Couldnt agree more Dave, something needs to change.Country really is in a mess in many places.Its our current regime and system of governance thats got us here. not Brexit.The government have walked away from funding social care....Surrey council is proposing a referendum on increasing council tax by 15% to fund council tax yet Boris seems to be let off his lie about the 350 million per week that would help pay for social care or the NHS and we seem to have limitless funds to support Brexit or support the resultant tax losses.
What will be the reaction of Brexiters if the ultimate deal that May achieves leaves the country so poor that everyone is worse off?
My local city is proposing to expand the housing stock by 5000 yet are closing our hospital to build more houses on the site,geographically we should be the logical base for a new hospital.
KudosDave
I am very pleased to hear that your wife is a survivor of the big C, that is truly excellent news indeed, do give her my regards and hope that she isn't troubled with long term side effects as so many of us are (mine have at last ceased)Not sure its any help OG, wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer 8 years ago. She got all clear 18 months ago...Times have changed...
On the May issue...
I actually like your action plan for negotiation, its actually good...but negotiations haven't started yet...She addressed the world expressing her desires in an idealistic way..agreed..last thing she should have done is give away what she actually wants and country needs. Threatening to walk away in her speech is not same as saying same to her antagonists during talks. We all know how politicians work, different faces for different audiences..except Boris...(and Trump?)
BTW..you skirted around question..who would,could replace her ANYWHERE...Imagine Clegg or Corbyn walking into talks...???
Take care.
I absolutely agree.on the governments culpability, but that doesn't make Brexit a good idea.Couldnt agree more Dave, something needs to change.Country really is in a mess in many places.Its our current regime and system of governance thats got us here. not Brexit.
That certainly could be case..so my feeling is support the one who is doing (well trying)I am very pleased to hear that your wife is a survivor of the big C, that is truly excellent news indeed, do give her my regards and hope that she isn't troubled with long term side effects as so many of us are (mine have at last ceased)
As to Clegg or Corbyn , does it matter really who goes?
I still think that it is counter productive to antagonise an opponent with propaganda before an important campaign to get the deal you want, not a good strategy, nor even temporary tactic.
You will note that the strategy I outlined did NOT reveal our ambitions at all.
Certainly in the many hundreds of complaints i dealt with it was only ever mentioned incrementally, as and when I deemed appropriate and NOTHING WHATEVER was ruled out before the contest of wills took place.
The idea is to go in with an apparently Empty Slate and fair and open mind, but come out with what you actually want written on it as an agreement
If you can't do that, best the job be given to someone with the mental agility to do so.
Frankly none of them strike me as having the nous to pull it off.
Time will tell...probably..if it happens...I absolutely agree.on the governments culpability, but that doesn't make Brexit a good idea.
The problem is we have no real knowledge of exactly what her motives and objectives are, and the last thing on my mind (and I suspect in many other people's minds too) is that she can be trusted to pull of the best possible deal for the public.That certainly could be case..so my feeling is support the one who is doing (well trying)
Thanks for thoughts..
Agreed.... and just as Brexit isn't the cause, it's also not the solution. It's a handy distraction. Blaming the EU / Immigrants has been the easy option for certain sections of society. By winning the referendum, they are about to find out their scapegoat isn't the culprit.Couldnt agree more Dave, something needs to change.Country really is in a mess in many places.Its our current regime and system of governance thats got us here. not Brexit.
I think I agree with that too, Brexit is almost a completely different argument. Trouble is if things get worse, which they were going to do without change, Brexit will be blamed.Agreed.... and just as Brexit isn't the cause, it's also not the solution. It's a handy distraction. Blaming the EU / Immigrants has been the easy option for certain sections of society. By winning the referendum, they are about to find out their scapegoat isn't the culprit.
Should we be diverting money from the foreign aid budget to fund social care and care for the elderly?The government have walked away from funding social care....Surrey council is proposing a referendum on increasing council tax by 15% to fund council tax yet Boris seems to be let off his lie about the 350 million per week that would help pay for social care or the NHS and we seem to have limitless funds to support Brexit or support the resultant tax losses.
What will be the reaction of Brexiters if the ultimate deal that May achieves leaves the country so poor that everyone is worse off?
My local city is proposing to expand the housing stock by 5000 yet are closing our hospital to build more houses on the site,geographically we should be the logical base for a new hospital.
KudosDave
I wouldn't say it makes you racist, I'd say it makes you naive possibly. Do you really think there isn't the money in the UK to solve our problems currently? Its just spent on other things. Saving the money thats paid in EU membership and cutting foreign aid "might" put some money back into the UK pot. But the fact the UK pot currently isn't spent the way you (we) people want it to be, its going to change if / when that pot gets a bit bigger.I think I agree with that too, Brexit is almost a completely different argument. Trouble is if things get worse, which they were going to do without change, Brexit will be blamed.
In reality country has been in a financial mess for years and divisions have got larger. Dissatisfaction was rife and rising ? My opinion is however that our financial problems are minor compared with large parts of eu. My selfish side thinks get uk sorted, then help abroad, which according to some makes me a racist. It does not.
Our foreign aid budget is only 0.7%, we can't even repair all the potholes with it, and a long way to make up for the shortfall in essential public services.Should we be diverting money from the foreign aid budget to fund social care and care for the elderly?
I know we read headline grabbing statement that foreign aid money is being wasted on useless projects, and no doubt some of it is. I am equally sure that some of the money does good. But can the country afford to make this jesture when we are too short of cash to look after our own citizens?
I really think these questions need to be asked.
It's £12 billion, that's £1 billion per month, which is £250 million pounds per week, which is not as insignificant as you suggest.Our foreign aid budget is only 0.7%, we can't even repair all the potholes with it, and a long way to make up for the shortfall in essential public services.
Most of the budget is spent to support our NGOs. Half of our NGO staff will lose their jobs without it.
The foreign aid budget is the right thing to have.
Yep..fair point...But what steps have been taken in last 25 years to address the problem you mention or the very unfair distribution of wealth. I do agree the money is here somewhere...cant remember exact figure but I believe the wealthiest top 10% have same capital as lowest 90% ..Last Wednesday was day when top earners had already earnt average yearly wage...Will that change under Brexit ? Perhaps not but it wasnt going to under EU regs and development..The EU has increased the wealth divisions..(Old ground but Luxembourg etc etc) IMHO EU make all the right claims, talk in a very idealistic social manner but reality always seems to differ..I know you blame individual countries for that, I think EU is culpable .(aswell, not in isolation)I wouldn't say it makes you racist, I'd say it makes you naive possibly. Do you really think there isn't the money in the UK to solve our problems currently? Its just spent on other things. Saving the money thats paid in EU membership and cutting foreign aid "might" put some money back into the UK pot. But the fact the UK pot currently isn't spent the way you (we) people want it to be, its going to change if / when that pot gets a bit bigger.
I am not saying the amount is insignificant.It's £12 billion, that's £1 billion per month, which is £250 million pounds per week, which is not as insignificant as you suggest.
This money could do a lot of good here in the U.K. where people are suffering due to lack of funding.
It's a nice thought that the money comes back in other ways, but it's probably impossible to measure that with any degree of accuracy.I am not saying the amount is insignificant.
That amount keeps our NGOs afloat to wave our flag abroad and helps us spread a bit of goodwill. So most of that is actually recycled by ourselves.
It's a bit like what they say about the water of the Thames, it's gone through 7 kidneys before you drink it.