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by pete75
9 Mar 2024, 12:28am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells
Replies: 552
Views: 33650

Re: Ex-Post Office CEO Paula Vennells

roubaixtuesday wrote: 7 Mar 2024, 9:56am
pete75 wrote: 23 Feb 2024, 3:09pm
freiston wrote: 23 Feb 2024, 1:58pm
Is that still the case?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... -in-prison
If the Guardian is to be believed anymore than it's mirror image, the Daily Mail, then it isn't.
The Guardian is not remotely the mirror image of the Mail. It's not even the mirror image of the Telegraph.
You must be looking at different papers to the ones normally published under those names.
by pete75
1 Mar 2024, 9:56pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72482

Re: UK Politics

pwa wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 9:51pm
reohn2 wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 8:05pm
853 wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 6:13pm

I've decided that unless a new party, that I genuinely agree with, put ups a candidate in my constituency I'll be spoiling my ballot paper. I think I'm likely to add a new row at the bottom with the words "None of the above sewage* " and putting a cross by that.

I think it is important to vote, but I also think it is import to express our disgust at the current political parties and their warped views. Maybe if enough voters tell the current political parties that they're sewage, on the ballot paper, they'll take notice.

* Or something similar
+1 no party where I live is attracting my vote,so I'll probably do the same :? .
Surely the traditional British way is to vote for the least worst option. Whichever that is. Vote to avoid the worst of the likely outcomes.
Nah, if that were the case we would still be in the EU.
by pete75
1 Mar 2024, 9:55pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72482

Re: UK Politics

reohn2 wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 8:05pm
853 wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 6:13pm
Mike Sales wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 1:23pm Once every few years we have our chance to act in this democracy.
Showing our political views in any other way is increasingly difficult, and frowned on. We are told that we have demonstrated our views and should now shut up.
Choosing how to use my very important and valuable vote is difficult.
Should I vote for the big party I would prefer to be in government, because it is marginally better than the other big party whose policies I detest even more?
I've decided that unless a new party, that I genuinely agree with, put ups a candidate in my constituency I'll be spoiling my ballot paper. I think I'm likely to add a new row at the bottom with the words "None of the above sewage* " and putting a cross by that.

I think it is important to vote, but I also think it is import to express our disgust at the current political parties and their warped views. Maybe if enough voters tell the current political parties that they're sewage, on the ballot paper, they'll take notice.

* Or something similar
+1 no party where I live is attracting my vote,so I'll probably do the same :? .
TBH I don't think it makes any difference. During my lifetime I don't recall any changes, either good or bad, to my lifestyle regardless of which party is in power.If you're either very welathy or poor it does matter. Looking at the Brexit vote and Redwall vote at the last election it appears the poor don't realise how their vote matters.
by pete75
1 Mar 2024, 9:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72482

Re: UK Politics

Pebble wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 8:23pm I quite like Starmer, he is more middle of the road and hope he wins (just hope he can keep the far left under control)

I will be voting tory, not that I want them to win but my MP is not only a cyclist but a good local MP, and when I have asked for help he has been very good. I think his average time in responding to any email I send him is probably under 10 minutes !
And you think the Tories will be able to keep the far right under control, or maybe will have the far right as ministers like Kemi Badenough?

Your MP is not replying to you that quickly, it's his staff, probably family members, and paid for by us taxpayers. BTW what's the response, an anser to your query or an acknowledgement? If the latter it's automatic.
by pete75
1 Mar 2024, 7:06pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72482

Re: UK Politics

djnotts wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 6:51pm
Jdsk wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 6:16pm Very strangely pitched speech from the Prime Minister:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/we- ... xtremists/

Jonathan
But when his words include "Britain is a patriotic, liberal, democratic society with a proud past and a bright future. We are a reasonable country and a decent people. ....." I can't even be bothered reading the rest.
Oh give it a read. He's a bit of a comedian, writing "I love this country. My family and I owe it so much." - not least all the tax his wife used non-dom status to avoid.
by pete75
1 Mar 2024, 6:57pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 933
Views: 72482

Re: UK Politics

Mike Sales wrote: 1 Mar 2024, 1:23pm Once every few years we have our chance to act in this democracy.
Showing our political views in any other way is increasingly difficult, and frowned on. We are told that we have demonstrated our views and should now shut up.
Choosing how to use my very important and valuable vote is difficult.
Should I vote for the big party I would prefer to be in government, because it is marginally better than the other big party whose policies I detest even more?
Should I vote rather for the candidate of the little party whose policies I really believe would be best for the country?
In fact, like most of us, my vote is very unlikely to make any difference to the outcome, because we do not live in a marginal constituency
I suppose I will vote as I believe, in the faint hope that if enough of us do that, we can send a sign to the big party that we would like it to move a bit in a particular direction.
I consult the tactical voting website, but it offers little hope.
I don't think that this seems much like a democracy in which my vote counts, but I know people in many other countries have even less agency in deciding their own fate.
Same here. The only so called democracy in a safe seat is the local party selection commitee voting to choose a candidate.
by pete75
28 Feb 2024, 6:45pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Carlton green wrote: 28 Feb 2024, 5:18pm
pete75 wrote: 28 Feb 2024, 5:03pm
UpWrong wrote: 27 Feb 2024, 4:04pm
The world isn't a chess board to be divided up between the superpowers. That's Putin's twisted view of the world. To him, life is a power game and little people and little countries don't count. Ukranians want to trade with and align with the EU.
Time was the so called super powers divided much of the world into two blocks. The USA with NATO and the Soviet Union with the Warsaw pact. Now there's just the USA controlled block, NATO. Do you really think the USA doesn't hold the same views you ascribe to Putin?
Is there just the USA controlled by NATO? I really don’t think that that’s the case at all. China does its own thing, India and Pakistan do their own thing, Much of Africa does its own thing and so does much of South America. The USA has much influence, that’s undoubted, but its powers are in disarray and that’s thanks - I believe - to negative external influences.

As for Ukraine, the people there should be free to choose their future and the future they’d like is a democratic one and a prosperous one; the acts of and invasion by their neighbour smashes that future and subjects them to alien rule by unfriendly and uncaring powers.
No the USA is not controlled by NATO. I think you'll find it's the other way round.
by pete75
28 Feb 2024, 5:03pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

UpWrong wrote: 27 Feb 2024, 4:04pm
Biospace wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 7:28pm Before we head yet further into this war, it could be in our interests to consider the bigger picture and consider whether Russia has reacted as it has because of NATO and EU expansion which has been ongoing since the 1990s. Asking why it's so important to the US for Ukraine to be incorporated in to the West, as well as so many other former USSR nations, rather than left as a neutral border state may form a good start.
The world isn't a chess board to be divided up between the superpowers. That's Putin's twisted view of the world. To him, life is a power game and little people and little countries don't count. Ukranians want to trade with and align with the EU.
Time was the so called super powers divided much of the world into two blocks. The USA with NATO and the Soviet Union with the Warsaw pact. Now there's just the USA controlled block, NATO. Do you really think the USA doesn't hold the same views you ascribe to Putin?
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 7:44pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Nearholmer wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 7:36pm I absolutely do not understand why the government thinks it’s in our interests to continue to support Israel, either tacitly by not putting greater pressure on them, or, if indeed we are, by continuing to supply weapons. Leaving aside all moral considerations for the moment, I don’t understand why it might be a good idea from a purely practical/strategic perspective.

It reminds me of when Blair launched us into war on the basis of the dodgy dossier, I remember saying to a friend “he’d bl@&dy well better know something we don’t”, meaning that on the basis of information available to the public it seemed completely unjustifiable. Of course, he didn’t know something the rest of us didn’t, and I strongly suspect that the government now doesn’t have cogent, arguable reasons for failing to condemn and cut-off Israel …… it might have, but I strongly suspect that it doesn’t.
Those reasons might be related to the fact around 80% of Tory MPs are memebers of an organisation called Conservative Friends of Israel. Shame a few more aren't friends of the UK.
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 4:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Nearholmer wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 4:14pm So, Biospace, sticking with the simple point that Ukrainians have a right of sovereignty over their country, and not diverting into other interesting topics: in what way is it wrong to support them in their attempt to maintain that sovereignty?
Thye currently don't have a right of sovereignty over what were large parts of their country. They are now part of another country or will be before too long. We shouldn't be reinforcing failure.
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 4:27pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Jdsk wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 3:45pm
pete75 wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 3:43pm
Jdsk wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 3:27pm
Very good.

Harking back to some particular geographical demarcation at some particular historical point should never be expected to resolve a current conflict.

Instead we should look for how self-determination can best be delivered.

Fortunately subjects of the UK and citizens of Ireland have a recent example of how looking to the future can work better than looking to the past.
Many conflicts have been the result of what happened at "some particular historical point" and revisiting or changing what happened has resolved the conflict.

If your last senetence is referring to Northern Ireland you may well be mistaken. It's looking increasingly likely that Ireland will be reunited, reversing Britain's geographical demarcation of the country into two parts.
If reunification occurs by self-determination why would I be "mistaken"?

Thanks

Jonathan
It won't be self determination for the Proddies will it?
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 3:43pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Jdsk wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 3:27pm
roubaixtuesday wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:39pmLoving the casual allocation of "formerly Russian" territory, and I for one am definitely looking forward to returning to being part of the Danelaw. Rule from Kobenhavn would definitely be better than what we have now, I guess.
Very good.

Harking back to some particular geographical demarcation at some particular historical point should never be expected to resolve a current conflict.

Instead we should look for how self-determination can best be delivered.

Fortunately subjects of the UK and citizens of Ireland have a recent example of how looking to the future can work better than looking to the past.

Jonathan
Many conflicts have been the result of what happened at "some particular historical point" and revisiting or changing what happened has resolved the conflict.

If your last senetence is referring to Northern Ireland you may well be mistaken. It's looking increasingly likely that Ireland will be reunited, reversing Britain's geographical demarcation of the country into two parts.
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 3:35pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

roubaixtuesday wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:39pm
Biospace wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:30pm
pete75 wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:23pm I suspect they'll be some sort of negotiated peace treaty, with the formerly Russian parts of the Ukraine ceded back to Russia. They're already de facto Russia, so it won't make a lot of difference.
I agree that's the most likely outcome and quite possibly what Putin had intended originally. A friend travelled through the Donbas years ago and I remember a remark that he couldn't understand how large parts had become Ukrainian territory, purely based on his observations of the people and culture.
Yes, of course, the airborne assault and huge ground attack on Kyiv were just sacrificial.

Loving the casual allocation of "formerly Russian" territory, and I for one am definitely looking forward to returning to being part of the Danelaw. Rule from Kobenhavn would definitely be better than what we have now, I guess.
The Donetsk and Crimea were historically Russian with most of the population being ethnic Russians. For administrative purposes Krutschev put them into the Ukrainian SSR in the fifties.
The Danelaw was not ruled by Denmark but by folk of Danish and Norse origin living within it.
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 1:23pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

reohn2 wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 1:15pm
pete75 wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 12:41pm
pwa wrote: 25 Feb 2024, 9:29pm That is one consoling fact to emerge from this war. His navy has a tendency to sink as well.
He'll still win though.
Assuming you're right and he does win,what do you think his next objective will be after he takes over the Ukraine?
He does know he's in no position to find a conventional war against NATO, so won't attack Poland or the Baltics, as the more paranoid amongst us seem to think. I suspect they'll be some sort of negotiated peace treaty, with the formerly Russian parts of the Ukraine ceded back to Russia. They're already de facto Russia, so it won't make a lot of difference.
by pete75
26 Feb 2024, 12:45pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?
Replies: 1865
Views: 82057

Re: War on Our Doorstep: How do we respond?

Stevek76 wrote: 25 Feb 2024, 9:47pm
pete75 wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 6:44pm
Tony Blair still gained a 66 seat majority at the next general election in 2005.
on 35.2% of the vote (vs 40.7% in 2001), but none of that changes what I said, polling at the time was fairly clear both on public opinion on the war and the damage to Blair.
So little damage he managed to win the next election with a large majority. If I was PM I'd welcome that sort of damage.