The Leader of the Green Party daily Politics

[ifightbears]

Here you go. A word of warning, it's not for the squeamish

Lets wait until March so we can compare the Manifestos yes? Even you realise it would be suicide for Natalie to suggest that they had the numbers to back it up if she did not.

 

[Colossal Squid]

It's not great viewing, granted. And to be honest I think the Green Party's loss was Brighton's gain when Dr Lucas stood down as party leader, however Bennett is no mug and will dust herself off after this encounter to bounce back and give it another go

 

[Buzzer]

Lets wait until March so we can compare the Manifestos yes? Even you realise it would be suicide for Natalie to suggest that they had the numbers to back it up if she did not.

Oh I agree. A very good point but if for instance, you're already going to release hard statements such as £72 pw for everyone or that a wealth tax would raise £45 billion a year then it's a fair question to ask where you've got those figures from.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

At a national level the Greens will only be seen as a credible party once they've merged with the Monster Raving Looneys.

 

[beorhthelm]

At a national level the Greens will only be seen as a credible party once they've merged with the Monster Raving Looneys.

i dont think the MRL are prepared to waterdown their principles that far, they have more than one sensible policy.

 

[BadFish]

if only parties tackled the tax system by simplifying and tightening it by complete reform and more taxes on assets than income. Then we could see a shift in who holds the wealth. Unrealistic due to both politicians and electorate demands. Parliamentary democracy doesn't offer either.

The best system is probably the one that we have now. If we could realign it without the corruption and cronyism, we would solve so many of the problems that face us. We are constantly discussiing Capitalism Versus Socialism whereas surely the answer is to use both systems where necessary to produce the best results. Capitalism cannot work in education or health care and socialism cannot work in business. We are constantly asked to see politics as left v right whereas the answer lies in taking the parts of each philosophy that fit any given situation the best. It just isn't as black and white as we are led to believe.

 

[BadFish]

Spot on.

The bigots on the right are spoiled for choice with the Tories, UKIP and BNP all representing their interesting to various degrees. Whereas those of us on the GENUINE left have but ONE realistic party to pick from, and they're not going to win more than two seats max in the forthcoming election.

I think we do need radical change in this country as we've just spent too long letting financial institutions run riot and take us all down the swanny when they go to shit, but unfortunately some of the radical ideas the Green Party stand for are just that bit too extreme for right now.

Still, there's a very good chance we'll see a Labour/SNP coalition running the country from May, and that will wind up the righties no end so with an absence of real Green power being anywhere likely in the near future, I'll take it as the best of a bad bunch of potential outcomes at the next general election.

The thing is if the greens can make a good showing at the election it may persuade the Labour party to return somewhat to the left and offer people more of a choice instead of the 'lesser evil' politics the UK currently endures.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Here you go. A word of warning, it's not for the squeamish

Wow !!! True car crash TV. As for the £72 payment to everyone - no wonder so many students support them !

 

[Common as Mook]

Here you go. A word of warning, it's not for the squeamish

This should be compulsory viewing for every resident of Brighton & Hove.

Hopefully no-one in the rest of country saw this as the Greens are key to splitting to the left vote.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

The greens are the true left.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

This should be compulsory viewing for every resident of Brighton & Hove.

Indeed. And then they should be forced to research what happened to Liverpool City councillors who refused to set a budget - it might focus their minds on the prison cell they might find themselves in.

 

[beorhthelm]

The best system is probably the one that we have now. If we could realign it without the corruption and cronyism, we would solve so many of the problems that face us.

probably the most sence so far. the problems come from constantly using taxation itself as a politcal football, when its a means to an end. once we've decided we want this and want that we need to set how much we'll pay; or feed how much you want to back in to the decision making process. generally, we accept an amount of taxation, and we want to have certain serivices. it all goes wrong when we try to provide the services for less or take more than agreed accptable. the right try to save taxation without first making the case for the smaller state and how that will work. the left try to take more than accepted for services they havent made a case for either. into this all parties will give a little here take a little there to make a grand statement on the topic of the day, without considering the whole system. end of the day, simple taxation, without all the different levels, different types of tax and reliefs, would make avoidance and evasion difficult to impossible, the loopholes wouldnt be there.

 

[pastafarian]

The greens are the true left.

Nah,surely Arthur Scargills Socialist Labour Party are the true left.a return to Old Labour values

http://www.socialist-labour-party.org.uk/

Complete withdrawal from The European Union
Abolish capitalism
Abolish all private schools
Dissolution of The Monarchy
Establish Proportional Representation
Withdraw from Nato
End Nuclear Energy
Nationalise Banks and insurance companies
Free travel on railways buses and trams
Base Uk energy policy around the coal industry.

proper policies for those that want a "retro" feel.......surely they are on to an absolute winner!

 

[8ace]

The best reason to vote Green in Brighton Pavilion is because of the bellends on this forum it will piss off

 

[BadFish]

probably the most sence so far. the problems come from constantly using taxation itself as a politcal football, when its a means to an end. once we've decided we want this and want that we need to set how much we'll pay; or feed how much you want to back in to the decision making process. generally, we accept an amount of taxation, and we want to have certain serivices. it all goes wrong when we try to provide the services for less or take more than agreed accptable. the right try to save taxation without first making the case for the smaller state and how that will work. the left try to take more than accepted for services they havent made a case for either. into this all parties will give a little here take a little there to make a grand statement on the topic of the day, without considering the whole system. end of the day, simple taxation, without all the different levels, different types of tax and reliefs, would make avoidance and evasion difficult to impossible, the loopholes wouldnt be there.

I think this comes back to the idea of who governments represent. As you say taxation is used as a political football to appease those who they represent. Unfortunately for us the mainstream parties do not represent us, they represent their cronies in big business so they allow these kind of loop holes and avoidance strategies for the mega rich. One thing i do agree about on the video is that the Rich should be giving back to society rather than leeching off it. As you say the rate of tax has been agreed, yet we allow so many multinational companies to wriggle out of their responsibilities.

 

[Eeyore]

Though I've not watched it yet, Natalie often impresses me. I don't think her performance on DP is reflective of the party. Read their policies on their site are reasonable enough. Especially defence.

I think it would be better to use Caroline for the live TV debates. She's the most media savvy. The Party isn't yet experienced enough to cope with this type of exposure. This is not to say the policies are wanting, but it's important that someone who knows how to deliver and explain under scrutiny is needed.

 

[Eeyore]

The best reason to vote Green in Brighton Pavilion is because of the bellends on this forum it will piss off

Currently 10% ahead in the constituency poll. NSC will appear quietly reflective when compared to The Argus comments column come that Friday morning.

 

[1234andcounting]

In breaking news, Syriza win the Greek election. One at a time. Here we go. The revolution is arriving and it will be televised.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

In breaking news, Syriza win the Greek election. One at a time. Here we go. The revolution is arriving and it will be televised.

I hope Greece pull out of the EU, and even the Euro. It's done nothing but add further misery to millions of middle class families over there.
The people have spoken.

 

[tinycowboy]

My goodness. You can't see anything wrong with a recession? Err...rising unemployment, lower tax receipts, more people trapped in benefits, more house repossessions, greater strain on the welfare state....

Sorry matey but I'm completely gobsmacked with your comment. Have you not thought this through at all?

One point I would make on this though: in 2010 (I don't have the data after this point, but I would hazard a guess that it hasn't changed much), 93% of increases in GNP in the US went to the top 1%. Therefore, growth can be seen to be increasing the inequality in society - there is perhaps something in this argument, if you believe that rising inequality in society is making more people's lives worse. If, however, you believe that this is a fair payment of rent to the super-rich, who are benefactors of society, who provide trickle-down benefits and are the fulcrum of entrepreneurial spirit in the world (as opposed to ultra conservative - fiscally and politically - hoarders of wealth, removing money from the system), then not allowing them to benefit even more is not a good thing. What would happen if this policy is applied to the UK only though? Would we see a huge transfer of business out of the UK? That would be a real risk, but I think, at the moment, voting Green is about making a statement rather than expecting them to form the next government.