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Are you telling HJ that being a journalist is not a real job?
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Yawn.
GB can't drive for medical reasons.
If being Chancellor of the Exchequer for 10 years isn't a real job, what is? And as for being Prime Minister, I can't think of another job with pressure like that and working hours like that,combined with pay like that.
Whether you think he's done a good job is a matter for you, but 'real' it most certainly is.
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"If being Chancellor of the Exchequer for 10 years isn't a real job, what is?"
Well, considering that he and several cronies are blaming the "state of the economy" for the local election results, and when you take into consideration the 10p tax rate, fuel prices, collapse of pension schemes, rises in council tax, the Northern Cock-up, the stupid way banks have behaved, the (supposed) collapse of house prices, Railtrack, PFI, Metronet and the fact that the Gov say that inflation is about 2.5% and we all know it's double that, then factor in decline of the pound, selling off gold reserves at their lowest price, etc etc, and then you ask who is/was the person who was ultimately in control of "the economy" for the past eleven years the name Imprudence Brown comes up.
So even if Chancellor is a proper job, he hasn't been doing it. And don't give me any answer that says its the American sub-prime problem that has caused it - with proper overseeing of our financial institutions they would not be involved - and who laid down those rules? Brown.
As for "Britain being best placed to face the world credit - crunch" Not quite how anyone but Brown and idiots Blears, Harman, Darling,Young, Balls (appropriate name) etc see it. We are very badly placed.
So who has done a proper job? Not Brown. Anyway - to go to being Chancellor of Exchequer without ever having any other "proper job" is quite a promotion isn't it?
Would that happen in the "real world" outside politics?
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So who has done a proper job? Not Brown. Anyway - to go to being Chancellor of Exchequer without ever having any other "proper job" is quite a promotion isn't it? Would that happen in the "real world" outside politics?
As I said, 'done a proper job' is different from it being a 'real' job--it's certainly not a job I would take if offered, even if I were capable, which I'm not. In any case, since we've had a low unemployment economy for last decade or more I suspect a lot of people are currently in jobs they are not really capable of doing, and wouldn't be doing in harsher conditions. Many of them seem to work for banks, and in the car sales business.
Incidentally, Brown has held posts in further education and in television, besides politics.
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I wondered why education system was falling over and there was nothing worth watching on TV - Brown again.
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Who needs TV when we can engage in banter of this quality?
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we've had a low unemployment economy for last decade or more >>
Brown was able to ride the crest of an economic upturn that, in a global economy, was precious little to do with him. Oddly, he forgot to mention that in his years as Chancellor. Now, as PM, he'd like to blame the economic mess we're going to be in on the global economy but he, as an individual, has made some terrible decisions. Which, oddly, he forgets to mention.
I really can't understand why anyone as seemingly introverted and bereft of people skills as he is would want to be PM. He'd be ok as a pure academic but I can't imagine the sheer dullness of a television programme or a lecture produced by him.
He doesn't drive, it's true. The news showed him leaving Downing Street yesterday in his bullet-proof Jaguar, followed by what looked like a top-spec plain clothes Range Rover and a marked police Range Rover and flanked by four motor-cycle outriders. There were probably other unmarked cars about. Nice to see him keeping up his green credentials, anyway.
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"In 1972, while still a student and with strong connections with the previous Dean of Admissions, Brown was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh, the convener of the University Court. From 1976 to 1980 he was employed as a lecturer in Politics at Glasgow College of Technology. From 1980 he worked as a journalist at Scottish Television, later serving as current affairs editor until his election to parliament in 1983"
Truly proper jobs, and so much experience for the man who would then go on to run the economy and get it into its present state.
He has managed to create 800,000 extra jobs in Civil Service though, I grant you that, despite telling us he was going to reduce them. Quite easy if you bring in wonderful ideas like taxing people at poverty level and then giving money back to them. Oh, and saying that you are going to "cut down on spin" but spend about £1.8 million per year on new "spin doctors " - they've done a good job haven't they?
Anyway, I think mods might say "and now back to motoring" - but judging from the latest poll/election results you must be in a slight minority if you think Gordon has done a "proper job" over the last 11 years.
Off to fill up my car in the village - only £1.25 a litre - of which most goes into Gordon's coffers to waste. Well done Gordon - the increase in price and hence VAT might bring a smile to your face.
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Not being in London I have paid little attention to the mayoral vote apart from the fact that Boris won. What were his promises as regards the London CC?
If he promised any reductions in cost/area covered it will be interesting to see if the contracts signed when Ken was in power allow any reductions without massive penalty payments to the company who (mis)manage the system.
Edited by daveyjp on 03/05/2008 at 21:32
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What's happened to the post I put up earlier.
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I said all this earlier but sinisterly it seems to have been removed ....
Guess what, so is this one. Earlier for a blasphemous remark and swearing, and this one for also swearing - remember, it's so much easier for us to delete than bother editing a post.
Oh, and lets not forget the political ranting and personal insults.
And that goes for everyone else as well. More motoring discussion and less politics please. I know it's difficult in a thread like this, BUT do try - else it gets locked.
DD.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 04/05/2008 at 01:04
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What were his promises as regards the London CC?
He's going to "review it"!!!
"Once installed at City Hall, Mr Johnson will be able to start his plans to reform the congestion charge, another high profile part of his election campaign.
He has criticised his predecessor Ken Livingstone's plan to introduce a £25 levy for the worst-polluting vehicles.
Instead, he has said, he wants to re-consult on the western expansion of the congestion charge zone and make paying the charge easier by allowing people to do it on a monthly basis. "
From the BBC site...
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but judging from the latest poll/election results you must be in a slight minority if you think Gordon has done a "proper job" over the last 11 years.
I don't believe I've expressed an opinion on that matter, assuming that by 'proper' you mean 'good'.
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Back to the Manchester Congestion Charge, I believe this warm fuzzy feeling I have is called schadenfruede (sp?)
:-)
Any ideas on the proposed charging structure for those who live within the charging boundaries?
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The proposal is for drivers to be charged when you cross the M60 and an inner ring, but the location of the inner boundary is one of the many details about this scheme that are still under wraps.
Hopefully all will become clear in a fortnight when it is rumoured that the Dept for Transport will announce whether Manchester's proposal for c-charging has been approved, at which point a 12 week consultation will begin.
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My forecasts fwiw:
the economy is deteriorating
it will get much worse- housing slowdown spills into manufacturing (orders down and inflation) , lots of redundancies.
Budget deficit gets much worse in 2008/9
Emergency budget cuts and tax rises to fill Black Hole.
And guess where taxes are easily raised and immediate payback? Motoring of course.. right in one.
Any suggestion we have competent economic management vanished when budget deficit rose as the economy grew. Saving for the bad times is not a mark of politicians of any hue.
That's why I keep saying I'll wait till 2009 for the desperation sale of cars which happen when people have to raise cash at any cost.. it will get worse.
Anyone who buys a large expensive car they run themseleves out of taxed income from employment is likely to face a BIG squeeze. And no buyers...
Batten down the hatches time. Like 1972-74, 1980-82 and 1990-92 . Economic cycles still exist despite political hubris.
Edited by madf on 04/05/2008 at 14:35
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"Economic cycles still exist despite political hubris."
But Gordon said he has done away with boom and bust.
"2009 for the desperation sale of cars which happens when people have to raise cash at any cost.. it will get worse."
Do you reckon there might be a few C6s around going cheap? I hope so!
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"Do you reckon there might be a few C6s around going cheap? I hope so!"
Thant makes 2 of us..
After you...:-)
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i'll fight you both for it. a nice c6 distress sale. got to be worth 10k
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The proposal is for drivers to be charged when you cross the M60 and an inner ring but the location of the inner boundary is one of the many details about this scheme that are still under wraps.
That's my worry. I live just outside the inner ring road but have no idea how the change would affect me yet as I drive out of Manchester along Regent Road/M602 every morning.
I'll keep a look out for the result
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