DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Religious Convictions
HTML https://religiousconvictions.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Secular Discussions
*****************************************************
#Post#: 1280--------------------------------------------------
Parliamentary Election
By: Kerry Date: April 20, 2015, 5:12 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I haven't heard much about the impending election in the UK;
but I see one group predicts Conservatives will likely lose some
seats but still have the most seats. They're projected a loss
from the current 302 seats to 281.
HTML http://www.electionforecast.co.uk
I wonder if Labour could cobble together a coalition government?
#Post#: 1303--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Poppy Date: April 21, 2015, 10:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I don't know about where you live Kerry, but such a lot of
people her in Britain are apathetic when it comes to voting.
They say it's no use voting 'cos all the parties are the same
and then they complain about the elected government all the
time. Turnout is very poor these days.
Labour seems to be gaining support but all the Tories seem to be
able to do is scaremonger by telling us how hellish it will be
with Labour in charge rather than letting us know what their own
policies are.
All the pundits predict a hung Parliament though with no single
party having a majority. Should be interesting.
#Post#: 1313--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Kerry Date: April 21, 2015, 6:26 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Poppy link=topic=147.msg1303#msg1303
date=1429630794]
I don't know about where you live Kerry, but such a lot of
people her in Britain are apathetic when it comes to voting.
They say it's no use voting 'cos all the parties are the same
and then they complain about the elected government all the
time. Turnout is very poor these days.[/quote]There is probably
an element of truth in that attitude. Politicians tend to say
whatever they think will get them elected and then behave like
each other once in office. Once in office, they are interested
only in feathering their own nests.
[quote]Labour seems to be gaining support but all the Tories
seem to be able to do is scaremonger by telling us how hellish
it will be with Labour in charge rather than letting us know
what their own policies are.
All the pundits predict a hung Parliament though with no single
party having a majority. Should be interesting.
[/quote]Yes, the latest polls I see have Labour and the Tories
running about even.
HTML http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11374181/General-Election-2015-latest-poll-tracker.html
I may be missing something, but I haven't seen much discussion
about the issues I'd think should be pressing issues. For
example, Russia has been making moves lately that I think should
concern people. The Royal Air Force scrambled jets the other
day when Russian bombers came close to British air space. That
made the news; but I didn't read what the various parties had to
say about it. There are other incidents too, like the Russian
submarine suspected of damaging a British trawler. Do they
have a strategy or not? The US doesn't seem to have a strategy.
Does anyone? The Russians appear to be paranoid, afraid of the
EU and the US. A reasonable approach would be to take steps to
allay their fears, I'd think, while simultaneously taking steps
to maintain security. But I hear nothing.
The current government may be making things worse by sending
troops to take part in war games in Estonia. Surely that can't
make Russia feel at ease. Nor can the Americans shipping
missiles into Poland. All told it looks like a lot of male
macho posturing that could lead to actual conflict.
Maybe I'm not reading the right sources; but I haven't heard
of debate about the EU and its woes. It seems to me that the
economic situation in Europe may be coming apart while the
Chinese are actively expanding their economic clout -- as well
as their military.
I did read how someone was accused of manipulating Wikpedia
articles at the Guardian
HTML http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/21/grant-shapps-accused-of-editing-wikipedia-pages-of-tory-rivals.<br
/>
Wikipedia has blocked a user account on suspicions that it is
being used by the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, “or
someone acting on his behalf” to edit his own page along with
the entries of Tory rivals and political opponents.
The online encyclopedia, where pages are edited and created by
readers, has tracked the changes made by a user called
“Contribsx” who has systematically removed embarrassing
references on Shapps’ Wikipedia page about the Tory chairman’s
business activities as Michael Green, the self-styled
millionaire web marketer.
A Guardian investigation found about a third of the
contributions made by this user were to Shapps’ own Wikipedia
entry while the rest are made up largely of unflattering changes
to the online pages to senior political figures – including
prominent figures in the Tory party such as Philip Hammond, the
foreign secretary, Justine Greening, the international
development secretary, and Lynton Crosby, Conservative election
campaign strategist.
I didn't bother reading all the article since I didn't know how
much was mud-slinging and how much was fact.
#Post#: 1322--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Poppy Date: April 22, 2015, 4:01 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The three big issues that have been debated are immigration,
austerity/cutbacks and the future of our National Health
Service. One party UKIP [UK independence Party) says it will
take us out of the EU, Cameron is promising a referendum and the
Lib Dems will keep us in.
We have so many immigrants from Eastern Europe - Poland, Rumania
etc. - that to many this is a problem as they are seen as
putting a strain on the NHS and schools. We have open borders
and can't keep them out. Others say that to have this cultural
diversity is a good thing.
The Tories have implemented many forms of cut-backs during their
term in office which has resulted in the shutting down of many
services that we took for granted; such as library closure,
reduced funding for special needs people and local services like
parks and such.
And our NHS is under great strain these days and subject to
privatisation as some parts of some parts of it have been handed
over to profit making private companies. There seems to be a
shortage of nursing and medical staff and GPs and more and more
people are turning up at A&E because they can't get appointments
with their own doctors - often for quite trivial complaints - as
quickly as they would like.
As well as the General Election we have the local council
elections running alongside. I will vote in both but probably
for different parties. Our MP has been at Westminster for many
years and seems to do a good job but the local councillors of
the same party are spoiling our town.
#Post#: 1330--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Kerry Date: April 22, 2015, 7:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Poppy link=topic=147.msg1322#msg1322
date=1429693293]
The three big issues that have been debated are immigration,
austerity/cutbacks and the future of our National Health
Service. One party UKIP [UK independence Party) says it will
take us out of the EU, Cameron is promising a referendum and the
Lib Dems will keep us in.[/quote]At least two parties aren't
afraid to take a stand. I think saying we'll have a referendum
shows a lack of leadership. Cameron appears wishy-washy and
unwilling to take a stand.
[quote]We have so many immigrants from Eastern Europe - Poland,
Rumania etc. - that to many this is a problem as they are seen
as putting a strain on the NHS and schools. We have open
borders and can't keep them out. Others say that to have this
cultural diversity is a good thing.[/quote]I see both sides on
that. Some cultural diversity makes life more interesting,
that's for sure; but when you get people entering a country not
because of fondness for it, its people, its culture or its
traditions but only for financial reasons, it becomes a problem.
How the immigration issues got handled by the EU was unwise to
begin with. More effort should have been put into improving
financial conditions in countries like Poland and Romania before
saying people were free to immigrate. If that meant investing
money there, fine. When conditions are so unequal, of course
there's going to be a flood of immigrants that unsettles
everyone.
[quote]The Tories have implemented many forms of cut-backs
during their term in office which has resulted in the shutting
down of many services that we took for granted; such as library
closure, reduced funding for special needs people and local
services like parks and such.
And our NHS is under great strain these days and subject to
privatisation as some parts of some parts of it have been handed
over to profit making private companies. There seems to be a
shortage of nursing and medical staff and GPs and more and more
people are turning up at A&E because they can't get appointments
with their own doctors - often for quite trivial complaints - as
quickly as they would like.[/quote]I read a while ago where some
"expert" predicted the demise of the NHS as unsustainable. Add
the gross mismanagement of the system at times to the financial
woes, and it's a real mess. I am still astounded at how Sir
David Nicholson could be promoted to be Chief Executive of NHS
after his disastrous history at West Midlands Strategic Health
Authority where patients died at an alarming rate. And as head
of NHS, he was making excessive claims for a lavish apartment
while demanding cut backs for patients.
[quote]As well as the General Election we have the local council
elections running alongside. I will vote in both but probably
for different parties. Our MP has been at Westminster for many
years and seems to do a good job but the local councillors of
the same party are spoiling our town.[/quote]I think I
understand. I often split my vote too. I like my
Congressman but not the people in his party who usually run the
town I live in.
People tend to get arrogant and corrupt if they're in office too
long, I think; and a lax attitude also attracts a bad sort of
people. Labour certainly has its corrupt people too, people
like the Reverend Flowers. From what I could see about him, he
was not qualified in any way to run a bank; but somehow he got
the job and then made a mess of it as well as dabbling in drugs
and p0rn. I think there is an "aristocratic mindset" in the
UK that thinks they are above the law and entitled to whatever
they want; and that sort of attitude is cropping up here in the
US too.
#Post#: 1331--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: HappyHeretic Date: April 22, 2015, 8:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Nice summary, Poppy.
The open borders are open withing the EU only - anyone in the EU
can choose to live anywhere else in the EU. Americans, for
example, have to apply.
I'm in the crown that likes cultural diversity, though I am in
favour of some controls over immigration and can't see much
wrong with the New Zealand points system. It allows them to
attract workers with skills they are short of by adjusting the
points needed for different jobs.
The rise in food bank usage is an indicator of something not
right. I know people who run one - they got extremely busy
after one change to the benefits system. I love the way that
people and companies are generously giving to food banks, but
really the government should be held to account for the apparent
need for them.
Practically speaking, I don't have a vote. My guy, who I don't
like and want out, has such a strong majority that my dissenting
vote carries no weight whatsoever. I usually end up voting for
the smallest party on the ballot paper in an effort to help them
not lose their deposit.
Mike HM
#Post#: 1333--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Poppy Date: April 22, 2015, 9:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quoteKerry]At least two parties aren't afraid to take a stand.
I think saying we'll have a referendum shows a lack of
leadership. Cameron appears wishy-washy and unwilling to take
a stand. [/quote]
Agreed Kerry. At the last GE I went against my usual preference
and voted Tory as Cameron seemed to be the strongest of the
leaders after the banks put us all in such a financial mess.
How wrong I was. He has made more U-turns than I've ever seen
before. Maggie T will be turning in her grave. She was lady
who was not for turning.
Like you said HH the open borders policy is for EU members and
as much as I like some cultural diversity it seems that there is
no requirement for these immigrant's to have health insurance
from their own countries so that from the minute they land here
they can get free medical care without having paid a penny
towards it.
Same with education and we now have mufti lingual schools with
pupils from across Europe and beyond taking most of the places
and only a handful of children speaking English as a first
language. This can't be good for the education of the English
speaking kids.
Also men and women who leave their kids back in their home
countries can claim child benefit to be sent abroad to support
said kids. One of the parties is promoting the points system
but if we stay in the EU I can't see that it would work. And
also as you say food bank numbers are growing in number weekly
and are now a necessity as they now do the work of caring for
the needy that government offices can't or won't do.
Cameron promised to cut immigration but instead it has grown so
that it is out of control and is now putting a strain on public
finances.
#Post#: 1356--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: Kerry Date: April 23, 2015, 12:06 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I see Ed Miliband finally decided to say something about
immigration. It made me scratch my head. The Guardian
HTML http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/18/new-immigrants-must-speak-english-says-miliband<br
/>reports:
All new immigrants to Britain should be able to speak English,
Ed Miliband has said in an apparent attempt to harden Labour’s
line on immigration before the general election.
The Labour leader said it was particularly important that
doctors, nurses and paramedics working in the NHS were able to
communicate properly with patients.
A future Labour government would pass laws to ensure all health
workers spoke English well enough to care for patients before
they could start work, he said, and regulators would be given
powers to enforce the rules.
In an effort to shed perceptions that Labour was soft on
immigration, Miliband said that in the past his party had been
“too timid” about insisting that newcomers learn English when
they arrive in the UK.
“It’s something we should expect from everyone who comes here
and it’s especially important that people who work in public
services in public-facing roles should be required to speak
English,” he told an audience at Pensby high school in Heswall,
Merseyside.
What kind of statement is that? It sounds reasonable at first;
but what kind of plan does he have? Is he planning to deport
everyone who can't speak English? Force them to attend classes
-- and who will pay for that? Or is his plan to "expect"
everyone to speak English?
Don Flynn, the chief executive of the Migrants Rights Network,
said the issue of immigrants learning English was a red herring,
with most newcomers to the UK keen to learn the world’s most
widely used language. “When you consider that 70% of people
learning a foreign language today are learning English it’s not
exactly something we have to twist people’s arms to do,” he
added.
#Post#: 1357--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: A nonny mouse Date: April 23, 2015, 3:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
There is a need to consider the understandable call that
Britain, and the Church, should make reparation to those
countries who suffered extreme slavery at the hands of those who
thereby accumulated vast wealth.
Welcoming migration from such people ought to be the least that
we can do.
Would that not go some way towards fulfilling the greatest
commandment to 'love'?
#Post#: 1360--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parliamentary Election
By: HappyHeretic Date: April 23, 2015, 3:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Poppy link=topic=147.msg1333#msg1333
date=1429712803]
Like you said HH the open borders policy is for EU members and
as much as I like some cultural diversity it seems that there is
no requirement for these immigrant's to have health insurance
from their own countries so that from the minute they land here
they can get free medical care without having paid a penny
towards it.
[/quote]
That is a two way street, of course. We can get free health
care and education etc if we choose to go and live in France.
I am broadly in agreement with you Poppy.
Kind regards,
Mike HM
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page