General politics discussion thread

[David]

The Scottish Socialist Party are one of the more popular Socialist parties in Scotland as well, yet they aren't featured either.

 

It all depends on whether the parties involved are willing to come together and work for the common good, or want to continue standing against one another in elections, splitting the vote.

 

Some parties on the left wish to keep doing that.

[David]

One of the first Councillors to switch from the Lib Dem's to Labour has surfaced;

 

A Liberal Democrat councillor in Liverpool has defected to Labour because of his opposition to the coalition government's latest cuts.

 

Ian Jobling is believed to be one of the first councillors in the country to switch sides since the May elections.

 

The Picton ward councillor has written to the city's Lib Dem leader, Warren Bradley, to tell him of his defection.

 

Mr Bradley said: "There are ways to vent your frustrations in our party and crossing the floor is not one of them."

 

Mr Jobling, who was first elected in 2003 and is a member of Merseyside Police Authority, said the proposed cuts to the police force had really bothered him.

 

He told the BBC: "On 28 May, when the coalition was only two weeks old, communication came through that we would have to have a

[d-d-d-dAz]

Is anyone watching the live Labour leadership debate on Sky News?

 

Strangely, Andy Burnham and David Miliband, the candidates who i'd have put at 3rd and 4th before this debate, are absolutely owning it. In terms of presentation, oratory skills and general conviction they're so far ahead of the other three it is untrue. Burnham's social views are clearly closer to my own than David's (who is probably the closest to the right of the three), but I fear Andy would continue the 'top down' centralism of the past, whereas i've always stressed my belief in the potential compatibility of liberalism/liberty and social justice, and I think David's willingness to focus on decentralisation is particularly attractive.

 

Colour me confused.

[David]

An investment banker whose multi-million-pound pay rewards fuelled anger against the banking sector has been named in the top job at Barclays.

 

Bob Diamond will take over from chief executive John Varley in March, after a 14-year spell with Barclays that has seen him turn its investment banking arm from scratch into a business so large it generates more than 80 per cent of the bank's total profits.

 

The 59-year-old, one of the world's richest bankers, will be paid a

[SpursRiot2012]

Barclays didn't get any bail-out money did it? So what's the issue? He's obviously very good at his job if

turn[ed] its investment banking arm from scratch into a business so large it generates more than 80 per cent of the bank's total profits.

[David]

Barclays didn't get any bail-out money did it? So what's the issue?

So, you don't think that any of the big hitters with the banks that did get bailed out by the tax payer are getting their big bonuses again?

[patiirc]

Barclays didn't get any bail-out money did it? So what's the issue?

So, you don't think that any of the big hitters with the banks that did get bailed out by the tax payer are getting their big bonuses again?

 

What's that got to with Banks that didn't fail though?

[Yoghurt]

Barclays didn't get any bail-out money did it? So what's the issue?

So, you don't think that any of the big hitters with the banks that did get bailed out by the tax payer are getting their big bonuses again?

 

What's that got to with Banks that didn't fail though?

 

Standard socialist argument against banks 101. They are ALL at it.

 

When proven wrong you then try and switch the subject onto something else, in this case he's moved away from Barclays which he was talking about and focussing instead on something entirely different.

[David]

What's that got to with Banks that didn't fail though?

The article I posted was more to do with the gentleman in question. Do a bit of research on Mr Diamond.

 

The Independent had this article up today;

 

Barclays yesterday squared up to its critics by appointing the man who has come to epitomise casino capitalism as its new chief executive.

 

Bob Diamond, described by the former business secretary Peter Mandelson as the "unacceptable face of banking", has been one of the most successful but also controversial bankers in Britain. Yesterday shares in Barclays fell as his appointment looked set to ignite another storm.

 

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, refused to be drawn on what he thought of the appointment of Mr Diamond

[Van Dammer]

David it seems my opinion is completely different to yours on nearly every post of yours I read.

 

I too was baffled when I read this story in the paper yesterday. The article was linking the bank bail outs to Barclays without mentioning that not only did they not need any bail out money from the government but that they have been outstanding performers throughout the last few years.

 

Im also one that believes that if a company like Barclays is prepared to pay somebody

[SpursRiot2012]

Any bank that took bail-out money from the taxpayer should expect it's appointments, and what it's paying, and it's activities to be heavily scrutinised because they are basically part-owned by the Government. Barclays shouldn't expect any of that because they are a business, who are working (as far as I know) within the law and while they make take risks and what have you, that's up to them. Until such time as some sort of legislation, perhaps the sort that will break up the banks, comes into force Barclays is entilted to appoint whoever it wants.

[David]

I think the uproar has more to do with who they have appointed in my opinion.

 

Like I said, have a look at some of what has been said about this guy in the past.

 

David it seems my opinion is completely different to yours on nearly every post of yours I read.

And?

 

Its as if people think that because they are struggling to get by everybody else should be too, regardless of the fact that they have a better ability, higher intelligence and higher level of common sense.

It's because of the likes of him that the majority are struggling to get by, and why they will struggle even more in the future.

 

I'd guess that the changes being prepared by the Government will affect pretty much everyone on this board in some way, so to see so many who are happy to sit back and accept that "this is how things are" and "we just have to get on with it" is quite sad.

 

Seeing some actively defending the system and people who will ensure that when you leave education with a fairly substantial chunk of debt you'll have no real prospects is also quite saddening.

[SpursRiot2012]

Wow, quite the patronising so-and-so, aren't you?

[Van Dammer]

I think the uproar has more to do with who they have appointed in my opinion.

 

Like I said, have a look at some of what has been said about this guy in the past.

 

David it seems my opinion is completely different to yours on nearly every post of yours I read.

And?

 

Its as if people think that because they are struggling to get by everybody else should be too, regardless of the fact that they have a better ability, higher intelligence and higher level of common sense.

It's because of the likes of him that the majority are struggling to get by, and why they will struggle even more in the future.

 

I'd guess that the changes being prepared by the Government will affect pretty much everyone on this board in some way, so to see so many who are happy to sit back and accept that "this is how things are" and "we just have to get on with it" is quite sad.

 

Seeing some actively defending the system and people who will ensure that when you leave education with a fairly substantial chunk of debt you'll have no real prospects is also quite saddening.

 

 

No real reason why I think I disagree with you on everything, its just most of your posts I see are you handsomely agreeing with every standard media argument.

 

I dont see how it is Mr Diamonds fault that some people are struggling to get by. Judging by the article you linked alone the guy has a wealth of

[patiirc]

Stuff

 

Righty went away did some research... Some media outlets say that the man is' all that is wrong' with banking?

 

This is despite building a company through nothing to become an intergral part of the profitability of said bank and maintaining the liquidity of said bank through these uncertain times.. and most importantly Barclays hasnt fucked up yet.

 

All this while being the 'Casino Man and High Roller' and detremental to banking.. Er if he is successful and everyone else fucks up how exactly is that detremental????

 

I think its nothing more than petty jealously on behalf of everyone else who begrudges that he didnt fail when the rest did.

 

Bank not in trouble gives star performer payrise for doing job bloody well by all accounts and risk taking and getting away with i.

 

If it had crashed and burnt you may have had a point. It hasn't so you haven't.