably better than left/right, but I suspect an oversimplification. In the US 'libertarian' is definitely a conservative, pro totally free market, low/no tax, minimal regulations descriptor. I don't think you are one of them.


I'll let you know when God has spoken to me, like he/she/it has to Pete, thus removing the need for me to think for myself ever again.

Care to cite examples of where Hitchens Minor has made this claim? I just had him down as an arrogant prick.

 

[sb_73]

Care to cite examples of where Hitchens Minor has made this claim? I just had him down as an arrogant prick.

I have no examples, it's just my knee jerk bias towards those who 'find' religion after trying a variety of other ideologies. But Hitchens P can be quite amusing sometimes, and he's not wrong on everything, it just makes life more fun for me to pretend that he is. It's all about ME, as you should know by now.

 

[sb_73]

Good point, I hadn't focused on the distinction. All these terms are making things pretty complicated.

We are in a Catch 22. We love to over simplify, to make easy binary choices, and we love to take on ideas wholesale, in a job lot. I know, for example, that the EU has massive problems, does not function well, and could collapse if it doesn't sort itself out. It may also have outlived its usefulness. But I like the idea of it, so have spent 388 pages on this thread arguing from a position (mainly because I enjoy the debate) that I know is crass (but no more crass than the opposite similarly oversimplified position). It's all your fault Goldie, you goaded me into it!

Yet if we try to take on the full complexity of things our brains will explode and we will be unable to make any decisions. Checkmate. What I really think is much more complicated than the impression given on here, and is constantly changing. And probably worthless and wrong too.

 

[Stroller]

I always thought you were moderate Momentum, Strolls.

I have you down as a Tory.

Well, according to this out-of-date and rather unsatisfactory quiz.....

http://www.gotoquiz.com/results/which_uk_political_party_am_i

I am:

86% Green
84% Lib Dem
49% Labour
49% Tory
9% UKIP
9% BNP

Not quite sure how I wound up with an element of UKIP or BNP (do they still exist?).

I must admit, I feel a bit Lib Demmish at the moment.

 

[sb_73]

Well, according to this out-of-date and rather unsatisfactory quiz.....

http://www.gotoquiz.com/results/which_uk_political_party_am_i

I am:

86% Green
84% Lib Dem
49% Labour
49% Tory
9% UKIP
9% BNP

Not quite sure how I wound up with an element of UKIP or BNP (do they still exist?).

I must admit, I feel a bit Lib Demmish at the moment.

Virtually none of the answers you choose from completely reflect my views! So I did the US one instead and turned out 84% Liberal, 49% Libertarian and 0% Conservative. That'll do.

 

[GoldhawkRoad]

I must admit, I feel a bit Lib Demmish at the moment.

Try to avoid A&E unless the condition becomes chronic

 

[GoldhawkRoad]

.

 

[GoldhawkRoad]

Virtually none of the answers you choose from completely reflect my views! So I did the US one instead and turned out 84% Liberal, 49% Libertarian and 0% Conservative. That'll do.

There goes your knighthood. 49% Libertarian means you have to give half-hearted support to the gun lobby, doesn't it?

 

[cor blymie]

I see Jamie Oliver is blaming Brexit for the closure of six of his restaurants. I suppose Brexit was at fault for the closure of his Australian restaurants too

 

[TheBigDipper]

I see Jamie Oliver is blaming Brexit for the closure of six of his restaurants. I suppose Brexit was at fault for the closure of his Australian restaurants too

From just the headlines, I might have come to the same conclusion. Once I started reading the piece itself, though, the only quote I could find was by the MD of Jamie's Italian, not Jamie the owner. The MD said the price of some of their imported ingredients rose sharply after the value of the Pound dropped against the Euro following the Brexit vote. Well, it has dropped, hasn't it? It dropped following the Brexit vote, didn't it? Probably a coincidence.

The implication that Jamie is just using Brexit as an excuse, and is just bad at business, because his Australian operation also failed, is somewhat reduced once you learn that the Ozzie restaurants were a franchise. He didn't own them and he didn't run them. Although apparently he's thinking of buying them now they're up for sale.

Sorry, but them's the facts... there are too many misleading headlines out there on all sorts of topics and they can't be trusted.

 

[QPR999]

From just the headlines, I might have come to the same conclusion. Once I started reading the piece itself, though, the only quote I could find was by the MD of Jamie's Italian, not Jamie the owner. The MD said the price of some of their imported ingredients rose sharply after the value of the Pound dropped against the Euro following the Brexit vote. Well, it has dropped, hasn't it? It dropped following the Brexit vote, didn't it? Probably a coincidence.

The implication that Jamie is just using Brexit as an excuse, and is just bad at business, because his Australian operation also failed, is somewhat reduced once you learn that the Ozzie restaurants were a franchise. He didn't own them and he didn't run them. Although apparently he's thinking of buying them now they're up for sale.

Sorry, but them's the facts... there are too many misleading headlines out there on all sorts of topics and they can't be trusted.

Or it may be that having frequented his establishment that his food is overpriced and the quality of it is ****. Sorry, but them's the facts.

Brexit is a poor cop out. For all things good = Positive Brexit. All things bad = Negative Brexit. It gives our politicians an easy swerve. Don't let the parasites off the hook. Make them work for their money.

 

[TheBigDipper]

Or it may be that having frequented his establishment that his food is overpriced and the quality of it is ****. Sorry, but them's the facts.

Brexit is a poor cop out. For all things good = Positive Brexit. All things bad = Negative Brexit. It gives our politicians an easy swerve. Don't let the parasites off the hook. Make them work for their money.

Agree totally. My post was attempting to highlight why we can't trust headlines and need to read the pieces behind them if we want to be properly (or at least better) informed. I didn't know anything about this item until after CorBlymie posted. Then I read the news item about it.

I also agree with you about the restaurants themselves. Love Italian food, been twice, won't willingly go a third time, and certainly not if I'm paying!

Happy to be a member of the Awkward Squad. Keep asking questions and don't just accept the headlines and slogans.

 

[sb_73]

Or it may be that having frequented his establishment that his food is overpriced and the quality of it is ****. Sorry, but them's the facts.

Brexit is a poor cop out. For all things good = Positive Brexit. All things bad = Negative Brexit. It gives our politicians an easy swerve. Don't let the parasites off the hook. Make them work for their money.

Agree totally. My post was attempting to highlight why we can't trust headlines and need to read the pieces behind them if we want to be properly (or at least better) informed. I didn't know anything about this item until after CorBlymie posted. Then I read the news item about it.

I also agree with you about the restaurants themselves. Love Italian food, been twice, won't willingly go a third time, and certainly not if I'm paying!

Happy to be a member of the Awkward Squad. Keep asking questions and don't just accept the headlines and slogans.

I usually find restaurants run by Italians are a good bet if you want Italian food. Likewise with Indian, Thai, Chinese etc. Never eaten at one of Oliver's establishments, but have at the River Cafe in Fulham, where he learned, way back in the 90s. Another 'Italian' run by Brits. Expensive, but my boss at the time paid and we got so sensationally pissed he didn't turn up for work next day. He also smoked all my ***s (at the table, which shows you how long ago this was). As far as I can remember the food was good but overthought and easily bettered by the corner trattoria in any Italian provincial town.

Restaurant review thread anyone?

 

[rangercol]

From just the headlines, I might have come to the same conclusion. Once I started reading the piece itself, though, the only quote I could find was by the MD of Jamie's Italian, not Jamie the owner. The MD said the price of some of their imported ingredients rose sharply after the value of the Pound dropped against the Euro following the Brexit vote. Well, it has dropped, hasn't it? It dropped following the Brexit vote, didn't it? Probably a coincidence.

The implication that Jamie is just using Brexit as an excuse, and is just bad at business, because his Australian operation also failed, is somewhat reduced once you learn that the Ozzie restaurants were a franchise. He didn't own them and he didn't run them. Although apparently he's thinking of buying them now they're up for sale.

Sorry, but them's the facts... there are too many misleading headlines out there on all sorts of topics and they can't be trusted.

It pissed down with rain last night...................****ing brexit!!!!

 

[cor blymie]

From just the headlines, I might have come to the same conclusion. Once I started reading the piece itself, though, the only quote I could find was by the MD of Jamie's Italian, not Jamie the owner. The MD said the price of some of their imported ingredients rose sharply after the value of the Pound dropped against the Euro following the Brexit vote. Well, it has dropped, hasn't it? It dropped following the Brexit vote, didn't it? Probably a coincidence.

The implication that Jamie is just using Brexit as an excuse, and is just bad at business, because his Australian operation also failed, is somewhat reduced once you learn that the Ozzie restaurants were a franchise. He didn't own them and he didn't run them. Although apparently he's thinking of buying them now they're up for sale.

Sorry, but them's the facts... there are too many misleading headlines out there on all sorts of topics and they can't be trusted.

I would say having 42 Jamie Italian restaurants make it a franchise business here too. How much mark up can you make on a plate of pasta? Some high brow areas he is closing, in Richmond and Tunbridge Wells. May I suggest you pop along to your local Wetherspoons for a more than tidy pasta dish. Polished down with a pint of Bombadier and change out of a tenner to boot. Now there is a fella who knows how to run a business

 

[kiwiqpr]

I would say having 42 Jamie Italian restaurants make it a franchise business here too. How much mark up can you make on a plate of pasta? Some high brow areas he is closing, in Richmond and Tunbridge Wells. May I suggest you pop along to your local Wetherspoons for a more than tidy pasta dish. Polished down with a pint of Bombadier and change out of a tenner to boot. Now there is a fella who knows how to run a business

he is a typical cheap kiwi