If you think the public don't care about unions you are deluded, you should remember back to 1979.
And by the way my Dad was a steward in the TGWU under Jack Jones.
In 1979 the public saw the unions as over-mighty, arrogant and unaccountable institutions which operated against the public interest and they saw the Callaghan government as too defensive and afraid to point out these obvious truths.
But now the over-mighty, arrogant and unaccountable institutions which operate against the public interest are the utility companies and banks and the government which is defensive and afraid is the coalition.
I agree with that to an extent, I'm interested to know how old you were in 1979 and if you voted.
As you say the arrogance of the big institutions is appalling though I wouldn't necessarily lay the blame just with the coalition. Labour had thirteen years to change the examples you mentioned but didn't, quite the opposite they encouraged the banks in particular.
However the state institutions are as arrogant as any you mentioned, witness the likes of Thomson and Byford at the BBC and Nicholson at the NHS. I know I'm like a stuck record but Common Purpose have a lot to answer for.
Yes I was 21 in 1979 - I remember it well, and the idea that the Tories can use the unions as bogeymen in the same way that they could then is entirely misconceived. The unions are a shadow of their former selves - and few people under 45 would remember the power that they once had.
If Ed wins they will soon find out. Do you not agree that the huge state institutions are every bit as bad as the ones you mentioned?
And you didn't address my point that Labour had 13 years to implement changes, did you forget as I would be interested to hear your point of view.
I'm pleased to hear you are in favour of employers deciding who they should employ rather than the state.
Although
"in favour of immigration as long it was balanced by emigration"
Seems to imply it's one Brit out, one foreigner in, how does that work then, a company or a hospital or a school has to wait for a Brit to move abroad if the the best person for the vacancy isn't British?
Actually if you had read what I wrote earlier you would see that I am in favour of 2 Brits out 1 foreigner in. I think the population density in England - which is now the highest in Europe outside of small islands and city states - is simply too high. It has nothing at all to do with nationality and everything to do with numbers.
BT have paid £1bn for a three year deal for champs league coverage = £333m per year.
Current CL deal is just under £133m per year (Sky £80m, ITV £53m).
Something tells me, qualifying for the champs league is going to become even more crucial, and BT Sport ain't going to be free for us BT Broadband customers come 2015.
If you are still up. Can you recommend any decent albums from the 1970's. Think a little outside the basics.
I'm a massive Springsteen fan but outside the best album ever made try Wild, Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, really good stuff. Since Lou Reed passed I've been listening to Velvet Underground a lot, particularly the stuff with Nico, though that may be sixties.
Try the Strawbs and Grave New World, great album that I think includes one you should like, Part of the Union!
However, most of us think that, on balance, a smidgen of what you call 'punishment' - which is a ridiculous term, no-one is 'punished' by gun-control laws - is a price worth paying to avoid tens of thousands of avoidable deaths.
It's not a ridiculous term. As a result of the activities of a tiny minority of malefactors, if I acquire a prohibited firearm in this jurisdiction, I will be sent to prison for at least five years.
No, Sir.
As the result of the activities of some malefactors, and also the danger of regrettable accidents and suicides (in the US,accounting for over half of gun-related deaths), parliament has decided to introduce laws governing the possession of firearms.
If you flout these laws, duly enacted by parliament, then, yes, you will go to prison. Quite right too.
But it's not as a result of the activities of a tiny minority of malefactors; it's as the result of one or more Acts of Parliament. It's known in the trade as the 'Rule of Law'.
Actually more accurately it is the result of an action known as the jerk of the knee. And that is why it is so poorly considered.
Lots of people managed to drive sloshed without killing anyone. Presumably Richard you and LiaMT would advocate the repeal of the drink driving laws?
To be fair LIAMT is a proper Libertarian, Richard Tyndall is too worried about people moving between countries to work to be one.
Oh and by the way Tim if you actually knew anything at all about Libertarianism - which clearly you don't - you would know that one of the most fundamental principles is that of property rights which extends to citizens choosing who does and does not enter their country.
Of course I know this is such a mind blowing concept for you to have to struggle with that it is best I tell you right before bed time so you have a chance to lie down and try and understand it.
I don't hold out much hope that you will be able to grasp the concept.
However, most of us think that, on balance, a smidgen of what you call 'punishment' - which is a ridiculous term, no-one is 'punished' by gun-control laws - is a price worth paying to avoid tens of thousands of avoidable deaths.
It's not a ridiculous term. As a result of the activities of a tiny minority of malefactors, if I acquire a prohibited firearm in this jurisdiction, I will be sent to prison for at least five years.
No, Sir.
As the result of the activities of some malefactors, and also the danger of regrettable accidents and suicides (in the US,accounting for over half of gun-related deaths), parliament has decided to introduce laws governing the possession of firearms.
If you flout these laws, duly enacted by parliament, then, yes, you will go to prison. Quite right too.
But it's not as a result of the activities of a tiny minority of malefactors; it's as the result of one or more Acts of Parliament. It's known in the trade as the 'Rule of Law'.
Actually more accurately it is the result of an action known as the jerk of the knee. And that is why it is so poorly considered.
Parliament is addicted to the belief that there is a correct bureaucratic solution to every perceived social ill.
Hence, we end up with people getting sent to prison for making rude comments on social media, or having their lives ruined for looking at "violent" pornography.
Yet you want a govt which tells businesses where they can recruit their workers from.
Indeed. We should not assume that non-citizens are entitled to the same consideration as British citizens.
Against quotas for women but in favour of quotas for Brits, companies work better picking the best person don't they?
I'm not really sure what your point is, exactly. But, if you're arguing that I don't share your fundamentalist belief in immigration, I'd have to agree.
I don't see what that has to do with my views on free speech and pornography, either.
Two of my favourite albums of all time were recorded in the 1970s, technically speaking, but released at the beginning of 1980 so officially they count as 80s albums:
Metamatic — John Foxx The Age of Plastic — The Buggles
Anyone who likes electronic music but hasn't listened to Metamatic ought to buy a copy as soon as possible.
At the bottom I've listed the seats where there has been some confusion over the precise figures, and the ones I think are correct.
Fantastic, thanks a lot. So that's
Aldridge-Brownhills Batley & Spen Bracknell Brentwood & Ongar Cambridgeshire North East Croydon Central Croydon North Feltham & Heston Harborough Ilford South Islwyn Leigh Wolverhampton South East
At the bottom I've listed the seats where there has been some confusion over the precise figures, and the ones I think are correct.
Fantastic, thanks a lot. So that's
Aldridge-Brownhills Batley & Spen Bracknell Brentwood & Ongar Cambridgeshire North East Croydon Central Croydon North Feltham & Heston Harborough Ilford South Islwyn Leigh Wolverhampton South East
What did you use as your "definitive" source(s)?
I used the Electoral Commission's official results, except for the two Croydon seats because JohnLoony — who was actually at the count — is 100% certain that the figures he heard and wrote down at the time are the correct ones.
The only problem is with the UKIP vote in Islwyn: the Electoral Commission says 936 votes but the local council website says 930 votes. At the moment I think the local council is more likely to be correct, but I need to try and investigate that figure a bit more somehow:
I used the Electoral Commission's official results, except for the two Croydon seats because JohnLoony — who was actually at the count — is 100% certain that the figures he heard and wrote down at the time are the correct ones.
The only problem is with the UKIP vote in Islwyn: the Electoral Commission says 936 votes but the local council website says 930 votes. At the moment I think the local council is more likely to be correct, but I need to try and investigate that figure a bit more somehow:
I have Tom Waits and television's stuff. But this is definitely the right lines. Just looking for a bit of new music. So your suggestions welcome.
Mine not then! Tribal politics is one thing, music is another.
Jackson Browne's Late For The Sky is a great album às is The Pretender, no better political album than his Lives In The Balance though I think that was an eighties album.
I used the Electoral Commission's official results, except for the two Croydon seats because JohnLoony — who was actually at the count — is 100% certain that the figures he heard and wrote down at the time are the correct ones.
The only problem is with the UKIP vote in Islwyn: the Electoral Commission says 936 votes but the local council website says 930 votes. At the moment I think the local council is more likely to be correct, but I need to try and investigate that figure a bit more somehow:
There was a tiny difference in Croydon North: Lab vote 28,949 vs 28,947.
In Croydon Central the Con vote was either 19,657 or 19,567. Most sources — ie. BBC, Press Association, Times Guide — say 19,657 and so does JohnLoony. The Electoral Commission says 19,567 but I think that must be a mistake.
There was a tiny difference in Croydon North: Lab vote 28,949 vs 28,947.
In Croydon Central the Con vote was either 19,657 or 19,567. Most sources — ie. BBC, Press Association, Times Guide — say 19,657 and so does JohnLoony. The Electoral Commission says 19,567 but I think that must be a mistake.
You are veritably no mere repository but a true font of knowledge.
The thinkers in all parties are now looking at new towns, thankfully, at last. Planning time limits will come from that, we are going to re learn what the people who built in the thirties and fifties did, there's no alternative other than each generation screws their kids over property prices
Planning time limits already exist.
I'm with you re not screwing over our children on housing but the state confiscating land from developers is not the way to achieve that.
The proper solution to this one is Point Two of Yglesias's Five-Point Plan To Fix Everything, which is a property tax on the actual value of the land, including what you'd get if you developed it.
It seems to have caught the transition between riveting and welding of ships; between building on the stocks and prefabrication.
Health and safety would close that site down immediately ;-)
The ship that was launched at the end of the film - the British Trust - was apparently going to be called the 'British Thrush', but they changed the name, apparently because of the connection with a certain infection ...
As I've said in the past, I'd love to see a study into why British shipbuilding failed. We had the skills and we had the technology. So why did Korea, Japan et al overtake us with such ease? Was it simply a case of too many small yards, and a lack of investment?
Comments
If you are still up. Can you recommend any decent albums from the 1970's. Think a little outside the basics.
Current CL deal is just under £133m per year (Sky £80m, ITV £53m).
Something tells me, qualifying for the champs league is going to become even more crucial, and BT Sport ain't going to be free for us BT Broadband customers come 2015.
Try the Strawbs and Grave New World, great album that I think includes one you should like, Part of the Union!
What does a Liverpool fan care about the Champions League anyway? Have ITV4 outbid C5 for the Europa League?!
And it would appear that the deal includes The Europa League as well.
Considering that BT and The BBC will be showing the FA Cup from next season, ITV will have no live club football from 2015 onwards.
Of course I know this is such a mind blowing concept for you to have to struggle with that it is best I tell you right before bed time so you have a chance to lie down and try and understand it.
I don't hold out much hope that you will be able to grasp the concept.
Human League: Reproduction (1979)
Steeleye Span: Commoners Crown (1975)
Physical Graffiti, Every Picture Tells A Story, loads of them
if you want something really off the wall try some Can. Either "Tago Mago" or "Ege Bamyasi".
Also Talking Heads first two albums, "77" and "More Songs about Buildings and Food."
Corby - Kingswood: 21.6%
Harrow - Harrow on the Hill: 6.6%
Harborough - Bosworth: 22.0%
Sefton - Derby: 21.0%
Spelthorne - Riverside & Laleham: 27.2%
UKIP getting over 20% everywhere except Harrow on the Hill which is only 34% white British:
http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6502534&c=harrow+on+the+hill&d=14&e=61&g=6327707&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1383956751490&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2575
Steely Dan: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wCWVuCCWqzQ&desktop_uri=/watch?v=wCWVuCCWqzQ
You can sign her petition here:
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52740
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-cruel-cut/4od
I don't see what that has to do with my views on free speech and pornography, either.
I have Tom Waits and television's stuff. But this is definitely the right lines. Just looking for a bit of new music. So your suggestions welcome.
Metamatic — John Foxx
The Age of Plastic — The Buggles
Anyone who likes electronic music but hasn't listened to Metamatic ought to buy a copy as soon as possible.
You can see the boundaries on the ElectionMaps website:
http://www.election-maps.co.uk/index.jsp
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At91c3wX1Wu5dHdWdzBpbEl6S29TUmVid3dPR1k4RXc&usp=drive_web#gid=1
At the bottom I've listed the seats where there has been some confusion over the precise figures, and the ones I think are correct.
Aldridge-Brownhills
Batley & Spen
Bracknell
Brentwood & Ongar
Cambridgeshire North East
Croydon Central
Croydon North
Feltham & Heston
Harborough
Ilford South
Islwyn
Leigh
Wolverhampton South East
What did you use as your "definitive" source(s)?
The only problem is with the UKIP vote in Islwyn: the Electoral Commission says 936 votes but the local council website says 930 votes. At the moment I think the local council is more likely to be correct, but I need to try and investigate that figure a bit more somehow:
http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/site.aspx?s=Aewj1Jld9lirrfbOd]]xQ1MW8HCNoxocuqfgUVTPNZwZW53uH/bbnQ==
Electoral Commission website:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/our-research/electoral-data
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0020/105725/GE2010-constituency-results-website.xls is useful.
Jackson Browne's Late For The Sky is a great album às is The Pretender, no better political album than his Lives In The Balance though I think that was an eighties album.
In Croydon Central the Con vote was either 19,657 or 19,567. Most sources — ie. BBC, Press Association, Times Guide — say 19,657 and so does JohnLoony. The Electoral Commission says 19,567 but I think that must be a mistake.
May Michael Crick sing your praises.
http://ssa.nls.uk/film/2230
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/10/23/how_to_fix_everything.html
The seventies at their best.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/PeterTosh-LegalizeIt.jpg
Title track off it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABc8ciT5QLs
It seems to have caught the transition between riveting and welding of ships; between building on the stocks and prefabrication.
Health and safety would close that site down immediately ;-)
The ship that was launched at the end of the film - the British Trust - was apparently going to be called the 'British Thrush', but they changed the name, apparently because of the connection with a certain infection ...
She had a long life; launched in 1959, and scrapped in 1995.
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=18448
As I've said in the past, I'd love to see a study into why British shipbuilding failed. We had the skills and we had the technology. So why did Korea, Japan et al overtake us with such ease? Was it simply a case of too many small yards, and a lack of investment?
Thanks for your answers to the question I answered below about handling found ammunition.
It sounds like absolute madness.