The end of the world as we know it?

[El Presidente]

I'm trying to say that all the arguments put forward by right wingers and sceptics against a populist radical left programme ('business won't like it, it'll destroy the economy') are no longer valid 'cos capitalism has eaten itself alive and all bets are off. Socialism is back on the agenda with a vengeance, if those in power have the guts to grasp the nettle.

If Labour wants to get re-elected it should renationalise the utilities and railways without compensation (except as above) and halve the price, and pass a few quick laws enabling it to retrospectively imprison those profiteering City bastards for criminal speculation. The City would scream, but they are as discredited as Ceaucescu. Ordinary people, many far too disillusioned to bother to vote at the moment, would flock back to Labour in their thousands.


Nobody would object to a few foreign energy companies losing their money, and nobody would mourn the demise of private rail companies, many of whose executives should have already been prosecuted for criminal negligence in the first place.

Nope, doesn't work, and never has.

 

[beorhthelm]

The problem is made worse if the banks convince the regulators (think of a dumber version of Jade Goody), that actually depositors will only take out 5% of the amount they put into the bank, so therefore from an original £1m deposit they can lend out £20million.

i dont beleive its as little as 5%, the deposits held by HBOS in analysis the other week where in the order of £260 billion iirc which is way way more than the bad debts, which boiled down to £2billion. maybe its as little as 5% for investment banks, which is what the difference between them is? either way, isnt it the liquidity of liabilities thats really the issue: the banks own lots of nice tangible real estate or long term loans that cant be called in, while borrowing short term to maintain cash flow and operations. ie they borrow £1million to fund a half dozen mortgages, so the money turns from cash to houses; from liquid to illiquid.

 

[bullshit detector]

We tried that route and as regards the utilities and the railways it worked a lot better than it does now (we're actually paying more in subsidies to private rail companies than we were when the system was state owned, while they make ludicrous profits by putting up the fares, and foreign utility companies are putting up our bills without a care in the world)

F**k capitalism. It screwed BHAFC, now it's screwing the world.

 

[bullshit detector]

Nope, doesn't work, and never has.

Not if you're rich and right wing maybe. But it worked very well for me, my family, and millions of others, thanks very much.

 

[beorhthelm]

If Labour wants to get re-elected it should renationalise the utilities and railways without compensation (except as above) and halve the price, and pass a few quick laws enabling it to retrospectively imprison those profiteering City bastards for criminal speculation.

so right now at the brink of collapse of the system, we should spend billions taking back the utilities for half price, so the pension funds have an even bigger hole to fill and our taxes go up to pay for it. Meanwhile the talented, educated City "bastards" up sticks to New York, Frankfurt, Singapore, Tokyo, leaving us to be run by the dross

 

[London Calling]

Haven't we already tried that route? Why return to old mistakes, why not learn from this and try and improve what we already have, a new era of cuddly capitalism.

HAVEN'T WE TRIED THE CAPITALIST ROUTE, SUFFERED ALL OF ITS WEAKNESSES, SHORT TERM REACTION,

WHAT WE NEED IS A NEW MODEL ECONOMY WITH QUALITY CARING DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC SERVICES, NOT DELIVERED BY A NATIONAL STATE, BUT LOCALLY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

 

[bullshit detector]

so right now at the brink of collapse of the system, we should divert money into taking back the utilities for half price, so the pension funds have an even bigger hole to fill and our taxes go up to pay for it. Meanwhile the talented, educated City "bastards" up sticks to New York, Frankfurt, Singapore, Tokyo, leaving us to be run by the dross

No, I meant renationalisation without compensation (except in the circumstances I outlined above) and halving the price of gas/electricity/train tickets.

Given what my actual views are I am being very conciliatory!
And I prefer my politics like my football, face to face, so I don't post much on here and I'm off now

 

[User removed 4]

I'm trying to say that all the arguments put forward by right wingers and sceptics against a populist radical left programme ('business won't like it, it'll destroy the economy') are no longer valid 'cos capitalism has eaten itself alive and all bets are off. Socialism is back on the agenda with a vengeance, if those in power have the guts to grasp the nettle.

If Labour wants to get re-elected it should renationalise the utilities and railways without compensation (except as above) and halve the price, and pass a few quick laws enabling it to retrospectively imprison those profiteering City bastards for criminal speculation. The City would scream, but they are as discredited as Ceaucescu. Ordinary people, many far too disillusioned to bother to vote at the moment, would flock back to Labour in their thousands.


Nobody would object to a few foreign energy companies losing their money, and nobody would mourn the demise of private rail companies, many of whose executives should have already been prosecuted for criminal negligence in the first place.

any time you feel like popping out for a pint and a chat, be sure not to call me !

 

[Les Biehn]

So if the banks are bailed out by the state then the state proceeds to investigate exactly who have been careless, naughty boys can they a)actually find a legal stand point to hold these individuals accountable and b) if this is possible fine them to the nines so as the money will go back into the coifers and thus a certain amount of tax payers money is recouped?

 

[Lokki 7]

HAVEN'T WE TRIED THE CAPITALIST ROUTE, SUFFERED ALL OF ITS WEAKNESSES, SHORT TERM REACTION,

We have tried a version of capitalism, and it has brought us the greatest prosperity and living conditions mankind has ever experienced. Could do with some serious fine tuning though I grant you.

 

[London Calling]

any time you feel like popping out for a pint and a chat, be sure not to call me !

how is it in the cheap seats?

The lifts don't seem so busy at the mo?

 

[User removed 4]

how is it in the cheap seats?

The lifts don't seem so busy at the mo?

not too bad , were you at work on sep 11 when we had our charity day ? i got a photo with alesha dixon, god she is f*cking gorgeous, hows thing up in the lofty environs floors 22 & 23 ?

 

[London Calling]

We have tried a version of capitalism, and it has brought us the greatest prosperity and living conditions mankind has ever experienced. Could do with some serious fine tuning though I grant you.

Having national state services doesn't appeal to me at all. Apart from perhaps a national high speed railway, seems to work well in most EC countries.

But my experiences of europe, make me feel inclined to support core services being delivered locally or at a maximum regionally. The French and Germans have very good services at this level. And of course great health services. This must be the way forward. Because the NHS is good but not good enough.

I would grant yu, that most punters would rather spend another 1bn on health than buy back rusty trains.

LC

 

[Les Biehn]

I find it odd for example if you look at the BHAFC the way we were screwed so that a few individuals could make a nice greedy profit. However if the system works to exploit aspects of our lives that the working class enjoy (sport, television, film, attractions) surely this will eventually permiate to the point where all culture is wittled down (due to the get in cheap, get out rich tactics) to purely that supported by either elite enthusiasts (say if Ambromovich is willing to substain Chelsea through love) or through cultural endeavours assumed to be highbrow enough by the elite rich.

 

[User removed 4]

Having national state services doesn't appeal to me at all. Apart from perhaps a national high speed railway, seems to work well in most EC countries.

But my experiences of europe, make me feel inclined to support core services being delivered locally or at a maximum regionally. The French and Germans have very good services at this level. And of course great health services. This must be the way forward. Because the NHS is good but not good enough.

I would grant yu, that most punters would rather spend another 1bn on health than buy back rusty trains.

LC

no wonder the olympics are over budget , we are paying people to fool around on their PCs when they should be working

 

[London Calling]

not too bad , were you at work on sep 11 when we had our charity day ? i got a photo with alesha dixon, god she is f*cking gorgeous, hows thing up in the lofty environs floors 22 & 23 ?

Yes, noisy buggers

The signing quartet? were a bit ropey

Some stunning women seem to come out of the wood work that day.

Nice to see! The charity day as well as the tot.

 

[London Calling]

no wonder the olympics are over budget , we are paying people to fool around on their PCs when they should be working

:yahoo:

 

[El Presidente]

No, I meant renationalisation without compensation (except in the circumstances I outlined above) and halving the price of gas/electricity/train tickets.

Given what my actual views are I am being very conciliatory!
And I prefer my politics like my football, face to face, so I don't post much on here and I'm off now

Without compensation? So that means that my pension, and that of everyone else here, becomes worthless instantly, as does the endowment scheme for my mortgage?

How does that improve the lives of the vast majority of people in this country?

It it ill considered, poorly thought out, and the numbers don't add up. Do you understand at all how an economy or public finance works?

 

[London Calling]

Without compensation? So that means that my pension, and that of everyone else here, becomes worthless instantly, as does the endowment scheme for my mortgage?

How does that improve the lives of the vast majority of people in this country?

It it ill considered, poorly thought out, and the numbers don't add up. Do you understand at all how an economy or public finance works?

looking after no 1

 

[Les Biehn]

Without compensation? So that means that my pension, and that of everyone else here, becomes worthless instantly, as does the endowment scheme for my mortgage?

How does that improve the lives of the vast majority of people in this country?

It it ill considered, poorly thought out, and the numbers don't add up. Do you understand at all how an economy or public finance works?

I am purely asking because I don't really understand this but how does not compensating the companies that own the now privatised state services mean that pension schemes and mortgages become worthless?