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  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Maybe it's just me - but the sense of entitlement from these unappealing chancers just makes me recoil.

    If they were really refugees, they'd be desperately glad to be offered help in France - and that's before they've crossed half of Europe to get there.

    Our geography once again has saved us.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Wanderer said:

    Charles said:

    Sorry: you've said it's a bogus argument. I've provided a scenario that explains why it could happen (not *will* but *could*). You've claimed it "demonstrate[s] your point". It doesn't: it's refutes your argument, unless you believe my scenario is either bogus or vanishingly impossible - which is on you to demonstrate.

    Well, quite apart from anything else, your scenario would apply equally if we left the EU and joined the EEA - in fact, it's more likely in that scenario, because we'd have lost the institutional protection, influence and voting rights in the matter. You are basically saying that circumstances might change in such a way that it's in our economic interests to join the Euro. That's not being forced to join the Euro as a result of EU membership, and in any case your argument only works if one elevates financial trading/issuance involving Euro denominated instruments above all other economic considerations. I can't imagine any scenario where that would be the case.

    In other words, it is both fantastical, and unrelated to the decision at hand. Or 'bogus', as we PBers like to say!
    "Forced to join the Euro" means, to me, being coerced into against our wishes, for example under the threat of invasion. That is obviously so implausible that I stop reading when anyone uses this language.

    If one doesn't mean *forced* then one should use some other term.
    "indirectly forced" would cover it adequately
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    It's akin to constructively dismissed.
    Charles said:

    Wanderer said:

    Charles said:

    Sorry: you've said it's a bogus argument. I've provided a scenario that explains why it could happen (not *will* but *could*). You've claimed it "demonstrate[s] your point". It doesn't: it's refutes your argument, unless you believe my scenario is either bogus or vanishingly impossible - which is on you to demonstrate.

    Well, quite apart from anything else, your scenario would apply equally if we left the EU and joined the EEA - in fact, it's more likely in that scenario, because we'd have lost the institutional protection, influence and voting rights in the matter. You are basically saying that circumstances might change in such a way that it's in our economic interests to join the Euro. That's not being forced to join the Euro as a result of EU membership, and in any case your argument only works if one elevates financial trading/issuance involving Euro denominated instruments above all other economic considerations. I can't imagine any scenario where that would be the case.

    In other words, it is both fantastical, and unrelated to the decision at hand. Or 'bogus', as we PBers like to say!
    "Forced to join the Euro" means, to me, being coerced into against our wishes, for example under the threat of invasion. That is obviously so implausible that I stop reading when anyone uses this language.

    If one doesn't mean *forced* then one should use some other term.
    "indirectly forced" would cover it adequately
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,554
    edited March 2016
    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....
  • Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.
  • Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He should move to the UK and in a few years he could become PM
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    Charles said:

    Wanderer said:

    Charles said:

    Sorry: you've said it's a bogus argument. I've provided a scenario that explains why it could happen (not *will* but *could*). You've claimed it "demonstrate[s] your point". It doesn't: it's refutes your argument, unless you believe my scenario is either bogus or vanishingly impossible - which is on you to demonstrate.

    Well, quite apart from anything else, your scenario would apply equally if we left the EU and joined the EEA - in fact, it's more likely in that scenario, because we'd have lost the institutional protection, influence and voting rights in the matter. You are basically saying that circumstances might change in such a way that it's in our economic interests to join the Euro. That's not being forced to join the Euro as a result of EU membership, and in any case your argument only works if one elevates financial trading/issuance involving Euro denominated instruments above all other economic considerations. I can't imagine any scenario where that would be the case.

    In other words, it is both fantastical, and unrelated to the decision at hand. Or 'bogus', as we PBers like to say!
    "Forced to join the Euro" means, to me, being coerced into against our wishes, for example under the threat of invasion. That is obviously so implausible that I stop reading when anyone uses this language.

    If one doesn't mean *forced* then one should use some other term.
    "indirectly forced" would cover it adequately
    I don't think a referendum on Euro membership is winnable.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,587

    Indigo said:

    If you check EUR-Lex you will find the total number of regulations introduced is 49,699 and the total number of directives is 3,700 = 55,399 acts, as of the end of 2014

    Are all 55,399 still in Force?

    The EFTA Presentation quotes '10,499 EU Acts incorporated into the EEA Agreement' before noting the 4,677 in force today

    So either some have only dropped out of EFTA - or they have dropped out of both EFTA and the EU......
    It's routine for new and updated regulations to replace one or more of the existing ones - this is the usual EU procedure, which in Westminster is described as amending existing legislation and therefore doesn't count as "new".

    To take my area as an example, there is an overview of a variety of directives and regulations over the years, each replacing predecessors:

    http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/legislation_en.htm

    The net effect has not really been more complex or longer legislation, merely updates - e.g. it used to be legal to test cosmetics on animals in ways that caused suffering and now it isn't; it used to be legal to do painful experiments on "great apes" (our nearest cousins) and now it isn't.

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited March 2016

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    "He admitted he had a "problem with alcohol" and entered rehab after the footage emerged in January."
    The Roosters mascots must walk around carefully near him.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,253
    @ComRes: New poll for @SMMT shows 77% of their members (in UK motor industry) say remaining in EU is best for their business

    14%DK, 9% Out
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited March 2016
    watford30 said:

    'They are being offered the possibility of applying for asylum in France, but most of the several thousand migrants at the “Jungle” are reluctant to do so because they want to smuggle themselves across the Channel.'

    More freebies available in the UK. And further changes to the Minimum wage are probably leading to an increase in 'cash in hand' work for those businesses reluctant to comply with the law.

    One does wonder why HMG is so reluctant to release further information about NI numbers though.

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,714

    @ComRes: New poll for @SMMT shows 77% of their members (in UK motor industry) say remaining in EU is best for their business

    14%DK, 9% Out

    The bulk of their members are multinational subsidiaries
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838

    Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.

    Now, I am thinking that the order of adjectives should be "farting socialist". Perhaps I should write to the Times and ask for their subs' opinion.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,554

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He should move to the UK and in a few years he could become PM
    Upon his return, I am sure the NRL fans won't mention this incident ever again...
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 10,001
    Here's Donald Trump's wife talking about immigration. I had no idea she was from Slovenia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-A-IHXTgJU

    It does seem rather in keeping with the current nature of politics that both Trump and Farage should have foreign spouses.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663
    New runner added to POTUS market:

    Gary Johnson.
  • Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited March 2016
    Is that your theory for HMG's reluctance to release the NI figures as requested?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663


    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    Funding for the NHS has increased YoY, there isn't really any austerity about.

    The "public" are thick as mince.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.

    Thanks for that.

    I think for a good few people, the problem was ironically best put by Tony Benn.
    In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
    We can't get rid of them, therefore we do not live in a democratic system.
  • Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,714

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944
    runnymede said:

    'Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.'

    I think as a technical achievement you can say it is a considerable success.

    But - what about the economic dynamism it was supposed to create?

    Has it raised the trend growth rate of the Eurozone countries?

    There is no evidence to suggest it has. Rather, that trend growth rate has continued to decline. Trend growth in potential output since 1999 has been around 1.4%, about 1% per year below the previous fifteen years. Productivity growth has slumped.

    Has it created the 'zone of stability' it promised? The experience of 2011-12 with a zone-wide sovereign bond market crisis and the ongoing agony of Greece and to a lesser extent Cyprus (where in both cases, remember, the Eurozone has actually negated free capital movement - one of the 'four freedoms' as part of the policies it has imposed) would suggest not.

    Although it has fostered significantly faster employment growth across the bloc than, for example, the US.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    That should wipe the smirk of his face. Osborne's now missed out on any opportunity he had to make real, rather than 'pretendy' cuts.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    Been welcome relief for exporters.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,267
    edited March 2016
    Wanderer said:

    Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.

    Now, I am thinking that the order of adjectives should be "farting socialist". Perhaps I should write to the Times and ask for their subs' opinion.
    Unless he farts socialists, which could be a compelling explanation as to where they originate from.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    VW sales have fallen off a cliff following the emissions scandal. They'll do everything they can to avoid further rises.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Here's Donald Trump's wife talking about immigration. I had no idea she was from Slovenia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-A-IHXTgJU

    It does seem rather in keeping with the current nature of politics that both Trump and Farage should have foreign spouses.

    Don't forget Miriam González Durántez
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Shurely, one would expect Greenies to be farted.

    Wanderer said:

    Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.

    Now, I am thinking that the order of adjectives should be "farting socialist". Perhaps I should write to the Times and ask for their subs' opinion.
    Unless he farts solcialists, which could be a compelling explanation as to where they originate from.
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited March 2016
    Will Straw on DP getting disected by A. Neil. Straw heads up the Remain campaign alongside Stuart Rose....

    Now Suzanne Evans UKIP Leave gets the £350m a week figure dissected.

    Folk with dodgy stats need to stay away from Brillo. He is brilliant.
  • Who are these 2 clowns on the DP?
    Each one is damaging their own case.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 10,001

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    It's more that we would have been in deep shit if we hadn't had a free floating currency and devalued about 30% in the last downturn.
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited March 2016

    Who are these 2 clowns on the DP?
    Each one is damaging their own case.

    Suzanne is a bit better but probably suffers from not being inside a sole unitary campaign team. Will Straw has no excuse.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Sean_F said:

    I know that everyone is only interested in the referendum, with the US election lagging a distant second, but there is some other news.

    A few months ago there was a lot of discussion on here about a Court of Appeal decision about the application of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 in a case where an estranged daughter was provided for out of the estate in direct contradiction of a will that left everything to animal charities. This case is to be heard by the Supreme Court:

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e0db31d4-e07a-11e5-9217-6ae3733a2cd1.html#axzz41pF1NOz3

    Do you know which side is appealing (or perhaps, both sides are?)

    The Court of Appeal decision was reasonable, but some of their reasoning was absurd. One of the things the Court needs to weigh up, under the 1975 Act, is "the financial needs of the beneficiaries", In coming to their decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that charity beneficiaries do not have financial needs.
    Permission has been granted to the charities:

    http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/inheritance-dispute-goes-to-the-supreme-court-ilott-v-mitson#.Vtgu251FDcs
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,267

    Shurely, one would expect Greenies to be farted.

    Wanderer said:

    Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.

    Now, I am thinking that the order of adjectives should be "farting socialist". Perhaps I should write to the Times and ask for their subs' opinion.
    Unless he farts solcialists, which could be a compelling explanation as to where they originate from.
    :D Or Lib Dems
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,756

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    The reason it's been good or us to stay outside of the Euro is that (a) if you have a single monetary policy for different economies, it's likely to work out worse for some of them than if they had their own monetary policy (b) it tends to lead to boom and bust in some economies and (c) a floating currency makes it easier to absorb economic shocks.

    These aren't just theoretical risks. Several Eurozone economies have experienced all these problems.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    Public wants to have cake and eat it - shock!

    We are spending more than we earn, do you want to cut spending or raise taxes ?

    Neither.

    ???

    Its like my wife saying she wants to lose weight, but doesn't want to eat less or do any exercise.
  • Wanderer said:

    Quick, the socialist farting MP Burgon is on DP with A Neil.

    Now, I am thinking that the order of adjectives should be "farting socialist". Perhaps I should write to the Times and ask for their subs' opinion.
    Just my haste to get people to watch.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,756

    Sean_F said:

    I know that everyone is only interested in the referendum, with the US election lagging a distant second, but there is some other news.

    A few months ago there was a lot of discussion on here about a Court of Appeal decision about the application of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 in a case where an estranged daughter was provided for out of the estate in direct contradiction of a will that left everything to animal charities. This case is to be heard by the Supreme Court:

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e0db31d4-e07a-11e5-9217-6ae3733a2cd1.html#axzz41pF1NOz3

    Do you know which side is appealing (or perhaps, both sides are?)

    The Court of Appeal decision was reasonable, but some of their reasoning was absurd. One of the things the Court needs to weigh up, under the 1975 Act, is "the financial needs of the beneficiaries", In coming to their decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that charity beneficiaries do not have financial needs.
    Permission has been granted to the charities:

    http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/inheritance-dispute-goes-to-the-supreme-court-ilott-v-mitson#.Vtgu251FDcs
    Thanks
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,756

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Well said.
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 10,001
    Pulpstar said:


    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    Funding for the NHS has increased YoY, there isn't really any austerity about.

    The "public" are thick as mince.
    Er...... the NHS isn't the only thing the government funds. There have been enormous real terms cuts elsewhere. I suspect the long overdue chickens are coming home to roost for Osborne. The idea he could reduce state spending to its lowest GDP % levels in decades whilst protecting (and more) health and pensions was ridiculous. Yet he nor Cameron have never tried to level with people about the true nature of public spending.

    There is only so long people will accept the idea of 'clearing up the last government's mess.' If things don't start to look fairly tidy after 6 years the obvious conclusion is you haven't done a great job.
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited March 2016
    This is rather fun - what description Google searches assigns.

    Why are there so many “X” in “European Country”? Google Autocomplete Map - https://t.co/Eo4Qe0GFN7 https://t.co/rhoZCfU2dY

    Glad to see so many cats
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,270

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,347

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    That's why he cancelled the cuts last time and is looking at tax rises to plug his gap instead of deeper cuts. He is destroying the national finances to try and become PM. Vote Leave to get rid of Osborne!
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    Indigo said:

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.

    Thanks for that.

    I think for a good few people, the problem was ironically best put by Tony Benn.
    In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
    We can't get rid of them, therefore we do not live in a democratic system.


    "We" the electorate of the EU countries can get rid of them, can't we?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663
    Paging @Pong £90 of free money available for you with Gary Johnson.
  • Who are these 2 clowns on the DP?
    Each one is damaging their own case.

    Suzanne is a bit better but probably suffers from not being inside a sole unitary campaign team. Will Straw has no excuse.
    Andrew Neil is a forensic interviewer.
    Both used figures so dodgy that it was like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,944
    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    “The money is not going to be a problem. We will raise what we need to do what we need to do,” the person close to the new anti-Trump PAC said. “Yes, there are people who are skeptical, but there are just as many ready to write big checks. The question is only whether Trump truly is really Teflon.”

    The theory, this person said, is that voters are still largely unaware of the full case against Trump. “We have not seen how he holds up to real sustained attacks over the KKK and David Duke stuff, over Trump University, over Trump Mortgage. People don’t really know about that stuff. We are about to find out what happens when they find out about it.”


  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    MaxPB said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    That's why he cancelled the cuts last time and is looking at tax rises to plug his gap instead of deeper cuts. He is destroying the national finances to try and become PM. Vote Leave to get rid of Osborne!
    100% agree.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474

    Who are these 2 clowns on the DP?
    Each one is damaging their own case.

    Suzanne is a bit better but probably suffers from not being inside a sole unitary campaign team. Will Straw has no excuse.
    Andrew Neil is a forensic interviewer.
    Both used figures so dodgy that it was like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
    Presumably that's why Osborne avoids him.
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
    Prize for the first commentator who suggests he "needs a bit of mongrel"
  • Polruan said:

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
    Prize for the first commentator who suggests he "needs a bit of mongrel"
    He really can be described as a dog lover.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,728
    Polruan said:

    Indigo said:

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.

    Thanks for that.

    I think for a good few people, the problem was ironically best put by Tony Benn.
    In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
    We can't get rid of them, therefore we do not live in a democratic system.
    "We" the electorate of the EU countries can get rid of them, can't we?

    We are not the electorate of the EU. There is no single polity or electorate.

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Or to increase productivity
  • watford30 said:

    Who are these 2 clowns on the DP?
    Each one is damaging their own case.

    Suzanne is a bit better but probably suffers from not being inside a sole unitary campaign team. Will Straw has no excuse.
    Andrew Neil is a forensic interviewer.
    Both used figures so dodgy that it was like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
    Presumably that's why Osborne avoids him.
    True.
  • Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    we haven't had a decent CoTE since Nigel Lawson..
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    TGOHF said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    we haven't had a decent CoTE since Nigel Lawson..
    Ken Clarke left Gordon Brown a legacy so golden it took all his peculiar genius to destroy it.
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083

    Polruan said:

    Indigo said:

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.

    Thanks for that.

    I think for a good few people, the problem was ironically best put by Tony Benn.
    In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
    We can't get rid of them, therefore we do not live in a democratic system.
    "We" the electorate of the EU countries can get rid of them, can't we?
    We are not the electorate of the EU. There is no single polity or electorate.



    Can you elaborate on that? I mean, I'd expect many Scots to feel the same way about Westminster given their own status, for example. Do you think it's a specifically British way to think about the situation, or would you say it's the same for the French, Germans, Latvians...?
  • Richard Rose is pure gold, and his remarks will chime well with:

    Shopping a week back in Tesco, Kingston Park, Newcastle, the check-out woman (in her 50s), seeing my Daily Mail "Pull The Other One, Cameron", chirped some hostile remarks about Cameron, and we both agreed we were strong for Brexit .... I merely had to correct her assertion that there were lots of Poles with six kids receiving child benefits (I know lots of Polish couples and it is rare for them to have many children).
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016
    Pulpstar said:

    Paging @Pong £90 of free money available for you with Gary Johnson.

    Cheers.

    I've only got a £19k green on the field.

    Still, £19 is £19.

    Good luck to him.

    https://www.garyjohnson2016.com/photos.html

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Polruan said:

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
    Prize for the first commentator who suggests he "needs a bit of mongrel"
    He really can be described as a dog lover.
    He practiced animal husbandry?

  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited March 2016

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Idiotic. If they bring down Trump in flames he will run on his own ticket and guarantee the Republicans lose. He only agreed not to do that if they played fair, funding a huge super-PAC to attack him, probably doesn't fit that requirement.

    The republican establishment is very odd, they would clearly prefer a real hardcore politically correct establishment liberal than an actually fairly moderate (except immigration) Republican.

    Also what do they think happens next when the public have a 60%+ vote for wanting someone outside politics if they pull their current guy down ?

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663
    Pong said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Paging @Pong £90 of free money available for you with Gary Johnson.

    Cheers.

    I've only got a £19k green on the field.

    Still, £19 is £19.
    :) I'm trying to get the field back to zero (Keeping Bernie a true red)

    The Oklahoma result on the Republican side was fascinating.

    I'm knocking Cruz out of every field lay at the moment.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944

    Polruan said:

    Indigo said:

    What is undoubtedly true is that there is a lot of detailed legislation, but you could say the same of Westminster. Practitioners in the field don't in my experience feel that the volume of legislation is really the problem - they just don't agree with parts of it.

    Thanks for that.

    I think for a good few people, the problem was ironically best put by Tony Benn.
    In the course of my life I have developed five little democratic questions. If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: “What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.
    We can't get rid of them, therefore we do not live in a democratic system.
    "We" the electorate of the EU countries can get rid of them, can't we?
    We are not the electorate of the EU. There is no single polity or electorate.



    There's certainly no demos, but there is an electorate surely.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016
    Indigo said:

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Also what do they think happens next when the public have a 60%+ vote for wanting someone outside politics if they pull their current guy down ?

    https://www.garyjohnson2016.com/

    Go Gary!
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,347
    Charles said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Or to increase productivity
    As you know the easiest way to do that is to drive up unemployment.
  • Charles said:

    Polruan said:

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
    Prize for the first commentator who suggests he "needs a bit of mongrel"
    He really can be described as a dog lover.
    He practiced animal husbandry?

    I jokingly describe my dog as my personal trainer, but this rugby player clearly mixes business and pleasure up .... I guess.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944
    MaxPB said:

    Charles said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Or to increase productivity
    As you know the easiest way to do that is to drive up unemployment.
    Careful, you'll get me started on one of my productivity rants if you're not careful...
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663
    Pong said:

    Indigo said:

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Also what do they think happens next when the public have a 60%+ vote for wanting someone outside politics if they pull their current guy down ?

    https://www.garyjohnson2016.com/

    Go Gary!
    Gary doesn’t give up. Ever.

    His true price must be longer than Leicester were to win the prem pre-season.
  • flightpath01flightpath01 Posts: 4,903
    TGOHF said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    we haven't had a decent CoTE since Nigel Lawson..
    The man who secretly shadowed the Deutschmark?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Isn't that a bit like saying the syphilis is the greatest STD?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Interestingly, the great Lord Lawson, in his The View From Number 11, made exactly the opposite case. He said that using currency depreciation as a tool to hid economic inflexibility was akin to picking the pockets of the prudent, by making savers savings worth less.

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    MaxPB said:

    Charles said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Or to increase productivity
    As you know the easiest way to do that is to drive up unemployment.
    But not the best.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,347

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Alastair Darling was probably better.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    Indigo said:

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Idiotic. If they bring down Trump in flames he will run on his own ticket and guarantee the Republicans lose. He only agreed not to do that if they played fair, funding a huge super-PAC to attack him, probably doesn't fit that requirement.

    The republican establishment is very odd, they would clearly prefer a real hardcore politically correct establishment liberal than an actually fairly moderate (except immigration) Republican.

    Also what do they think happens next when the public have a 60%+ vote for wanting someone outside politics if they pull their current guy down ?

    Perhaps we under estimate how well some people are doing out of the current political arrangements in the US, and how hard they intend to fight to maintain those arrangements.

    Perhaps the same is even true here in Europe.
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527

    I am very much of the Left re-most policy issues and would normally be inclined to Vote Remain in the EU referendum. I have to say, however, that I am so repelled at the Project Fear campaign being peddled by the Government – so reminiscent of the 2015 Tory election campaign – that I am now leaning to voting for Brexit. The dishonesty of the Remain campaign is so blatant and shows such contempt fot the intelligence of the electorate that I have no wish to see Cameron’s tactics rewarded. It was so good to see Andrew Tyrie bring Stuart Rose down a few pegs when the latter appeared before Select Committee!

  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083

    Charles said:

    Polruan said:

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    He's fortunate that opposition fans and players will never make reference to that. No sirree. Not once....
    Prize for the first commentator who suggests he "needs a bit of mongrel"
    He really can be described as a dog lover.
    He practiced animal husbandry?

    I jokingly describe my dog as my personal trainer, but this rugby player clearly mixes business and pleasure up .... I guess.
    It's a 50 shades of greyhound situation.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,347
    Charles said:

    MaxPB said:

    Charles said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Or to increase productivity
    As you know the easiest way to do that is to drive up unemployment.
    But not the best.
    In a market where there is no way to debase the currency higher unemployment will be the path of least resistance.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    HYUFD said:

    Wanderer said:

    If that debate goes ahead then I would expect Osborne to exceed expectations (he'll take preparing for it very seriously, and the expectations will be dire). Still, viewers will side with Boris. It would be dangerous for Remain if it goes ahead.

    Of course Conservative MPs would be watching closely to see if either man could make their case to the country.

    Indyref debates made no difference and Darling beat Salmond in the first
    Err, there was a big jump in the polled Yes vote after the second IndyRef debate

    Yes Score
    6 polls after first debate
    32, 35,37,38,43,38

    6 polls after second debate
    41,42,38,44,47,42
  • runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536
    'Although it has fostered significantly faster employment growth across the bloc than, for example, the US.'

    What figures are you looking at Robert?

    I have (total employment growth)

    1998-2015 2007-15
    EZ 11.6 -1.0
    US 13.2 1.9
    UK 16.5 5.4
  • MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    rcs1000 said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Interestingly, the great Lord Lawson, in his The View From Number 11, made exactly the opposite case. He said that using currency depreciation as a tool to hid economic inflexibility was akin to picking the pockets of the prudent, by making savers savings worth less.

    Yes too many of those favouring Leave seem to believe that Harold Wilson was right in saying that depreciating a currency does not mean that it hurts the money in your pocket ,
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    edited March 2016
    rcs1000 said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Isn't that a bit like saying the syphilis is the greatest STD?
    ouch, but true about Osborne vs Labour's Brown & Darling.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    MaxPB said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Alastair Darling was probably better.
    Lol.

    Missed the deficit target by a factor of 3.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,944
    runnymede said:

    'Although it has fostered significantly faster employment growth across the bloc than, for example, the US.'

    What figures are you looking at Robert?

    I have (total employment growth)

    1998-2015 2007-15
    EZ 11.6 -1.0
    US 13.2 1.9
    UK 16.5 5.4

    www.thstailwinds.com/the-labour-market-labyrinth/

  • AndrewAndrew Posts: 2,900

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    ....and Trump's price up to 1.37 as a result, despite making mincemeat of the opposition on Tuesday.
  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    edited March 2016
    justin124 said:


    I am very much of the Left re-most policy issues and would normally be inclined to Vote Remain in the EU referendum. I have to say, however, that I am so repelled at the Project Fear campaign being peddled by the Government – so reminiscent of the 2015 Tory election campaign – that I am now leaning to voting for Brexit. The dishonesty of the Remain campaign is so blatant and shows such contempt fot the intelligence of the electorate that I have no wish to see Cameron’s tactics rewarded. It was so good to see Andrew Tyrie bring Stuart Rose down a few pegs when the latter appeared before Select Committee!

    Yup.

    I'm ambivalent on the issue of the EU itself (don't think it makes all that much difference one way or the other), but I really don't want to reward this vile kind of campaigning from the "Remainians".
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,347
    TGOHF said:

    MaxPB said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Alastair Darling was probably better.
    Lol.

    Missed the deficit target by a factor of 3.
    Just shows how poor Osborne has been. Darling was facing off against Brown and Balls as well who wanted to pretend that there was no recession.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,663
    Andrew said:

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    ....and Trump's price up to 1.37 as a result, despite making mincemeat of the opposition on Tuesday.
    Hillary's result was far better I think.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753

    rcs1000 said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Aside from Greece I actually think the € has actually been a reasonable success.

    I can never really understand why we Brits gloat so much at having remained outside the Eurozone.
    Despite the disastrous economic state of affairs we've seen in the likes of Greek, Spain, Portugal and even France, the simple fact is that the Euro has remained a very much stronger currency than the GBP, not least over the past few weeks which has seen the pound slide by a scary 10% or more against the Euro.
    Just watch those VW and BMW prices soar anytime soon!

    We have had a dreadful current account problem. Were we in the Euro there would be no way to correct that (just like in Spain and Greece) and we could be heading for massive imbalances and real trouble. Simply trying to maintain a hard currency is the fool's approach to economics.
    The way to correct a loss of competitiveness in a single currency area is to drive up unemployment, and drive down wages, which in my opinion, causes more hardship than allowing a currency to depreciate.

    Too many people treat a currency as a virility symbol.
    Interestingly, the great Lord Lawson, in his The View From Number 11, made exactly the opposite case. He said that using currency depreciation as a tool to hid economic inflexibility was akin to picking the pockets of the prudent, by making savers savings worth less.

    Yes too many of those favouring Leave seem to believe that Harold Wilson was right in saying that depreciating a currency does not mean that it hurts the money in your pocket ,
    Sterling will be fine because we have an independent central bank.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Sydney Roosters have suspended scrum-half Mitchell Pearce for eight National Rugby League games after he was filmed committing a lewd act with a dog.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/35714493

    Crickey....

    Ruff justice.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,270
    MaxPB said:

    Public patience with George Osborne’s austerity is dwindling, a poll reveals today, as it shows fewer than one in 10 people want cuts to continue until he achieves a budget surplus.

    An exclusive BMG Research poll for the Standard instead shows a majority want cuts eased or stopped.

    It also shows that four times as many people think the Budget on March 16 should focus on funding schools and hospitals as those who think it should be about balancing public finances.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/voters-say-osborne-should-stop-cutting-and-start-spending-a3194711.html

    GOWNBPM
    I find your lack of faith disturbing, in the greatest Chancellor of the last 19 years.
    Alastair Darling was probably better.
    Is this the same Alastair Darling that lost half a trillion quid between two Statements to the House? You think he was better? Really? Okaaaaaaay...... *backs away quietly*
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited March 2016
    MaxPB said:

    Just shows how poor Osborne has been. Darling was facing off against Brown and Balls as well who wanted to pretend that there was no recession.

    Ken Clarke got it right, when he said that Darling would have made a very good Chancellor, if Gordon Brown had given him the job.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 124,736
    Indigo said:

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/donald-trump-wall-street-220141

    Wall Street is getting ready to go nuclear on Donald Trump.

    The effort is centered on the recently formed Our Principles PAC, the latest big-money group airing anti-Trump ads, which is run by GOP strategist Katie Packer, deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Idiotic. If they bring down Trump in flames he will run on his own ticket and guarantee the Republicans lose. He only agreed not to do that if they played fair, funding a huge super-PAC to attack him, probably doesn't fit that requirement.

    The republican establishment is very odd, they would clearly prefer a real hardcore politically correct establishment liberal than an actually fairly moderate (except immigration) Republican.

    Also what do they think happens next when the public have a 60%+ vote for wanting someone outside politics if they pull their current guy down ?

    If Trump gets most delegates he is nominee for the GOP, end of. The establishment would have to run an independent candidate instead
This discussion has been closed.