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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Spotting the Difference – what really matters to Johnson when

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  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,583
    edited July 2020

    I think the labels confuse more than they help. Personally I'm in favour of much higher income tax on higher tax bands plus a wealth tax plus high spending on health, social care and education and a minimal military budget and no royal family. But I'm not in favour of government control of most of industry and I'm thoroughly relaxed about social issues, if people pay their taxes I don't care about their luxuries, and I don't want to tell anyone how to live their lives. On youtr definition I'm a centrist, but that doesn't feel very centrist to me? Is it a useful label?
    The fact you want very high taxes and high government spending means by definition the state will take more of peoples' income and control more of the economy so you are still mildly left-wing even if you may not want state control of most of industry
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    HYUFD said:
    Ted Cruz suffered yet another electoral setback, though not as severe as his political near-death experience running against Beto O'Rourke in 2018.

    In Tuesday's Republican runoff primary, Cruz's protege lost the nomination for US House in a Rio Grande Valley district to the candidate endoresed by Trumpsky.

    Yet again the Bearded One bites the Big Weenie.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,233

    Phone Komrade Джереми. I am sure he can help another Komrade.
    You need accusative case - Джеремя.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,059
    HYUFD said:
    I think most Republican incumbents will outperform Trump this time around - with the major exceptions being Arizona and Kentucky.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,059
    HYUFD said:
    If his wife wasn't a highly paid Goldman executive, it would be a more plausible narrative.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,505
    Dura_Ace said:

    You need accusative case - Джеремя.
    Джереми is invariant. :)

    https://sklonenie-slov.ru/dzheremi.html
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,233

    Джереми is invariant. :)

    https://sklonenie-slov.ru/dzheremi.html
    I think I might have gone native. Most Russians (apart from Corbyn's handlers at Moscow Central) would not have heard of the name and would not know not to decline it.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    The decade of austerity only prolonged the effects of the global financial crisis.

    As we now see, there was always another way.
    Except the austerity only began three years after the financial crisis began. If in three years time nothing is being done to tackle the deficit then you'd have a point about another way.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,285
    HYUFD said:

    The fact you want very high taxes and high government spending means by definition the state will take more of peoples' income and control more of the economy so you are still mildly left-wing even if you may not want state control of most of industry
    But I thought that the Laffer curve meant that higher taxes on the wealthy would mean lower tax take? So rightwingers should be in favour of higher tax rates, right?

    Maybe the difference between left and right is rightwingers think that the rich mostly deserve their wealth, and the poor mostly deserve their poverty, whereas leftwingers don't.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    LadyG said:

    London Anecdata:

    went on the Tube today. Busiest I have seen it since early lockdown. However it was only like a quiet Sunday, so progress is slow. But better than nothing.

    An observation: mask usage is now about 95%. It is near universal, and failure to wear a mask gets frowns and scoldings. Also: the people most willing to go without a mask are attractive young women.

    True story.

    My guess is that this is Darwinian. Attractive young women don't want to give up their mating advantages - look at me, I'm pretty - so they are still determined to look cute and earn admirers.
    Although amber heard has proved over the last few days that you can look cute with a bandana over your mouth
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    The whole "Biden is a vegtable" is crap. Check out the man's record over his entire political career - and not just the gaffes, but the achievements.

    Also note that, if elected, Biden will be the new President BEST qualified to actually work with Congress and get things done.

    Carter, Bush 1, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 2, Obama, Trump: none had a full term as US Senator or equivalent in US House, and two ever served in Congress at all. A HUGE handicap which Uncle Joe will not have. PLUS he's done more good for the US in one month in his time, than Trumpsky would even consider attempting in 100 terms.

    Tired of having PBers kick my dog around!
    You are assuming that being a Senator teaches you the skills to be a President.

    I would argue that Reagan and then Clinton were the best qualified (Governors with CA being more complicated than AR) - executive experience is what matters.

    Then I would say HW due to his experience in international affairs and time as VP.

    Biden is a mediocre #4

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Scots constitutional law is founded on the principal of popular sovereignty. Parliamentary sovereignty is an English concept.
    At the time the parliaments merged that became vested in Westminster
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Pulpstar said:

    I paid 200 last year and 185 at renewal. No refunds.
    LV are asking for a 15% increase this year.

    It really pisses me off. Every year they do this and I have to spend a few hours getting other quotes which they then match. It’s so pointless.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    edited July 2020
    Cyclefree said:

    How do you know?
    The government was surprised. That sounds like duplicity.

    He voted with the opposition and screwed his party for his own benefit. That sounds like the actions of a shit.

    Edit: plus I’m an investment banker. I know a duplicitous little shift when I see one
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    On what basis was Blair terrible? It was a period where the country was happier, more together and noticeable achievements in developing sustained peace in NI and big improvements in healthcare and education. People have short memories.
    He buggered the constitution. He gave Campbell free rein and in so doing materially coarsen public dialogue. He set us on the path to the politicians we have today
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Sorry catching up on the threads after watching cooking shows on cable and drinking lovely oaked Chilean Chardonnay.

    There appears to be an accusation from Professor Carl Heneghan (Oxon) that anyone who has ever had COVID then subsequently died is counted as a COVID death, regardless of whether or not COVID was responsible for their death.

    Is this actually the case?

    I don’t know about the specifics

    But I was friends with Carl at Uni and he is a sensible and thoughtful guy
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    kle4 said:

    Well, his plane may not have worked great but I bet it was delivered as on time and on budget as a British defence contractor at least.
    I like his wife’s sense of humour too!
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    edited July 2020

    I think the labels confuse more than they help. Personally I'm in favour of much higher income tax on higher tax bands plus a wealth tax plus high spending on health, social care and education and a minimal military budget and no royal family. But I'm not in favour of government control of most of industry and I'm thoroughly relaxed about social issues, if people pay their taxes I don't care about their luxuries, and I don't want to tell anyone how to live their lives. On youtr definition I'm a centrist, but that doesn't feel very centrist to me? Is it a useful label?
    You’re not a centrist, your just Danish!

    Edit: apart from the royal family bit. They’re the ones that made that nice Australian girl queen right?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,967
    This thread has

    crashed in a field

  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,218
    FPT:

    I think the labels confuse more than they help. Personally I'm in favour of much higher income tax on higher tax bands plus a wealth tax plus high spending on health, social care and education and a minimal military budget and no royal family. But I'm not in favour of government control of most of industry and I'm thoroughly relaxed about social issues, if people pay their taxes I don't care about their luxuries, and I don't want to tell anyone how to live their lives. On youtr definition I'm a centrist, but that doesn't feel very centrist to me? Is it a useful label?
    Generating lots of money by significantly raising higher tax bands doesn't work though - except as a feelgood measure.

    The last estimate I saw was that a 1p increase in the additional rate (45% - 46% for incomes over £150k) was that would bring in £105m per year. Which - even in you whacked 5p or 10p on the rate - is peanuts.
    https://www.ft.com/content/7a01b73b-d1ec-4b6e-a7b1-2d1a0060de91

    We need a worked through set of proposals, including pensions as National Insurance is a supplemntary income tax, including the employer elements.

    There is also that even by European standards our tax rates are not *that* low.

This discussion has been closed.