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Post by EGBFan on Jan 5, 2005 9:29:11 GMT -4
My new best buddy Al ;D has recently joined the list of people who assure me that people in the USA are told nothing about British politics without mitigating circumstances: oil-related news, for example, or the British Prime Minister being so far up the arse of the American President that he can’t really avoid press coverage.
Fritz has said we can trash the politicians as much as we want. As you see, I have taken this to heart. I have also decided that I must take it upon myself to tell the world at large what is going on in the UK, because I have a lot of opinions and a very loud voice. Arguably my accounts may be saturated with bias, but I say: so the hell what?
Strange things happen when a Labour MP spends so much time up the arse of a Republican President. Tony Blair, leader of the Labour Party: the people’s party; the lefties who love Europe and who once promised generosity with the country’s capital. One of the first things he did when elected was refuse to lower the price of petrol (that’s gas, Americans) so that nobody had any of the damn stuff – some extremely bothersome people blocked the roads and stopped deliveries. He has refused to raise the wages of our fine brave fire fighters. He has failed to fulfil the one promise that had Labour Party written all over it: we are still using pounds and pence instead of the Euro. (I think most us of us prefer it like that anyway, but that is not the point.)
But worse than all of it: the Iraq War. There is quite enough tragic death and unpleasantness in the world as it is, thank you very much. Is this where our petrol money goes? Is this why the government can’t afford to raise fire fighter’s wages? If Tony and George really believe in these mythical Weapons Of Mass Destruction (ha – that’s a good joke!), why don’t they stop kissing and fight the stupid war themselves? From a purely selfish point of view, it would have saved me a lot of worry over my old school friend that was out there – and obviously I’m not the only one.
So. A Labour PM taking the country to war is bad enough. We could blame Bush and his vendetta against Iraq (didn’t his father have a thing about Iraq as well, hmmmm?), but personally I blame Blair for being so easily led. He had a little kiss with Bill Clinton a couple of times as well – an American President says, “Jump” and Tony says, “How high?” And in the process he has fallen out with Europe. I am sure our neighbours across the channel feel very betrayed – the Labour Party is supposed to love Europe and revel in being part of a continent. In the words of my very amusing Scottish psychology teacher of 2001-3, Blair has “driven a big bus through the United Nations.” So, as far as I can see, Blair and his infatuation with Bush have brought the Labour Party all the way over from the Left to the Right. (I wonder if it’s because George W lets Tone play with his video games?)
So now what? Two parties sitting on the right: Labour and Conservative? Perhaps not. I shall explain, but first a little background. I have to like Margaret Thatcher a bit for being the first (and so far only) female Prime Minister (girl power!), but from what I hear there was something of the Hitler in her. And it wasn’t just her. Tories, as we fondly call them, never wanted to be part of Europe. They wanted to squeeze everything they could out of the taxpayers. They emulated Oliver Cromwell’s Britain between the King Charleses in the seventeenth century, during which time nobody was allowed to have any fun. John Major succeeded Maggie, and I think he passed most of us by. He was so boring that his puppet on “Spitting Image” was coloured grey. Perhaps after the drab Major, Blair was elected for his amusing gesticulations.
Yesterday (4th January 2005) Conservative MP Michael Howard appeared on the BBC’s much prided 10 o’clock news programme. He addressed the nation to say that his party wanted to help the forgotten masses. The Conservative Party would lower taxes, unlike that penny-pinching Blair who squeezes everything he can out of the poor innocent civilians he tricked into electing him. Now it would seem that the Conservative Party loves us all. They do not want us to live poor and hungry in wartime misery. As ever, they hate the Labour Party, no longer because they’re a bunch of lefties but because they stole their bit.
In conclusion, I trust that you all can see what I mean about strange things happening. Did I wake up yesterday morning – or even eight years ago – in a parallel universe? Suddenly I am beginning to doubt the stability of this very universe. If the two parties would stick to their policies but switch names, then I would feel more secure. In the meantime, however, I shall continue to use my vote as I did my first in 2003 when I turned 18 (my God, I’m getting old!): I shall support the only party that seems halfway sensible and vote Liberal Democrat.
If you hadn’t realised, this about sums me up: small significance, big mouth.
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Post by Silent Seraphim on Jan 7, 2005 15:10:57 GMT -4
I am afraid that you are preaching to the converted with this subject, EGBFan. In fact, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who will disagree with you on this matter. At the moment, British politics is in a mess, largely due to the fact that Blair can make policy while riding roughshod over parliament. With such a huge majority, he can do what the heck he wants. Unfortunately, because many of Blair's policies echo that of the Tory party, there isn't a legitimate, effective opposition. The vast majority of the British public didn't want this war, and yet in a parliamentary vote, the majority of MPs were in favour. Again, with ID cards. The vast majority (myself included) are totally against it, and yet the Labour party and the Tory party are both for it (even though some MPs have huge reservations). It will get through parliament because the only party opposing (the Lib Dems) don't have enough numbers to make a difference. Even with some rebel backbench MPs, the numbers are still far too small to make a difference. In the Thatcher years, the same thing happened. The Conservatives managed to get largely unpopular policies through parliament because of their huge majority. With such majorities, the government basically becomes an elected dictatorship, free to do whatever it wants regardless of public or popular opinion. As I've said before, I doubt that a May election will push Blair out of office, which is unfortunate because he desperately needs a reality check. His reaction to the devastation in Asia was nothing short of useless. It comes to something when even Bush (infamous for his love of vacations) cut short his holiday to preside over his country's reaction to the crisis, and yet Blair couldn't even get off of his sunlounger in Egypt to make a damn statement! What I do hope is that the number of Labour MPs will dwindle to such a proportion that the backbench MPs will be able to hold more sway with the government. I think the priority in the next election should be to vote out as many Labour MPs as possible (especially the Blairites). If I choose to vote Lib Dem (my personal party of preference), there is a good chance that my local Labour MP will stay in power. If I vote Conservative, it is a vote in direct opposition to him. I don't agree with Tory policy. I don't wish for a Tory government. I've always wanted a Labour government, after all, it's what I voted for in 1997 when they first got into power. What I wish for, and hope for, is that Tony Blair's leadership will be challenged, and that the Labour MPs who disagree with his policies will then get a chance to have their say in parliament. Of course, none of this means a thing to the Americans out there. It's a shame that the US media is so segregated, and largely republican-backed, too. If things were different, then maybe the majority of the American public would hold a similar opinion about the war that the majority of us Brits do.
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Post by EGBFan on Jan 9, 2005 8:52:15 GMT -4
Of course you're right: I can't find anyone who disagrees with any of the stuff I've been ranting about, except possibly my insane aunt. We should just ALL vote Lib Dem next time. Hear that, everyone? I'm going to - and if enough people join me it might go some way to starting to make a difference. I know people don't vote certain ways because they don't think it'll do a blind bit of good, but for me it's the principle of the thing.
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The Joker
Doberman
The Smoker, The Midnight Toker
Posts: 95
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Post by The Joker on Jan 9, 2005 13:55:27 GMT -4
Vote Lib Dem? Oh, please, no, for the love of God don't do it! We really do not need a liberal party in power right now. Neo-Liberalism* has done too much damage to this country already. I'm talking namely about the powerlessness of the police, drinking culture, political correctness, lack of respect for authority among young people, lack of respect for tradition and anything inherently English...stuff like that. Admittedly the Tory party's promotion of the individual above society as a whole contributed to it, but most of the blame has to go on the liberal elite.
* not to be confused with traditional liberalism, of course
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Post by EGBFan on Jan 10, 2005 4:51:40 GMT -4
Actually Joker, most of that sounds pretty good to me. Ok, so if you're thinking riots in the streets, then even I wouldn't want that. But I have to say I have no respect for authority unless it's earned (and I'm a young person - I guess it's kinda my fault), I don't like tradition and I guess that extends to stuff that's inherently English. Drinking culture... well, I don't drink much, and the puke in the streets isn't very nice... but for the most part it's fine with me. The police are always gonna be rubbish. Political correctness... well, the whole concept of political correctness is mad. I don't really know how I feel about it. But despite all that, what it boils down to is that Labour's terrible and it would go against all my principles to want a Tory government - so let the Lib Dems have a go at running the country. None of them could do it as well as I could, but we might as well let them have a bash at it. Vote Liberal Democrat! Joker, I've just remembered: you hate EGB. Ok, that might sound like I'm picking a fight, which I'm not. I respect other people's opinions and I can see why hardcore RGB fans wouldn't like EGB. Wow, a newly-assigned mod going drastically off-topic... I just wondered if there was anything The Joker and I can agree on. Ok, I hate war. I wish there was absolutely no war at all (I think most of us do, not counting Tony and George and all their mates) and I certainly don't want UK involvement in this one. How about that, Joker - agree?
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The Joker
Doberman
The Smoker, The Midnight Toker
Posts: 95
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Post by The Joker on Jan 10, 2005 7:46:40 GMT -4
There is something we can agree on - that Tony Blair is a complete and utter b*stard. ;D But seriously, I don't hate EGB - I just wouldn't go out of my way to watch it. There are aspects of the show I like but I just can't get into the new characters (not just because they aren't the RGBs, but because they're characters I can't identify with). My joke at GB Omnibus Fanfic about "improving EGB" was me sort of stretching my opinion slightly for the sake of humour. I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on RGB, EGB Fan - it'll have to be somewhere else though as we're now way off topic. Well, you vote Lib Dem, and I'll vote Tory and thereby cancel out your vote. ;D
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Post by Fritz on Jan 10, 2005 11:08:56 GMT -4
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Post by EGBFan on Jan 10, 2005 11:17:30 GMT -4
I guess I must have gone temporarily blind, insane, distracted or any combination of the above - probably all three. I'll give it a proper look later, and I'll let The Joker and anyone who cares know my thoughts on RGB. Right now I'm meant to be somewhere... five minutes ago... Vote Lib Dem! Gotta go!!
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Post by EGBFan on Feb 17, 2005 9:57:23 GMT -4
The Government really don't care about us, do they? Public transport in London has needed improving since about the dawn of time. Now they're doing something about it in order to impress the International Bloody Olympics Committee! I'm really not that fussed about the Olympics. After all this irritating BBC coverage - never mind the bloody transport thing - I almost hope we don't get them. But then what a waste of all that money that could have been better spent on... oh, I don't know... THINGS THAT MATTER maybe? Of course, if we don't get the Olympics, everybody's going to blame Ken Livingstone.
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Post by Silent Seraphim on Feb 17, 2005 14:30:54 GMT -4
Personally, I don't think we have the capability to host an Olympic games. Our public transport system is, as the Olympic Committee themselves described it, decrepit. I honestly don't think after years of under-funding, that a couple of years and a sudden increase in budget will get our public transport system into a reasonable enough state to host an Olympic games. It will need decades of improvement to make any sort of visible difference. I used to work in London, and believe me, the public transport is awful. Utterly, utterly awful. I could go on for hours about the late trains and buses, about tube strikes and queuing in the rain for a crowded bus, about the dirt and the smells, about roasting on the tube in summer, about being squashed up with your nose stuffed under someone else's armpit, about how much it all costs for the 'privilege' of travelling on such a dilapidated and under-funded system, but I shan't.
I totally agree with you, EGBFan. The money spent on this bid should be spent on getting this country's public services back on its feet. I know that the Olympics in Athens started out with nothing and ended up a huge triumph, but we have a history in this country of spending huge amounts of public money on things that have turned out to be rather embarrassingly terrible. Besides, I can't help but feel that if we end up winning this bid, it will be hijacked by Blair. Call me cynical, but it really wouldn't surprise me if that happened.
Well, if he'd swallow his pride and apologise, then no-one would have reason to blame him. He seems to suffer the same illness as Blair when it comes to apologies. Really, I could care less. I didn't vote for him the last time around, so I'm getting a little bit of twisted satisfaction from watching this whole debacle unfold. ;D
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Post by Fritz on Feb 17, 2005 19:25:50 GMT -4
At least it sounds like they might be improving the public transportation system there, even if it's for the wrong reasons.
Back Home Again In Indianapolis, we don't even have a subway/rail system, just buses, and they're constantly cutting the service and raising the rates. After all, only the poor use those anyway--if the buses disappeared, it wouldn't bother the rich c***s***ers in Carmel who run our state anyway.
Still, it makes one wish that maybe the NFL or NBA would start pestering cities to provide better public transportation systems. ("So more fans can attend our games and spend $$$") That might do the trick. Cities are known to lie back and spread their legs every time the sports teams want a new stadium, even if there's already a perfectly fine one only about twenty years old currently in existance.
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Post by BrianReilly on Feb 17, 2005 23:17:54 GMT -4
If Tony and George really believe in these mythical Weapons Of Mass Destruction (ha – that’s a good joke!), why don’t they stop kissing and fight the stupid war themselves? Actually, they don't. They quietly called off the search for WMDs way back in September.
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Post by EGBFan on Feb 18, 2005 8:42:23 GMT -4
Tony: *anguished teeth, everyone's-picking-on-me-forehead (Jon Culshaw, please do not sue Rosey, she loves and respects you)* I'm very sorry - I like firemen, honestly - but we just don't have enough money to pay you any more. I understand that you risk you lives for others - but hey, it's better than me doing it. George: Hey Tony, can I have a few million dollars and maybe a couple hundred soldiers for our war? Tony: Yes George, absolutely, let's have a kiss. Ken, you'd better have apologised to that reporter. Ken: Shan't. I don't think I did anything wrong. And besides, it's got nothing to do with the Olympics. Tony: If we don't get the Olympics it'll be all your fault! Without you we couldn't have failed - not with that £45,000,000 I spent on improving the transport system. Angry Fireman: We've been wanting you to do that for years! Tony: Well I'm doing it, aren't I? You can't have more wages AND better transport, young man! George: Hey Tone, how about another couple of million just because you like me? Tony: Yes, yes, of course. And you can send as many of these firefighters as you want to Iraq. Angry Fireman: Hey! What happened to No Conscription? Rosey: Ok, I'm just making this up now. I should probably stop... --- I neither live nor work in London, but I'm quite near the border and I've been there often. Anyone as close as me knows how bad the transport is. Whenever I travel to and around London I thank my lucky stars that I don't have to do it every day. Actually, they don't. They quietly called off the search for WMDs way back in September. I heard about that. I was under the impression that Bush agreed to call it off quite grudgingly, and even if Blair doesn't believe he's still saying he does. It's a pride thing. But mostly it's a pratt thing. Oh well. Hating our country's leaders makes us seem intelligent and non-conformist, right?
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Post by Silent Seraphim on Feb 18, 2005 14:44:56 GMT -4
George: Hey Tony, can I have a few million dollars and maybe a couple hundred soldiers for our war? Tony: Yes George, absolutely, let's have a kiss. Ken, you'd better have apologised to that reporter. lol. ;D I couldn't help but laugh when Blair advised Ken Livingstone to apologise. What a hypocrite! Whenever I travel to and around London I thank my lucky stars that I don't have to do it every day. Believe me, I am so pleased I don't have to commute into London any more. I've had too many bad experiences to mention when it comes to travelling in London on public transport. I think the new investment in the transport system will only mainly affect the East End of London, where the Olympics are going to be held. I think everywhere else will have to stick with the same old antiquated system, which is a pity. I can't believe how shallow this government can be when it comes to the Olympics. After they have sold off school playing fields and closed down just about every Olympic-sized swimming pool we have, the government are trying to promote this country as a centre of sport. It all just stinks of opportunism, if you ask me.
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Post by OgreBBQ on Feb 18, 2005 22:49:44 GMT -4
That's just politics anywhere, isn't it? Rich jerks paying off a bunch of elected officials (who can smell their own flatulence before it even leaves their bodies, if you know what I mean) so that they have something to brag to their friends about when they meet up in some international playground to compare yachts, stock portfolios, and phalluses.
Yosemite Sam once said: "There are only two things a pirate will run for: buried treasure, and public office."
(semi) OFF-TOPIC NEWS ITEM: The New Yorker recently ran an article purporting to reveal the White House's plan for overthrowing the government of Iran. The resident flatly denied it. Vice-President Cheney had the audacity to say, "We do not want to start a war in the middle east." ... ... ... ... ...say again?
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