The Coalition

[oafc0000]

Because the people who ran the party were in fact not socialists after all?

[sifi]

I think under Blair that was probably true... But much less so under Brown... The party is a divided camp really...

[oafc0000]

I sometimes wonder if people forget that Brown was in charge of the economy for the entire time under Blair.

[sifi]

But it isnt totally the case though is it... Brown was in "charge" but Blair still called the shots...

[oafc0000]

I think it was fairly well documented that Brown was the most powerful Chancellor in history. He could have interjected I'm sure, but was bound by his little agreement that he would be PM one day.

Oh - another thing. I posted it in the news thread last week, but it looks like the Tories are starting to dismantle some of the legislation which has been put in place to protect the travelling community. I thought the idea that each and every council had to have a designated permanent site for travellers was such a good idea.

[sifi]

I suppose politics is about choosing the best of a band bunch these days... I wonder when some people will realise that laying into Labour was probably a silly move...

Edited August 9, 2010 by sifimaster

[eFestivals]

I think under Blair that was probably true... But much less so under Brown... The party is a divided camp really...

You're having a laugh. It was Brown who was the direct driving force for many of the least socialist things which happened under Blair. It was, for example, specifically Brown who made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

[Pogues Mcgogues]

you're spot on - these are things that were expected of socialists.

So the qestion has to be asked: after 13 years in power, why were none of these things done, and why in fact did Labour often do things against these ideas (such as lowering taxes for the richest and increasing them for the poorest)?

[sifi]

You also fail to see the groundwork that was put down to then achieve these other points (the min wage to the living wage)

[eFestivals]

But you fail to see the positives that were socialist and that were implemented. You also fail to see the groundwork that was put down to then achieve these other points (the min wage to the living wage)

one step forwards and two steps back towards socialism is not the groundwork for socialism.

Yes, there were some positive things that they did, but it's also the case that the LibCons are also doing positive things in regard to taking some things in that right direction. Would you similarly laud them as socialists?

At the end of the day, nu-Labour did more damage than they fixed. After all, making the rich richer and the poor poorer - which was the primary result of those 13 years - is taking things further away, not bringing them nearer.

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Groundwork? They had twelve years! The NHS was introduced under the Attlee administration in how long, whilst nationalising Steel, Mines, railways and giving India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka their independence.

Groundwork indeed.

Edited August 9, 2010 by TheJobbyJabber

[Alcatraz]

Mind you, there were some things that the Labour administration did that I think we should be greatful for ; I think that certainly the numbers of minorities and females involved in government was much higher than any other time in history, and also the acceptance of homosexuals in our society was in part down to their policies, such as the civil partnerships and allowing homosexuals to adopt and things like that. Important steps forward.

[sifi]

I don't have Adobe on my machine. What's the name of the article please Alcatraz? I'll see if there is html version available.

[oafc0000]

one step forwards and two steps back towards socialism is not the groundwork for socialism.

Yes, there were some positive things that they did, but it's also the case that the LibCons are also doing positive things in regard to taking some things in that right direction. Would you similarly laud them as socialists?

At the end of the day, nu-Labour did more damage than they fixed. After all, making the rich richer and the poor poorer - which was the primary result of those 13 years - is taking things further away, not bringing them nearer.

Edited August 9, 2010 by oafc0000

[Alcatraz]

I don't have Adobe on my machine. What's the name of the article please Alcatraz? I'll see if there is html version available.

Edited August 9, 2010 by Alcatraz

[philipsteak]

Couldn't find an HTML copy of the list but there's a writeup here

[llcoolphil]

You see with a degree like what I have, Strathclyde nor Glasgow aim to be leading in those type of fields, and therefore less money is spent on those types of modules and research. A lot of the lecturers and researchers in the three Glasgow universities in fact work at the three universities for the types of study I was doing. They even share modules. I can assure you that my 2:1 dissertation would have been a 2:1 at Strathclyde and Glasgow too, because it was looked over by staff from both universities who said so (if I'd put in some more effort it could have been a first)

Edited August 10, 2010 by llcoolphil

[Alcatraz]

This doesn't have much to do with Coalition, but this is the resignation letter of the BNP's former legal officer. Some great reading in there, my favorite being:

As far as I am aware the party is now technically insolvent.

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Pogo, a degree from Caledonian and a degree from Glasgow do not have remotely the same value - why do you think it easier to get on a course at Caledonian than Glasgow?

[eFestivals]

This doesn't have much to do with Coalition, but this is the resignation letter of the BNP's former legal officer. Some great reading in there, my favorite being:

There's a whole load of shit that was going on that I wasn't aware of, especially about Griffin being challenged for the leadership, which led to his challengers being suspended from the party. Guess Democracy's not for the BNP after all then

talking of Nick Griffin....

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/nick-griffin-to-tour-with-aswad-201005252762/

[Alcatraz]

talking of Nick Griffin....

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/nick-griffin-to-tour-with-aswad-201005252762/

Edited August 10, 2010 by Alcatraz

[llcoolphil]

Social Science degrees are general degree's. There's not much difference when going for a job.

[sifi]

Do you want some more?

[Pogues Mcgogues]

I rather think he's had enough.

[sifi]

Your not my mommy.