Off Topic The Politics Thread

Our gang problem here is getting worse Goldie. MS13 are as bad as ISIS in the way they murder people. The NY governor is sending more State police to NYC and Long Island to help local police deal with the problem.

 

Gangs, the drugs, violence and fast living that go with them, are like an open sore that never heals, Durbar. But the US made big gains against the Mafia with RICO, so authorities have to battle on with any means at their disposal. Here, local community leaders in the cities have to decide what is worse - stop and search with the assurance of police body cameras or escalating violence with body bags.

 

I think you need to edit you 'May should love you' Here is what she said about people like me at the Tory Party Conference;

"But today, too many people in positions of power behave as though they have more in common with international elites than with the people down the road, the people they employ, the people they pass in the street.

But if you believe you’re a citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere. You don’t understand what the very word ‘citizenship’ means."

Although I don't regard myself as being in a position of power (the only real power I have is where I choose to pay tax and spend my dosh) clearly I do have more in common with people who work in international roles, travel a lot, have read similar books and watched similar films as me, like similar things to me, regardless of their nationality, than I do with people who don't share these things, regardless of their nationality. I don't despise the latter group, who May defines as the real citizens, I just don't have as much in common with them, except country of birth, as I do with others, whether they are British or otherwise.

 

I travelled quite a bit, enjoyed visiting countries, working with their people - but both I, and those I worked with, were citizens of their own countries not the world. That was part of the interest. The New Yorkers would take you around their city and their place on Long Island at weekends, the Canadians take you to a hockey match, Aussies for a walk into the Blue Mountains etc I reciprocated when they came to London. We shared many things, but what we did not share was what made it interesting - the difference.

The EU countries are all beginning to look rather similar. Similar outlook, similar shops, similar goods. Personally, I believe in country, in national pride and character and respect between nations.

If you tear down borders and go for uniformity between world citizens, it's a recipe for mediocrity and dullness imo

 

I've been to most country's in Europe except Wales!!

 

? i think we are talking at cross purposes. I'm not interested in uniformity, I just know I have more in common with a good many foreigners than I have with a good many British people. For which I am condemned by my Prime Minister as a 'citizen of nowhere'.

I have to say that in my experience in the EU there is much more variety between what is available between countries and the shops in small towns where the majority are smalll independent specialist retailers - sure they have the chains, but mostly limited to the main shopping streets and shopping centres. I almost threw a brick through the window of the only Costa I saw in Barcelona last week. Whereas, at the last count, there are 4 Costas within a walk of my house over here, where every high street is a mix of identical chains with plate glass windows ruining the architecture.

 

I think it entirely healthy that you have much in common with foreigners, Stan. I feel I have much in common with citizens of European countries (except how the EU has developed and is now run). You are perfectly entitled under Mrs May's government to be a British citizen, and get on with foreigners.

For me, "citizen of the world" means something entirely different, alluded to in my last post. Mostly rich, domicile-dodging tax evaders or those No borders, No country anarchists in Calais. Either end of the scale

 

Impressive show of unity from the 27.

 

Strong and stable.

 

Why stop at the EU? It's called a globalised world economy where the only values that are cherished are American ones and we are all expected to open our doors to embrace Amazon, Starbucks, Macdonalds, Apple, IBM, Walt Disney and Levis etc etc. You seem to have the same mindset that the French do - they're pretty keen on standing up for their values and interests too

 

Direct and unedited snippet from a Radio Derby interview:

Radio Derby: "Do you know what a mugwump is?"
The Right Honourable Theresa May, Prime Minister: " err.....I recognise that what this country needs is strong and stable government"

Why do politicians of all kinds think we deserve to be insulted? Just got my local MP's (Chris White, Con) election leaflet through the letterbox. All about what a wonderful local MP he his (plus how he has raised his concerns over the conflict in Yemen). Not a single word, from a Remain MP in a Remain constituency, on the reason the election has been called by his party. He'll get back in, because the non Tory vote is too split, but it won't be anything to do with him, in general elections very few people get elected because of their own personalities, we vote on the national issues. Which apparently have nothing to do with Chris White. Unless you are Yemeni.

 

May, when asked if she was ashamed that there were nurses were having to go to food banks, replied 'there are many complex reasons for people going to food banks'. Like what? The excellent cuisine, or the wonderful service?

 

Nothing wrong with beans on toast...

 

Good point, but it's the nature of the EU to try to magnify this issue. It's highly likely the bureaucrats in a federal EU would prefer uniformity across states where possible because it's neat and tidy.

 

Like the Labour party when Corbyn was appointed leader, and then...

 

Seriously, without wishing to enter another pointless argument, have a look at the Sunday Times (pro Brexit) today. Apparently this week has been a disaster for the negotiations. May has demanded that a detailed blueprint for a trade deal be drawn up before discussion of UK financial obligations. From what Tusk said of the basic EU negotiating position a month ago, reaffirmed by the 27 this week, she must have known that this would be a non starter. The EU side say she hadn't been briefed by her advisors (or had been briefed differently to what they had been told by the civil servant who represents the U.K. to the EU) who didn't turn up to the dinner this week. It's either a shambles or a deliberate 'we don't want a deal' strategy. Meanwhile David Davies bleats on about 'goodwill'.

 

I've read the Sunday Times. It's a typical start to adversarial negotiations. You see it in the High Court every day, but without the media coverage.

The EU are reasonable in wanting to discuss Leaving terms first, but not if they want to wrap it up before Trade going forward. The two are interdependent. The UK would be more amenable on finance if it was to be offered a reasonable deal on Trade.

Junckers is now making veiled threats on Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. No doubt Davies will mention the offshore tax haven next week. Positioning.

If talks don't go well, expect strains within the 27.

 

Shame it has to be an adversarial negotiation. The 'we want a trade deal at the same time as negotiating leaving' doesn't make any sense if Brexit means Brexit. Whatever that means. I don't think Juncker, an odious twat, was threatening, he was promising - Spain has veto on relationship between Gibraltar and UK, the Northern Irish get instant admission to EU if they join the Republic (just like East Germany did).

It would be amazing if the 27 remained united through this, but if they don't it just reduces any chance of any agreement being reached, not really an advantage for us.

 

Campaign update:

 

Just watched May on Andrew Marr. No wonder she doesn't want to do debates. Marr isn't the toughest but there were a couple of moments when I thought she might cry.

Strong and stable.