Comfort eating

[Kiwi Pete]

should have known no bloody cake

Well at least the eggs are found - there's a start of one

 

[Pond digger]

In 1978 Jim Callaghan warned the labour unions, again and again, that failure to carry on supporting his (largely successful) prices/incomes policy to defeat inflation would cause chaos, and allow back into power the very Party that had caused that ruinous inflation in the first place. No one was listening.

Alongside the developed world's lowest literacy rate, the UK has one of the poorest political spheres: low levels of interest in political analysis, low calibre MPs, and a declining ability of the English ruling classes to differentiate between self interest and the national interest.

'You get the politicians you deserve.' (Socrates)

Today, no one is listening to the case for interest rates to revert to their mean - 5% base.

Yet the Fed wants it, and the Bank of England (probably the only context in which I can mention 'England' without being howled at by over-sensitive English reactionaries) wants it - the obvious political and economic costs of suppressing the cost of money now outweigh its benefits. The law of diminishing returns, and all that.

This should be alarming UK farmers, but it is not - people don't want concepts that require them to think too much about abstracts. They want the thinking equivalent of comfort eating: raising rates will damage the economy, ergo it won't happen.

So, like luckless Farmer Jim, you can tell people that interest rate rises are likely but you can't inform them.

Instead, people invent reasons why it can't happen.

But here's one reason that guarantees that it will - 'inflation'.

Hmm, I think we should just print lots of money so everyone could be millionaires. How’s that grab you Walt? What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Pond digger]

It's interesting that people can genuinely believe this simple smear; it's because it fits with what they want to believe (the point of this OP) rather than the objective - and rather more complicated - reality.

The Treaty of Rome predates my birth, the EU has been established for 65 years, and has potential members queuing to join. There is no evidence that it 'will fall apart' yet people wish it to.

There is greater evidence that the UK will fall apart - both N Ireland and Scotland are mutinous, and Wales isn't particularly happy either at the standard of UK governance.

There is an interesting counter-argument that the political class that it, actually, both corrupt and incompetent is the English one, rather than the European one. If that is so (and there is some evidence to support it) then we are all in rather serious trouble.

Sadly, some Welshmen have just never got over being conquered by the English, and remain full of spite and venom. Personally, I blame the Normans for everything.

 

[exmoor dave]

Sadly, some Welshmen have just never got over being conquered by the English, and remain full of spite and venom. Personally, I blame the Normans for everything.

I can't help but think that it must really eat old Walt up inside that his own "people" voted "leave"

It must be a pain that never lessens

 

[manhill]

I want to see the EU reform, strengthen, ditch its wishy washy libs, benefit all its members and then ask us to rejoin!

 

[Walterp]

Gentleman jim may have been right 40years ago but it is questionable if the policy would work effectively today with our industrial base having been eroded .

It's an interesting point - back in the 1970's the UK had an inflation problem all of its own: it's the origin of the descriptor 'the Sick Man of Europe'. (Apologies to all those who already are perfectly aware of recent history).

Prices jumped because Tony Barber goosed the economy via interest rate reductions - and wages followed right behind. Unionised labour, being strong back then, made sure of that - compare and contrast now, of course.

So a UK-specific wages/prices policy made sense. And worked - although North Sea oil may, perhaps, have been a greater factor.

Absent strong unions and the oil, and it's hard to see that a links between prices and wages can be established or maintained. Instead, the argument slides into income distribution and taxation - which I suppose will be the battlefield for the next UK general election.

 

[Walterp]

I can't help but think that it must really eat old Walt up inside that his own "people" voted "leave"

It must be a pain that never lessens

Not at all; your point simply displays how little you understand my country (much like the guy who visited Pembrokeshire, once, and thought it looked like England - despite North Pembrokeshire being a Welsh heartland).

Wales was the most marginal 'leave' vote in the referendum, just as the West Midlands was the largest. Here is an electoral map of EP constituencies which explains, better than any words, why that might be: the purple is UKIP, green is Plaid. The country is split down the middle.

 

[exmoor dave]

Not at all; your point simply displays how little you understand my country (much like the guy who visited Pembrokeshire, once, and thought it looked like England - despite North Pembrokeshire being a Welsh heartland).

Wales was the most marginal 'leave' vote in the referendum, just as the West Midlands was the largest. Here is an electoral map of EP constituencies which explains, better than any words, why that might be: the purple is UKIP, green is Plaid. The country is split down the middle.



View attachment 682836

What ever you tell yourself to make you feel better......

Wales still voted out & it's a hilarious considering the amount of commentary you make on the "English".... when in fact we're all exactly the same with the same divisions.

 

[Henarar]

Not at all; your point simply displays how little you understand my country (much like the guy who visited Pembrokeshire, once, and thought it looked like England - despite North Pembrokeshire being a Welsh heartland).

Wales was the most marginal 'leave' vote in the referendum, just as the West Midlands was the largest. Here is an electoral map of EP constituencies which explains, better than any words, why that might be: the purple is UKIP, green is Plaid. The country is split down the middle.



View attachment 682836

whats the red and blue ?

 

[wasted years]

Agreed. An underperforming real economy with an over supply of money can only lead to inflation.

It's here already in land, house and machinery prices. Commodities are beginning to catch up.

I went into an electrical wholesaler shop for some components and for first time in years I thought to myself that the parts were expensive.

Some kind of correction is imminent.

There is no house price inflation up here, probably down if anyhting, not easy to tell with land because we have our own version of Dyson in the Penrith area, what our man doesn't buy is slow to shift, machinery is only dear if you buy new, plenty of cheap 'pre loved' stuff about.

 

[Clever Dic]

[QUOTE="Walterp, post: 5203654

This suggests to me that simple narratives - even if painful and damaging - are easier to convey (and to execute) than more complicated ones.

Indeed! Therin lies the tragedy that has become Brexit. The extraordinary simplicity of the question on the ballot paper, preceded by a poor information campaign, where pertinent facts and details as to life post referendum were drowned out by noisy, rif raf type football hooligan sloganeering from the Toff brigade of government and the political classes.
Yes indeed, political debate and the responsibility to keep the public informed in a balanced way, has these days been distilled down to angry tweets and sloganeering. Depth of discussion and time for reflection is but a thing of the past.

I’m glad really that society and government in Ireland had the maturity to fund and set up a “citizens assembly”, several years before the recent tumultuous referendum on the eitght amendment (abortion) to the constitution.

THIS time the people were informed enough to look through the inevitable hostile noise eminating from both sides of the debate. Twitter, Facebook, and banner tabloid type headlines failed to overcome rational debate and supply of balanced information. Oh, and the fire and brimstone preaching of the Catholic Church, was also put firmly in context by the general flow of debate and information.

You could say we have learned from the Nice referendum fiasco. No need to repeat ones mistakes.

https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/[/QUOTE]








I am constantly amazed that the regular remoaner cry is that the public were not properly informed about Brexit issues and the British public succumbed to loud mouthed popularists and non arguments.
Well whose fault is it ? Ash you laugh at Mrs May and her election campaign and yes it was s....t and she lost an enormous amount of credibility . The remain arguments were very poor and they had all the weight of the establishment on their side plus the leaders of the main parties and they still lost..... how s....t is that .?
Please explain @Walterp and @Ashtree

 

[Muck Spreader]

What is never often quoted is the massive corruption within Brussels. There is at least one book on it and a lot of individual articles. The place is a swamp run by swamp donkeys and we need out.
Various other EU countries will join us in market based agreements as when they no longer have our money and in fact are close to not getting the 48 billion ransom the whole edifice will fall apart.

Whilst I don't believe the EU to be any more or less corrupt than most governments, our lack of representation must lie with the apathy of the British public. They have allowed the UK to be represented in Europe by a bunch of freeloading wasters namely UKIP who have done (and openly brag about it) absolutely nothing to represent the interests of the UK or it's people.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Whilst I don't believe the EU to be any more or less corrupt than most governments, our lack of representation must lie with the apathy of the British public. They have allowed the UK to be represented in Europe by a bunch of freeloading wasters namely UKIP who have done (and openly brag about it) absolutely nothing to represent the interests of the UK or it's people.

What proportion of British MEP’s are from UKIP? The vast majority of them by the sound of it.

 

[caveman]

Whilst I don't believe the EU to be any more or less corrupt than most governments, our lack of representation must lie with the apathy of the British public. They have allowed the UK to be represented in Europe by a bunch of freeloading wasters namely UKIP who have done (and openly brag about it) absolutely nothing to represent the interests of the UK or it's people.

UKIP
Does what it says on the tin.
Haha.

 

[Highland Mule]

@Walterp . I'm sure this and your other threads are interesting to you and plenty others, but the cryptic nature of the thread titles is starting to p155 me off no end.

 

[caveman]

Whilst I don't believe the EU to be any more or less corrupt than most governments, our lack of representation must lie with the apathy of the British public. They have allowed the UK to be represented in Europe by a bunch of freeloading wasters namely UKIP who have done (and openly brag about it) absolutely nothing to represent the interests of the UK or it's people.

Go on then.
Tell us what they should do for us, who reside in the UK and who cast more votes for them than any other party in a democratic election?
Was that another one you lost?

 

[newjames]

Comfort eating ? Better than comfort drinking and then posting bitter and twisted ramblings, christ alive I thought my ex wife was bitter

 

[Muck Spreader]

Go on then.
Tell us what they should do for us, who reside in the UK and who cast more votes for them than any other party in a democratic election?
Was that another one you lost?

UKIP MSP's should act like adults and do their job. Which is supporting British business and people in Europe. Where were they for example every time future policy on fishing and Agriculture are being voted on. At home counting their expenses and salaries for doing FA.

 

[Ashtree]

Go on then.
Tell us what they should do for us, who reside in the UK and who cast more votes for them than any other party in a democratic election?
Was that another one you lost?

UKRAP didn’t go to EU parliment to represent. That went to disrupt and destruct. Proven by Farages near zero attendance at fisheries committee where he failed British fishermen but collects the expenses.

Further proven when after the referendum he dissapeared down his bolt hole. Nothing to offer when it came to building the new Britain post Brexit. Nothing actually going on there but jingoistic one liners. A lot got fooled by his suave exterior and Euro rants.
Reminds me of an overfed, over pampered bull of susceptible functional traits, which over and again fools the punter at Carlyle!!! That’s UKRAP in a nutshell.

 

[Hindsight]

whats the red and blue ?

Without looking it up I presume Labour and Conservative?