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.

Max.

People and institutions borrowing too much and piling into property at inflated prices and insufficient regulation of banks and Jonies Come Lately spivs in the city.

With insufficient earnings to cover losses.

Similar to what led to the collapse of the Heath government.

non-dom taxation
the principle of scrapping this old and arcane rule cannot be wrong, though it is equally true to say that it probably won't yield much hard cash

for all that, the loophole, if you wish to call it that, would not exactly be closed, but rather just made a bit smaller

of course joe soap will cheer and with some justification

=============

fred - i'm very happy to have finished The Postman ..... i'm afraid it wasn't nearly as interesting as i had hoped

I found it candid and reflects the period of 40s, 50s early 60s and advances which have been made in UK society.

I admire Johnstone's resilience and his achievements.

But I am 10 years older than you and witnessed those incidences and remember much of the period, although protected from the harshness.

One can see why the "social" state evolved at the rate it has and the need for such.

You can read it as the making of a man,

i think he was a very decent cove and "boy done good" as of course have a great many others .....
however, the only real interest to me was his description of life on the Britwell, being an area I know very well .... that Militant and other hard-line lefties and activists were considered a real nightmare even by their union colleagues was also interesting, even if that was somewhat skated past

That's a brilliant picture Haystack , just about sums him up .Murderer !!

Is that a picture of Consertive Central Office or propaganda station going up in flames.

Goody!

=======

.

I see the Greeks are going to be getting help from the Russians.

From: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/greek-pm-alexis-tsipras-in-moscow-for-vladimir-putin-meet-that-rattles-eu/articleshow/46847896.cms

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras in Moscow for Vladimir Putin meet that rattles EU
By AFP | 8 Apr, 2015, 12.35PM IST

MOSCOW: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was due to meet Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin in Moscow Wednesday as part of an eye-catching visit that has fuelled EU fears cash-strapped Athens is cosying up to Russia.

The two-day trip comes as Tsipras is battling to unblock a rescue package from the EU and IMF, with some in Brussels warning against any move to barter financial support from Moscow for political backing over the Ukraine crisis.

But analysts say that while the visit might see Moscow lift an embargo on Greek fruit, overall it is more about political grandstanding aimed at pressuring Europe rather than a serious shift in policy.

Tsipras, a former Communist who came to power in January, has made no secret of seeking closer ties to Russia at a time when Moscow is at loggerheads with the European Union over the conflict in Ukraine.

He has travelled to Moscow already last year, prior to his election win, to meet with several officials and lawmakers.

A number of Greek officials have openly broached the prospect of Athens turning to Russia or China for financial assistance if loan talks with the EU end in failure.

Ahead of the trip, Tsipras once again rattled the EU's already shaky stance over Ukraine by lashing out at Western sanctions against Moscow as "a road to nowhere".

"We do not agree with sanctions," Tsipras told Russian state news agency TASS.

"I support the point of view that there is a need for a dialogue and diplomacy, we should sit down at the negotiating table and find the solutions to major problems."

Both sides have talked up the possibility of closer economic ties between the two Orthodox nations ahead of the visit -- set to be followed by another trip to Moscow for Tsipras for WWII victory anniversary commemorations in May.

Prominent among the issues on the agenda is gas after Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis discussed energy exploration and the new Turkish Stream pipeline during a two-day visit last month.

But while both sides make positive noises there appears no chance of Russia -- battling an economic crisis of its own -- stepping in with major financial aid.

"There is no question of Greece receiving any money to plug its holes," Russian foreign affairs expert Fyodor Lukyanov told AFP.

Moscow, however, could well decide to revoke a painful embargo on fruit -- imposed as part of a wider ban on Western products in response to sanctions over Ukraine -- that has bruised Greece's agricultural sector.

"That does not cost anything but still looks good," Lukyanov said. For Putin, courting Athens is most likely seen as a way of sowing discord in Europe and Greece might be seen as a Trojan Horse for helping to rock his Western foes.

"It's not realistic to expect that Greece will veto the sanctions against Russia," Lyukanov said.

"But it could foment a wave of opinion against the sanctions and that is useful."

For Tsipras, experts said, the visit to Moscow is far more a warning shot to Europe as the wrangling over the bailout drags on rather than a genuine gambit to throw Athens' lot in with Russia.

"The Tsipras government seeks to leave ambiguity hanging over its intentions as if to tell the Europeans 'don't take us for granted'," said Greek analyst Constantinos Filis.

But he added that this is merely a "tactic" rather than a true foreign policy shift and cosying up to Moscow is just "an additional card" in the game of brinkmanship.

"Greece needs the EU and Russia needs Greece to remain part of the EU and NATO in terms of the support it can offer against criticism and economic sanctions."

Thanos Veremis, vice-president of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy says Tsipras visit is mainly directed at the electorate at home.

"It's designed to show that the government is proactive and prepared to try things out."

Manuel,

Don't know the area you described, but can imagine it!

But the development of the far left is, was in response, or reaction to circumstances and social conditions and feelings of being abused.

It begins with that is "how it is" and then realisation "it doesn't have to be like this” and can be changed.

Unfortunately, to get change and to motivate the masses out of apathy anger and violence and the extremist often rise to the leadership of groups wanting change.
Look at the BNP and many members of UKIP and their threatening behaviours to others of different opinion .

Fred how can you talk about UKIP when you supported Blair ?

Exec,

As I posted earlier, I wonder if Greece will sell off an island to Russia as a military base in order to prop themselves?

Might awaken EU and others to consequences of some actions.

a brave assumption fred
i don't think there is any question at all that the likes of scargill were funded out of moscow and the interest was not remotely for the betterment of union members

indeed, alan johnson portrays much of the postal management as being pretty good guys to work and deal with
aj also complains in the book about militant and the activists being allowed a disproportionate influence thanks to the relative apathy of others

it follows that your conclusions are primarily borne of wishful thinking and rationalisation

That would NOT be allowed, Fred.

JB.

You are wrong again.

Never supported Blair, but able to admit he did have many policies I thought sensible in his period of office.

I think as many do his stupidest mistake was "Iraq", but think his opinion on "Europe and NATO" is sensible.

Fred he's about as decent as Hitler and look at him now lining his pockets .