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Old 09-04-2007, 19:44   #505
g jones
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Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris View Post
You mean true socialists like Tony Blair and Harriet Harman?

Graham, it must be nice to have your view of politics...you're not in my gang, so you must be in their gang...you're criticizing a Labour government, so you must be a Tory. What you can't seem to get your head around is that many people dislike and distrust this government who are not Tories, either because they're the disillusioned ex-Labour voters that Gary talks about or they're people whose views don't fall neatly along party lines.

I don't want to bore you too much with my political views, but here's a few...

I believe in scrapping tuition fees - does YOUR government?

I believe we shouldn't introduce a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons - does YOUR government?

I believe that we should never have got involved in the disastrous and wasteful (in terms of both lives and money) war in Iraq...does YOUR government?

I believe that the railways should be taken back into state ownership and subsidised to encourage more motorists to switch to rail travel...does YOUR government?

I believe that the NHS should be run for the benefit of the public, instead of being used as a cash cow by various private companies...does YOUR government?

I believe in blocking tax loopholes for the wealthy such as the one which allows rich foreign nationals to qualify as domiciled abroad, even though they live here, effectively ensuring that they pay tax on a small portion of their income...does YOUR government?

I even believe that asylum seekers who genuinely fear for their lives in their home countries should be allowed to stay here which I'm sure is enough to get me hung, drawn and quartered by many on here!

The only beliefs I can think of that have a blue tinge to them are law and order on which I will quite happily admit to being slightly to the right of Genghis Khan, a deep distrust of the EU (a distrust which is also shared by Tony Benn) and a general dislike of the whole PC-obsessed, chattering class, chic radical culture.

And, yes, Graham, I'm well aware that Britain is still a great place, as I've visited third world countries many times and I realise that we're very lucky to live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. However, I don't see why that should stop me attacking what I perceive to be incompetence and dishonesty by the present government. If the Tories were in power, I'm sure I'd be doing the same thing to them!

And, yes, Graham I'm well aware that my views don't really add up to a coherent political philosophy, but we all have contradictions in our belief-systems. After all, you're a socialist and you support Tony Blair!

So, you see, Graham, a blue rinse wouldn't really be appropriate...perhaps more of pink hue instead?
First - apologies - I have never read your posts where you have been anything other than 'what appears' to be in bed with the 'sandwich board bridgade'. So I apologise and thanks for the above post in which I agree with Garinda, it was candid and honest and I for one am grateful. I would like to add I disagree with all of it...

... but I don't. I think you are right on most points in my view, I'd wouldn't go that far on Law & Order and I am happy with New Labour in what they have done with L&O. (please no Tories on this point - you've lost the real debate but you HAVE WON the newspaper one) And you missed off Social Housing, Reregulation of transport and so on...

The Labour Party will be here long after Tony has gone. It will be the Labour Party that members want it to be. I am disapointed that some members have left because they have given up the fight for what they believe in the face of a different Labour persuasion. The Labour Party started off as a broad coalition and unlike Conservatism always will be.

Life is full of seeming contradictions. I voted for Blair and Labour and continue to be a loyal party member because I believe a Blair government represents a better alternate, a better future chance for this country than the others. That is something completely different than wholehearted endorsement.

I also think politics is media driven. Major fixed the economy eventually, not Brown, but Major got blamed. And vice versa somewhat now. Blair is not the evil one the media agenda has him down for. When we vilify/crucify our leaders (instead of discussing honestly) we deride our country.

Last edited by g jones; 09-04-2007 at 19:54.
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