to think the capitalists telling the communists to stop selling cheap steel is more than a little ideologically confused..

[IceBeing]

If you are free market capitalists...which I cannot imagine the Torys do not think of themselves as.....how do you defend artificially stopping the Chinese selling steel at whatever the hell price they want to?

AIBU to think it is hypocrisy to use capitalism constantly to defend making obscene profit while it advantages you then cry off and start imposing trade restrictions when it isn't working in your favour?

Pressed post too soon. How on earth is that capitalism?

Nuclear power has a huge carbon footprint if you take into account the materials used to build the reactors and contain the waste.

Nuclear power has a huge carbon footprint if you take into account the materials used to build the reactors and contain the waste.

Ah yes, that pesky Lead.

As I pointed out (to almost no-one) the Uranium cycle isn't the only way to get energy from nuclear ...

I was thinking more along the lines of concrete actually.

The disaster at Fukushima has killed 6 people so far. It may be years before the true body count is known. It has also made quite large areas of land dangerously radioactive, requiring many people to abandon their homes or live in areas where the kids can only go outside for half an hour a day or are recommended to wear radiation monitors. So you'll excuse me if I prefer micro regeneration, solar, wave and wind.

many fair points....I guess what basically gets my goat is all the 'yeah we have to pay bankers zillions or we won't get the best people...market forces...' or 'well what can you do about house prices...market forces'

I think the whole point of having a government is to basically stop those people with the skills, money and inclination to totally shaft others from doing so!

So I am in favour of steel intervention but would be even more in favour of way more intervention across the board. Capitalism doesn't give a shit about people or the long term future....

China is not remotely a totalitarian state. Authoritarian yes, totalitarian no. Communist is pushing it a bit too, I agree, but I suppose it could be argued.

And today's developed countries have a nice long history of demanding free markets elsewhere while imposing protectionist measures at home when it suited them. A glance back to the 19th century suggests that the West did not grow rich on free trade!

The disaster at Fukushima has killed 6 people so far.

Aberfan killed 116 adults and 28 children in a few minutes. Must be that nice safe coal stuff.

I don't think Cameron expects China to do anything about steel. He only mentioned it to China because it would make him look good - like hugging huskies and hoodies...

How much of the middle east instability too can be attributed to oil and gas? etc

China isn't communist. And I think you've missed the point...capitalists want to make the most money possible. If they can do that by stopping someone else getting in the game, obviously they are going to do that, however they need to.