The Anything Thread that is Never off subject.

[Tony1951]

I can agree with that.
I wish Starmer will find the way to defeat Farage.
Reform has increased its popularity hugely in the last 8 months, profiting from the unpopularity of the winter fuel debacle.
That has now subsided since Starmer did a half u-turn on that. Latest poll shows Reform at 28%.

Lol - i've told you repeatedly how he can defeat Farage, but you find it obnoxious and that other gentleman (who recently said i was a follower of Enoch Powell) says the ideas belong in another century... ROFLMAO!!! He says that, but recognises my facts are broadly correct....

The way to defest Farage, is to do what i said, and recognise that in a democracy, politicians MUST RESPOND TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

They are not put there to dictate to the people. This isn't Russia, or facist Spain, Greece, Portugal, or Italy. They are there to do what the people want and expect. But for Starmer and Labour, there is no chance.

Angela Rayner has i understand told him this. There were briefings from cabinet meetings about six weeks ago. The ideas she is said to have expressed, probably stem from her survival instinct rather than a comitment to representative democracy, but who knows for sure.

She likely has a more rooted understanding of ordinary people than he does. I know he keeps saying his dad was a toolmaker. The guy certainly made a tool when he begat him.

 

[Woosh]

The way to defest Farage, is to do what i said, and recognise that in a democracy, politicians MUST RESPOND TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

Starmer is doing just that. Your list of what you think what people want isn't right though. If you say security, stable jobs, low inflation, better health care, better schools, easy access to owning their own house then I would agree entirely.

 

[Tony1951]

Just having a rest on my bike ride in Newcastle. Got the old Brompton out this time.

 

[flecc]

The way to defeat Farage, is to do what i said, and recognise that in a democracy, politicians MUST RESPOND TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

The people only think they know what they want. That's why enacting the populism you ask for always fails when the public see the outcome. Yes, Farage may well win next time, but will follow that with failure when the people chuck him out.

They are not put there to dictate to the people.

Yes they are, that is precisely how elective democracy works and why it's often called elective dictatorship.

What is needed now is NOT what people think they want. What's needed now is to give them what they really want, to be happy and content.

How? Simple, follow the Scandinavian example where the people are happy and content even when things are not always going well.

Labour has had that opportunity twice but failed by choosing to have pseudo Labour leaders like Blair and Starmer, both trying to succeed the Tory way. Neither had the guts to do what is really necessary, greatly increase taxation to the point that the country's income gives the people what they really desire and which makes them happy and content; security, stability, good housing, high employment, social support when necessary.

Of course you and our English small c conservative large majority will reject any such policy out of hand and vote further Right, so we will continue in decline far into the future, lurching from Right to Left with an occasional dalliance with a Centre that doesn't in truth exist.
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[jonathan.agnew]

Just having a rest on my bike ride in Newcastle. Got the old Brompton out this time.

View attachment 64027

Change of subject, I know, but have you tried a birdy? I have a Brompton, thought for years the cramped cockpit, severe road buzz from rock hard little tyres, primitive fork and odd geometry was just me. Even fitted a rohloff to it, but never enjoyed it. Then, year ago or so, picked up mk2 birdy in charity shop. Chalk and cheese, you can spend an entire day on a birdy and feel increasingly happy, no road buzz due to fork, great geometry.
I put it down to culture, there's something masochistic about us British. Not so much with Germans like herr riese und muller. It's why we voted for brexit, pursue offshore tax havens, tax avoidance at cost of public services, effective cancer treatment, social care. Have neocons like starmer or jokes like truss or farage. We enjoy nothing more than truly rogering ourselves.
edit - apologies if that sounded dismissive, i still have my old brompton, couldnt bear to let it go, too many fond memories

 

[Tony1951]

The people only think they know what they want. That's why enacting the populism you ask for always fails when the public see the outcome. Yes, Farage may well win next time, but will follow that with failure when the people chuck him out.



Yes they are, that is precisely how elective democracy works and why it's often called elective dictatorship.

What is needed now is NOT what people think they want. What's needed now is to give them what they really want, to be happy and content.

How? Simple, follow the Scandinavian example where the people are happy and content even when things are not always going well.

Labour has had that opportunity twice but failed by choosing to have pseudo Labour leaders like Blair and Starmer, both trying to succeed the Tory way. Neither had the guts to do what is really necessary, greatly increase taxation to the point that the country's income gives the people what they really desire and which makes them happy and content; security, stability, good housing, high employment, social support when necessary.

Of course you and our English small c conservative large majority will reject any such policy out of hand and vote further Right, so we will continue in decline far into the future, lurching from Right to Left with an occasional dalliance with a Centre that doesn't in truth exist.
.

Patronising, nonsense and balderdash.

You regularly show how much you despise your fellow citizens, exuding the hideous arrogance of the left, in the way you describe the ordinary people as if they were large children in need of constant guidance by people with wisdom -like you.

Dictatorial, antidemocratic tendencies have also been obvious in your attitude to whether people should be allowed to own motor cars.

The concept of 'democracy' is simple and well established. It respects the will of the common citizen. Your perversion of the idea is revolting.

You say, 'People only think they know what they want.'

No - they know what they want. Democracy needs to reflect that.

Farage will struggle to gain enough candidates with the experience to deliver what is needed, but on the other hand - given the record of incompetence shown by others, it could hardly be worse.