The Tories

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Succesive British Goverrnments have not been keen to bail out failing companies, preferring to let them find a buyer...even if that buyer is from overseas(taking jobs out of the country)......and while there may be some places not suffering in the current financial crisis, they are the exception rather than the rule....certainly on this side of the pond.

Growth relies on sturdy market forces, and the market forces have been subdued for quite some time now........insecurity of the current situation in the Eurozone(to which you over there, seem to be immune) is not helping. There doesn't appear to be any kind of solution emerging....this despite all the meetings and summits organised by Merkel and Sarkozy......Britain is going to be asked to commit another 65 billion pounds to the IMF to shore up the Eurozone(and this won't be the last time we are asked I can assure you), when in all probability there is nothing to save the single currency........The government might have had some spare readies to put in, if the last lot(and I don't care what colour t heir coat was - I have no partisan feelings to any of the parties....they all wazz in the same pot) had not been so profligate in their spending.

I agree that the Euro is heading the way of Esperanto: a decent idea that didn't work ... and the idea of putting in more cash? Never reinforce failure, as the legendary kraut, von Clausewitz observed. Or, as we say on this continent: "Always know when it's time to get out of Dodge."

Back in the 80s during tough economic times Canadian governments spent large. The debt increased, deficits went throught the roof, and many, our rowdy neighbours especially, saw us heading for third world status. They laughed at our economic policies. When the good times returned, we paid down our debt, all governments eliminated or radically reduced their deficits; and we were off and running. We even helped bail out GM in order to save manufacturing jobs, and survived the crisis. Suddenly, our economic policies are not a joke any more.

And is these new tough times: billions more for health care, increased pensions, and the government of Ontario is cutting fees for university students, because they realize that a well-educated population is essential for prosperity. Because our military seems to have been shoved into a more active role, we are spending $65 billion on new fighters from the US. Along with this purchase come jobs for the aerospace industry as some components will be manufactured in Canada. Repair and maintenance facilities will be established in Winnipeg and Montreal. $50 billion for new warships ... built in Canada. Another few billion for assorted fleet supply ships, ice breakers, and coast guard vessels ... built in Canada.

The present tory government is making some cuts, particularly in the civil service. They are, of course, building more jails so that our equivalent of Dail Mail readers will be happy. (Meanwhile, our crime rate is dropping rapidly) But they realize that although they are in power, that power depends on the votes of those who, with little provocation, vote Liberal in the next election.

I suppose what I'm saying, in a very long-winded fashion, is that cuts by themselves will not solve your economic problems. And worrying about the money that New Labour so obviously peed away is not going to help either. Individuals wake up after a binge, looking at an empty wallet. Govts. do too.

And as an informed observer, it is my opinion that your problems will not be solved within the EU ... time to get out of Dodge.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes Eric......well observed. I think that a lot of us having been saying that the EU have crippled us for long enough now.

They tie up businesses and workplaces in red tape, they allow migrants to come and work for a pittance(well, those that do work)...they allow them to claim benefits which these migrants send home(thereby improving the economy of their homeland at our expense)......they tell us who we can jail and for how long......they tell farmers what they can grow, and what they can't......there is an element of covert protectionism in this.......they spew out rules that no other EU country seem to take a blind bit of notice of, but us......and we follow it slavishly and to the letter.
Yet our MP in parliament thinks that 95% of the electorate couldn't give a toss about our situation.
Do you think that you could have a word with him and persuade him differently?

As for Uni fees.....we have graduates who cannot get jobs because they took degrees that are basically worthless, in that they have no bearing on the real world.
Education should be free.....all Education.......because the more educated your workforce are(in the right kind of marketable subjects - real subjects......science, physics, Maths...those boring things that take brains and application) the better chance you have in the world market.....but also we shouldn't undervalue those who possess practical skills. Too much emphasis has been placed on youngsters getting academic qualifications, and not enough investment has been put into practical skills.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Yes Eric......well observed. I think that a lot of us having been saying that the EU have crippled us for long enough now.

They tie up businesses and workplaces in red tape, they allow migrants to come and work for a pittance(well, those that do work)...they allow them to claim benefits which these migrants send home(thereby improving the economy of their homeland at our expense)......they tell us who we can jail and for how long......they tell farmers what they can grow, and what they can't......there is an element of covert protectionism in this.......they spew out rules that no other EU country seem to take a blind bit of notice of, but us......and we follow it slavishly and to the letter.
Yet our MP in parliament thinks that 95% of the electorate couldn't give a toss about our situation.
Do you think that you could have a word with him and persuade him differently?

As for Uni fees.....we have graduates who cannot get jobs because they took degrees that are basically worthless, in that they have no bearing on the real world.
Education should be free.....all Education.......because the more educated your workforce are(in the right kind of marketable subjects - real subjects......science, physics, Maths...those boring things that take brains and application) the better chance you have in the world market.....but also we shouldn't undervalue those who possess practical skills. Too much emphasis has been placed on youngsters getting academic qualifications, and not enough investment has been put into practical skills.

And on the immigration question: here's a hint; allow in those whose skills you need. Make it easier for those folks, and harder for those who will be a drain on your economy. Really, some things are a no brainer.

[Margaret Pilkington]

It isn't quite as easy as that Eric, those who are in the EU can come here whether we need them or not. The last government encouraged mass migration with what we now see, has had disastrous results....because many of these people do not have skills and they take jobs that the unskilled here would have taken.....and the added incentive for employers is that they will work for less.
Personally, I would like to see our immigration policy be modelled on that of Australia.

Those who drain the economy are very likely to be from the Eastern bloc of the EU than from anywhere else.......so we really have no say in the matter.
It is a farce.
And you have to be here and see what is happening to get the full picture.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Eric

And on the immigration question: here's a hint; allow in those whose skills you need. Make it easier for those folks, and harder for those who will be a drain on your economy. Really, some things are a no brainer.

Ah, yes but human rights says we must allow in the useless as well as the useful, perhaps a blanket ban on everyone & concentrate on training our own people? Make sure they are being offered more of a future?
We don't need conscription, just offer decent training and a future with prospects better than temporary employment then we'll have a workforce that can compete with the world.
Oh, and put an import tax on Chinese products, if we need crap lets make it ourselves or do without.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Less

Ah, yes but human rights says we must allow in the useless as well as the useful, perhaps a blanket ban on everyone & concentrate on training our own people? Make sure they are being offered more of a future?
We don't need conscription, just offer decent training and a future with prospects better than temporary employment then we'll have a workforce that can compete with the world.
Oh, and put an import tax on Chinese products, if we need crap lets make it ourselves or do without.

Yes I agree Less...we need a return to the Import tax.......it would fill the coffers and perhaps stop people buying stuff that they didn't need..

I agree with your idea of decent training for proper jobs too...not the temporary non jobs just to get the employment figures into some sort of political order.

The recent good news is that there is a hope that because of the poor exchange rate of some currencies, our motor industry may just be looking up....we could be exporting more motors made in the UK.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/exports-see...170355192.html
I know it is only a candle glimmer of hope.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Less

Ah, yes but human rights says we must allow in the useless as well as the useful, perhaps a blanket ban on everyone & concentrate on training our own people? Make sure they are being offered more of a future?
We don't need conscription, just offer decent training and a future with prospects better than temporary employment then we'll have a workforce that can compete with the world.
Oh, and put an import tax on Chinese products, if we need crap lets make it ourselves or do without.

Sure as hell works for me Less

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

It isn't quite as easy as that Eric, those who are in the EU can come here whether we need them or not. The last government encouraged mass migration with what we now see, has had disastrous results....because many of these people do not have skills and they take jobs that the unskilled here would have taken.....and the added incentive for employers is that they will work for less.
Personally, I would like to see our immigration policy be modelled on that of Australia.

Those who drain the economy are very likely to be from the Eastern bloc of the EU than from anywhere else.......so we really have no say in the matter.
It is a farce.
And you have to be here and see what is happening to get the full picture.

And so it comes back to the EU .... if the consequences were not so serious, it would be funny to see the politicians scrambling around looking for a solution when there is one staring them in the face: whatever the benefits of the EU, it doesn't work for the benefit of the UK. (NAFTA isn't bad. Sure the US nixed the idea of a pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf; all our govt. said was: "If you don't wan't our oil, we'll build a pipeline to the Pacific and sell to the Chinese. Have a nice day." Of course the yanks are now squirming around trying to explain to unemployed Americans why they have turned down billions in investment and tens of thousands of jobs.)

I remember a Larson "Far Side" cartoon. A bunch of cops are in an office. A dead body, riddled with bullets is slumped over a desk. There is a machine gun on the floor. The walls are full of clocks, there is a clock on the desk, and the stiff is wearing a watch. All the timepieces are riddled with bullets, and all show ten minutes before three (or whatever time). One of the coppers says: "We have the corpse, the murder weapon, a motive, and a suspect; now, if only we could fix the time of death .... " Well, something like that anyway, but I presume you get the picture and the point.

[cashman]

Eric, are these prisons they are building,to replace the ones that have already been closed? That fact is probably a large factor in the Statement, "Our prisons are at near capacity."

[cmonstanley]

They are privatised, manned by the the companies close to david camerons heart who are all foriegn owned and financed by the private equity firms who pay their employees peanuts for the job they are doing,so less tax revenue

[Margaret Pilkington]

Where is your information from...and why no link??

[Eric]

Originally Posted by cashman

Eric, are these prisons they are building,to replace the ones that have already been closed? That fact is probably a large factor in the Statement, "Our prisons are at near capacity."

No these are new ones. Unfortunately, Canadians are not co-operating with the Feds ... they are commiting fewer and fewer crimes. The tory answer of course, is to keep the criminals we have in jail for longer. Most Canadians who think about it, see the tory tough-on-crime policy as a joke. Another problem is that if one is sentenced to less than two years, the sentence is served in a provincial jail. Provinces are peed off that the feds seem to be sticking them with the bill for their idiot policies. For example, if new provincial jails have to be built in Ontario, it is the Ontario tax payer who has to foot the bill. Also, it is worth noting that the Provinces don't share the same attitudes to crime and punishment. Quebec, in particular.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

They are privatised, manned by the the companies close to david camerons heart who are all foriegn owned and financed by the private equity firms who pay their employees peanuts for the job they are doing,so less tax revenue

Shame you can't put in one of your famous links, but congratulations are in order, at last you've managed to start a sentence with a capitol letter, shows your leaning

[cashman]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Shame you can't put in one of your famous links, but congratulations are in order, at last you've managed to start a sentence with a capitol letter, shows your leaning

Yeh nice one cmon, but you aint learning, "capitol"

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

Yeh nice one cmon, but you aint learning, "capitol"

You'll get into trouble you, its MargaretR's job to point these things out