The Politics Thread

[CrazyHorse]

and - do i want a queue of people waiting to cash their giros at the petrol station to add to the bastards who are doing a week's shopping in there??? no!

Wow. It's almost like the whole world doesn't actually revolve around you.

[Lord Kangana]

I take it you like to shop in the petrol station then?

(I of course avoid this conflict by simply paying at the pump. Smartarse that I am).

[CrazyHorse]

I take it you like to shop in the petrol station then?

Me? No never in my life.

[Worthy4England]

If folk want to cash their benefits in the offie and buy ale for themselves, so be it

You reckon cos folk are on benefits they're too think to find the offie?

Ifs, ifs and more ifs

Fcuk me, it's all 'yeah, but, no, but' with you

And if paypoint does go, but then why should it because as horrible capitalists they'll put the price up when they've killed off Post Offices, then we'll pay it direct to the bankaccounts


Post offices..I can honestly say I've not been in one for over 10 years...most folk who don't stink of piss would say the same

It's a stupid idea. Completely and utterly stupid.

They should be able to cash them in the nearest Witherspoons or Holt's pub to save the walk.

[CAPSLOCK]

Or the local newsagents

[Worthy4England]

Or the local newsagents

Indeed, tabs are expensive from pub vending machines.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Nah the pub's your best bet because you can get much cheaper cigs n baccy. So I'm told.

[Bruce Rioja]

and many people are routinely refused....

Really? Even for simple deposit/cashcard accounts?

yes.

But could pressure not be brought to bear upon those banks that're currently in debt to the exchequer to provide such facilities?

[William the White]

and many people are routinely refused....

Really? Even for simple deposit/cashcard accounts?

yes.

But could pressure not be brought to bear upon those banks that're currently in debt to the exchequer to provide such facilities?

Could and should...

[a1]

the banks are in debt coz these tards that took 48 'interest free for 6 months' credit cards got them there.

theyre not gonna give owt to the folk that bankrupted them in the first place.

the banks mustve had a crowbar in their brains to offer it up in the first place.

i suppose it made the numbers look good. like when gordon brown sold off all the metals for next to nowt about five minutes before everyone in the world got a computer and mobile phone each ....

"here china , lend me some credit , you know i'm good for it, look at all the money i've got'

[thebish]

and many people are routinely refused....

Really? Even for simple deposit/cashcard accounts?

yes.

But could pressure not be brought to bear upon those banks that're currently in debt to the exchequer to provide such facilities?

I may be wrong - but I think the last gov tried to get them all voluntarily to agree to not refusing anyone what was called a BASIC bank account - so that at least you could get your wages/benefit/pension paid into it and benefit from cheaper deals for utilities that insist in a Direct Debit.. but it was (as usual) a voluntary arrangement and the banks have pissed all over it.

I won't be holding my breath that Moonface and Cleggless will push the banks into doing anything they don't want to do...

[Lord Kangana]

the banks are in debt coz these tards that took 48 'interest free for 6 months' credit cards got them there.

theyre not gonna give owt to the folk that bankrupted them in the first place.

the banks mustve had a crowbar in their brains to offer it up in the first place.

i suppose it made the numbers look good. like when gordon brown sold off all the metals for next to nowt about five minutes before everyone in the world got a computer and mobile phone each ....

"here china , lend me some credit , you know i'm good for it, look at all the money i've got'

Very quickly, basically you're wrong. About 95%. I can't put it in any simpler terms than that. The credit binge that we all enjoyed caused about 1/50th of the problem.

The rest was because the two arms of banking weren't seperated. So the Nick Leesons of this world gambled using our savings, effectively. And lost. So we had to mortgage our savings to pay for their problems. Its why they are looking to force banks to compulsorily seperate the two different types of trading.

[Worthy4England]

the banks are in debt coz these tards that took 48 'interest free for 6 months' credit cards got them there.

theyre not gonna give owt to the folk that bankrupted them in the first place.

the banks mustve had a crowbar in their brains to offer it up in the first place.

i suppose it made the numbers look good. like when gordon brown sold off all the metals for next to nowt about five minutes before everyone in the world got a computer and mobile phone each ....

"here china , lend me some credit , you know i'm good for it, look at all the money i've got'

Very quickly, basically you're wrong. About 95%. I can't put it in any simpler terms than that. The credit binge that we all enjoyed caused about 1/50th of the problem.

The rest was because the two arms of banking weren't seperated. So the Nick Leesons of this world gambled using our savings, effectively. And lost. So we had to mortgage our savings to pay for their problems. Its why they are looking to force banks to compulsorily seperate the two different types of trading.

Not sure that's entirely correct either. Yes, there was a problem because the investment arms were trading from the same P&L as the commercial arms.

The things that they were trading/gambling were CDO's which were effectively packages of long term consumer debt (mortgages). When people started defaulting and stuff was repossessed, starting in the US with the sub-prime defaults, the CDO's devalued based on property prices falling and those people who'd defaulted not paying back what they owed.

So I reckon it was probably a bit of both...but not majorly "buy now - pay later" interest free credit, but risky mortgage lending...

[Harry Genshaw]

I thought it was all supposed to be Gordon Browns fault

[Horza]

why do benefit claimants get cash for handing in greek street food at post offices?

[Verbal]

Anyone see DC on the one show t'other night?

Matt Baker there evoking the spirit of Paxman for one question.

[Bruce Rioja]

UKTI have been on going through Damian Green's proposed changes to the Visa system.

This is the bit that I don't get.

Separately, a new innovative route for exceptionally talented migrants, which will be restricted to 1,000 visas under the annual limit, will facilitate those who have already been recognised or have the potential to be recognised as a leader in the fields of science, arts and humanities.

Firstly - why's this limited to 1,000?

Secondly - How are they going to manage this?

Over to the forum's cleverest clogs.

[Lord Kangana]

They're not. Its bollox.

The British based capatilist system has always relied on the free (ish) movement of labour, and a lifting of trade barriers. Hence why all our services are run by the French, Swiss, Germans, Italians and Spanish.

So it won't include anyone in the European Union or EEA, or any associated country that will give them a Visa for a start off. I doubt it will affect Commonwealth Countries, as their favourable Visa rules will still remain. So there'll be much wailing and (faux) gnashing of teeth by the government when its "discovered" that actually it will make no difference, as the majority of our migrant workers are European/affiliate.

I'm sure you're familiar with political spin Bruce?

[thebish]

UKTI have been on going through Damian Green's proposed changes to the Visa system.

This is the bit that I don't get.

Separately, a new innovative route for exceptionally talented migrants, which will be restricted to 1,000 visas under the annual limit, will facilitate those who have already been recognised or have the potential to be recognised as a leader in the fields of science, arts and humanities.

Firstly - why's this limited to 1,000?

Secondly - How are they going to manage this?

Over to the forum's cleverest clogs.

nahhh - c'mon Bruce - YOU explain it!

[Bruce Rioja]

'Twould appeareth that the good chef already hath.