The Politics Thread

[BWFC_Insane]

Minefield there though.

Where do you draw the line and how?

Well, quite - but the minefield exists and there ARE people currently engaged in drawing that line, as you can see.

I think if you dig behind the headlines, its rare that anyone is "refused" treatment. I believe they have to sign some sort of a "health agreement" usually prior to treatment, ie reduce weight, smoking, alcohol etc.

But of course they then usually break said agreement.

[Worthy4England]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Ac ... 032012.htm

Pathetic. It's incredible how much presumed innocence until guilt is proven has fallen out of fashion. Is this what passes for debate in Cambridge these days?

I agree, the need solid evidence relating to the graffiti sprayers, before we can condemn them.

As for "debate in Cambridge these days", you were hardly there in the "olden days" yersel.

But I guess that wasn't what you were getting at. On the DSK front. He's already admitted that he attended "sex parties". Now without presuming anything in relation to his guilt, I have a sneaking suspicion that the ex-head of the IMF, is probably bright enough to know that generally, lots of nekkid people of the opposite sex, young enough to be your daughter, wanting sex with you, isn't really the norm.

Ha, 'these days' was tongue in cheek.

As for the guilt... I was actually talking about the chambermaid case in New York. (Very weird set of facts and absolutely stinks - there was a good account of it in the FT Weekend a few weeks ago.)

Ahhh - in fairness, I'm not at all sure what went on in that case at all. But the latest sex party case doesn't put him in a good light at all...and you're right, that's shakey ground for presuming guilt, but I'm not sure I'd be off doing a "lecture tour" either whilst it was going on...

[Prufrock]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Ac ... 032012.htm

Pathetic. It's incredible how much presumed innocence until guilt is proven has fallen out of fashion. Is this what passes for debate in Cambridge these days?

You've only been gone three years!

As for DSK, I'm as convinced as I ever have been about something for which I have absolutely no evidence that is was a Sarkhozy stich-up.

[Prufrock]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17299828" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Worthy4England]

I think that bit in bold is the most sense you've ever talked. But how do you achieve that? Our society is not exactly "looking after itself" and thats a big part of the problem.

Put the right incentives/discincentives in place?

Such as?

I'm not sure.

But you have told me that it's not fair to compare our healthcare outcomes to places like Singapore because of lifestyle factors affecting the results. Now, it's only part of the picture there, but I like the fact that there are financial incentives not to self harm there.

Generally, I am a big fan of people having to consider the costs of their actions before they do anything. Perhaps this makes me a miserable bastard. For example, I think it would be desirable if everyone playing rugby at a weekend had to put a couple of pounds into the pot that paid for all hospital treatment of rugby injuries that weekend.

And if smoking or not taking measures within one's control to address a weight problem means that certain proceures become less cost effective, then I think it's appropriate to ask people to people to change their lifestyle choices before they can have the procedure.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/892352-pati ... -fags-test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You see that's all very well and interesting, but (fags excluded), my job is fairly a) long in the hours I work (typically do 60+ hours and often well in excess of that) and b) failry sedentary...That has an obvious impact on things like weight, fitness etc. etc.

Now I could make a lifestyle choice to change jobs, but then it probably wouldn't pay me half as much, and as a consequence, treasury would get much less in tax...

[The Axman]

60+ hours, sedentary, well paid. Bloody hell Worthy what are you? an MP

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

"He could easily not have known, because as you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you’re not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman,” the lawyer, Henri Leclerc, told a French radio station, Europe 1, in December."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/world ... oning.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Axman]

You can challenge me as often as you like. I'd definitely be able to tell a naked prostitute from any other naked woman. Guaranteed. Stone cold certainty. Absolutely no problem. Every single time.

[Worthy4England]

60+ hours, sedentary, well paid. Bloody hell Worthy what are you? an MP

Yes. (and No. My initials are MP)

[Worthy4England]

"He could easily not have known, because as you can imagine, at these kinds of parties you’re not always dressed, and I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman,” the lawyer, Henri Leclerc, told a French radio station, Europe 1, in December."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/world ... oning.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's the one...Fairly easy test. Is she about 40 years younger than you (in his case) and does she seem to want to do naughty things to you for no apparent reason...

Probably a fair indication.

[Hoboh]

Hoboh - who do you think WW3 will be fought between?

This is a genuine question. Your post above puzzles me.

USA, UK, and by default most NATO countries Iran, Israel and a good number of Gulf States and if a certain Mr Putins thoughts are true Russia! I did read some where the Russians are not too impressed with how much clout the US have in the region and are thinking a stand aka Cuban missile crisis is called for by flying Russian planes and putting Russian ships into Iranian ports and daring the USA/Israel to include some of them in "collateral damage". The USA would need to take out air bases and air defence to fly unimpeded and ports to keep the oil flowing through the straits of Hormuz. There are plans to release 14.5 million barrels a day from reserves if this happens but it would last no more than a few weeks without rationing and that will wreck western economies. There are 2 pipe lines that in total can carry about 4 million barrels a day to safer ports but seeing around 16.5 million goes through the straits everyday its peanuts.

[William the White]

Hoboh - who do you think WW3 will be fought between?

This is a genuine question. Your post above puzzles me.

USA, UK, and by default most NATO countries Iran, Israel and a good number of Gulf States and if a certain Mr Putins thoughts are true Russia! I did read some where the Russians are not too impressed with how much clout the US have in the region and are thinking a stand aka Cuban missile crisis is called for by flying Russian planes and putting Russian ships into Iranian ports and daring the USA/Israel to include some of them in "collateral damage". The USA would need to take out air bases and air defence to fly unimpeded and ports to keep the oil flowing through the straits of Hormuz. There are plans to release 14.5 million barrels a day from reserves if this happens but it would last no more than a few weeks without rationing and that will wreck western economies. There are 2 pipe lines that in total can carry about 4 million barrels a day to safer ports but seeing around 16.5 million goes through the straits everyday its peanuts.

In that line up - who is on whose side? Or is it like we pick in turns? And the fat one with specs just adds his rowing boat and plastic windmill at the end and everyone else takes the piss, cos no one wants to be Belgium?

[Hoboh]

Hoboh - who do you think WW3 will be fought between?

This is a genuine question. Your post above puzzles me.

USA, UK, and by default most NATO countries Iran, Israel and a good number of Gulf States and if a certain Mr Putins thoughts are true Russia! I did read some where the Russians are not too impressed with how much clout the US have in the region and are thinking a stand aka Cuban missile crisis is called for by flying Russian planes and putting Russian ships into Iranian ports and daring the USA/Israel to include some of them in "collateral damage". The USA would need to take out air bases and air defence to fly unimpeded and ports to keep the oil flowing through the straits of Hormuz. There are plans to release 14.5 million barrels a day from reserves if this happens but it would last no more than a few weeks without rationing and that will wreck western economies. There are 2 pipe lines that in total can carry about 4 million barrels a day to safer ports but seeing around 16.5 million goes through the straits everyday its peanuts.

In that line up - who is on whose side? Or is it like we pick in turns? And the fat one with specs just adds his rowing boat and plastic windmill at the end and everyone else takes the piss, cos no one wants to be Belgium?

For everyone except Russia (Influence and superpower standing) Israel (paranoia over survival) Iran (insanity?) the word is money (or oil if you like). How can the western world operate (or even keep order) in their own countries without black gold? The break down of economies would lead to minor disagreements across Europe escalating to war in some cases in the USA it would lead to a civil war of unimaginable proportion. We are being slowly suckered into a place we don't want to go.

[William the White]

Hoboh - who do you think WW3 will be fought between?

This is a genuine question. Your post above puzzles me.

USA, UK, and by default most NATO countries Iran, Israel and a good number of Gulf States and if a certain Mr Putins thoughts are true Russia! I did read some where the Russians are not too impressed with how much clout the US have in the region and are thinking a stand aka Cuban missile crisis is called for by flying Russian planes and putting Russian ships into Iranian ports and daring the USA/Israel to include some of them in "collateral damage". The USA would need to take out air bases and air defence to fly unimpeded and ports to keep the oil flowing through the straits of Hormuz. There are plans to release 14.5 million barrels a day from reserves if this happens but it would last no more than a few weeks without rationing and that will wreck western economies. There are 2 pipe lines that in total can carry about 4 million barrels a day to safer ports but seeing around 16.5 million goes through the straits everyday its peanuts.

In that line up - who is on whose side? Or is it like we pick in turns? And the fat one with specs just adds his rowing boat and plastic windmill at the end and everyone else takes the piss, cos no one wants to be Belgium?

For everyone except Russia (Influence and superpower standing) Israel (paranoia over survival) Iran (insanity?) the word is money (or oil if you like). How can the western world operate (or even keep order) in their own countries without black gold? The break down of economies would lead to minor disagreements across Europe escalating to war in some cases in the USA it would lead to a civil war of unimaginable proportion. We are being slowly suckered into a place we don't want to go.

Yeah, but, I'm only asking - in terms of WW3 who is fighting who? What's the line up? Who do we fear? Who is on our side? You know... what are the alliances that are going to lead to WW3... This was fairly clear with WW1 and WW2... And crystal clear with Cold War 1... But now?

[Hoboh]

Mankind’s course is not necessarily its fate or destiny William; we should live with the hope of a greater being. It matters little to whom our allegiances are pledged, follow this course and they will be decided.

[William the White]

Mankind’s course is not necessarily its fate or destiny William; we should live with the hope of a greater being. It matters little to whom our allegiances are pledged, follow this course and they will be decided.

Oh - ok then...

[Hoboh]

I'm happy you are entertained but given the gravity of what may await I have no desire to laugh last

[William the White]

I'm happy you are entertained but given the gravity of what may await I have no desire to laugh last

Well, if there is going to be a last laugh, it's nice of you to offer it to me...

[Hoboh]

It's a thing of gentlemen, after you!

[William the White]

It's a thing of gentlemen, after you!

No, no, I insist... after you...