The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[The Cowboy]

The majority of the country who DOESN'T vote conservative probably can't afford Bentlys.

What next, 'you should live in a smaller house..whilst i am outside by 10 bedroom mansion? '

Just because you can't afford a Bentley doesn't mean you shouldn't live within your means.

'Means' is relative. Are you suggesting Bentley owners all live well beyond their means? I think you'll find they don't.

If someone can afford a 10 bed mansion, bravo to them. No envy issues here.

 

[Ashtonian]

Just because you can't afford a Bentley doesn't mean you shouldn't live within your means.

'Means' is relative. Are you suggesting Bentley owners all live well beyond their means? I think you'll find they don't.

If someone can afford a 10 bed mansion, bravo to them. No envy issues here.

Well i completely agree we should live within our means. no matter how much we earn we should only spend that.

but generally, do you think an MP for example deserves a mansion? And not even prime minister here, MPs that have them that arent really important outside of their constituancy. Compared to people who perhaps work 50-60 hours a week in a decent job but cant raise themselves above the class band?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Just because you can't afford a Bentley doesn't mean you shouldn't live within your means.

'Means' is relative. Are you suggesting Bentley owners all live well beyond their means? I think you'll find they don't.

If someone can afford a 10 bed mansion, bravo to them. No envy issues here.

Indeed, I can't afford a Bentley, but consider living within ones means as sound advice.

Of course, that doesn't escape from the fact that few politicians really have a clue how 'the other half' live. That applies to those of whatever stripe. I mean Vince Cable today, with the best will in the world, he doesn't really have much of a clue what it's like for an entrepreneur trying to grow a business. That's just not his background.

The question then becomes does that really matter? Does their (lack of) credibility sufficiently damage the message they're trying to get across?

When it comes to the average man, I'd suggest that anyone in the media is almost disqualified from the off because by the time they've reached celebrity status then they're probably pretty well off, therefore have little in common with the average person.

As I say, the question is therefore, does that matter?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Well i completely agree we should live within our means. no matter how much we earn we should only spend that.

but generally, do you think an MP for example deserves a mansion? And not even prime minister here, MPs that have them that arent really important outside of their constituancy. Compared to people who perhaps work 50-60 hours a week in a decent job but cant raise themselves above the class band?

It's not really a case of fair or not though is it? The only people that should really have a say over your pay is you and the person hiring you. It's not really anyone elses business.

 

[The Cowboy]

Well i completely agree we should live within our means. no matter how much we earn we should only spend that.

but generally, do you think an MP for example deserves a mansion? And not even prime minister here, MPs that have them that arent really important outside of their constituancy. Compared to people who perhaps work 50-60 hours a week in a decent job but cant raise themselves above the class band?

No I probably don't think they deserve a mansion. But MP's are a bunch of douchebags at the best of times, what would it be like if they were given £30k a year?

I don't have the solution on that one, but they make up a tiny proportion of the population and are therefore the exception rather than the rule. Politicians should NEVER be a template for how to live your life!

 

[Walken]

Indeed, I can't afford a Bentley, but consider living within ones means as sound advice.

Of course, that doesn't escape from the fact that few politicians really have a clue how 'the other half' live. That applies to those of whatever stripe. I mean Vince Cable today, with the best will in the world, he doesn't really have much of a clue what it's like for an entrepreneur trying to grow a business. That's just not his background.

The question then becomes does that really matter? Does their (lack of) credibility sufficiently damage the message they're trying to get across?

When it comes to the average man, I'd suggest that anyone in the media is almost disqualified from the off because by the time they've reached celebrity status then they're probably pretty well off, therefore have little in common with the average person.

As I say, the question is therefore, does that matter?

how many MP's have a solid background when they are appointed to a lead a department, be it foreign affairs, health, education or business. They really are at the mercy of their advisor's and whatever agenda the higher ups have set them, makes you wonder as these departments are very rarely governed by experts

 

[Bruce Wayne]

how many MP's have a solid background when they are appointed to a lead a department, be it foreign affairs, health, education or business. They really are at the mercy of their advisor's and whatever agenda the higher ups have set them, makes you wonder as these departments are very rarely governed by experts

True. I think the extent of Cable's business experience is 2 years as an economist at Shell in the 90's. That's fine and that, but my question was around a report his own department put out last week, and he seemed much more clued up on general political stuff around the Autumn statement than he did that report. He was interviewed by a tv station before I got hold of him and it was all about the politics of westminster, no actual business or innovation stuff at all, which given we were in an innovation hub was a bit lame.

If you want anything actually useful you tend to have to go to their press team who will give you an approved quote from him that he won't really have clapped eyes on.

Such is life I suppose.

 

[Walken]

True. I think the extent of Cable's business experience is 2 years as an economist at Shell in the 90's. That's fine and that, but my question was around a report his own department put out last week, and he seemed much more clued up on general political stuff around the Autumn statement than he did that report. He was interviewed by a tv station before I got hold of him and it was all about the politics of westminster, no actual business or innovation stuff at all, which given we were in an innovation hub was a bit lame.

Doesn't surprise me and kind of my point, I mean Cable is a smart guy an all, but it is a strange curiosity of life that at the very of the goverment departments, we don't have experts in that particular field, I'm not saying that's wrong, but it is odd when you think about iit

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Doesn't surprise me and kind of my point, I mean Cable is a smart guy an all, but it is a strange curiosity of life that at the very of the goverment departments, we don't have experts in that particular field, I'm not saying that's wrong, but it is odd when you think about iit

It is, I quite agree. I suppose it doesn't help that so few MPs have had much of a career outside of politics, and those that have have often done so in fields such as law. I mean if it wasn't Vince Cable running BIS, I'm not sure who else would be fit to do so amongst the current crop of MPs.

 

[rascal]

I've always maintained that those hoping to be elected should undergo a simple test.

1. On average, how much does one pay for a loaf of bread?
2. On average, how much does one pay for a pint of milk?

Answer those two questions correctly, and a decade of living like the average joe, then you can be elected.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I've always maintained that those hoping to be elected should undergo a simple test.

1. On average, how much does one pay for a loaf of bread?
2. On average, how much does one pay for a pint of milk?

Answer those two questions correctly, and a decade of living like the average joe, then you can be elected.

For purely selfish reasons, could you make that 4 pints of milk? Never buy 1 pint on its own so wouldn't have a clue (~30p?). 4 pints for a quid though, with the same for a loaf

 

[rascal]

For purely selfish reasons, could you make that 4 pints of milk? Never buy 1 pint on its own so wouldn't have a clue (~30p?). 4 pints for a quid though, with the same for a loaf

49p for 1 pint from all but one supermarket... Guess which one

 

[Clint Planet]

It's a particularly desperate man that stands on the side pointing out flaws in each and every thing that someone does. I don't see any pro-activity from coach. I don't see any suggestions for how other countries might be doing things well, or indeed pockets of excellence within our own country that can be spread more widely.

All I see is moan, moan, moan, moan. Absolutely the worst coach ever.

That's a shameful post.

You don't have to have a solution to point out that something is wrong or isn't working. It simply doesn't follow and is in fact one of the typical tactics of those in any position of power. Would you, for example, have expected the slaves of the southern states in the USA to have come up with a viable economic alternative before they opened their moaning gobs?

I seriously think you should consider resigning as a mod if you're going to make sly posts like that, Bruce.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

That's a shameful post.

You don't have to have a solution to point out that something is wrong or isn't working. It simply doesn't follow and is in fact one of the typical tactics of those in any position of power. Would you, for example, have expected the slaves of the southern states in the USA to have come up with a viable economic alternative before they opened their moaning gobs?

I seriously think you should consider resigning as a mod if you're goping to make sly posts like that, Bruce.

Oh cmon Clint. You know as well as I do that if those same things weren't 'working' under a Labour administration there wouldn't be a word uttered. It's nothing more than Tory bashing for the sake of Tory bashing, and I can't abide it as it typifies the blinkered, tribal nonsense that so litters political discourse around the world. You know full well that you've accused various other members on here of being moles sent by the EDL and their ilk to pollute the waters, yet those same tactics of belligerent propaganda are applied by someone you happen to agree with and it's all a ok. It's a terrible way of debating from both sides.

If someone is interested in better outcomes then they'd laud a good idea or a good outcome regardless of where it came from. That never happens though does it? Not once. I happen to think that's wrong.

I apologised for making things personal several posts later, but I'm not going to apologise for not thinking post after post of baiting and sniping is in any way constructive.

As for your last comment, that's completely Dan's call. Like all of us, I'm only a guest of his on this place.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

For purely selfish reasons, could you make that 4 pints of milk? Never buy 1 pint on its own so wouldn't have a clue (~30p?). 4 pints for a quid though, with the same for a loaf

I buy soya milk and loafs of bread weekly but could only have a rough guess at the price of the milk and have no clue about the bread.

Guess my chances of being an MP are out the window