The Politics Thread

[Lord Kangana]

Today was the beginning of the end of the coalition. I'd put afiver on it. 12 months tops.

[Hoboh]

Today was the beginning of the end of the coalition. I'd put afiver on it. 12 months tops.

I'll take your fiver if you think it will take 12 months

[Lord Kangana]

Having just come across a newly privatised part of the NHs, I can categorically state that its an utter shower of shit.

I need a reasonably urgent scan. They gave me three potential dates in the next 6 weeks. Can't make any for very important reasons. Not a problem, I gave them dozens of alternatives. I even offered to shift around the country for them. They only have the scanner available for those 3 days. I have to be discharged and reapply again. As in not that its booked up, its only available to them for 3 days. "We don't work around the country sir". "You're the National health service aren't you?" No, we're a private part of the NHS". "Sorry, the National health service has a private sector??" "Yes".

So, fairly conclusive. The NHS is being privatised. And its shit. This patient is certainly dissatisfied.

[BWFC_Insane]

Having just come across a newly privatised part of the NHs, I can categorically state that its an utter shower of shit.

I need a reasonably urgent scan. They gave me three potential dates in the next 6 weeks. Can't make any for very important reasons. Not a problem, I gave them dozens of alternatives. I even offered to shift around the country for them. They only have the scanner available for those 3 days. I have to be discharged and reapply again. As in not that its booked up, its only available to them for 3 days. "We don't work around the country sir". "You're the National health service aren't you?" No, we're a private part of the NHS". "Sorry, the National health service has a private sector??" "Yes".

So, fairly conclusive. The NHS is being privatised. And its shit. This patient is certainly dissatisfied.

Sorry to hear that LK. Sorry state of affairs. Id be interested to know what type of scanner they only have available for 3 fecking days....

Sounds like a shambles.

[Hoboh]

Here we go

Didn't the EDL get a bigger turn out?

[thebish]

(not sure what hoboh's on about)

anyway - a short break from UK politics - 'Murican politics..

the Tea Party is often accused of being racist...

they strongly deny it - neither they nor their supporters are...

judge for yourselves:

(this is Arkansas Tea Party Board Member Inge Marler addressing mirthful supporters...)

http://www.baxterbulletin.com/assets/mp ... 658613.MP3

[Verbal]

Having just come across a newly privatised part of the NHs, I can categorically state that its an utter shower of shit.

I need a reasonably urgent scan. They gave me three potential dates in the next 6 weeks. Can't make any for very important reasons. Not a problem, I gave them dozens of alternatives. I even offered to shift around the country for them. They only have the scanner available for those 3 days. I have to be discharged and reapply again. As in not that its booked up, its only available to them for 3 days. "We don't work around the country sir". "You're the National health service aren't you?" No, we're a private part of the NHS". "Sorry, the National health service has a private sector??" "Yes".

So, fairly conclusive. The NHS is being privatised. And its shit. This patient is certainly dissatisfied.

Sorry to hear that LK. Sorry state of affairs. Id be interested to know what type of scanner they only have available for 3 fecking days....

Sounds like a shambles.

They use mobile scanners quite a lot these days. When I used to work at Royal Bolton they used to have a mobile renal unit, mobile MRI scanners and the like turn up two or three days a week.

Sorry to hear about that, LK. Hope you (eventually) get an all clear. Fingers crossed.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

LK - what could be more important than your health? Get the scan done, man!

[Lord Kangana]

I wonder when Herr Cameron criticised Lord Ashcroft's Jimmy Carr's legitimate use of the tax system as "morally wrong", he didn't feel a teensy bit hypocritical? Just a little, not asking the earth.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I wonder when Herr Cameron criticised Lord Ashcroft's Jimmy Carr's legitimate use of the tax system as "morally wrong", he didn't feel a teensy bit hypocritical? Just a little, not asking the earth.

As ever I would ask what the point of bringing 'morality' into the discussion - a point that this partisan Labour blogger makes reasonably well: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danho ... -lobotomy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's just such an unnecessary distraction... talk of morality on tax is especially unhelpful because it suggests that we should all self-regulate in a way that is separate from the rules (and actually Carr probably pays a good accountant so he doesn't have to think about money at all - what luxury, but immoral? I don't know and don't care!). Why can we just agree the basis on which we think it's a good idea to run a tax system and then enforce it enthusiastically?

[Lord Kangana]

I just think he's entered very dangerous waters. Theres enough of a whiff of scandal around Warsi, and The Commons in general at the moment, for some adviser or other to maybe have said "wouldn't stick your neck out on this one, could bite you on the arse".

[Prufrock]

It is a very odd comment, coming from a very odd source. LK's comparison with Lord Ashcroft is, I think, more than just flippant. Morality seems a bizarre thing to introduce, particularly from a Conservative Prime Minister!

There are two separate issues here. One is the tax itself, on which I think I agree with PB. Find a tax strategy, enforce it. If people find loopholes, don't make a fuss about morality, but close them quickly, and get on with it.

The second is Carr himself. I can understand the ire directed towards him. There seems blatant hypocrisy in attacking the bankers the way he did on 10 O'Clock Live, and his own tax dealings. I don't think it is necessarily hypocritical in itself to be left-wing and indulge in legal tax avoidance, provided you yourself don't bring the morality card into play, as Carr did, and as Ken Livingstone had done. It's perfectly consistent to say you think taxes should be legally be X, but as they are Y, you will pay Y.

[thebish]

I wonder when Herr Cameron criticised Lord Ashcroft's Jimmy Carr's legitimate use of the tax system as "morally wrong", he didn't feel a teensy bit hypocritical? Just a little, not asking the earth.

As ever I would ask what the point of bringing 'morality' into the discussion

indeed - which kind of begs the question that of all the people to go after and name personally - why did Cameron choose Jimmy Carr and not Lord Ashcroft? He argues that it was because he was asked about it.. yet - if my memory serves me right - he has also been asked about lord Ashcroft and managed (on those occasions) to hold his counsel...

[Worthy4England]

I wonder when Herr Cameron criticised Lord Ashcroft's Jimmy Carr's legitimate use of the tax system as "morally wrong", he didn't feel a teensy bit hypocritical? Just a little, not asking the earth.

As ever I would ask what the point of bringing 'morality' into the discussion

indeed - which kind of begs the question that of all the people to go after and name personally - why did Cameron choose Jimmy Carr and not Lord Ashcroft? He argues that it was because he was asked about it.. yet - if my memory serves me right - he has also been asked about lord Ashcroft and managed (on those occasions) to hold his counsel...

I think this could come back to haunt him with monotonous regularity, in the same way as "family values" came back to haunt Major. He already doesn't appear to be able to call Gary Barlow morally wrong for doing a very similar thing...

[Harry Genshaw]

I think this could come back to haunt him with monotonous regularity, in the same way as "family values" came back to haunt Major. He already doesn't appear to be able to call Gary Barlow morally wrong for doing a very similar thing...

Ironic that Carr gets grief while Barlow gets an OBE! It could be worse, they could have Phillip Green advising on tax matters. Oh hang on..

[Worthy4England]

I think this could come back to haunt him with monotonous regularity, in the same way as "family values" came back to haunt Major. He already doesn't appear to be able to call Gary Barlow morally wrong for doing a very similar thing...

Ironic that Carr gets grief while Barlow gets an OBE! It could be worse, they could have Phillip Green advising on tax matters. Oh hang on..

Well in fairness, if I want to test my systems security, I employ some hackers...they know where all the hole are...but a point well made.

[Hoboh]

A lot of Taxes are immoral davey boy that so called comic was just evening things out.

Who is he anyway?

[thebish]

[Worthy4England]

David Cameron on the individual known as Gary Barlow

"I am not going to give a running commentary on different people's tax affairs. I don't think that would be right," the premier said at a press conference in Downing Street.

[CrazyHorse]

Awful lot of people frowning on Jimmy Carr's tax affairs.

I'd jump at the chance to legally pay less tax if I could. And anyone who says they wouldn't do the same is a bare faced liar who will burn in the bowels of hell for all eternity.