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There is bad news for the forces of antidisestablishmentarianism – politicalbetting.com

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  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,596
    nico679 said:

    Oh but the cost of eggs .....

    Congratulations to those who voted for the clown show and enjoy your status as the richest third world country .

    Looks like some of the old favourites will make a return , measles , polio and TB .

    More likely the MAGA morons will take their lead from JFK jnr and fail to vaccinate their children so at least the gene pool will see a dip in brainwashed off spring !

    Where are the Trump apologists this evening . I’m waiting on the spin that this appointment is a marvelous idea !

    Marco seems the only actual sane choice so far
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,073
    Andy_JS said:

    "Mr Kennedy is more concerned that excessive fluoride consumption could lower IQ. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is something scientists are investigating. A report by the National Toxicology Programme within HHS found that high levels of fluoride exposure, at twice the legal limit, were associated with lower IQ in children. Other researchers found that even fluoride levels within the legal range were associated with that risk. And one study of American mothers found that pregnant women who drank fluoridated water were more likely to give birth to children with lower IQs."

    https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/11/14/should-america-ban-fluoride-in-its-drinking-water

    "They're poisoning our precious bodily fluids.." These people take moron to a whole new level.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,596
    You wanted it America.

    You got it.

    Good luck.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,467
    Greenwich / Shooter's Hill

    Raja Zeeshan (Labour) 1,043
    Ezra Aydin (Conservatives) 237
    Tamasin Rhymes (Green) 185
    Alan Cecil (Reform UK)) 179
    Kirstie Shedden (L Dem) 158

    Lab hold
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,273

    nico679 said:

    Oh but the cost of eggs .....

    Congratulations to those who voted for the clown show and enjoy your status as the richest third world country .

    Looks like some of the old favourites will make a return , measles , polio and TB .

    More likely the MAGA morons will take their lead from JFK jnr and fail to vaccinate their children so at least the gene pool will see a dip in brainwashed off spring !

    Where are the Trump apologists this evening . I’m waiting on the spin that this appointment is a marvelous idea !

    Marco seems the only actual sane choice so far
    Vaccines are currently left to each state but the federal government normally gives recommendations.

    I expect we’ll see more red states see lower vaccination rates and Trump supporters generally more resistant to the vaccines so any pandemic will see more of them affected . It’s essentially a cull of Maga and their kids , sad for the kids who will end up dead because their parents are morons but as for the parents to be blunt I could care less .
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,271
    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    kamski said:

    Anyway, surely even Trump doesn't think Kennedy has a chance of being confirmed by the senate.

    Trump doesn't want any of them confirmed. He plans to make recess appointments
    He will accept the Senate confirming them rapidly, with little to no scrutiny, and he is using the threat of recess appointments to get his way.
    Doesn't the Senate have to vote to adjourn for a certain length of time to allow recess appointments?

    They can reject some of Trump's appointments if they want to. I don't think Trump would even care if Kennedy was rejected.
    I don't know. All I've done is read an AP news article about it, which said that the Senate had to be adjourned for 10 days, following an Obama-era Supreme Court ruling, to allow recess appointments. Since which, Senators have taken turns to take the Senate out of recess very temporarily, to avoid that period being reached.

    The argument seems to be that there is an unused power in the Constitution for the President to adjourn the Senate if the House and Senate disagree on doing so (apparently the House can prevent the Senate from being adjourned). But it's not obvious to me that the President could then force the Senate to remain in recess for the necessary >10 day period. Although, obviously, I know nothing.
  • nico679 said:

    nico679 said:

    Oh but the cost of eggs .....

    Congratulations to those who voted for the clown show and enjoy your status as the richest third world country .

    Looks like some of the old favourites will make a return , measles , polio and TB .

    More likely the MAGA morons will take their lead from JFK jnr and fail to vaccinate their children so at least the gene pool will see a dip in brainwashed off spring !

    Where are the Trump apologists this evening . I’m waiting on the spin that this appointment is a marvelous idea !

    Marco seems the only actual sane choice so far
    Vaccines are currently left to each state but the federal government normally gives recommendations.

    I expect we’ll see more red states see lower vaccination rates and Trump supporters generally more resistant to the vaccines so any pandemic will see more of them affected . It’s essentially a cull of Maga and their kids , sad for the kids who will end up dead because their parents are morons but as for the parents to be blunt I could care less .
    I listened to a podcast the other day that argued that the Democrats could become the party of “states rights “ over the next few years, as opposed to what has been historically been a republican position. It makes sense in some ways, but not sure what it means for the future manageability of the states as a single entity. Perhaps it will end up more EU than USA.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,541
    nico679 said:

    Oh but the cost of eggs .....

    Congratulations to those who voted for the clown show and enjoy your status as the richest third world country .

    Looks like some of the old favourites will make a return , measles , polio and TB .

    More likely the MAGA morons will take their lead from JFK jnr and fail to vaccinate their children so at least the gene pool will see a dip in brainwashed off spring !

    Where are the Trump apologists this evening . I’m waiting on the spin that this appointment is a marvelous idea !

    The mockery about "cost of eggs" is the plainest possible evidence that excessively-online democrats don't understand why they lost.

    No, Trump won't help with the price of eggs. Yes, the price of eggs matters.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,494
    Andy_JS said:

    Newsnight: Todd Blanche to be deputy attorney general.

    It's a shame Trump didn't have a Mr Carter available as his pick to be the boss.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,596
    Cicero said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Mr Kennedy is more concerned that excessive fluoride consumption could lower IQ. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is something scientists are investigating. A report by the National Toxicology Programme within HHS found that high levels of fluoride exposure, at twice the legal limit, were associated with lower IQ in children. Other researchers found that even fluoride levels within the legal range were associated with that risk. And one study of American mothers found that pregnant women who drank fluoridated water were more likely to give birth to children with lower IQs."

    https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/11/14/should-america-ban-fluoride-in-its-drinking-water

    "They're poisoning our precious bodily fluids.." These people take moron to a whole new level.
    The Enlightenment is over.

  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 2,992
    Historically, Democrats were the party of "states rights", not Republicans.
  • Historically, Democrats were the party of "states rights", not Republicans.

    Historically, Democrats were the party of "states rights", not Republicans.

    Quite right - should have said that “states rights” has probably been more a republican thing since the seventies/eighties.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 2,992
    Feeling somewhat more positive this afternoon, I started to consider the possibility that the Loser is choosing his nominees . . . . for maximum entertainment value.

    (Tulsi Gabbard is the surfer, not the puppy killer.)
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,650
    Andy_JS said:

    Interesting to see that Wes Streeting is opposing the assisted dying bill.

    I have a lot of time for Streeting, he is far more engaging, charismatic and reform minded around our public services than Starmer and he also respects our traditions and heritage and clearly values the sanctity of life.

    If Labour find Starmer heading for defeat Streeting would be a choice who actually could reach swing voters who voted Labour in July but have drifted to Reform and the Tories since and Tory voters Blair did but Starmer didn't even in July.

    He could be a Macron to Starmer's Hollande
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,650
    edited 12:49AM
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    Foxy said:

    Distablishing the Church of England seems to me a bit like abolishing the Monarchy. A waste of government time and effort to get rid of something that a minority prize and a majority ignore. Both are so bound into the fabric of the nation that we might as well leave them alone.

    "the nation"

    Triouble is, it's unfair to the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish as a matter of principle. Edit: never mind the non-Anglicans in England. Not exactly where you'd begin today, as opposed to a psychopathic and sex-mad king 500 years or so ago.

    The church near my house had an Anglican bishop processing sunwise around it with the new vicar a few years ago, and very nice it looked. But it's a disestablished church up here in Scotland ... and there's not even an established Presbyterian Kirk here, not for a century or so.
    What has it got to do with Scots? Your calvinist national Church doesn't even have any Bishops albeit the King takes an oath to protect the Church of Scotland
    Because we don't get represented whereas you get extra representation. Simple as that.

    It's like bringing back University Seats but not allowing Oxford or Cambridge or Aber any seats as opposed to St Andrews and Teesside. You'd grasp the point instantly then, as opposed to your obtuseness now.
    Well you should have stuck with the Scottish Episcopal Church as the established church of Scotland then as James VI and Ist, Charles 1st and Archbishop Laud and Charles II wanted in the 17th century. Its Bishops would have got places in the Lords alongside their C of E Bishop Anglican cousins
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,494
    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,467
    HYUFD said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Interesting to see that Wes Streeting is opposing the assisted dying bill.

    I have a lot of time for Streeting, he is far more engaging, charismatic and reform minded around our public services than Starmer and he also respects our traditions and heritage and clearly values the sanctity of life.

    If Labour find Starmer heading for defeat Streeting would be a choice who actually could reach swing voters who voted Labour in July but have drifted to Reform and the Tories since and Tory voters Blair did but Starmer didn't even in July.

    He could be a Macron to Starmer's Hollande
    Murphy's Law is that Streeting loses his seat at the next election to a far-left candidate. I hope not.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,865
    Eabhal said:

    Pagan2 said:

    FPT

    Eabhal said:

    Taz said:

    Call to create Dog Free areas in Wales to tackle racism from lobbyists Climate Cymru BAME,

    "Climate Cymru BAME group consists of around 20 members made up of students and professionals who haveinterest in environmental preservation and protection, who work with North Wales Africa Society (NWAS), Sub Sahara Advisory Board (SSAP) and the Northwest Wales Climate Action Group.

    On the basis of reports provided to date, the Welsh Government has concluded that ethnic minorities face 'barriers' to the outdoors created by 'exclusions and racism'

    The Government has concluded that ethnic minorities face 'barriers' to outdoor areas created by 'exclusions and racism'.

    A separate set of recommendations submitted by the NWAS also called for 'dog-free areas'.

    It added that during one of its focus groups, 'one black African female stated that she feels unsafe with the presence of dogs'.

    Others also kept 'seeing dog fouling on the floor', the report added.

    Barriers to outdoor activities includes the perception that growing food in gardens or allotments is 'dominated by middle-aged white women'. "


    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/wales-told-to-make-dog-free-areas-to-make-outdoors-less-racist/ar-AA1u2Oy7

    I'd support that. I often feel unsafe around dogs, particularly after COVID. Our local mini-park is basically unusable for reading in peace or giving children somewhere safe to run about. That's a disaster in an area dominated by tenements and a lack of green space.

    These are just normal people voicing concerns that many white people are probably too scared to bring up. Dog owners are noisy opponents.

    In national nature reserves they should be banned simply because of the effect they have on ground-nesting birds, seals etc
    I feel unsafe around cyclists more than dogs can they be banned to please?
    Dogs currently kills 4x as many people as pedestrians involved in collisions with cyclists, so once we've put that problem down a bit we can talk about cyclists (again) ;)
    Who cares I have been injured by cyclists but not dogs....thats my lived experience in your lefty terms
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264

    TimS said:

    HYUFD said:

    So much for Labour still being the party of the miners.

    'Ed Miliband has said that he will ban new coalmines in Britain, sounding the final death knell for a proposed site in Cumbria.

    The energy secretary, who was in Baku this week for the Cop29 UN climate change conference, said he was sending a “clear signal” to the world that coalmining had no long-term future in the UK.

    The government will use primary legislation to restrict future licensing of all new coalmines, probably by amending the Coal Industry Act of 1994.'
    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/britain-to-ban-all-new-coalmines-in-signal-to-the-world-l0b3b5cqf

    And he’s absolutely right.
    This may cause more than a few issues for steam railways...
    It already is - it is becoming almost unaffordable to run steam trains and two heritage railways have shifted entirely to diesel this year; they can't afford to import coal from South Africa.

    This is what happens when you're ruled by dogma.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,467
    Does anyone understand this point of view from Harman?

    "Wes Streeting "crossed the line" by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn't "come down to resources", a Labour peer has said.

    Speaking on Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later this month."

    https://news.sky.com/story/wes-streeting-crossed-the-line-by-opposing-assisted-dying-in-public-says-labour-peer-harriet-harman-13254204
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264

    Eabhal said:

    Just to add to the dog debate from earlier -

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced9w12dx8do

    The British dog population has been growing a lot faster than the British human population.

    One of the reasons I would never win an election is that I'd like to reduce the British pet population quite drastically. I would require all pets to be licensed, and then once all the licences had been issued in year 1, I would issue no more pet licences. Anyone wanting a pet would have to wait until an existing pet had died, and then buy the licence for the deceased pet. Except that I would randomly choose 9 out of 10 pet licences from deceased pets and destroy them, progressively reducing the pet population over the average lifetime of pets by 90%.
    I don't think it's possible for me to go on a walk, of any form, these days without encountering a dog. And a good number won't be on leads.

    I almost never encounter someone walking without a dog.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    Andy_JS said:

    I can remember when people were taught to be sceptical about everything, and not automatically believe what they were told by other people, and the funny thing is that it was mostly left-leaning people/teachers who were most likely to be in favour of that approach to life. Conservatives tended to be more in favour of "believe whatever you're told by important people". Interesting how things change over time.

    The key thing there is how important social conformity is in ruling human behaviour.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    Andy_JS said:

    Greenwich / Shooter's Hill

    Raja Zeeshan (Labour) 1,043
    Ezra Aydin (Conservatives) 237
    Tamasin Rhymes (Green) 185
    Alan Cecil (Reform UK)) 179
    Kirstie Shedden (L Dem) 158

    Lab hold

    A rotten borough.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    We've lost the art of critical thinking and debate from first principles on all issues, whatever the orthodoxy, and to not question or ascribe to people malign motives bad intent who do it.

    That is what must prevail again.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,083
    Looks like the line of succession is begining to be put in place with Lara Trump tipped to be installed for Fl Senate
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503
    Pulpstar said:

    Looks like the line of succession is begining to be put in place with Lara Trump tipped to be installed for Fl Senate

    Well she did a pretty good job as RNC chair in charge of getting out the vote.

    The other rumour is that DeSantis is going to nominate himself for the vacant US Senate seat, he’s term limited as Governor but needs to keep a high profile to run again for the big job in 2028.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503
    edited 5:04AM
    Andy_JS said:

    Does anyone understand this point of view from Harman?

    "Wes Streeting "crossed the line" by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn't "come down to resources", a Labour peer has said.

    Speaking on Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later this month."

    https://news.sky.com/story/wes-streeting-crossed-the-line-by-opposing-assisted-dying-in-public-says-labour-peer-harriet-harman-13254204

    So we can add Hattie to the large number of Labour figures who think this Bill should just be nodded through with as little debate as possible.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,380

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,467
    edited 5:21AM
    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
    Thankfully childhood vaccines are a State-level responsibility.

    If RFK actually sorts out the vested interests in the US healthcare and food industries, and stays away from vaccines, then he’s potentially a transformational pick. His background is as a lawyer going after large businesses who pollute the environment.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,479
    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Older folk need carers; but vote Reform when they get them...
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,270
    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503
    Sean_F said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
    The chattering classes in London are more likely to be able to afford cleaners, gardeners, dog-walkers, personal trainers… look at all that economic activity and job creation.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,083
    Boots 1/10 Good Lord
    John Lewis 7. Good but no Bear and Hare.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,479
    Sandpit said:

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
    Thankfully childhood vaccines are a State-level responsibility.

    If RFK actually sorts out the vested interests in the US healthcare and food industries, and stays away from vaccines, then he’s potentially a transformational pick. His background is as a lawyer going after large businesses who pollute the environment.
    Just what "Drill, baby, drill" Trump needs him doing...

    It'll be the vaccine nonsense. Which will bring him into conflict with the not-exactly-poor Gates Foundation:

    https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-health/vaccine-development-and-surveillance
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,083
    Sean_F said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
    The UK seems to need to almost uniquely import hundreds of thousands of carers every year. AI tells me French EHPADs cost around 2000 euro a month, which sounds way cheaper than our system. There's something deeply wrong with our care system I think tbh
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,962
    Andy_JS said:

    "Police will come for you next

    BlackBeltBarrister"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6It8S90CgwM

    False on the face of it.

    The Police don't come for anyone unless they absolutely have to. Otherwise it's a crime reference number and move on.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,456
    Sandpit said:

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
    Thankfully childhood vaccines are a State-level responsibility.

    If RFK actually sorts out the vested interests in the US healthcare and food industries, and stays away from vaccines, then he’s potentially a transformational pick. His background is as a lawyer going after large businesses who pollute the environment.
    RFK Jnr is a shit. His anti-vax nonsense has already caused lots of pain, suffering and deaths. He will not sort out 'vested interests'; he will just make a different sort of 'vested interests' and promote his sit anti-vax ideology.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    Sean_F said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
    That's the party line.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503

    Andy_JS said:

    "Police will come for you next

    BlackBeltBarrister"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6It8S90CgwM

    False on the face of it.

    The Police don't come for anyone unless they absolutely have to. Otherwise it's a crime reference number and move on.
    Meanwhile, there’s now three police forces involved in the investigation of a since-deleted social media post from a Telegraph journalist from more than a year ago.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/14/three-police-forces-probe-pearson-tweet/
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,456
    Andy_JS said:

    Eabhal said:

    Just to add to the dog debate from earlier -

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced9w12dx8do

    Sorry to have to say it, but there are too many dogs around these days.
    My solution is simple. Often when a dog attacks like this, we are told that it is the owner's fault, not the dog's. If the fog had bene trained and looked after properly, then it would not have attacked.

    Therefore, when a dog kills someone, we should put the dog in doggy jail, and put the owner to sleep... ;)
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,962

    Andy_JS said:

    I can remember when people were taught to be sceptical about everything, and not automatically believe what they were told by other people, and the funny thing is that it was mostly left-leaning people/teachers who were most likely to be in favour of that approach to life. Conservatives tended to be more in favour of "believe whatever you're told by important people". Interesting how things change over time.

    I'm left-leaning, and I'm in favour of being sceptical, but there's a lot of things going on in the world and you have to be selective about what you are sceptical about, and so it helps to be able to come to a judgement about things and no longer be sceptical about them unless there is compelling new evidence.

    So, for example, the evidence on the efficacy of vaccines is pretty overwhelming, for a wide range of diseases and vaccine types. That means I can be pretty confident I don't need to expend much effort in being sceptical about any particular vaccine, unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary. It makes no sense to waste time on supposed scepticism about vaccines. On the contrary, that would be to exhibit extreme credulousness about the claims made by vaccine sceptics.

    A lot of people who claim to be sceptical about things - vaccines, climate science, the germ theory of disease, moon landings, etc - are not sceptics at all. They are either outright lying frauds, or they are extremely credulous people unable to critically evaluate evidence, and so have ended up believing any old tosh that they should have been more sceptical about.
    Agree with this. The clowns that dress conspiracy up as scepticism or as “just asking questions” really piss me off. As you say people shouldn’t just take what some fella says as gospel. But they should also respect expertise and vocations. You don’t get a plumber round to fix a leak and tell them they don’t know what they are doing at every turn.
    I agree with all the post you quoted but don't entirely agree with the respect expertise and vocations element.

    There should be some respect but not too much and a respect of expertise fallacy can be a problem where anyone with a title can say any old tosh and it is taken credulously.

    If I call a plumber I will take an interest in what they're doing. I won't second guess them at every turn but if they go down a track I'm completely not expecting then I will ask why.

    If they have a good explanation, which they should, then I'll be happy and have learnt something new.
    If they don't, and were just trying to makework so the bill is bigger (and some do this) then it's OK to be sceptical and ask questions.

    The problem is some people don't use the word sceptic correctly. A stubborn refusal to accept anything someone says under any circumstances is not scepticism. Having your mind closed to ideas is not scepticism.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 5,006
    edited 6:53AM
    Sean_F said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
    If you import a prime age worker you may increase economic growth.

    But you may well NOT increase per capita growth.

    It's the latter that counts and we need to be much more concerned about the difference.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,962
    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Police will come for you next

    BlackBeltBarrister"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6It8S90CgwM

    False on the face of it.

    The Police don't come for anyone unless they absolutely have to. Otherwise it's a crime reference number and move on.
    Meanwhile, there’s now three police forces involved in the investigation of a since-deleted social media post from a Telegraph journalist from more than a year ago.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/14/three-police-forces-probe-pearson-tweet/
    Behind a paywall so can't read that but I'm curious the scale of the involvement.

    If it is they've taken a call from someone and logged it with a reference number so they're now technically involved but they've done jack shit about it then that matches both what you said and what I said.

    If it means three different forces have come after her sending files to the CPS then that is absolutely mad without big justification.

    I've not been following this story so don't know what it's about. I just don't have much faith in the Police to actually investigate much unless it's open and shut.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,295
    Andy_JS said:

    "Mr Kennedy is more concerned that excessive fluoride consumption could lower IQ. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is something scientists are investigating. A report by the National Toxicology Programme within HHS found that high levels of fluoride exposure, at twice the legal limit, were associated with lower IQ in children. Other researchers found that even fluoride levels within the legal range were associated with that risk. And one study of American mothers found that pregnant women who drank fluoridated water were more likely to give birth to children with lower IQs."

    https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/11/14/should-america-ban-fluoride-in-its-drinking-water

    So that’s the explanation - he’s been drinking fluoride.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503

    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Police will come for you next

    BlackBeltBarrister"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6It8S90CgwM

    False on the face of it.

    The Police don't come for anyone unless they absolutely have to. Otherwise it's a crime reference number and move on.
    Meanwhile, there’s now three police forces involved in the investigation of a since-deleted social media post from a Telegraph journalist from more than a year ago.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/14/three-police-forces-probe-pearson-tweet/
    Behind a paywall so can't read that but I'm curious the scale of the involvement.

    If it is they've taken a call from someone and logged it with a reference number so they're now technically involved but they've done jack shit about it then that matches both what you said and what I said.

    If it means three different forces have come after her sending files to the CPS then that is absolutely mad without big justification.

    I've not been following this story so don't know what it's about. I just don't have much faith in the Police to actually investigate much unless it's open and shut.
    The first couple of paragraphs:

    Allison Pearson, an award-winning writer, is being investigated by Essex Police for allegedly stirring up racial hatred in a social media post last November. The force has refused to tell her any details about which post on X, formerly Twitter, is being investigated, or who made the complaint against her.

    Two police officers called at her home at 9.40am on Remembrance Sunday to tell her she was under investigation and invited her to a voluntary interview. She was told, however, that the officers were not allowed to disclose the specific focus of the inquiry. The scale of the investigation has now become clear, with officers from the Metropolitan Police, Sussex Police and Essex Police all having handled the complaint over the past year.

    The Telegraph understands that the post was reported to the Metropolitan Police as a potential breach of the Malicious Communications Act in November last year. The case was then passed to Sussex Police, which marked it as a possible non-crime hate incident (NCHI) as well as a potential malicious communication. Sussex Police passed it to Essex, where Pearson lives. It is understood Essex made two assessments of the complaint before opening an investigation under section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986, relating to material allegedly “likely or intended to cause racial hatred”, and visiting her house.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,479
    ydoethur said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Mr Kennedy is more concerned that excessive fluoride consumption could lower IQ. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is something scientists are investigating. A report by the National Toxicology Programme within HHS found that high levels of fluoride exposure, at twice the legal limit, were associated with lower IQ in children. Other researchers found that even fluoride levels within the legal range were associated with that risk. And one study of American mothers found that pregnant women who drank fluoridated water were more likely to give birth to children with lower IQs."

    https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/11/14/should-america-ban-fluoride-in-its-drinking-water

    So that’s the explanation - he’s been drinking fluoride.
    If hehas his way, the reduction in fluoride will greatly increase American IQs.

    And kill off the appeal of MAGA with the voters.

    Has he really thought htis through?
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,962
    Fishing said:

    Sean_F said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Legal migration to some of the world’s richest countries reached an all-time high in 2023, sparking a voter backlash against governments despite the trend boosting growth and job creation.
    Roughly 6.5mn people moved to the 38 countries that make up the membership of the OECD through permanent migration routes last year. That was an almost 10 per cent increase on the previous record of 6mn who moved in 2022, a report by the Paris-based organisation showed.

    The greatest surge was in the UK, which for the first time became the biggest recipient of migrants after the US, with net immigration of 750,000 driven by recruitment to the care sector."

    https://www.ft.com/content/c5f2ff4d-252d-45d6-ab25-44ee6bfabb96

    Where exactly is this boost to economic growth occurring?
    If you import a prime age worker you may increase economic growth.

    But you may well NOT increase per capita growth.

    We need to be much more concerned about the difference.
    Indeed recruit migrants or else we will need to pay carers more than minimum wage is not a solution.

    And the idea only migrants are carers is an utter fallacy too. About 80% of care workers were born in this country so suppressing their wages too.

    For me there should not be any exemptions in industries to the minimum income threshold for visas.

    Skilled worker visas have a threshold of £38,700 per annum. If care homes want to recruit a migrant at that rate then fantastic.

    They'll probably fill all vacancies without needing to go that high though, if they aim the jobs somewhere between minimum wage and that rate.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,083
    Searching for Trump on blue sky and X shows a stark divide between the platforms
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,743
    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. Sandpit, it's bizarre and alarming that the police are investigating something they consider to be legal.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,751

    Andy_JS said:

    Greenwich / Shooter's Hill

    Raja Zeeshan (Labour) 1,043
    Ezra Aydin (Conservatives) 237
    Tamasin Rhymes (Green) 185
    Alan Cecil (Reform UK)) 179
    Kirstie Shedden (L Dem) 158

    Lab hold

    A rotten borough.
    A Royal borough.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,341

    ydoethur said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Mr Kennedy is more concerned that excessive fluoride consumption could lower IQ. As far-fetched as that sounds, it is something scientists are investigating. A report by the National Toxicology Programme within HHS found that high levels of fluoride exposure, at twice the legal limit, were associated with lower IQ in children. Other researchers found that even fluoride levels within the legal range were associated with that risk. And one study of American mothers found that pregnant women who drank fluoridated water were more likely to give birth to children with lower IQs."

    https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/11/14/should-america-ban-fluoride-in-its-drinking-water

    So that’s the explanation - he’s been drinking fluoride.
    If hehas his way, the reduction in fluoride will greatly increase American IQs.

    And kill off the appeal of MAGA with the voters.

    Has he really thought htis through?
    If America is GA, there will be no need to MAGA.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,324
    Pulpstar said:

    Searching for Trump on blue sky and X shows a stark divide between the platforms

    The Twitter flouncers are interesting. Prior to Musk Twitter was left wing in its outlook and moderation and regularly banning and removing content it didn’t like but was perfectly legal. The flounders were happy then when I was an echo chamber of their views. They just don’t like a level playing field on the whole.

  • maxhmaxh Posts: 1,221
    darkage said:

    maxh said:

    glw said:

    RFK Jr set to be appointed US Health Secretary

    Trump expected to select Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS

    The choice will roil many public health experts after his years of touting debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.


    https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/14/robert-f-kennedy-jr-trump-hhs-secretary-pick-00188617

    It's amazing just how many jobs where people have said "Trump wouldn't really give them the job" have been answered with "oh yes he would!"

    America is screwed.
    There is a psychological aspect of this that I find fascinating. For those of a naturally conservative bent, at what point do they stop deluding themselves that Trump's regime will probably be, on balance, a good thing?

    In some ways being a lefty is easier...I think all American presidents since forever have been loons, and Trump is just a stage further on the wtf scale.

    But there must be plenty of sane conservatives out there who are having to have a serious sit down talk with themselves right now: "How much longer can I keep up the pretence that Trump is the answer to the problems we face?"
    The populist right is the answer to the problems we face by a process of elimination - there is no other answer and no other viable option. The 'liberal establishment' has made mistake after mistake. It goes in to military conflicts with no strategic plan. It supports unlimited illegal immigration 'we can do this!' and then cannot integrate the immigrants in question. Everything has failed for the last 20 years, and no one has any plan, other than to just keep things running, keep the plates spinning, kick the can down the road. Every time you listen to a member of the liberal elite, they set out an excellent analysis of the problems, but then come to a conclusion like 'we have to face up to difficult questions' , or 'we all have to try harder'. In 2020 the liberal elite went completely insane and lost all its credibility, like when it supported superspreader events (mass protests) in the covid pandemic on the grounds that they have 'public health benefits', also supporting riots on grounds of stopping racism, etc. Against the backdrop of all this Trump appears sane and coherant.

    In the end it doesn't really matter. We don't know what the counterfactual scenario is (where Harris won) but the likelihood is that it would have been a disaster which has now been avoided, although Trump could well turn out to be a disaster too.
    As usual I agree with a lot of what you say. But there is an obvious logical fallacy of stating (correctly) how bad the liberal establishment has been and would be, and concluding that Trump by default is an answer. It is quite possible (in fact I'd say its pretty much certain) that we aren't being offered any viable solutions at present.

    It's clear you're still stuck in the 'Trump might be the answer' bit of this so I wonder: what would he need to do (or not do) for you to change your view of him? Or are you just part of the cult?

    FWIW I'd mirror your comment about the liberal elite making an excellent analysis of the problems. In some ways I think the populist right does too, it's just that their solutions will make things worse not better. I don't really know what the solutions are, though I strongly suspect that the heart of it is reforming capitalism such that workers and consumers are less alienated from the products and services that sustain our economies.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,324
    edited 7:20AM
    Growth up 0.1% under labour in the third quarter of the year. Shrank by 0.1% in September ahead of the budget. Well done Labour. A flying start. All of that talking down the economy prior to the budget took an effect.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,271
    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/11/13/ireland-has-highest-rate-of-third-level-education-in-eu/

    65% of Irish 25-34 year olds have a third-level education. The Irish economy is in many respects much more successful than the British, particularly at attracting foreign investment.

    Maybe Britain might have something to learn from it's closest neighbour?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503

    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/11/13/ireland-has-highest-rate-of-third-level-education-in-eu/

    65% of Irish 25-34 year olds have a third-level education. The Irish economy is in many respects much more successful than the British, particularly at attracting foreign investment.

    Maybe Britain might have something to learn from it's closest neighbour?

    Reducing corporation tax to 12% would be an excellent start.

    Instead we see Corporation Tax up, Capital Gains Tax up, and a government that gives the impression that they will be taxing success and taxing it hard.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,271

    Andy_JS said:

    I can remember when people were taught to be sceptical about everything, and not automatically believe what they were told by other people, and the funny thing is that it was mostly left-leaning people/teachers who were most likely to be in favour of that approach to life. Conservatives tended to be more in favour of "believe whatever you're told by important people". Interesting how things change over time.

    I'm left-leaning, and I'm in favour of being sceptical, but there's a lot of things going on in the world and you have to be selective about what you are sceptical about, and so it helps to be able to come to a judgement about things and no longer be sceptical about them unless there is compelling new evidence.

    So, for example, the evidence on the efficacy of vaccines is pretty overwhelming, for a wide range of diseases and vaccine types. That means I can be pretty confident I don't need to expend much effort in being sceptical about any particular vaccine, unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary. It makes no sense to waste time on supposed scepticism about vaccines. On the contrary, that would be to exhibit extreme credulousness about the claims made by vaccine sceptics.

    A lot of people who claim to be sceptical about things - vaccines, climate science, the germ theory of disease, moon landings, etc - are not sceptics at all. They are either outright lying frauds, or they are extremely credulous people unable to critically evaluate evidence, and so have ended up believing any old tosh that they should have been more sceptical about.
    Agree with this. The clowns that dress conspiracy up as scepticism or as “just asking questions” really piss me off. As you say people shouldn’t just take what some fella says as gospel. But they should also respect expertise and vocations. You don’t get a plumber round to fix a leak and tell them they don’t know what they are doing at every turn.
    I agree with all the post you quoted but don't entirely agree with the respect expertise and vocations element.

    There should be some respect but not too much and a respect of expertise fallacy can be a problem where anyone with a title can say any old tosh and it is taken credulously.

    If I call a plumber I will take an interest in what they're doing. I won't second guess them at every turn but if they go down a track I'm completely not expecting then I will ask why.

    If they have a good explanation, which they should, then I'll be happy and have learnt something new.
    If they don't, and were just trying to makework so the bill is bigger (and some do this) then it's OK to be sceptical and ask questions.

    The problem is some people don't use the word sceptic correctly. A stubborn refusal to accept anything someone says under any circumstances is not scepticism. Having your mind closed to ideas is not scepticism.
    If someone has proven expertise in an area, then that's a useful shorthand for trusting them more, saving you some of your scepticism budget.

    But you wouldn't trust them absolutely. Although the threshold for looking more closely into something they claim would be higher, it's reasonable to subject everything to a basic sanity check, and you'd expect someone with expertise to be able to come to with a good explanation for their claims.

    So, it's a relevant factor, but not a determining one.
  • Sandpit said:

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
    Thankfully childhood vaccines are a State-level responsibility.

    If RFK actually sorts out the vested interests in the US healthcare and food industries, and stays away from vaccines, then he’s potentially a transformational pick. His background is as a lawyer going after large businesses who pollute the environment.
    Just what "Drill, baby, drill" Trump needs him doing...

    It'll be the vaccine nonsense. Which will bring him into conflict with the not-exactly-poor Gates Foundation:

    https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-health/vaccine-development-and-surveillance
    Bill Gates is shameless - look at him openly bragging about how he uses microchips in vaccines to spy on the world
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,954
    ...
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    Pulpstar said:

    Boots 1/10 Good Lord
    John Lewis 7. Good but no Bear and Hare.

    I've just seen the Boots one. Jesus.

    They are about 3 years out of date with that advert. They could have got away with it then.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,909

    Sandpit said:

    Ha

    https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/obama-considers-stars-for-cabinet-015320

    President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico.

    The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

    It also would raise the profile of the EPA, which would help endear Obama to liberals who may be disappointed on other issues important to the Democratic left because of budget restrictions.

    That was before RFK went off the deep end into full blown vaccine denial. People change.
    Thankfully childhood vaccines are a State-level responsibility.

    If RFK actually sorts out the vested interests in the US healthcare and food industries, and stays away from vaccines, then he’s potentially a transformational pick. His background is as a lawyer going after large businesses who pollute the environment.
    Just what "Drill, baby, drill" Trump needs him doing...

    It'll be the vaccine nonsense. Which will bring him into conflict with the not-exactly-poor Gates Foundation:

    https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-health/vaccine-development-and-surveillance
    Bill Gates is shameless - look at him openly bragging about how he uses microchips in vaccines to spy on the world
    Who wouldn't boast about making microchips so small they can fit within vaccine particles?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,264
    Taz said:

    Growth up 0.1% under labour in the third quarter of the year. Shrank by 0.1% in September ahead of the budget. Well done Labour. A flying start. All of that talking down the economy prior to the budget took an effect.

    All that talking down the economy prior to the Budget, and all that real suppression of the economy after the Budget.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 5,006
    Taz said:

    Growth up 0.1% under labour in the third quarter of the year. Shrank by 0.1% in September ahead of the budget. Well done Labour. A flying start. All of that talking down the economy prior to the budget took an effect.

    You'd almost think that kicking the private sector in the balls over and over again and transferring resources to the inefficient and unproductive private sector wasn't the ideal recipe for economic growth.

    But the current government and its cretinous supporters are so economically clueless I doubt that point registers.

    (And yes the last government was often almost as bad).
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,324
    Sandpit said:

    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/11/13/ireland-has-highest-rate-of-third-level-education-in-eu/

    65% of Irish 25-34 year olds have a third-level education. The Irish economy is in many respects much more successful than the British, particularly at attracting foreign investment.

    Maybe Britain might have something to learn from it's closest neighbour?

    Reducing corporation tax to 12% would be an excellent start.

    Instead we see Corporation Tax up, Capital Gains Tax up, and a government that gives the impression that they will be taxing success and taxing it hard.
    They should also remove stamp,duty on share purchases. Something else that would not cost a lot but would be a big help.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,271
    Sandpit said:

    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/11/13/ireland-has-highest-rate-of-third-level-education-in-eu/

    65% of Irish 25-34 year olds have a third-level education. The Irish economy is in many respects much more successful than the British, particularly at attracting foreign investment.

    Maybe Britain might have something to learn from it's closest neighbour?

    Reducing corporation tax to 12% would be an excellent start.

    Instead we see Corporation Tax up, Capital Gains Tax up, and a government that gives the impression that they will be taxing success and taxing it hard.
    People are wedded to their caricatures. Obviously a business registering in Ireland solely as a nameplate move is attracted by the Corrosion Tax rate.

    The businesses who invest in Ireland and employ people are attracted by a well educated workforce, and other factors. Reducing the debate about how to attract foreign investment to just the corporation tax rate is lame.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,489

    NEW THREAD

  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,886
    Have to give 12 out of 10 to the P25 team. They’re installing the full suite of lunatics into the heart of the American government.

    You get what you vote for, and America has voted for Gilead.

    As to the people leaving Twitter, why? Watch the show!
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,503
    edited 7:44AM

    Sandpit said:

    https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/11/13/ireland-has-highest-rate-of-third-level-education-in-eu/

    65% of Irish 25-34 year olds have a third-level education. The Irish economy is in many respects much more successful than the British, particularly at attracting foreign investment.

    Maybe Britain might have something to learn from it's closest neighbour?

    Reducing corporation tax to 12% would be an excellent start.

    Instead we see Corporation Tax up, Capital Gains Tax up, and a government that gives the impression that they will be taxing success and taxing it hard.
    People are wedded to their caricatures. Obviously a business registering in Ireland solely as a nameplate move is attracted by the Corrosion Tax rate.

    The businesses who invest in Ireland and employ people are attracted by a well educated workforce, and other factors. Reducing the debate about how to attract foreign investment to just the corporation tax rate is lame.
    Yes there’s more to it than just the corporation tax rate, but the combination of being an English-speaking country inside the EU with a low CT rate, is a good way of attracting business and human talent.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,953
    Taz said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Searching for Trump on blue sky and X shows a stark divide between the platforms

    The Twitter flouncers are interesting. Prior to Musk Twitter was left wing in its outlook and moderation and regularly banning and removing content it didn’t like but was perfectly legal. The flounders were happy then when I was an echo chamber of their views. They just don’t like a level playing field on the whole.

    Bollocks, Taz. Lots of people are just fed up that Twitter is full of porn bots and crypto scams. The antisemitism is bad too.

    Good moderation always entails removing content that is perfectly legal, but is disruptive to your site (see the foundational principles of online communities by Jenny Preece), as well as removing the illegal content.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,324

    Taz said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Searching for Trump on blue sky and X shows a stark divide between the platforms

    The Twitter flouncers are interesting. Prior to Musk Twitter was left wing in its outlook and moderation and regularly banning and removing content it didn’t like but was perfectly legal. The flounders were happy then when I was an echo chamber of their views. They just don’t like a level playing field on the whole.

    Bollocks, Taz. Lots of people are just fed up that Twitter is full of porn bots and crypto scams. The antisemitism is bad too.

    Good moderation always entails removing content that is perfectly legal, but is disruptive to your site (see the foundational principles of online communities by Jenny Preece), as well as removing the illegal content.
    Yes, I am fed up of the porn bots and crypto scams but they seem less than, say, 12 months ago.

    I Am also fed up of the way ads present themselves.

    The flouncers state their reasons for flouncing and it is mostly political so I Think I am correct.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,990
    ohnotnow said:

    MattW said:

    @Malmesbury - So, if they wanted to, the Ukrainians could be in a position where, if Donald Trump tells them on January 21st that he is cutting off all US assistance, unless they do an immediate deal with the Russians, then the Ukrainians could already be in a position to have a nuclear bomb ready on the 23rd.

    The thing is, then what?

    Depends how much prep work they’ve done.

    And a level of ruthlessness - how many people are you ok expending in your plutonium processing? The Russians are said to have used German prisoners of war…

    The next step would be a test. Middle of the Black Sea. I’d go for just after sunset. Put the Funeral March of Seigfreid on the Bluetooth speaker, open a bottle of good red, press some buttons.


    A Plan B could be some dirty bombs, dropped on air bases to make a big chunk of the Russian Air Force radioactive.
    I vote for Plan C, where everyone is nice and gets along and no-one dies.

    I know it's a lot to hope for. Even as someone who is intrinsically quite fond of 'hope'.
    I concur.

    But I am concerned that we are in a "life is not usually like that" situation, driven at each point by short term pressures driving our reluctance to step up sufficiently.

    I think the best we can hope for is a new iron curtain, at the Russian Border - but even that is long odds.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,990
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Searching for Trump on blue sky and X shows a stark divide between the platforms

    The Twitter flouncers are interesting. Prior to Musk Twitter was left wing in its outlook and moderation and regularly banning and removing content it didn’t like but was perfectly legal. The flounders were happy then when I was an echo chamber of their views. They just don’t like a level playing field on the whole.

    Bollocks, Taz. Lots of people are just fed up that Twitter is full of porn bots and crypto scams. The antisemitism is bad too.

    Good moderation always entails removing content that is perfectly legal, but is disruptive to your site (see the foundational principles of online communities by Jenny Preece), as well as removing the illegal content.
    Yes, I am fed up of the porn bots and crypto scams but they seem less than, say, 12 months ago.

    I Am also fed up of the way ads present themselves.

    The flouncers state their reasons for flouncing and it is mostly political so I Think I am correct.
    I'm sort of with Gamaliel the Elder on this one, whilst wishing devastation on Musk.

    This morning I saw the first of the major Ukraine focused Youtuber I follow switching to BlueSky - that is Ukraine Matters.

    The Special Kherson Cat is still on twitter.
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