I'd like to think of myself as being just right of centre really.
No need for PM'ing or the likes. I think the issue here is that it appears that the right wing people on here seem to be in the minority (thankfully not representative of the population), maybe that's more a reflection on the types of work (if any) that people who contribute do???
But as a result I felt compelled to stand up for my own belief and get invovled a little more with the UIA having read for years the the back slapping and posturing of the left on here that their beliefs are unequivocally correct. It seems that grey areas don't exist in any issue.
The general theme from a readers perspective is that those from the right discuss each subject matter on merit and can meet in the middle on some issues. Those on the left see only their way and that those on the right are nothing short of the devil incarnate, greedy self centred fools working for the governement machine (as jonny put it). It's this unswerving notion from some on her that Tories are to be hated and can't see what is going on and that those same few have a better understanding than the rest of us that leads to some getting their hackels up.
You insulting me with your idea that those with a poor degree result or those that can not come up to your 'wordsmith' standards have less of a right to post on here and yet anything that Duane, myself or MM say is MORE of an insult and must be taken to PM is a microcosm of your misguided and blinkered approach to black and white politics.
Well put sir!
1) The moralising and sanctimonious tone of some on the left gets right up my nostril!
2) Take the issue of cuts - not one of the lefties on here has addressed the issue of whether "No Cuts" is a sensible approach in the current circumstances. All they do is blather on about right wing agendas, ideologically driven, nasty Tories and such like.
3) We all have our opinions which we care to share on here, but common sense seems to have taken flight.
4) On any common sense measure, there simply have to be spending cuts. I have put before that there can be a debate about how deep, how quickly and where, but none on the left seems to want to make that argument. "No Cuts" is not a debating point, it is a head in the sand and stuff you all point!
1) Yes, far better just to call the opposition plonkers, idiots, and fools, and be done with it.
2) Actually I've seen several posts by Jonny, Saint, Martyn, etc, which have made quite clear what they see the alternatives as being. The fact it requires a sea change in the dominant political discourse and thinking is maybe what you are missing/finding hard to discuss.
3) As does reasoned, non-circular debate of late.
4) I refer you to point 2. FWIW, I believe certain cuts can be made that would actually be of benefit to the way services are run, including simplification of certain benefit and tax systems. I also think many of the government's cuts are actually going to end up costing more money than they are meant to save, so we could start by cutting those cuts/policies. But the long and the short of it is that there is the need for a major - and global - rethink about how we run our world. Wake-up calls and opportunities to engage in such a rethink don't come up very often - but this one such opportunity. Rather than moaning about "well that's the way it is" as the banks plunder our money and the financiers and brokers get millions for pushing around virtual "goods", there comes a point when there is the need to challenge that system. No one said it was easy, but if you don't seize the opportunity when it presents itself, then you are letting yourself and your children down. Carpe diem, MM.