The Politics Thread

[Prufrock]

I work in a dangerous environment. Its certainly much safer now than when it was when I started. Both for my colleagues and my customers. This involves more form filling and more rules I have to adhere to.

Are you suggesting that rules should be relaxed and my (amd my customers) risk of injury increased to save a few quid?

I need to be clear on what it is you think you're suggesting. I'm not sure you even know yourself, but what specifically is the issue?

Everything has to be perfect in your little world doesn't it?
Okay I'll bite, the last place I worked, health and safety in the office meant we had to get a qualified electrician to change a fuse in a plug or a fluorescent light bulb, in the warehouse were the dammed things were 40 odd feet in the air, yes you needed proper equipment and people able to do this but the office with an 8 foot ceiling?
The issue is quite clearly like give some folk a job and they will make it so they seem irreplaceable, don't get me started on a high vis and googles to walk 3 yards to the toilet in a walled off area because the door led to the warehouse!
I don't understand why you think I am anti H&S just because some simpleton justifies their job and actually demeans a serious subject.
Don't burn the toast eh.

Oddly enough it's your lot who have to have everything perfect in their little world. People are human and get things wrong. It's clearly a far better world where the mistakes made are over-applying H&S, the results of which are a stern letter to points of view, that where the mistakes are under-applying H&S, the results of which are...well...not really in Terry Wogan's jurisdiction.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

What do we make of this Bercow business? I mean, I tend to agree with what he said and also his right to hold an opinion, but is he in a position to act as some imperial arbiter as to who addresses Parliament and does he have a right to freely burst out with his opinions accordingly?

I feel a little uncomfortable on this one.

I don't know about this instance, but the Speaker does have some powers and responsibilities around Parliament and maybe this does come under that? As I see it, an invite to speak in the Halls of Westminster is a privilege and not a right. I wouldn't trust our PM to run a jumble sale, so hopefully someone else gets the say so. Bercow will do for me, if for no other reason than some of his telling MPs off in Parliament is quite funny

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I work in a dangerous environment. Its certainly much safer now than when it was when I started. Both for my colleagues and my customers. This involves more form filling and more rules I have to adhere to.

Are you suggesting that rules should be relaxed and my (amd my customers) risk of injury increased to save a few quid?

I need to be clear on what it is you think you're suggesting. I'm not sure you even know yourself, but what specifically is the issue?

Everything has to be perfect in your little world doesn't it?
Okay I'll bite, the last place I worked, health and safety in the office meant we had to get a qualified electrician to change a fuse in a plug or a fluorescent light bulb, in the warehouse were the dammed things were 40 odd feet in the air, yes you needed proper equipment and people able to do this but the office with an 8 foot ceiling?
The issue is quite clearly like give some folk a job and they will make it so they seem irreplaceable, don't get me started on a high vis and googles to walk 3 yards to the toilet in a walled off area because the door led to the warehouse!
I don't understand why you think I am anti H&S just because some simpleton justifies their job and actually demeans a serious subject.
Don't burn the toast eh.

There are more than a few people in this world incapable of doing what are simple things to you and I. The consequences of getting it wrong could be quite severe and I'm sure Dozy Derek electrocuting himself whilst fitting a light bulb will happily claim where there is blame.

[Hoboh]

I work in a dangerous environment. Its certainly much safer now than when it was when I started. Both for my colleagues and my customers. This involves more form filling and more rules I have to adhere to.

Are you suggesting that rules should be relaxed and my (amd my customers) risk of injury increased to save a few quid?

I need to be clear on what it is you think you're suggesting. I'm not sure you even know yourself, but what specifically is the issue?

Everything has to be perfect in your little world doesn't it?
Okay I'll bite, the last place I worked, health and safety in the office meant we had to get a qualified electrician to change a fuse in a plug or a fluorescent light bulb, in the warehouse were the dammed things were 40 odd feet in the air, yes you needed proper equipment and people able to do this but the office with an 8 foot ceiling?
The issue is quite clearly like give some folk a job and they will make it so they seem irreplaceable, don't get me started on a high vis and googles to walk 3 yards to the toilet in a walled off area because the door led to the warehouse!
I don't understand why you think I am anti H&S just because some simpleton justifies their job and actually demeans a serious subject.
Don't burn the toast eh.

There are more than a few people in this world incapable of doing what are simple things to you and I. The consequences of getting it wrong could be quite severe and I'm sure Dozy Derek electrocuting himself whilst fitting a light bulb will happily claim where there is blame.

Then clearly THEY don't do them then, simple.

[Hoboh]

I work in a dangerous environment. Its certainly much safer now than when it was when I started. Both for my colleagues and my customers. This involves more form filling and more rules I have to adhere to.

Are you suggesting that rules should be relaxed and my (amd my customers) risk of injury increased to save a few quid?

I need to be clear on what it is you think you're suggesting. I'm not sure you even know yourself, but what specifically is the issue?

Everything has to be perfect in your little world doesn't it?
Okay I'll bite, the last place I worked, health and safety in the office meant we had to get a qualified electrician to change a fuse in a plug or a fluorescent light bulb, in the warehouse were the dammed things were 40 odd feet in the air, yes you needed proper equipment and people able to do this but the office with an 8 foot ceiling?
The issue is quite clearly like give some folk a job and they will make it so they seem irreplaceable, don't get me started on a high vis and googles to walk 3 yards to the toilet in a walled off area because the door led to the warehouse!
I don't understand why you think I am anti H&S just because some simpleton justifies their job and actually demeans a serious subject.
Don't burn the toast eh.

Oddly enough it's your lot who have to have everything perfect in their little world. People are human and get things wrong. It's clearly a far better world where the mistakes made are over-applying H&S, the results of which are a stern letter to points of view, that where the mistakes are under-applying H&S, the results of which are...well...not really in Terry Wogan's jurisdiction.

Rich, from a person who makes a living spouting gobbledegook dressed up as legal spiel.

[Worthy4England]

Don't burn the toast eh.

This is why you like the Guardian....

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... acrylamide" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Then clearly THEY don't do them then, simple.

You expect the new boss to know who is and isn't capable of fitting a light bulb? What if Doris is the only person in and is wearing her ridiculous platform shoes. Does she climb the ladder, or should there be a rule about that?

[Worthy4England]

What do we make of this Bercow business? I mean, I tend to agree with what he said and also his right to hold an opinion, but is he in a position to act as some imperial arbiter as to who addresses Parliament and does he have a right to freely burst out with his opinions accordingly?

I feel a little uncomfortable on this one.

Imperial arbiter? No. Does he have to agree to it, along with the Lord Speaker - yes (as far as I can tell).

On the right to hold an opinion - he's supposed to be impartial, so I suspect the impartial route would have been to say diddly. That of course would have ceased to be "private knowledge" when he would have been asked to approve it (which I assume he would not have) - so sooner or later I think someone would have leaked it to the press anyhow.

[boltonboris]

Is this the guy, who took an outgoing religious leader of some far flung asian country out for a lunch(!!) that cost the UK taxpayer almost 2 and half grand!?

And paid £175 for a 0.6mile taxi jorney home one night from a restaurant?

[Worthy4England]

Is this the guy, who took an outgoing religious leader of some far flung asian country out for a lunch(!!) that cost the UK taxpayer almost 2 and half grand!?

And paid £175 for a 0.6mile taxi jorney home one night from a restaurant?

Not sure (at a factual level rather than a principle level) - he's certainly shelled out up to around £2k for a number of meals with various folks. Like other speakers, he has a budget and isn't afraid to use it.

[Lord Kangana]

The importance of the message outweighs the importance of the messenger. I appreciate we're desperate as f*ck to supplicate ourselves at the feet of the Americans now that we're abandoning our main market, but Trump is a grade A c*nt and needs reminding that he's President not some bore at the end of the bar spouting shite to people who are trying to get away from him.

[BWFC_Insane]

A politician stood up for his own beliefs and values without regard for his political career? Jesus. This is exactly what people don't want. Booooooo.

[Harry Genshaw]

I was surprised yesterday, that during the latest talks around the NHS falling down around our ears (or being allowed to) there was talk that so called health tourists would now be charged for non urgent treatment. My first reaction was "You mean they don't already?" - When the care for many elderly in this country is nothing short of a national scandal - What took them?

[BWFC_Insane]

I was surprised yesterday, that during the latest talks around the NHS falling down around our ears (or being allowed to) there was talk that so called health tourists would now be charged for non urgent treatment. My first reaction was "You mean they don't already?" - When the care for many elderly in this country is nothing short of a national scandal - What took them?

The estimate is this costs the NHS somewhere between £100M and £280M.

The cost of social care, just on the social care non health side is upwards of £17billion annually.

So how much would it cost to tackle health tourism? You'd need whole systems in place to do it. And you'll never save the full amount anyway. Imagine someone from Australia rocking up to a hospital with a badly infected ingrowing toenail. They'd be a health tourist. Is that emergency or not? Who makes that call. Then who works out they are a "health tourist", who determines what they pay? What is the mechanism for payment? Also in such a system does that mean I have to take my passport to every outpatient appt and someone has to scan it as a record?

I think it'd be far more effective to discuss why we aren't as a country prepared to fund the NHS and social care properly. Why are we such a selfish society? That would be a better place to start than thinking that introducing more and more systems that all cost a significant amount in staff time, resources and salaries to solve a problem that is not even going to trouble the tip of a very large iceberg. Mind its popular cos nobody likes foreigners no more.

[Lord Kangana]

One of my lunatic-fringe 'friends' on facebook the other day was bemoaning how a granny from South Africa (who is South African) couldn't get treatment on the NHS but some immigrant (their words) could.

Not a specific immigrant you understand. Or indeed any specific case. But you get the point.

[BWFC_Insane]

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-te ... cks-553436" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All over Europe, it's happening. It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported. And, in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that

Nazi theory indeed specifically denies that such a thing as "the truth" exists. ... The implied objective of this line of thought is a nightmare world in which the Leader, or some ruling clique, controls not only the future but the past. If the Leader says of such and such an event, "It never happened" – well, it never happened. If he says that two and two are five – well, two and two are five. This prospect frightens me much more than bombs.

[Dr Hotdog]

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-te ... cks-553436

All over Europe, it's happening. It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported. And, in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that

Nazi theory indeed specifically denies that such a thing as "the truth" exists. ... The implied objective of this line of thought is a nightmare world in which the Leader, or some ruling clique, controls not only the future but the past. If the Leader says of such and such an event, "It never happened" – well, it never happened. If he says that two and two are five – well, two and two are five. This prospect frightens me much more than bombs.

It is telling that the Tangerine Nightmare has released a list of these terrorist happenings over here in Europe, which are supposedly not being covered by anybody, with no mention of the Jo Cox murder. And he has still failed to acknowledge what happened in Quebec City. The KKK are in the white house.

[Harry Genshaw]

I was surprised yesterday, that during the latest talks around the NHS falling down around our ears (or being allowed to) there was talk that so called health tourists would now be charged for non urgent treatment. My first reaction was "You mean they don't already?" - When the care for many elderly in this country is nothing short of a national scandal - What took them?

The estimate is this costs the NHS somewhere between £100M and £280M.

The cost of social care, just on the social care non health side is upwards of £17billion annually.

So how much would it cost to tackle health tourism? You'd need whole systems in place to do it. And you'll never save the full amount anyway. Imagine someone from Australia rocking up to a hospital with a badly infected ingrowing toenail. They'd be a health tourist. Is that emergency or not? Who makes that call. Then who works out they are a "health tourist", who determines what they pay? What is the mechanism for payment? Also in such a system does that mean I have to take my passport to every outpatient appt and someone has to scan it as a record?

I think it'd be far more effective to discuss why we aren't as a country prepared to fund the NHS and social care properly. Why are we such a selfish society? That would be a better place to start than thinking that introducing more and more systems that all cost a significant amount in staff time, resources and salaries to solve a problem that is not even going to trouble the tip of a very large iceberg. Mind its popular cos nobody likes foreigners no more.

If the NHS is going to survive, and let's face it, it seems unlikely the way things are going; shouldn't we be committed to cutting waste where we can or should we ignore a £280m loss because it'd be too much trouble and we don't want to be accused of racism?

[Montreal Wanderer]

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-te ... cks-553436

All over Europe, it's happening. It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported. And, in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that

Nazi theory indeed specifically denies that such a thing as "the truth" exists. ... The implied objective of this line of thought is a nightmare world in which the Leader, or some ruling clique, controls not only the future but the past. If the Leader says of such and such an event, "It never happened" – well, it never happened. If he says that two and two are five – well, two and two are five. This prospect frightens me much more than bombs.

It is telling that the Tangerine Nightmare has released a list of these terrorist happenings over here in Europe, which are supposedly not being covered by anybody, with no mention of the Jo Cox murder. And he has still failed to acknowledge what happened in Quebec City. The KKK are in the white house.

I'm not sure what you mean, Doc. He certainly contacted our PM soon after the event along with other world leaders to express condolences (whether he was sincere or not). Interestingly the event has had the opposite effect than that intended by the crazy, racist gunman. There are huge outpourings of sympathy for the Muslim community, led to a significant extent by the Jewish community. Some good may come of it all as people across the country show solidarity with the victims' families and friends.

None of this, of course, makes the Donald any less odious.

[Bruce Rioja]

A politician stood up for his own beliefs and values without regard for his political career? Jesus. This is exactly what people don't want. Booooooo.

Isn't that exactly what Corbyn's doing? You give him abuse for it.