Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Fred
You need to read more widely. Will Hutton is as predictable as you in his views. He is a great fan of Europe and anything that the Conservatives do is awful. That's all you need to know about him. He is not much of an economist.

Hospital costs.

Free NHS for everyone who come to the UK, Some of whom stay in ICU for weeks (minimum £10000 a night), or treat cancer and HIV (costing £40000 to £100000).

Who is in charge??? Noone, I think.

There's a big clue as to why I take articles like that with a large pinch of salt within the article's URL, namely the bit that says 'commentisfree'.

Mr Hutton is fully entitled to his opinion, but that's all it is - HIS OPINION. He has quoted the minimum amount of facts and, in so doing, has ignored things such as a dumbing down of the education system and immigration effects within his argument. As a result, his writings are biased to the extreme and lack any serious credibility.

You've only got to read some of the other articles written by the man to realise that he's either a Labour activist or that he's a good few cans short of a six-pack or, more probably, both.

Any one ready to fill it in?

Hand it round. Quiet a few might fill it in.

Manuel,

You are becoming repetitive in you old age.

But to save yourself from any discomfort you can always use the button!

==========

i am well aware that i could squelch you, but why should i pander to you?
i am also very well aware, as are most here, that you are incapable of answering simple questions, so like Sir Robin Day, i shall keep repeating same
as much as anything else, it helps highlight that you are nowt but a caricature of Macbeth's "poor player"

Manuel,

If you look you are being repetitious.

I answered your question on numerous occasions in the past and as I don't believe myself to be beholding in anyway to you, Ihave no intentions of satisfying your whims.

What interest me is the show of party allegiance some like Hilarious, you and Hays whole to outdated failing economic ideology.

Condemning others of different opinion as idiots in defence of your own opinions.

I differ in opinion from Rawnsley and Will Hutton and many things, but certainly don't consider them idiots.

Also, don't consider Porky to be an idiot, but think he is mistaken in some of the way he is carrying out his policies, or more precisely the severity and timing of his cuts without real stimulus to the underlying economy.
========

But we will see, but I do recall Hilarious's prediction made before the last election, that the con party would sweep into power with a magnificent landslide.

i recollect even more vividly that you bluster away and post your stream of beano cartoons, but have never ever answered, even obliquely let alone plainly, the very simple question as to which party you think has a better and viable alternative economic policy (model would be asking too much) than the incumbents

the truism that one should listen to what is NOT said identifies loudly and clearly that you cannot even think of any party whom you imagine (not even think or believe) has a viable alternative ..... under the circumstances, i'm afraid there's no alternative than to return to the sobriquet of (fos)fred - that is not remotely suggetsing you may be an idiot but merely an arsehole

Manuel,

As you appreciate the cartoons so much,, I will try and dig some more out for you.

They are sometimes expressive of opinion different to yours and often more insightful.

====

Some parties are worse than others, which is worst is difficult to know, but the one you acclaim is pretty bad.

Now, have a little more wine and relax until your bedtime.

-----

Manuel,

As you appreciate the cartoons so much,, I will try and dig some more out for you.

They are sometimes expressive of opinion different to yours and often more insightful.

====

Some parties are worse than others, which is worst is difficult to know, but the one you acclaim is pretty bad.

Now, have a little more wine and relax until your bedtime.

-----

Well I certainly recall predicting a Tory landslide over 3 years ago. At the time, it was most definitely on the cards - Cameron was well ahead in the polls, and it should have happened, but it's hardly my fault he's a slimeball who fcuked it up at the most important time when victory was there for the taking.

As far as blindly following the party's policies go, that's nonsense. I've been openly critical on this thread of the government's Help to Buy scheme, and I can't understand why Cameron has insisted in pursuing petty, yet divisive policies such as gay marriage. But, if you want to talk about past predictions, how about your prediction that a coalition government would be great for the country as no game-changing laws would ever get passed? With that in mind, and if that's really what you wished for, why are you now prattling on so much about a lack of firm leadership, indecision and U-turns? What else did you expect under a coalition?

And when it comes to the suggestion that the coalition's economic strategy is outdated and failing, that's also nonsense. Nearly every economic indicator points to a recovery being firmly in place and the UK are being praised for sticking to their austerity measures which they implemented far ahead of Europe who are still seriously in the doggy doo doo. And, as you're so keen on pointing out predictions from 2010 and before, I seem to recall predicting that a recovery wouldn't start until after the London Olympics, regardless of who was in power at the time. And if you don't believe that austerity is the answer, would you allow Mrs Bollock Chops to spend more on shopping each week than you give her as an allowance? Because that's what your bum chum, Gordon Clown, was quite happy to do with the country's money on a much larger scale!

And that's the only reason we're in such a mess now!

Temper temper.. calm down dear.

Hilary good post.
but you have forgot to say that the likes of cable @ clegg have fcuked up the torys from doing what is needed .

family allowance should be cut to two children .
not to save money but to save the planet
girls are having babies as a way income .

for once, i pretty much agree with something you write
i'm not sure that 2 children per family is sufficient to maintain a population, but in principle, i certainly agree that child allowance (relatively small beer) should have limits

however, are not many state benefits orientated to "family units", for if so, you now start getting into much trickier territory

my view is not to save money but the population is going out of control
and the planet and wild life is being affected .

for population control, there's nothing like a good, old-fashioned, non-partisan pandemic such as bubonic plague or even spanish flu .... a poor substitute is perhaps a really large scale war

Cheery post of the week go's to cynic.

i thought it very constructive :-)