lefties 7:compare the tory.com

[HerHonesty]

sorry couldnt think of anything else. gideon in charge of the economy..

MmeL - hope your DD is OK.

Eric Pickles - bloody hell. And Teresa May. I'm glum, but it's like picking a scab - I can't leave it alone. Yes, the PC was excrutiating. I liked the "best joke" gag, though.

One benefit of having joined the Labour Party - an invite from my ex-MP to a "Drinks Party" to thank the hard working local activists, together with a long list of reasons why he failed to get re-elected. None of those reasons mentioned the fact he seemed to do next to nothing in the way of canvassing and generally comes across as pretty arrogant and disinterested.

excruciating? I've lost the ability to spell. I blame the Tories.

They want to scrap contact point? Its not been rolled out yet and was recommended by a Govt inquiry into Serious case reviews. It will be v good when up & running. I have seen my childrens info from it and its v basic (school, GP, address) and there is v tight security on it. Sackable offence to look up anyone without justification and all users need full CRB etc checks. Got my kids infor through freedom of information & is purposely made v simple to do.

Anyone just see David Blanchflower on C4 news warning Tory/Lib Dem cuts may result in the 30s scale depression that Gordon Brown's fiscal stimulus policy avoided up to now?

David Blanchflower is a well known left wing economist.

There is very likely going to be a Depression anyway. It is almost unavoidable. Mervyn King said there was going to be low inflation in the near future. That is highly likely to tip into deflation and if the UK has low growth and high debt then it is a recipe for a spiral of deflationary depression, unemployment, debt default and economic destruction on a catastrophic scale.

The dye is cast whatever they do.

I know who he is, BeenBeta.

So if the Depression and ensuing "economic destruction on a catastrophic scale" is very likely, what would be your recommendation for reducing the odds?

I don't know enough about economics to argue with your detail, BeenBeta but I know that others don't agree that the dye is cast.

I don't know who blanchflower is

But I do know that these people aren't going around lobbing dye over each other

GOD sorry - die.
I'm upset, see.

ROFL

Dye casting sounds like something I might be able to do with my new green party mates

'They want to scrap contact point?'

I'll be delighted when they do. There have already been cases of unauthorised access, so the data is not secure. I am also very concerned about the length of time the data is kept - I rang to enquire and was told that the information is held until the child is 24. Why?

Zephirine - we cannot avoid it.

The Govts cannot keep borrowing money to prop up public spending. Look at what is happening in Greece to see what happens next.

The only way we can reduce its impact is to shut down banks in an orderly manner that are really bankrupt but being propped up by Govts. Clear the system of debt that is not being serviced, sell off assets and build from the ruins. Protect the vulnerable and poor by making sure we maintain essential public services.

I cannot spell - I blame my private school education. Waste of money.

True that Blanchflower is left-wing by economists' standards, but as the only member of the MPC to come out of the banks crisis with any credibility I think he deserves a respectful audience.

I'm so sad. I come off the thread for a few hours (feeling gloomy) and when I return Mme L's daughter has suspected scarlet fever, we are on course for a depression and global financial meltdown of gargantuan proportion ( thanks BeenBeta ) and I have been reminded of how appallingly archaic Gove's attitudes are to education. I blame The Straits DS.

Off out to get trashed book group.

taffetacat - I was holding back on War, Famine, Pestilence and Death.

They will be along later.

I am thinking bigger.

at thinking bigger

That IS what it all feels like, actually. Cameron, Gove, Osborne, the Three Horseman of the Apocalypse. May, the Fourth, riding side saddle. Clegg, the swishy swishy tail.

Today I've OD'ed on chocolate and wine, done very little work and stomped out of family tea in a strop. I blame the government.
Looked at other threads and this seems to be the only place where sanity reigns. So v sorry to hear about scarlet fever, MmeL. I associate it with Enid Blyton books and Mallory Towers but it must be thoroughly unpleasant in RL.