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  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,094

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services and very high end specialist manufacturing, is completely feasible and we’d be well off. Yes, the EU is about five times larger economically. But the UK is still a very big and significant market that wants to trade and I like (and want) the trading and regulatory flexibility independence would give us.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    Yes, there are various ways that the discontent might play out. Tarnishing the Tories' support for a generation, corn laws style, is probably more likely that clamour for re-entry.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services and very high end specialist manufacturing, is completely feasible and we’d be well off. Yes, the EU is about five times larger economically. But the UK is still a very big and significant market that wants to trade and I like (and want) the trading and regulatory flexibility independence would give us.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    And if we stay in? Will Brexiteers chill out all of a sudden?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038

    Scott_P said:

    Leavers who are convinced they would win with an increased majority also seem strangely adamant that to have such a vote would be the end of democracy...

    Curious?

    Well this is almost the only thing leavers are right on if you ask me. Another referendum does devalue the first. It ceases to be THE referendum. It becomes just another referendum. Unless they win it really big with an increased turn out it opens up all manner of arguments. "Okay you won but the lower turnout shows people aren't really interested." "You won but only just and the trend is against you."

    And given that the referendum result is just about the only argument they still have you can see why they want to keep it as it is.
    A second referendum solves nothing, and would make politics and social issues in this country very much worse.

    @CarlottaVance got it right down thread when she said this is now about much more than just our EU membership.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038
    IanB2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services and very high end specialist manufacturing, is completely feasible and we’d be well off. Yes, the EU is about five times larger economically. But the UK is still a very big and significant market that wants to trade and I like (and want) the trading and regulatory flexibility independence would give us.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    Yes, there are various ways that the discontent might play out. Tarnishing the Tories' support for a generation, corn laws style, is probably more likely that clamour for re-entry.
    That’s possible too.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587

    ydoethur said:

    Not to mention that whoever replaces Kavanaugh as the nominee might be better or worse, depending who it is and how you view these things.

    Kavanaugh has shortened during the night and is now priced at 1/8 (implying 89% certain) to be confirmed, 7/2 not to be.
    It is extremely hard to imagine a nominee who would make a worse judge than Kavanaugh, following his behaviour at the committee hearing.
    I suspect we’ll never know what happened three and a half decades ago - but that performance was very damaging - I can’t imagine the other Supreme Court Justices are looking forward to serving with him.
    Where did I read, as I’m certain I did, that present colleagues of Kavanaugh 'barely recognised the person before the committee’; he is, apparently, normally much more ‘judicial’ than that.
    Whether or not he prefers good looking young women as ‘clerks’.
    You are thinking of this article by a prominent conservative lawyer:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/why-i-wouldnt-confirm-brett-kavanaugh/571936/
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,961
    Jonathan said:

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services and very high end specialist manufacturing, is completely feasible and we’d be well off. Yes, the EU is about five times larger economically. But the UK is still a very big and significant market that wants to trade and I like (and want) the trading and regulatory flexibility independence would give us.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    And if we stay in? Will Brexiteers chill out all of a sudden?
    No, because democracy will have been thwarted.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,094

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/may/02/trouble-with-mobility-scooters
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842

    Well this is almost the only thing leavers are right on if you ask me. Another referendum does devalue the first. It ceases to be THE referendum. It becomes just another referendum.

    Relatedly:

    https://twitter.com/ctrlcreep/status/1043249516974096384
    Errm even unleashing every last one of humanity s nukes aboard Elon's rockets wont't '''destroy the moon' !
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    edited October 2018

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    I’m about 5’6”, and while I’m perhaps a bit ‘tubby’ I’m developing problems with my lower spine which, as it affects my legs, makes walking difficult, so I’ve been wondering when I’m going to need a scooter.
    Not going to ‘The State’ though; if I do decide I need one, our local pharmacy sells them. As I used to, when I ran a pharmacy, nearly 40 years ago
    I imagine the complaints above are aimed at those who are 40/50. Even if you are in quite good shape and maintained a healthy life walking can become difficult past retirement age.

    I wouldn't judge individuals as you never know what conditions they might have but considering the numbers there must be people out there misusing them (or to my mind misuse)

    If you are overweight and middle aged and starting to get problems from your weight then you need to do something pretty soon as the problems will get far worse with old age added in. At least some people to my mind are probably compounding the problem with mobility scooters.

    Also in some unsolicited advice you probably already know swimming can be a good solution if you want to do exercise but walking is painful.
  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...
    r
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project. Many UK governments tried to reform it from within but failed. Cameron's negotiation showed that the core EU just don't care. They don't see a problem.

    The EU has.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    What advantages does being outside the EU bring for the creative industries, services and high end manufacturing? I can see very really and tangible benefits to all three from a larger home market, more co-ordinated regulations and a more stable macro-economic environment - all of which the EU has delivered.
    We can adopt much more flexible and timely regulation of those services industries, and adapt/change them quickly to respond to global trends as we see fit. There are a variety of procurement, trade and certification regulations I’d amend too.

    The UK has a big comparative advantage in services.
    Well I'll be logging off of here and selling my services to the world once I've finished my cup of tea. Any suggestions as to how flexible and timely regulation will help me in the future? It would be nice to have something to look forward to because as things stand I am trying to develop products without any clear idea of what the regulatory framework I will be working in will be in six months time.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587

    ydoethur said:

    Not to mention that whoever replaces Kavanaugh as the nominee might be better or worse, depending who it is and how you view these things.

    Kavanaugh has shortened during the night and is now priced at 1/8 (implying 89% certain) to be confirmed, 7/2 not to be.
    It is extremely hard to imagine a nominee who would make a worse judge than Kavanaugh, following his behaviour at the committee hearing.
    I suspect we’ll never know what happened three and a half decades ago - but that performance was very damaging - I can’t imagine the other Supreme Court Justices are looking forward to serving with him.
    As the account from his college roommate I posted above fairly conclusively demonstrates, he is a lawyer happy to perjure himself for preferment. I don't think anything more needs to be known.

    An interesting theory put forward about Trump's latest rant is that he doesn't care if a couple of Republican Senators (one of whom is retiring) rebel and kill the confirmation this week.
    Polling suggests this could fire up the base sufficiently to make the difference between holding or losing the Senate (though I doubt it would be enough for the House). Which means a conservative nominee on the bench anyway. Kavanaugh has become dispensable, and the howls of outrage are as synthetic as everything else.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,769
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Not to mention that whoever replaces Kavanaugh as the nominee might be better or worse, depending who it is and how you view these things.

    Kavanaugh has shortened during the night and is now priced at 1/8 (implying 89% certain) to be confirmed, 7/2 not to be.
    It is extremely hard to imagine a nominee who would make a worse judge than Kavanaugh, following his behaviour at the committee hearing.
    I suspect we’ll never know what happened three and a half decades ago - but that performance was very damaging - I can’t imagine the other Supreme Court Justices are looking forward to serving with him.
    Where did I read, as I’m certain I did, that present colleagues of Kavanaugh 'barely recognised the person before the committee’; he is, apparently, normally much more ‘judicial’ than that.
    Whether or not he prefers good looking young women as ‘clerks’.
    You are thinking of this article by a prominent conservative lawyer:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/why-i-wouldnt-confirm-brett-kavanaugh/571936/
    Wow.

    That is a brilliant article.

    I hope every Senator reads it.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,094

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...
    r
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project. Many UK governments tried to reform it from within but failed. Cameron's negotiation showed that the core EU just don't care. They don't see a problem.

    The EU has.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    What advantages does being outside the EU bring for the creative industries, services and high end manufacturing? I can see very really and tangible benefits to all three from a larger home market, more co-ordinated regulations and a more stable macro-economic environment - all of which the EU has delivered.
    We can adopt much more flexible and timely regulation of those services industries, and adapt/change them quickly to respond to global trends as we see fit. There are a variety of procurement, trade and certification regulations I’d amend too.

    The UK has a big comparative advantage in services.
    Well I'll be logging off of here and selling my services to the world once I've finished my cup of tea. Any suggestions as to how flexible and timely regulation will help me in the future? It would be nice to have something to look forward to because as things stand I am trying to develop products without any clear idea of what the regulatory framework I will be working in will be in six months time.
    Yeah, it's nothing but vague platitudes that we get from leavers. None of them point to anything specific that they want to change in regulations, or explain how business is currently being held back by membership of the single market, nor recognise that the EU contains some of the world's most successful exporters; easy access to a very large market is of huge benefit to business, particularly smaller ones given the reach of the internet.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,082
    IanB2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services and very high end specialist manufacturing, is completely feasible and we’d be well off. Yes, the EU is about five times larger economically. But the UK is still a very big and significant market that wants to trade and I like (and want) the trading and regulatory flexibility independence would give us.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    Yes, there are various ways that the discontent might play out. Tarnishing the Tories' support for a generation, corn laws style, is probably more likely that clamour for re-entry.
    I think both will happen, but Brexit is showing that the detoxification of the Tories was just smoke and mirrors.

    The #peoplesvote campaign is not likely to be successful in its primary objective, but it is an ever growing network of opposition to the Tory Brexiteers. It will manifest in different ways post Brexit.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...
    r
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project. Many UK governments tried to reform it from within but failed. Cameron's negotiation showed that the core EU just don't care. They don't see a problem.

    The EU has.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    What advantages does being outside the EU bring for the creative industries, services and high end manufacturing? I can see very really and tangible benefits to all three from a larger home market, more co-ordinated regulations and a more stable macro-economic environment - all of which the EU has delivered.
    We can adopt much more flexible and timely regulation of those services industries, and adapt/change them quickly to respond to global trends as we see fit. There are a variety of procurement, trade and certification regulations I’d amend too.

    The UK has a big comparative advantage in services.
    Well I'll be logging off of here and selling my services to the world once I've finished my cup of tea. Any suggestions as to how flexible and timely regulation will help me in the future? It would be nice to have something to look forward to because as things stand I am trying to develop products without any clear idea of what the regulatory framework I will be working in will be in six months time.
    You know perfectly well what it will be in six months time. It will be the same as now; that’s what’s included in the EU Withdrawal Act.

    You have no better idea of how services regulation will develop in the future either. The difference is that it will be our choice.
  • archer101auarcher101au Posts: 1,612
    FF43 said:



    True. Sensible Leavers - there are some - will want a deal. MPs who think Brexit a huge mistake - almost all Labour MPs and most Conservative ones privately - will be appalled by the prospect of looming chaos.

    There would nothing more appalling than the Government tying the hands of future Parliaments and future generations by handing over to the EU the power to determine if and when we can leave their customs union. That is worse than the situation as a member of the EU when at least we had the right to leave. It would be the single most disgraceful act ever committed by a British Prime Minister. There is nothing sensible about that.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Not to mention that whoever replaces Kavanaugh as the nominee might be better or worse, depending who it is and how you view these things.

    Kavanaugh has shortened during the night and is now priced at 1/8 (implying 89% certain) to be confirmed, 7/2 not to be.
    It is extremely hard to imagine a nominee who would make a worse judge than Kavanaugh, following his behaviour at the committee hearing.
    I suspect we’ll never know what happened three and a half decades ago - but that performance was very damaging - I can’t imagine the other Supreme Court Justices are looking forward to serving with him.
    Where did I read, as I’m certain I did, that present colleagues of Kavanaugh 'barely recognised the person before the committee’; he is, apparently, normally much more ‘judicial’ than that.
    Whether or not he prefers good looking young women as ‘clerks’.
    You are thinking of this article by a prominent conservative lawyer:
    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/why-i-wouldnt-confirm-brett-kavanaugh/571936/
    Wow.

    That is a brilliant article.

    I hope every Senator reads it.
    Along with this one:
    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/10/brett-kavanaugh-college-roommate-jamie-roche.html

    It's fairly clear the the FBI 'investigation' is little more than a PR exercise if they refused to (or were told not to) interview his college roommate.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038
    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...
    r
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project. Many UK governments tried to reform it from within but failed. Cameron's negotiation showed that the core EU just don't care. They don't see a problem.

    The EU has.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    vered.
    We can adopt much more flexible and timely regulation of those services industries, and adapt/change them quickly to respond to global trends as we see fit. There are a variety of procurement, trade and certification regulations I’d amend too.

    The UK has a big comparative advantage in services.
    Well I'll be logging off of here and selling my services to the world once I've finished my cup of tea. Any suggestions as to how flexible and timely regulation will help me in the future? It would be nice to have something to look forward to because as things stand I am trying to develop products without any clear idea of what the regulatory framework I will be working in will be in six months time.
    Yeah, it's nothing but vague platitudes that we get from leavers. None of them point to anything specific that they want to change in regulations, or explain how business is currently being held back by membership of the single market, nor recognise that the EU contains some of the world's most successful exporters; easy access to a very large market is of huge benefit to business, particularly smaller ones given the reach of the internet.
    The ports directive and procurement regs are two I’d immediately change.

    Post leaving, i’d advocate a full review of all to see which we should keep, repeal, amend, modify or add toward with an impact analysis on each.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,094

    FF43 said:



    True. Sensible Leavers - there are some - will want a deal. MPs who think Brexit a huge mistake - almost all Labour MPs and most Conservative ones privately - will be appalled by the prospect of looming chaos.

    There would nothing more appalling than the Government tying the hands of future Parliaments and future generations by handing over to the EU the power to determine if and when we can leave their customs union. That is worse than the situation as a member of the EU when at least we had the right to leave. It would be the single most disgraceful act ever committed by a British Prime Minister. There is nothing sensible about that.
    Don't worry, you'll be safely away from it all in the Outback.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,769

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    I’m about 5’6”, and while I’m perhaps a bit ‘tubby’ I’m developing problems with my lower spine which, as it affects my legs, makes walking difficult, so I’ve been wondering when I’m going to need a scooter.
    Not going to ‘The State’ though; if I do decide I need one, our local pharmacy sells them. As I used to, when I ran a pharmacy, nearly 40 years ago
    I imagine the complaints above are aimed at those who are 40/50. Even if you are in quite good shape and maintained a healthy life walking can become difficult past retirement age.

    I wouldn't judge individuals as you never know what conditions they might have but considering the numbers there must be people out there misusing them (or to my mind misuse)

    If you are overweight and middle aged and starting to get problems from your weight then you need to do something pretty soon as the problems will get far worse with old age added in. At least some people to my mind are probably compounding the problem with mobility scooters.

    Also in some unsolicited advice you probably already know swimming can be a good solution if you want to do exercise but walking is painful.
    I once drove my grandfather's mobility scooter around his house, with him watching. He then took over and I ran. From me standing and him taking a run-up, I won. I was probably breaking some law or other, but we both had a lot of fun and indeed since he died 22 years ago when I was only 12 probably my most vivid memory of him is his laughing as I selected the wrong switch and ground to an embarrassing halt

    That being said, I agree that people who use them for shopping when they are perfectly capable of walking are idiots. If, with a fairly severe hip problem, I can walk a mile and a half into Cannock to do my shopping and carry the bags back, you wonder how many of them really need such things.

    Have a good morning.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,724

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    I’m about 5’6”, and while I’m perhaps a bit ‘tubby’ I’m developing problems with my lower spine which, as it affects my legs, makes walking difficult, so I’ve been wondering when I’m going to need a scooter.
    Not going to ‘The State’ though; if I do decide I need one, our local pharmacy sells them. As I used to, when I ran a pharmacy, nearly 40 years ago
    I imagine the complaints above are aimed at those who are 40/50. Even if you are in quite good shape and maintained a healthy life walking can become difficult past retirement age.

    I wouldn't judge individuals as you never know what conditions they might have but considering the numbers there must be people out there misusing them (or to my mind misuse)

    If you are overweight and middle aged and starting to get problems from your weight then you need to do something pretty soon as the problems will get far worse with old age added in. At least some people to my mind are probably compounding the problem with mobility scooters.

    Also in some unsolicited advice you probably already know swimming can be a good solution if you want to do exercise but walking is painful.
    Swimming’s OK, although TBH I don’t enjoy it. Up and down a pool; no thanks. I’d rather follow a gym routine (which I do). I’m certainly not morbidly obese; a bit overweight maybe! However, as far as walking is concerned a couple of years ago I could, and did, do 5-10 miles two or three times a week with few problems; now I’m down to half a mile without a rest. And it’s just my legs.
    So if I had a scooter, as, as above, I might be accused of being ‘someone who didn’t need on’, although it would keep me independent.
    One of these days I’m going to see if I can find out whether it’s cheaper, or greener, to use a scooter for short distances than a car.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Pulpstar, more importantly, the Moon stabilises our axial tilt, so it varies by only tiny margins.

    Without it, the axis would have a 90 degree swing, from 'vertical' to 'horizontal'. Apparently, this would make life on Earth all but impossible.

    Destroying the Moon is a tiny bit less insane than destroying the Sun.
  • OblitusSumMeOblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143

    Mr. Pulpstar, more importantly, the Moon stabilises our axial tilt, so it varies by only tiny margins.

    Without it, the axis would have a 90 degree swing, from 'vertical' to 'horizontal'. Apparently, this would make life on Earth all but impossible.

    Destroying the Moon is a tiny bit less insane than destroying the Sun.

    I think I once worked out that if you sorted out fusion you could replace the sun with lamps on the Moon, so I might reverse your order of insanity.
  • not_on_firenot_on_fire Posts: 4,340
    edited October 2018

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    The interesting thing is that not only are they often used as weapons on the pavements, the driver of said vehicle more than not gets out of it and walks into the shop.
    Most likely because the shop doesn’t have a ramp and/or is too small to navigate the scooter round.

    I find it appalling that somepeople on here take one look at someone in a scooter and then make a snap judgment (with no knowledge of their mental or physical issues) about whether they need the scooter or are just “lazy”.

    As for the “they don’t have them in France” observation, that’s prima facie anecdata Perhaps they’re less good at providing scooters there, and the people who need them are stuck at home.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Me, I put it to you, sir, that if we had the technology necessary for fusion lamps to replace the Sun we could then make our own Moon.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,780
    I can't wait for this to be over. I suspect by next year much of the hysteria of the last few months will have passed. I certainly hope so.

    What I still expect to happen is that May will come back in November with a deal. There will be aspects of that deal that some Brexiteers won't like. Boris and others will claim betrayal. But it won't be because on the basis of that deal the UK will leave the EU, which is what we voted to do.

    That deal will then have to go before not just our Parliament but the Parliaments of other EU members who have to confirm their agreement, albeit by a QM. This is important because it means that once struck the deal cannot really be changed. It will be take it or leave it.

    If our Parliament voted to reject the deal the government would fall. More importantly, the options would then be to leave without a deal or to seek, but not necessarily receive, an extension of Art 50 for further discussion. I think given these options the majority of MPs will accept the deal offered and that is really the point that May was making yesterday.

    She was saying that we have many different ideas of what the ideal Brexit is but that is not the choice we will have. The choice her government can give is the deal she delivers or no deal. If her government falls then there is a risk of a government not committed to leaving at all by means of a general election. Brexiteers dismayed by her concessions should bear that in mind.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,545
    ydoethur said:

    I once drove my grandfather's mobility scooter around his house, with him watching. He then took over and I ran. From me standing and him taking a run-up, I won. I was probably breaking some law or other, but we both had a lot of fun and indeed since he died 22 years ago when I was only 12 probably my most vivid memory of him is his laughing as I selected the wrong switch and ground to an embarrassing halt

    That being said, I agree that people who use them for shopping when they are perfectly capable of walking are idiots. If, with a fairly severe hip problem, I can walk a mile and a half into Cannock to do my shopping and carry the bags back, you wonder how many of them really need such things.

    Have a good morning.

    As an aside, ten or so yeas ago my parents met an English couple whilst on holiday in France. The gent had severe mobility issues with his legs, used sticks, and had a scooter.

    They were rather surprised to find that he had represented Britain as a runner in the 1950s. Sadly, he had suffered for his sport in later years and had had several ops on his knees and legs.

    As another aside, when I was 19 I was at uni in London, and for a while was on crutches. One day I got a rush-hour tube into uni, when a smartly-dressed woman turned to me and snarled: "Do you have to use those things on the tube?"

    Because obviously I was just using crutches to inconvenience her by 'stealing' a few square inches of space ...
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    On mobility scooters: aye. Lots of users are just fat. Good for the frail, though.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    The interesting thing is that not only are they often used as weapons on the pavements, the driver of said vehicle more than not gets out of it and walks into the shop.
    Most likely because the shop doesn’t have a ramp and/or is too small to navigate the scooter round.

    I find it appalling that somepeople on here take one look at someone in a scooter and then make a snap judgment (with no knowledge of their mental or physical issues) about whether they need the scooter or are just “lazy”.
    Absolutely! Mobility scooters are wonderful things, something of the modern world to be celebrated and built upon - not subject to the the worst kind of social snobbery and judgement. People who don't like them should mind their own business.

    My old man (75), got a scooter last year. After several strokes he is afraid to trip and fall. He was increasingly staying at home. With his scooter, he is out every morning to buy his newspaper as he always has done. He is more himself, fitter and happier overall.


  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,704

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    I’m about 5’6”, and while I’m perhaps a bit ‘tubby’ I’m developing problems with my lower spine which, as it affects my legs, makes walking difficult, so I’ve been wondering when I’m going to need a scooter.
    Not going to ‘The State’ though; if I do decide I need one, our local pharmacy sells them. As I used to, when I ran a pharmacy, nearly 40 years ago
    I imagine the complaints above are aimed at those who are 40/50. Even if you are in quite good shape and maintained a healthy life walking can become difficult past retirement age.

    I wouldn't judge individuals as you never know what conditions they might have but considering the numbers there must be people out there misusing them (or to my mind misuse)

    If you are overweight and middle aged and starting to get problems from your weight then you need to do something pretty soon as the problems will get far worse with old age added in. At least some people to my mind are probably compounding the problem with mobility scooters.

    Also in some unsolicited advice you probably already know swimming can be a good solution if you want to do exercise but walking is painful.
    Best not to leave it too late. I'm now 64 and have had back issues for 53 years, but have a reasonably active lifestyle. However I noticed I was not as physically capable in several ways over the last couple of years and thought I should do something about it.
    I have found that swimming is good. I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week. I have also taken up yoga and do a class three times a week The combination of these appears to be helping me.

  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...
    r
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project. Many UK governments tried to reform it from within but failed. Cameron's negotiation showed that the core EU just don't care. They don't see a problem.

    The EU has.

    I see Brexit as a strategic long-term decision that will undoubtedly be the right one over 20-30 years. What I don’t know is whether it’s politically sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    What advantages does being outside the EU bring for the creative industries, services and high end manufacturing? I can see very really and tangible benefits to all three from a larger home market, more co-ordinated regulations and a more stable macro-economic environment - all of which the EU has delivered.
    We can adopt much more flexible and timely regulation of those services industries, and adapt/change them quickly to respond to global trends as we see fit. There are a variety of procurement, trade and certification regulations I’d amend too.

    The UK has a big comparative advantage in services.
    Well I'll be logging off of here and selling my services to the world once I've finished my cup of tea. Any suggestions as to how flexible and timely regulation will help me in the future? It would be nice to have something to look forward to because as things stand I am trying to develop products without any clear idea of what the regulatory framework I will be working in will be in six months time.
    You know perfectly well what it will be in six months time. It will be the same as now; that’s what’s included in the EU Withdrawal Act.

    You have no better idea of how services regulation will develop in the future either. The difference is that it will be our choice.
    On the contrary. If we leave without a deal there are some quite basic questions about doing business in my industry that nobody knows the answer to. This is real life actual decision making that is being affected.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718
    edited October 2018
    Foxy said:

    IanB2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? The anger of many will destroy our society if we do. We will not go back to how we were - the genie of the extremes will be unleashed and there will be blood. Can you not sense the edge of violence stirring? I fear it. Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and nervousness around transiting to a new status quo, and just how hard it is to do that after 40 years of intermeshing with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services lly sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s an argument to say that the more bitter and divisive getting out proves to be the less likely we’ll be to ever go back in.

    Apart from the fanatics, most normal people will want to let sleeping dogs lie and won’t want to reopen that pandora’s box all over again.
    Yes, there are various ways that the discontent might play out. Tarnishing the Tories' support for a generation, corn laws style, is probably more likely that clamour for re-entry.
    I think both will happen, but Brexit is showing that the detoxification of the Tories was just smoke and mirrors.

    The #peoplesvote campaign is not likely to be successful in its primary objective, but it is an ever growing network of opposition to the Tory Brexiteers. It will manifest in different ways post Brexit.
    Why would you need to detoxify something 52% of the electorate voted for?

    May correctly recognised yesterday austerity has become more toxic for the Tories after 8 years in power than Brexit, even No Deal Brexit likely has more supporters than years more austerity.

    In 2010 voters recognised austerity was needed to balance the books, after 8 years of cuts to non protected public services they have grown weary of it
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,545
    And another point: disabilities can vary on a day-to-day basis with the same person. When I was a teenager I was told I might never walk properly again, and spent lots of time in casts, had lots of operations etc.

    This lasted right the way through my time at uni and beyond. Yet I would regularly walk seven or so miles from Mile End up the Regent Canal to Paddington, which a couple of idiots said 'proved' I wasn't in pain. The fact was I did it *despite* the pain, and I often couldn't do even that. But I loved those walks.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    edited October 2018
    RoyalBlue said:

    Baker making a great point here. The ERG and DUP have told May over and over again that Chequers is unacceptable. Her solution? Propose more climb downs that make Chequers worse.

    As May says “Nothing has changed.” She is dancing while continuing to pursue a deal that cannot be approved. That is not strength, it is delusion. And the cabinet sit around and let this happen? Good God.

    The only deal May can make will be one that destroys all the red lines she has set out. When she does so, her credibility will be zero. No point blaming the Leavers for No Deal - that will be courtesy of Theresa May.
    The danger is that we get no Brexit at all. The Civil War ultimately led to the Restoration; perhaps history will rhyme.
    Well ultimately we got to a position wherein republic supporters did not get that, but the monarch no longer had any real power. I guess the sides accepted a compromise that neither set out for, who knew.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    To answer @SeanT's question, I have no idea how I would vote in a future referendum. All options from here are disastrous.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718
    edited October 2018
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Not to mention that whoever replaces Kavanaugh as the nominee might be better or worse, depending who it is and how you view these things.

    Kavanaugh has shortened during the night and is now priced at 1/8 (implying 89% certain) to be confirmed, 7/2 not to be.
    It is extremely hard to imagine a nominee who would make a worse judge than Kavanaugh, following his behaviour at the committee hearing.
    I suspect we’ll never know what happened three and a half decades ago - but that performance was very damaging - I can’t imagine the other Supreme Court Justices are looking forward to serving with him.
    As the account from his college roommate I posted above fairly conclusively demonstrates, he is a lawyer happy to perjure himself for preferment. I don't think anything more needs to be known.

    An interesting theory put forward about Trump's latest rant is that he doesn't care if a couple of Republican Senators (one of whom is retiring) rebel and kill the confirmation this week.
    Polling suggests this could fire up the base sufficiently to make the difference between holding or losing the Senate (though I doubt it would be enough for the House). Which means a conservative nominee on the bench anyway. Kavanaugh has become dispensable, and the howls of outrage are as synthetic as everything else.
    I agree the House is likely gone for the Republicans now, Trump is trying to fire up the base to prevent a Democratic landslide and the Democrats taking the Senate too
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Fire, for those overweight, it is better for them to exercise as much as possible. Our organs weren't designed to have 10-20st of fat pressing on them.

    I'm not as active as I should be, and don't really like exercise, but I do recognise it's a good thing, especially for those with indolent lifestyles and an excess of fat.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,883

    To answer @SeanT's question, I have no idea how I would vote in a future referendum. All options from here are disastrous.

    I'd vote Remain twice, employing electoral fraud for the second vote.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 15,547
    edited October 2018
    DavidL said:

    I can't wait for this to be over. I suspect by next year much of the hysteria of the last few months will have passed. I certainly hope so.

    It certainly won't be over. We have years more of this but perhaps cold reality will temper some of the nonsense. Enjoy..

    Anyway something new about Brexit. Theresa May who has made zero effort to reach out for cross party consensus, said some polite things about Labour in her speech. Maybe that will change?

    I have changed the input method on my mobile. Brexit seems to be registered as an obscene word like "fuck". So it doesn't accidentally output it in inaccurate typing.

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718

    rcs1000 said:



    "We can never leave the CU".

    How do you think they will manage that?

    May's 'grand bargain' is apparently a whole UK-wide backstop where we remain in the CU until BOTH the UK and EU agree that solutions have been developed which 'solve' the NI border.

    Therefore, we will not be able to leave the CU without EU permission. This will be a binding international treaty. The EU of course will never agree to any NI border solution. Instead, we will give up the money and spend two years pointlessly deliberating 'Chequers' knowing that the EU will never agree. After the two years is up, the EU will activate the backstop. The UK will be told that there will be no trade deal for the rest of GB because staying in the backstop is cherry picking (we will be in the CU and SM with no FOM) so they will say any deal need to go back to EEA/CU which is what they always wanted.

    Once she agrees a permanent backstop, Brexit cannot happen. That is why she promised in writing to her MPs that the backstop would be 'strictly time limited' - another promise she is about to break.
    You can be in the Customs Union and outside the EU, see Turkey.

    Turkey also has no FoM rights at the moment to the EU and visa versa and is outside the SM
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    rkrkrk said:

    rcs1000 said:



    You're right that she'll have to end up erasing her remaining red lines. However, what I don't think you've shown is that such a deal can't be approved.

    The ERG don't have a veto on what the government does. If they had the numbers for an alternative leader and an alternative plan they'd already have got rid of her.

    The DUP have a veto on whether the government continues to exist, but it's not really clear they have a better option; If they blow it up they most likely end up with a new government that doesn't need them.

    Both of these groups have a vote any final deal, but it's not clear whether it'll be a blocking minority; Quite plausibly she can get support from other parties. And I think it's too early to assume the ERG will vote against, whatever they say now; No deal may look less attractive to them when they're staring straight down the barrel of it, and if TMay ends up getting other MPs to support her the ERG have to swallow not only the deal, but also any concessions she had to make to get those extra votes.

    It's also a mistake to think of the ERG as a homogenous block.

    That being said, I think that it is more than possible that a mixture of Conservative rebels, and Labour desire to see the government fall will result in Mrs May's deal being voted down.

    However, as I've said before, were that to happen, a more likely scenario is in an extension to Article 50 rather than a No Deal Brexit in early 2019.
    I think that Baker is right that at least 40 ERG people will vote against. Probably the DUP as well. And say 3-5 Labour MPs. So it seems to me that May will need around 45-50 votes from other parties to pass her deal - is that right? That is a lot of Labour rebels.

    FWIW my view is that:

    - The Deal will be so bad that the ERG will get greater numbers. I think there will be more resignations once it becomes clear that we can never leave the CU and have our own trade policy.
    - The DUP will happily no confidence the Govt if they cross the red lines. They have nothing to lose. ried.
    48 Labour MPs rebelled to vote for single market and customs union in a pointless vote. Far more would do so if it was that or no deal.
    I don't think they would - I think that most of them somehow hope for labour to switch to a position to remain and that when the gov collapses in that situation that remain could be achieved.

    In short I think their desire and hope would lead them to reject the deal, even at the risk no deal happens instead, indeed is much more likely. They'll gamble on that rather than back May in such numbers, particularly since the official line from Labour is any option is on the table.
  • kle4 said:

    RoyalBlue said:

    Baker making a great point here. The ERG and DUP have told May over and over again that Chequers is unacceptable. Her solution? Propose more climb downs that make Chequers worse.

    As May says “Nothing has changed.” She is dancing while continuing to pursue a deal that cannot be approved. That is not strength, it is delusion. And the cabinet sit around and let this happen? Good God.

    The only deal May can make will be one that destroys all the red lines she has set out. When she does so, her credibility will be zero. No point blaming the Leavers for No Deal - that will be courtesy of Theresa May.
    The danger is that we get no Brexit at all. The Civil War ultimately led to the Restoration; perhaps history will rhyme.
    Well ultimately we got to a position wherein republic supporters did not get that, but the monarch no longer had any real power. I guess the sides accepted a compromise that neither set out for, who knew.
    It’ll be like the Glorious Revolution.

    We’ll ask for some European to come rescue and rule us.
  • HYUFD said:

    rcs1000 said:



    "We can never leave the CU".

    How do you think they will manage that?

    May's 'grand bargain' is apparently a whole UK-wide backstop where we remain in the CU until BOTH the UK and EU agree that solutions have been developed which 'solve' the NI border.

    Therefore, we will not be able to leave the CU without EU permission. This will be a binding international treaty. The EU of course will never agree to any NI border solution. Instead, we will give up the money and spend two years pointlessly deliberating 'Chequers' knowing that the EU will never agree. After the two years is up, the EU will activate the backstop. The UK will be told that there will be no trade deal for the rest of GB because staying in the backstop is cherry picking (we will be in the CU and SM with no FOM) so they will say any deal need to go back to EEA/CU which is what they always wanted.

    Once she agrees a permanent backstop, Brexit cannot happen. That is why she promised in writing to her MPs that the backstop would be 'strictly time limited' - another promise she is about to break.
    You can be in the Customs Union and outside the EU, see Turkey.

    Turkey also has no FoM rights at the moment to the EU and visa versa and is outside the SM
    Turkey isn’t in The Customs Union.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,559
    HYUFD said:

    Foxy said:

    IanB2 said:

    IanB2 said:

    Scott_P said:

    What are we then if, paralysed by fear, we meekly give up? How do we look our grandparents and parents in the eye given the sacrifices they made? Deeply.

    Ummm, that's the problem...

    Our grandparents and parents who lived though the boom times have voted away the future of their kids and grandkids.

    They are lucky the anger has not been expressed anywhere other than the ballot box so far
    Membership of the EU does not define the future of our country. We do.

    The EU is unarguably a flawed political project.

    So it could be that we look back on Brexit and are grateful.
    When you boil it down it translates to our fear and ne with the EU.

    A fully independent UK, which would be based on creative industries, services lly sustainable over the next 10 years, given how divisive it’s been.
    It will crumble under pressure from a downturn that affected the UK disproportionately, if there were to be one.
    Then again, it might not.

    Paradoxically, there’s anr again.
    Yes, there are various ways that the dis re-entry.
    I think both will happen, but Brexit is showing that the detoxification of the Tories was just smoke and mirrors.

    The #peoplesvote campaign is not likely to be successful in its primary objective, but it is an ever growing network of opposition to the Tory Brexiteers. It will manifest in different ways post Brexit.
    Why would you need to detoxify something 52% of the electorate voted for?

    May correctly recognised yesterday austerity has become more toxic for the Tories after 8 years in power than Brexit, even No Deal Brexit likely has more supporters than years more austerity.

    In 2010 voters recognised austerity was needed to balance the books, after 8 years of cuts to non protected public services they have grown weary of it
    yes

    Brexit is only of interest to political anoraks at either end of the spectrum.

    The Tories might just finally have recognised that voters are just bored with Brexit and want bread and butter issues addressed. Corbyn grasped this early on and has profited from being more aware than CCHQ of what the national mood is.

    If yesterday actually means the Conservatives have stopped navel gazing, then they might have a chance of winning next time
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point.

    It's bizarre, however, that we seem to have reached a stage whereby wishing the fat to exercise is seen as 'fat-shaming' whilst at the same time there's a rush to reduce, ban, or curtail the use of sugar in food precisely to stop people getting fat in the first place.

    Mr. kle4, wasn't Cromwell a puritanical dictator? If he'd been less of a killjoy, or his son, nicknamed Queen Dick, less incompetent, the republic/commonwealth might've lasted longer.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,082
    Jonathan said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.
    The interesting thing is that not only are they often used as weapons on the pavements, the driver of said vehicle more than not gets out of it and walks into the shop.
    Most likely because the shop doesn’t have a ramp and/or is too small to navigate the scooter round.

    I find it appalling that somepeople on here take one look at someone in a scooter and then make a snap judgment (with no knowledge of their mental or physical issues) about whether they need the scooter or are just “lazy”.
    Absolutely! Mobility scooters are wonderful things, something of the modern world to be celebrated and built upon - not subject to the the worst kind of social snobbery and judgement. People who don't like them should mind their own business.

    My old man (75), got a scooter last year. After several strokes he is afraid to trip and fall. He was increasingly staying at home. With his scooter, he is out every morning to buy his newspaper as he always has done. He is more himself, fitter and happier overall.


    Yes, and posters should take note that people with disabilities are common on internet forums, where their disability does not show.

    Certainly mobility scooters are a great boon to the disabled, including those with obesity related conditions. Obesity is a complex problem, and there are few obese people who would not want to shed weight, but the fact that obesity increases continually shows that it is not so easy in an obesity promoting western lifestyle.

    I shed 10kg last year and have kept it off. My old sports related knee injury no longer bothers me. Well worth doing so now in a virtuous cycle of health and fitness.

    Interesting piece on 5Live yesterday on the rise of prescription opiod addiction in the UK. I really dont want us to go down the US pathway on that as well as obesity.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,363
    Been away at Tory conference for a few days but a few thoughts on Brexit.

    i) a deal will be done, the difficult bits will be pushed to the transition.
    ii) NI though difficult will be solved in weeks and the EU will largely capitulate.
    iii) Parliament will back the deal because it is implicitly a confidence issue. Govt won't make it formal but marginal Brexity Tory MPs will prefer a shelf life of 3 years rather than 3 years. The DUP will be reminded of Corbyn being for a United Ireland and the danger of the govt losing their most important policy, the reminder may be in the form of an additional quarter of a billion which is chicken feed really.

    A thought on Boris. He's stuffed. Yes, his speech was well attended but it felt like the act of an aging rockstar trying to rekindle the magic. The sense even from fanatical Brexiteers is that he's massively overplayed his hand. The likelihood of him being leader were slim before but non-existent now. Meanwhile Theresa's speech has shorn up her position, and probably means she can depart with some dignity now. That she will depart is certain despite the contrary signaling, she didn't do the traditional regional reception tour ostensibly to protect her voice but a leader wanting a longer horizon wouldn't feel comfortable snubbing the membership to that extent.
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    edited October 2018
    Just to clarify my earlier comments the parts about being overweight and misuse were generalised and not aimed specifically at you OKC.

    Edit: Not much of a pool person myself either.

    Also any individual who needs one, even if they do look young and healthy should get one. I do think there is some misuse but I wouldn't judge individuals on that basis. Used properly and not simply to avoid exercise by those who would benefit from it it would probably be a health positive. By pushing too hard you can cause injury which could be even worse.

    A good morning to you too Ydoethur and best of luck with the dodgy hip!
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,545

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point.

    It's bizarre, however, that we seem to have reached a stage whereby wishing the fat to exercise is seen as 'fat-shaming' whilst at the same time there's a rush to reduce, ban, or curtail the use of sugar in food precisely to stop people getting fat in the first place.

    (Snip)

    Some cannot exercise. And when some fat people try exercising, people throw abuse at them.

    Oddly, I find I eat less when I'm doing vigorous exercise, and more when I'm sitting at a keyboard. Ban t'Internet to solve the obesity crisis!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    edited October 2018

    Mr. Jessop, that's a fair point.

    It's bizarre, however, that we seem to have reached a stage whereby wishing the fat to exercise is seen as 'fat-shaming' whilst at the same time there's a rush to reduce, ban, or curtail the use of sugar in food precisely to stop people getting fat in the first place.

    Mr. kle4, wasn't Cromwell a puritanical dictator? If he'd been less of a killjoy, or his son, nicknamed Queen Dick, less incompetent, the republic/commonwealth might've lasted longer.

    Part of the problem was the king was killed without much of an idea of what would happen next. It's not like they all started out as fervent republicans. They then spent years and years arguing about what the nature and direction of the country would be, clashing with the Scots and Irish, and extreme voices often rule the day in such situations. Cromwell eventually was king in all but name and when he as a leader - who despite being as you say was also able to work between civilian and military interests - was gone prematurely, it became chaotic, and a powerful former royalist turned cromwellian ended up leading everyone back to the status quo.

    There are no parallels here.
  • AnazinaAnazina Posts: 3,487
    IanB2 said:

    FF43 said:



    True. Sensible Leavers - there are some - will want a deal. MPs who think Brexit a huge mistake - almost all Labour MPs and most Conservative ones privately - will be appalled by the prospect of looming chaos.

    There would nothing more appalling than the Government tying the hands of future Parliaments and future generations by handing over to the EU the power to determine if and when we can leave their customs union. That is worse than the situation as a member of the EU when at least we had the right to leave. It would be the single most disgraceful act ever committed by a British Prime Minister. There is nothing sensible about that.
    Don't worry, you'll be safely away from it all in the Outback.
    That made me LOL.

    LOL! :smiley:
  • Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    philiph said:

    I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week.

    Last year? Good grief! I cannot conceive of not being able to swim. It is like walking, I just do it.

    Well done on finally mastering it and it is good to hear that it is helping your health
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,559

    philiph said:

    I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week.

    Last year? Good grief! I cannot conceive of not being able to swim. It is like walking, I just do it.

    Well done on finally mastering it and it is good to hear that it is helping your health
    nice to see you back on line Mrs C
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408

    philiph said:

    I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week.

    Last year? Good grief! I cannot conceive of not being able to swim. It is like walking, I just do it.

    Well done on finally mastering it and it is good to hear that it is helping your health
    That reminds me i must learn to swim as well. A new goal to aim for I guess.
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    philiph said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh, I saw about 3 mobility scooters whilst I was out today. Didn't see a single one in France. I have to say the drivers didn't look particularly disabled either. OK so they weren't looking particularly healthy either, but you shouldn't have a mobility scooter simply because you're 5'6 and 22 stone. It's just going to increase one's obesity.
    Has anyone properly looked into this ? It seems a real waste of the state's money, and doesn't help their owner's health one bit.
    Yes I realise some people do need them, I have a friend without feet for instance that has one. But they seem massively overused, particularly amongst the morbidly obese.

    That’s also been my observation.


    I wouldn't judge individuals as you never know what conditions they might have but considering the numbers there must be people out there misusing them (or to my mind misuse)

    If you are overweight and middle aged and starting to get problems from your weight then you need to do something pretty soon as the problems will get far worse with old age added in. At least some people to my mind are probably compounding the problem with mobility scooters.

    Also in some unsolicited advice you probably already know swimming can be a good solution if you want to do exercise but walking is painful.
    Best not to leave it too late. I'm now 64 and have had back issues for 53 years, but have a reasonably active lifestyle. However I noticed I was not as physically capable in several ways over the last couple of years and thought I should do something about it.
    I have found that swimming is good. I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week. I have also taken up yoga and do a class three times a week The combination of these appears to be helping me.

    Absolutely, that is a great change you've made. Swimming is really good for low level activity and a very active 90ish year old woman I lived next door to previously (who moved better than many people decades younger than her) recommended Yoga and talked about how she'd done it for a while.

    I mainly got that line (don't leave it too late) from my mother who was an occupational therapist and I think got that from her experiences in work and seeing people who had done just that. It can make a huge difference to quality of life in your retirement years.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Jessop, yeah, that's always dumb. Criticising the overweight for exercising is just ridiculous.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    edited October 2018
    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example. Corbyn is supposed to be a good person, because he is thin.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,780
    FF43 said:

    DavidL said:

    I can't wait for this to be over. I suspect by next year much of the hysteria of the last few months will have passed. I certainly hope so.

    It certainly won't be over. We have years more of this but perhaps cold reality will temper some of the nonsense. Enjoy..

    Anyway something new about Brexit. Theresa May who has made zero effort to reach out for cross party consensus, said some polite things about Labour in her speech. Maybe that will change?

    I have changed the input method on my mobile. Brexit seems to be registered as an obscene word like "fuck". So it doesn't accidentally output it in inaccurate typing.

    No, we will see that the hysteria was just that, that life goes on as before, that the fear stories were simply fantasies and that UK is perfectly capable of operating successfully outside the EU.

    I agree that May's failure to build any kind of a consensus has been a major weakness. I have said many times before that the government should have recognised that the negotiation of this deal was a national interest not a party one. I have argued before that Peter Mandelson should have been involved, for example. Brexit has been handled as badly as it possibly could have been in many respects but as we get to the point choices will narrow and people will have to decide whether to respect the decision of the British people or not.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
  • CD13CD13 Posts: 6,349
    I see some fatties in the gym and think 'well done'. I've always exercised on the basis of use it or lose it. Reasons to stop are many, but once you do stop it's much harder to get back than to keep going. At 68, I just need more down time to recover.
  • Beverley_CBeverley_C Posts: 6,256
    edited October 2018

    philiph said:

    I only learnt to swim last year, and now try to go twice a week.

    Last year? Good grief! I cannot conceive of not being able to swim. It is like walking, I just do it.

    Well done on finally mastering it and it is good to hear that it is helping your health
    nice to see you back on line Mrs C
    I had not gone away. Domestic issues interrupted my rant but I will probably comment less on Brexit because it is like teaching a pig to sing - it wastes your time and it annoys the pig
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    People have control over what they eat and how much exercise they do. Obesity already costs the NHS billions. We are the fattest nation in Europe, and British children are now fatter than American ones.

    Being fat is not an identity. The vast majority of people who are fat are so because of their personal choices. Highlighting the consequences of people’s actions is not ‘fat-shaming’. Is pointing out the effects of smoking or excessive alcohol consumption a form of prejudice too?
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718
    edited October 2018

    HYUFD said:

    rcs1000 said:



    "We can never leave the CU".

    How do you think they will manage that?

    May's 'grand bargain' is apparently a whole UK-wide backstop where we remain in the CU until BOTH the UK and EU agree that solutions have been developed which 'solve' the NI border.

    Therefore, we will not be able to leave the CU without EU permission. This will be a binding international treaty. The EU of course will never agree to any NI border solution. Instead, we will give up the money and spend two years pointlessly deliberating 'Chequers' knowing that the EU will never agree. After the two years is up, the EU will activate the backstop. The UK will be told that there will be no trade deal for the rest of GB because staying in the backstop is cherry picking (we will be in the CU and SM with no FOM) so they will say any deal need to go back to EEA/CU which is what they always wanted.

    Once she agrees a permanent backstop, Brexit cannot happen. That is why she promised in writing to her MPs that the backstop would be 'strictly time limited' - another promise she is about to break.
    You can be in the Customs Union and outside the EU, see Turkey.

    Turkey also has no FoM rights at the moment to the EU and visa versa and is outside the SM
    Turkey isn’t in The Customs Union.
    Turkey is in a Customs Union agreement with the EU and while May will probably call it something else the UK will also effectively be in a Customs Union Agreement with the EU until a technical solution is found to the Irish border
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example. Corbyn is supposed to be a good person, because he is thin.

    I'm not sure you could really find many people advancing that particular argument, subconscious bias on people's looks does come into play though certainly. In Corbyn's case though he hasn't really been up against anyone overweight. Cooper, Kendal, Burnham, Smith and May are all in decent shape.

    Also I'm sure you'd see the fat cat line happily chucked at relatively slim but wealthy businessmen it has long been a phrase rather than proof of negative feeling towards the overweight or the feline.

    I know it is an old centrist hobby to turn every negative into proof that those on the right and left of them are the cause of all evil in the world but I'm not sure being mean to fat people is particular to any political group. Right, left or centrist.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    I think we can too far in suggesting there's no issue being overweight, particularly very overweight, to avoid upsetting people. I'm more talking that it's wrong that I sometimes have instinctively nasty thoughts about the very overweight. As a society I'd agree we still need to strongly encourage people not to become so.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718
    ToryJim said:

    Been away at Tory conference for a few days but a few thoughts on Brexit.

    i) a deal will be done, the difficult bits will be pushed to the transition.
    ii) NI though difficult will be solved in weeks and the EU will largely capitulate.
    iii) Parliament will back the deal because it is implicitly a confidence issue. Govt won't make it formal but marginal Brexity Tory MPs will prefer a shelf life of 3 years rather than 3 years. The DUP will be reminded of Corbyn being for a United Ireland and the danger of the govt losing their most important policy, the reminder may be in the form of an additional quarter of a billion which is chicken feed really.

    A thought on Boris. He's stuffed. Yes, his speech was well attended but it felt like the act of an aging rockstar trying to rekindle the magic. The sense even from fanatical Brexiteers is that he's massively overplayed his hand. The likelihood of him being leader were slim before but non-existent now. Meanwhile Theresa's speech has shorn up her position, and probably means she can depart with some dignity now. That she will depart is certain despite the contrary signaling, she didn't do the traditional regional reception tour ostensibly to protect her voice but a leader wanting a longer horizon wouldn't feel comfortable snubbing the membership to that extent.

    A bit over optimistic, May is heading for the UK staying in a Customs Union effectively for years, she will be doing the extra caving not the EU.

    That will then enable a Transition Period which means years of BINO and the longer that lasts the greater Boris' case for a 'true Brexit'
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,136
    DavidL said:


    No, we will see that the hysteria was just that, that life goes on as before, that the fear stories were simply fantasies and that UK is perfectly capable of operating successfully outside the EU.

    I agree that May's failure to build any kind of a consensus has been a major weakness. I have said many times before that the government should have recognised that the negotiation of this deal was a national interest not a party one. I have argued before that Peter Mandelson should have been involved, for example. Brexit has been handled as badly as it possibly could have been in many respects but as we get to the point choices will narrow and people will have to decide whether to respect the decision of the British people or not.

    The way to make everyone happy with this process would be to put a thing in the exit agreement allowing the UK to rejoin within 12 months of leaving (and ending the transition) if they so choose, then have a re-referendum *after* being out of the EU for a bit.
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    I think we can too far in suggesting there's no issue being overweight, particularly very overweight, to avoid upsetting people. I'm more talking that it's wrong that I sometimes have instinctively nasty thoughts about the very overweight. As a society I'd agree we still need to strongly encourage people not to become so.
    I really don’t think you should beat yourself up about it, as long as you don’t act on your thoughts.

    I don’t want anybody else to know what I think when someone puts their feet on a train seat or listens to a video without headphones in a plane or train.
  • OchEyeOchEye Posts: 1,469
    Quickly reading the last few comments, concerning weight and appearance and also having Derbyshire on BBC news, where the discussion is due soon on BBL and the dangers, so if anyone is interested in having a Brazilian Butt Lift, tune in....
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Meeks, I agree entirely with that.
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    Seen as we are on the subject.

    *Collects drum*

    T25 for those who aren't potential candidates for mobility scooters but are maybe relatively average and wish to do more exercise....

    *bangs drum*

    Worked great for me, only takes about 30 minutes exercise and stretch at the end, although you will then need to shower and eat. The diet plan is probably a good idea but if you just eat sensibly and be sure to get a decent bit of protein soon after exercising you don't have to follow it or get all the protein shakes and such.

    *puts drum away*
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,718
    edited October 2018
    Vince Cable accuses May of entering a 'fantasy competition' with Jeremy Corbyn by promising an end to austerity in a clear pitch for fiscally conservative, classically liberal Tory Remainers votes

    https://mobile.twitter.com/vincecable/status/1047761672306397185
  • MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,921
    HYUFD said:

    Vince Cable accuses May of entering a 'fantasy competition' with Jeremy Corbyn by promising an end to austerity in a clear pitch for fiscally conservative, classically liberal Tory Remainers votes

    https://mobile.twitter.com/vincecable/status/1047761672306397185

    Vince who?
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,669
    ToryJim said:

    Been away at Tory conference for a few days but a few thoughts on Brexit.

    i) a deal will be done, the difficult bits will be pushed to the transition.
    ii) NI though difficult will be solved in weeks and the EU will largely capitulate.
    iii) Parliament will back the deal because it is implicitly a confidence issue. Govt won't make it formal but marginal Brexity Tory MPs will prefer a shelf life of 3 years rather than 3 years. The DUP will be reminded of Corbyn being for a United Ireland and the danger of the govt losing their most important policy, the reminder may be in the form of an additional quarter of a billion which is chicken feed really.

    A thought on Boris. He's stuffed. Yes, his speech was well attended but it felt like the act of an aging rockstar trying to rekindle the magic. The sense even from fanatical Brexiteers is that he's massively overplayed his hand. The likelihood of him being leader were slim before but non-existent now. Meanwhile Theresa's speech has shorn up her position, and probably means she can depart with some dignity now. That she will depart is certain despite the contrary signaling, she didn't do the traditional regional reception tour ostensibly to protect her voice but a leader wanting a longer horizon wouldn't feel comfortable snubbing the membership to that extent.

    ii) needs to satisfy Eire and the DUP plus not annoy any of the paramilitaries enough for them to start or step up violence.
    You seem to be a bit over optimistic on this.
    If the DUP aren't satisfied then we're likley to have a General Election.
    https://www.ft.com/content/c3e91756-c666-11e8-ba8f-ee390057b8c9
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,044
    Social Security Scotland (SSS) will be taking over the administration of PIP and DLA in Scotland and have said that they will end the use of private sector contractors for disability benefits assessments.

    Meanwhile, in England, main social security assessment private contractor, Maximus, makes millions in profits.

  • felixfelix Posts: 15,124

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    +1
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,074
    All this talk of exercise and obesity makes me realise that after a couple of weeks working pretty hard (my first task on my new project having been delivered last night) and spending far too long sitting in front of a computer, I need to get out into the garden to tidy up, plant bulbs etc. Great for flexibility and strength but not brilliant on the cardio vascular side. One of the real pains of my shoulder issue is that I cannot swim - far too painful. Later this month I will finally get the result of my ultrasound and then, please God, some effective treatment.

    I have discovered some brilliant podcasts.

    The Ratline with Philippe Sands
    Slow Burn - about Watergate and the Clintons
    Last Seen - about the art theft from the Isabella Gardner museum in Boston, the biggest unresolved art theft ever.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,124
    Mortimer said:

    HYUFD said:

    Vince Cable accuses May of entering a 'fantasy competition' with Jeremy Corbyn by promising an end to austerity in a clear pitch for fiscally conservative, classically liberal Tory Remainers votes

    https://mobile.twitter.com/vincecable/status/1047761672306397185

    Vince who?
    Did he sing Edelweiss in the 60s? :)
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,881
    edited October 2018

    Seen as we are on the subject.

    *Collects drum*

    T25 for those who aren't potential candidates for mobility scooters but are maybe relatively average and wish to do more exercise....

    *bangs drum*

    Worked great for me, only takes about 30 minutes exercise and stretch at the end, although you will then need to shower and eat. The diet plan is probably a good idea but if you just eat sensibly and be sure to get a decent bit of protein soon after exercising you don't have to follow it or get all the protein shakes and such.

    *puts drum away*

    I do HIIT once or twice a week. Can't find the motivation to do it by myself consistently, but there's a good group near where I live and it's nice on a purely personal, selfish note to see how much stronger I am since I started going.

    But I think it is important to longer cardio based things also. I tried yoga but found it very dull, and was embarassingly bad, considerable worse than men 20+ years older than me. Might give pilates a go instead.

    Edit: Just to add, the trainer for our group recently shared a really inspiring video of a 70+ year old woman doing (very slowly) burpees. She said that apart from getting fitter, it had hugely increased her confidence that if she fell in her home, she would be able to get up by herself.
  • RecidivistRecidivist Posts: 4,679
    Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

  • archer101auarcher101au Posts: 1,612
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    rcs1000 said:



    "We can never leave the CU".

    How do you think they will manage that?

    May's 'grand bargain' is apparently a whole UK-wide backstop where we remain in the CU until BOTH the UK and EU agree that solutions have been developed which 'solve' the NI border.

    Therefore, we will not be able to leave the CU without EU permission. This will be a binding international treaty. The EU of course will never agree to any NI border solution. Instead, we will give up the money and spend two years pointlessly deliberating 'Chequers' knowing that the EU will never agree. After the two years is up, the EU will activate the backstop. The UK will be told that there will be no trade deal for the rest of GB because staying in the backstop is cherry picking (we will be in the CU and SM with no FOM) so they will say any deal need to go back to EEA/CU which is what they always wanted.

    Once she agrees a permanent backstop, Brexit cannot happen. That is why she promised in writing to her MPs that the backstop would be 'strictly time limited' - another promise she is about to break.
    You can be in the Customs Union and outside the EU, see Turkey.

    Turkey also has no FoM rights at the moment to the EU and visa versa and is outside the SM
    Turkey isn’t in The Customs Union.
    Turkey is in a Customs Union agreement with the EU and while May will probably call it something else the UK will also effectively be in a Customs Union Agreement with the EU until a technical solution is found to the Irish border
    Turkey does not have frictionless trade with the EU, so if the aim of being in 'a' customs union is to somehow solve the non existent NI border problem, we will have to be in 'the' customs union. Calling it something else is what we have come to expect from May. Won't fool anyone. If you are in 'a' customs union, you do not have control over your trade policy. End of story.

    You seem to have forgotten what happened at Chequers. Everyone on this board went crazy saying how great it was, how the Leavers had been vanquished, how everyone would unite around this compromise. And as soon as the press cycle died down, and people started focussing on what a crap plan it was, opinion turned so much that the PM can't even say its name in public. You think something similar might happen to the Chequers-minus sellout....?
  • Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

    Nissan are banging the drum for what they want just as they have done ever since they warned we need to join the Euro. What's changed since?
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,883

    Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

    They need to make a new GTR to challenge the new Supra in a renewed battle of the 'JDM Legends'.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587

    Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

    Nissan are banging the drum for what they want just as they have done ever since they warned we need to join the Euro. What's changed since?
    Nothing - which is rather the point.

    Uncertainty is one thing with two years to go, and quite another with six months.
  • Nigelb said:
    Gee it's almost as if the public haven't appreciated being lied to regarding VW's emissions etc
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    I think we can too far in suggesting there's no issue being overweight, particularly very overweight, to avoid upsetting people. I'm more talking that it's wrong that I sometimes have instinctively nasty thoughts about the very overweight. As a society I'd agree we still need to strongly encourage people not to become so.
    Of course - but condemnation and criticism have precisely the opposite effect.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587

    Nigelb said:
    Gee it's almost as if the public haven't appreciated being lied to regarding VW's emissions etc
    Try reading the article - it's that VW simply haven't been able to meet the stricter tests with existing models.
    The public would very likely have carried on buying the same old crap had they been allowed to.

    It does not speak well (to put it mildly) of VW, but you give public opinion way too much credit.
  • Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

    5 live business were reporting on the car industry problems this morning. New car sales in UK are down 20% and in Germany 30%. The reasons given were the assault by governments on diesel, the high cost of new cars, the ending of ppi compensation payouts in the UK, the new emission rules slowing the delivery to the customers, high priced electric cars and hybrids, and huge deterioration of value the day you drive out of the garage. Also fears Trump will hit european car makers with tariffs.

    The car industry is in a mess and needs to slow production and slash prices due to the over supply. The opinion was that while brexit is causing uncertainty the car makers have many more fundamental problems with their products

    Funny that UK reporting does not mention the huge drop (30%) in Germany

  • Immigration is totally separate, it’s root cause is the demographic time bomb not EU membership.

    What politicians are here for is to scope the bigger picture looking for cause and effect, and address causes. The current government is particularly shit at doing this. No I’m not bias, Blair and Browns governments of spin were even worse at scoping cause and effect. Immigration is fantastic example of complete non policy change for thirty years, and here’s why.

    On Doorstep “too much immigration and that means no homes for the rest of us and creaking NHS”. So you bring forward policies to address that? Don’t be stupid. You will scope out a full influence diagram, realise other causes for lack of homes to be addressed, realise immigration is actually keeping NHS afloat these passed years, also realise the main cause of immigration is the demographic time bomb meaning government after government, regardless what they publicly state, are actually welcoming young working age tax payers into the country. Immigration at these levels is current default solution for dealing with demographic time bomb, there’s no addressing immigration until a different solution is first put in place for dealing with demographic time bomb. You’re not going to get the bigger picture from the doorstep.

    We need advantages of leaving EU FOM of movement and control taken back, put into honest context of
    1) what that actually means if we sign further trade deals with EU and other countries under global Britain, how much of that is just signed away again to replace what FOM gave British economy?
    2) the extent governments for decades have been addicted to immigration, because these people are working age, pay taxes, and fill key vacancies in key sectors, immigration not forced on us by EU rules but has been embraced with open arms.
    3) when we come out EU, the extent government must clash with what business wants to be able to exploit any control taken back.


    You can rant away to your heart's content but I suspect your tone would be counter productive.
    Explaining why cause of high immigration is not membership of EU, the cause is the demographic time bomb is a rant? :).

    main weakness of direct democracy over representative democracy is how informed voters are at the moment of voting, because it is something of a snap shot, which then starts dating, without opportunity for redress, meaning the same question can have wildly different answers say three years apart, because in the intervening time between polls the discussion didn’t stop, voters can become even better informed. That’s why democracy is representative, not direct, representatives aren’t there to merely do our bidding once the voters have spoken.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,587
    TGOHF said:
    In this case, though, irrelevant.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    Being ‘unhealthy’ is part of the human condition. It is normal. It doesn’t matter if your you’re fat, old, stressed, depressed or have a condition. It ok. This new idea that everyone has to be fit and happy all of the time (and if they’re not it’s their fault) is profoundly inhuman.
  • HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    rcs1000 said:



    "We can never leave the CU".

    How do you think they will manage that?

    May's 'grand bargain' is apparently a whole UK-wide backstop where we remain in the CU until BOTH the UK and EU agree that solutions have been developed which 'solve' the NI border

    Once she agrees a permanent backstop, Brexit cannot happen. That is why she promised in writing to her MPs that the backstop would be 'strictly time limited' - another promise she is about to break.
    You can be in the Customs Union and outside the EU, see Turkey.

    Turkey also has no FoM rights at the moment to the EU and visa versa and is outside the SM
    Turkey isn’t in The Customs Union.
    Turkey is in a Customs Union agreement with the EU and while May will probably call it something else the UK will also effectively be in a Customs Union Agreement with the EU until a technical solution is found to the Irish border
    Turkey does not have frictionless trade with the EU, so if the aim of being in 'a' customs union is to somehow solve the non existent NI border problem, we will have to be in 'the' customs union. Calling it something else is what we have come to expect from May. Won't fool anyone. If you are in 'a' customs union, you do not have control over your trade policy. End of story.

    You seem to have forgotten what happened at Chequers. Everyone on this board went crazy saying how great it was, how the Leavers had been vanquished, how everyone would unite around this compromise. And as soon as the press cycle died down, and people started focussing on what a crap plan it was, opinion turned so much that the PM can't even say its name in public. You think something similar might happen to the Chequers-minus sellout....?
    Yesterday TM delivered the starkest of warnings to the hard brexiteers that no one will get all they wish for and compromise is needed. There was a significant warning to those who pursue a hard brexit that the end result could well be no brexit at all

    In a very well received conference speech she is clearly laying down the marker that there may be an overwhelming parliamentary demand for a second referendum if she fails to get a deal

    I would say that this warning needs to be taken on board by those who seek to put a border in NI and impede just in time manufacturing or we will continue to be a member of the EU with no hope of getting another leave vote in the foreseeable future
  • anothernickanothernick Posts: 3,547
    Nigelb said:

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Jonathan said:

    People can be very cruel to fat people. Not good. It's one of the nastiest and hard to shift forms of prejudice. You see it on the left and the right. Fat cats for example.

    True enough. I'm sorry to say I get flares of nasty thoughts about very overweight people at times, particularly after I manage to lose some weight, but I hope at least I recognise that and chastise myself for doing so.
    Hmm. One should never be nasty to people but I'm very concerned about the attempts by some morbidly obese people to try to normalise what is a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle. We should be encouraging people to lose weight, not declaring something unhealthy to be normal.
    I think we can too far in suggesting there's no issue being overweight, particularly very overweight, to avoid upsetting people. I'm more talking that it's wrong that I sometimes have instinctively nasty thoughts about the very overweight. As a society I'd agree we still need to strongly encourage people not to become so.
    Of course - but condemnation and criticism have precisely the opposite effect.
    Why? Surely condemnation and criticism of smoking has been a major factor in its decline?
  • OblitusSumMeOblitusSumMe Posts: 9,143
    RoyalBlue said:

    People have control over what they eat and how much exercise they do.

    Well this is true to an extent, but environmental effects have an impact.

    For example, with more sugar in the diet the body's metabolism responds to encourage more eating. Similarly, transport policy still privileges the movement of motor cars, encouraging people to choose an inactive form of travel, rather than alternatives that would involve exercise as daily routine, rather than choice.

    These two effects seem like a more plausible cause for the increase in obesity rather than a mass breakdown in the resolve of people not to eat too much or exercise enough.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Jonathan, disagree. Humans have always sought to try and improve themselves.

    The whole underlying message of Greek myth is of mankind civilising the world by killing monsters, bringing order to chaos, and establishing cities.

    [Worth noting there is a diametrically opposing view, that we ruined the Golden Age and everything has been progressively getting worse].
  • currystarcurrystar Posts: 1,171

    Nissan aren't happy. I really think people need to wake up to the damage Brexit is doing and is going to do.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/04/nissan-becomes-latest-manufacturer-to-warn-against-hard-brexit

    5 live business were reporting on the car industry problems this morning. New car sales in UK are down 20% and in Germany 30%. The reasons given were the assault by governments on diesel, the high cost of new cars, the ending of ppi compensation payouts in the UK, the new emission rules slowing the delivery to the customers, high priced electric cars and hybrids, and huge deterioration of value the day you drive out of the garage. Also fears Trump will hit european car makers with tariffs.

    The car industry is in a mess and needs to slow production and slash prices due to the over supply. The opinion was that while brexit is causing uncertainty the car makers have many more fundamental problems with their products

    Funny that UK reporting does not mention the huge drop (30%) in Germany
    I think modern cars are just too good. I know that sounds mad but I have a three year old Fiesta with 35,000 on the clock. It drives like it did the first day I got it. There will be no rust problems and it has just sailed through its first MOT with absolutely nothing to report. I normally replace my car every three years but there really is no point with this one as it remains in perfect condition. Cars are just made too well, there is no need to replace them.
  • TheJezziahTheJezziah Posts: 3,840
    edited October 2018
    Completely off topic: Been looking at getting a new TV. Spotted this which seemed okay for the price happy to take any advice on it though.

    http://www.argos.co.uk/product/8193713

    Not exactly a TV expert. Looking for something 40"+ and 4k as well. I have heard HDR is good to have, keep seeing things regarding the refresh rate but that is beyond me mostly, bigger numbers are better and if they add words like true it's probably even better again.

    Will use it for my computer more than a normal TV if that matters, I was slightly worried about resolutions not matching up and potential problems there.

    Edit: Actually that might not be any good because of the stand. Trying to guess how far apart the legs are from the picture and the tv width.
This discussion has been closed.