I am someone now into their 40th year, and feel we are losing it in this country. 1 Million reasons why. But i think our no1 failure is for some of us (not all, some are brilliant) have lost the ability to work hard and work properly, to many excuses.

Did anyone hear the very sad story on radio 5 live on J. Derbershire show this morning on the events that followed his son being killed in the Eygption bombings at sharm el shiek last year. The foriegn office and government ministers should hang their heads in shame.

An elederly relevative has at to sell her home for full time care due to alzheimer's. The first 2 homes wanted her out within 2 days because they could not cope even though they were being paid 500 quid a week. This could be absolutely any of us reading this now in the future. Is this the way we treat our own in Great Britain??? What do these homes want to do for 500 quid a week.

If we are great please explain why!! Would love to hear your stories why you think/know, like me, we are going down the pan.

thats a.............??????? perhaps someone else will answer my question then??

Didn't see the Wilson programme, but I am reading a hugely funny novel at the mo and it has an interesting passage in about the problems succesfull revolutionaries face.
If i can find the passage, I'll bob it on here cos it is very funny, but also very poignant, and (typical of the author) it is an inspired and cutting observation of human nature.
Alan

I remember when Wilson went in Hosptal for a operation after he stepped down as premier when he came too he had problems with is memory the doctors said it was not dementia and could not say what it was, did they mention that on the T V program ? was it a case of MI5 brain washing ?

NEWSFLASH.
In an attempt to stop the bird flu pandemic before it reaches the USA, George W Bush has ordered the bombing of the Canary Islands.

Kivver - yes it appears that a rogue element in MI5 were paranoid about the imminent threat of communism, the CIA believed that Wilson was a KGB plant after the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell who had been to the USSR on 1 January for talks with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. The Establishment feared communist plants in the unions, the break down in law and order and the erosion of the old aristocratic order who had for centuries been used to power. The Queen Mother, Lord Mountbatten and leading army members had created secret militia who given the appropriate circumstances would lead a military coup. They clearly had attempted to discredit Wilson with so called 'black propaganda' via friendly press (an affair with Marcia Williams, his membership of the communist party, illegal diamond payments from South Africa). Essentially, there was no need for a coup because Heath won the election in 1970. An army 'training exercise' to take over London Airport was said to be in fact a training exdercise for a coup.

Fascinating to relive again the real naked confrontation of left and right of the 60s and 70s that of course came to a head with Thatcher and the miners later. I wonder if those battles have become quieter as everyone seems more interested in consumerism now but the programme reminded me of the real edge to politics then as opposed to the media circus we have now. And also how threatened and paranoid the Establishment was.

thanks for that scrooge, sounds interesting, wished id seen it.

could be interesting following the repeort nuclear energy may not be the way foward, gaz powered stations are getting to expensive, renewable energy is years off. talk of going back to coal fired stations. uuummmmm i wonder where the coal might come from when all the cheap imports start to get more expensive.

Gazprom as not taken over how power stations yet, did you mean Gas? LOL.

Kivver - think there is part 2 of another doc on Wilson on ITV on Tues.

i was about to phone my mate Gas, and got mixed up.

brainboru, we should also be encouraged there are still writers and media able and willing to investigate and report misbehaviours in high places.

After the recent attemept in redefiniting "torture". I wdoner in what context and senses are the following "great"?

"Alexander The Great"
"The Great Pyramid"
"All Creatures Great and Small"
"It's A Great Day To Be Alive"
"The Great Lakes"
"Great Depression"
"The Great Western Railway"
"A great game."
"A great movie"
...

A little story from America ...

Walker loses weight and finds soul

"...
His new-found profile has seen him inundated with commercial offers - including a reported $5m to advertise a weight-loss pill, and offers to endorse shampoo, vitamins and smoking patches.

But he says he is unwilling to compromise his integrity by endorsing products he doesn't use.
..."

In our age of spins and b%^*s&^*, wouldn't it be an essential small step to greatness by people stops claiming credits for other people's achievments, blame the innocent and clobber those less able to defend themselves.

There can be no greatness without respect.

BBC watchdog report on rogue builders, John Richards, Allan Phillips and George Chaffer, who cons elderly victims out of their life savings.

BBC Watchdog

mentioned in my opening post about an elderly relative who has alzheimer's and clearly has alzheimer's being conned out of her savings by a top building society who i wont mention but are based in the midshires. All the girl wanted her to do when she went into the society was sign up for 5 year bond. why would you ask someone in her 70's and clearly not all there to sign up to a five year bond????? this is the kind of thing we all have to put with.

Kivver
I trust your relative was not persuaded to sign for this bond.
If she was then name and shame the Society.

Ian

she was and there is a big clue in the above post as to who it was. of course her kin are making inquires and complaints.

Kivver,

IMHO, those in the front line selling goods and services are but small fish footsoldiers following orders and instructions ...


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We may be heading back to greatness!!!
From the news today, Law Lords showing common sense. Unbelievable, but true.

The Law Lords have overturned a court ruling that teenager Shabina Begum's human rights were violated when she was banned from wearing full-length Islamic dress at school.

In a ruling which many teachers will see as reaffirming the authority of schools, the House of Lords allowed an appeal by Denbigh High School in Luton, Bedfordshire.

Lord Bingham said the school was fully justified in acting as it did. "It had taken immense pains to devise a uniform policy which respected Muslim beliefs but did so in an inclusive, unthreatening and uncompetitive way," he said.