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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » A primer on the Iowa caucuses – three weeks today

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  • Options

    Mr. Eagles, people often use credit cards as a catch-all to include debit cards. Is that the case here?

    No.
  • Options
    squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,349
    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    ydoethur said:

    Ash Sarker will be along directly to explain (1) it’s a myth Labour has lost the working class (2) Labour won the arguments and (3) the red wave is coming.
    Don't new governments usually get a modest polling bounce?

    I think this is the same BMG poll, the underlying positions haven't really changed.

    https://twitter.com/HackedOffHugh/status/1216401880823279625?s=19
    Too late
    We had the vote... we have to.leave.
    That’s hardly news.
    The point is rather that if you drive through a policy without majority support, any significant negative consequences are likely to come back and bite you.

    Which might be the story of the next five years.
    Yes, the Parliamentary majority is a manifestation of our FPTP system, not a change in the underlying feeling within the country. The Tories know this, hence the interest in voter suppression in the manifesto.
    Your "voter suppression" is my making sure the people who vote are entitled to..
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,231
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Although of course credit cards are more secure in several crucial ways than debit cards. A fraudster sucking your credit card dry won’t cause your direct debits to bounce.
  • Options

    Foxy said:

    IanB2 said:

    kle4 said:

    Foxy said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:
    That's unfortunate. For one thing that they are coming right out and saying so suggests it'll be a subtle as a brick about it rather than merely being cutting subtext.
    I haven't seen any Star Trek apart from the original 1960s series, and that not for decades, but in it the Federation is not just a continent wide political union, but an interplanetary one, so implicitly is based on an end to nation states. Ditto the multi-species universe of Star Wars, which has interplanetary Empire, and Rebel council, with political, diplomatic and military structures.

    The same goes for the future worlds of Starship Troopers and Alien. It does seem more or less assumed in all Science Fiction set so far in the future that nationalism and nation states are obsolete.

    On the point of nation states being obsolete in the future its interesting it's so common a predicted view, as nation states have been dominant for many centuries now and can be very stubborn. Some sci fi stories get around it with the idea earth itself is still run by nations or unions of nations, but theres some unified body essentially acting as the face of humanity in the stars, a la Mass Effect and the Systems Alliance.
    Arguably the nation state in its current conception hasn’t actually been around for very long. The empires of ancient history and the family monarchies of medieval times were very different beasts. It is simply that we look back at history through the prism of our current circumstances.
    Indeed, those Empires broke up within my lifetime, creating numerous new nation states. Was Britain truly a nation state when we had an Empire?
    Yes.

    Strictly speaking, Scotland, England and Wales are nations. So is Ireland. The UK is a state. For a long time that didn’t matter, a pervading sense of Britishness overrode it. Now that is going - and pretty quickly - competing nationalisms are going to become a much bigger issue.

  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,280

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Rather than complaining, why doesn’t the right create some science fiction of their own. A positive vision of a Trumpian, Brexiteer nationalist paradise.
  • Options
    DavidL said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
    The Federation has a directly elected President, a great gambling opportunity.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,231
    edited January 2020
    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,280
    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Although of course credit cards are more secure in several crucial ways than debit cards. A fraudster sucking your credit card dry won’t cause your direct debits to bounce.
    I have direct debits on my credit card for my mobile phone and I think my internet. @Casino_Royale has a point that the differences are already less stark than they were and they may become more so but right now I think this makes sense.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,586
    TGOHF666 said:

    Foxy said:

    MaxPB said:

    HYUFD said:

    MaxPB said:

    One of my mates just brought up the new Nationwide advert that's been doing the rounds. I think they have inadvertently captured everything that is wrong about the most selfish generation in existence. The old man character is absolutely the worst kind of hypocrite and I think Nationwide have not understood how poorly their advert is playing among younger people.

    Except in reality most of the older generation are not that selfish, I and most of my friends and partner all got help to get on the property ladder from our parents.

    The fact Nationwide are pushing equity release for expensive holidays too not just helping your children is just a marketing ploy to push their profits, nothing more
    I'm not talking about actual old people like my grandparents who were amazingly unselfish, it's my parents generation that are. Obviously this is all fairly alien to me because I'm Asian and passing down wealth is in our blood. However, the advert is playing vey badly with a generation that's already unimpressed with high street banks, the first of Starling/Monzo to offer mortgages will absolutely clean up.
    Surely the point is to appeal to customers with money that the bank can get their mitts on, not to skint Millenials?

    I have passed on a fair bit of dosh to Fox jr, mostly to put him in the position that I was 30 years ago when finishing Uni. I had fee free university, even a student grant. I have not given him a silver spoon for his mouth, just not setting him off in independent life without the chains of debt.

    You paid his tuition fees? Martin Lewis is shouting really loudly at you! Forget student loans, give him a house deposit. Of much more use.
    Lefties and sound economics are not often bedfellows..
    Unlike righties and jumping to evidence light conclusions...
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,611
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Yes, I agree. I only gamble for amusement, and keep a tight boundary on my stake money, but I have had friends with major gambling problems over the years.

    One of my oldest friends from school used to gamble his wage packet away every friday night. Then he would borrow money from his friends to live on, until he paid us back the following week. The rest was then gambled away. Repeated weekly for 5 years. An intelligent bloke with no other vices, didn't drink, and a good mate otherwise. The sad bit was that it didn't seem to bring him any enjoyment. That was 35 years ago with a cash pay packet from his factory. I can't imagine what he would be like now with a credit card.
  • Options
    Bloody hell, I’m slow - I only just understood the anger in Iran. It was a Ukrainian airline, but the plane was full of Iranians - and the government lied about what happened. No wonder there is such immense fury.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,280

    DavidL said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
    The Federation has a directly elected President, a great gambling opportunity.
    I don't recall an episode with an election. The impression is more a sort of benign dictatorship. But if you are right that is a great relief. PB's position in the 24th century secure after all.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,586
    Jonathan said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Rather than complaining, why doesn’t the right create some science fiction of their own. A positive vision of a Trumpian, Brexiteer nationalist paradise.
    Wasn’t that Starship Troopers ? :smile:
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,586

    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    ydoethur said:

    Ash Sarker will be along directly to explain (1) it’s a myth Labour has lost the working class (2) Labour won the arguments and (3) the red wave is coming.
    Don't new governments usually get a modest polling bounce?

    I think this is the same BMG poll, the underlying positions haven't really changed.

    https://twitter.com/HackedOffHugh/status/1216401880823279625?s=19
    Too late
    We had the vote... we have to.leave.
    That’s hardly news.
    The point is rather that if you drive through a policy without majority support, any significant negative consequences are likely to come back and bite you.

    Which might be the story of the next five years.
    It had majority support. It was legitimate.. its like labour taking the lead in the polls after after the general election and then claiming the Govt isnt legitimate. Its bullshit..
    Try re-reading what I actually said.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,280

    Bloody hell, I’m slow - I only just understood the anger in Iran. It was a Ukrainian airline, but the plane was full of Iranians - and the government lied about what happened. No wonder there is such immense fury.

    And a depressing number of them were children. An appalling mistake and lying about it was not a good plan.
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. Eagles, cheers for that answer on debit cards.

    Mr. Eagles (2), yes, but there are ways of handling things well and poorly.

    And recently TV has handled politics by preaching and laying their messages on so thick it suffocates characters and stories alike. This is on handling personnel, but is an... interesting comparison:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnlxugk3Qb0
  • Options
    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
    The Federation has a directly elected President, a great gambling opportunity.
    I don't recall an episode with an election. The impression is more a sort of benign dictatorship. But if you are right that is a great relief. PB's position in the 24th century secure after all.
    It was in a DS9 novel (referencing Quark betting on the election of the next Kai, that he was also betting on the next Federation Presidential election.)
  • Options
    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. Eagles, I wouldn't bet on a Kai election. They're notorious for corrupt backdoor deals.
  • Options
    Credit cards are far too easy to get. Full stop. Unfortunately, though, there is big money to be made from personal financial incontinence.
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,611
    Nigelb said:

    TGOHF666 said:

    Foxy said:

    MaxPB said:

    HYUFD said:

    MaxPB said:

    One of my mates just brought up the new Nationwide advert that's been doing the rounds. I think they have inadvertently captured everything that is wrong about the most selfish generation in existence. The old man character is absolutely the worst kind of hypocrite and I think Nationwide have not understood how poorly their advert is playing among younger people.

    Except in reality most of the older generation are not that selfish, I and most of my friends and partner all got help to get on the property ladder from our parents.

    The fact Nationwide are pushing equity release for expensive holidays too not just helping your children is just a marketing ploy to push their profits, nothing more
    I'm not talking about actual old people like my grandparents who were amazingly unselfish, it's my parents generation that are. Obviously this is all fairly alien to me because I'm Asian and passing down wealth is in our blood. However, the advert is playing vey badly with a generation that's already unimpressed with high street banks, the first of Starling/Monzo to offer mortgages will absolutely clean up.
    Surely the point is to appeal to customers with money that the bank can get their mitts on, not to skint Millenials?

    I have passed on a fair bit of dosh to Fox jr, mostly to put him in the position that I was 30 years ago when finishing Uni. I had fee free university, even a student grant. I have not given him a silver spoon for his mouth, just not setting him off in independent life without the chains of debt.

    You paid his tuition fees? Martin Lewis is shouting really loudly at you! Forget student loans, give him a house deposit. Of much more use.
    Lefties and sound economics are not often bedfellows..
    Unlike righties and jumping to evidence light conclusions...
    I have always been as dry as dust on debt. I hate it and use the minimum that I can. I am not a lefty that wants the government to borrow. I am more relaxed about tax rises to pay for national necessities.
  • Options
    StockyStocky Posts: 9,718
    edited January 2020
    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
    You have a good point. I`ve had a nightmare with SLC. You have to understand the rules yourself and relay them to them, slowly and clearly. (I find it helps if you imagine the operative IS Jeremy Corbyn.)
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,586

    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
    The Federation has a directly elected President, a great gambling opportunity.
    I don't recall an episode with an election. The impression is more a sort of benign dictatorship. But if you are right that is a great relief. PB's position in the 24th century secure after all.
    It was in a DS9 novel (referencing Quark betting on the election of the next Kai, that he was also betting on the next Federation Presidential election.)
    Did rcs2370 feature ?
  • Options

    Bloody hell, I’m slow - I only just understood the anger in Iran. It was a Ukrainian airline, but the plane was full of Iranians - and the government lied about what happened. No wonder there is such immense fury.

    Yes, apparently even most of the Canadians were Iranian (dual nationality or whatever).
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,231
    Stocky said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
    You have a good point. I`ve had a nightmare with SLC. You have to understand the rules yourself and relay them to them, slowly and clearly. (I find it helps if you imagine the operative IS Jeremy Corbyn.)
    Even when you do that, they still find stupid ways to bugger things up. They also have no effective complaints system as their Head of Complaints is the only person dumber than Kevin O’Connor and their supposedly independent assessors are in fact bullies and liars. One of them solemnly assured me the Data Protection Act didn’t apply to the SLC and said I was an evil human being to expect them to follow the law and their own procedures. The former was a view the Information Commissioner subsequently considered - imaginative.

    So it might be worth £27,000 to get the bastards off your back. But then of course, their record keeping is so amateurish they will probably forget to register the payment.

    Have a good morning.
  • Options
    kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 3,945
    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. HYUFD/Mr. kle4, it sounds irksome.

    Especially annoying is that there's a great, ready-made narrative that fits both the post-DS9 Alpha Quadrant and relates to modern Western politics.

    Martok struggles to lead the Klingons as the nobility resent his authority. Federation torn between remaining militant or returning to a more peaceful footing. Division everywhere, but some threat (could be Borg but they did that quite a bit with Voyager) demands unity.

    I don't think politics in sci-fi/fantasy is inherently a problem. But people don't like being preached to.

    Star Trek, TOS particularly, has always taken on political issues head on.

    Plato's Stepchildren and Let That Be Your Last Battlefield took on America's racism/segregation issues and were being accused of preaching to their audience.

    The Voyage Home was accused of preaching to viewers on Climate Change/animal extinction but they turned out to be right.
    Its interesting how little part democracy (and of course the opportunity to bet on outcomes) plays in these future societies. A long term threat to PB?
    The Federation has a directly elected President, a great gambling opportunity.
    I don't recall an episode with an election. The impression is more a sort of benign dictatorship. But if you are right that is a great relief. PB's position in the 24th century secure after all.
    It's just a guess but I have a feeling that the Federation elects its president much like the EU does. With the heads of states of individual member states voting for an overall leader, which is then ratified by whatever passes for its legislative body.

    Either way, it sounds like a job far too important to let the proles have a say.

    I'd quite enjoy an episode with a Farage-esque alien stirring up trouble. The Maquis are obviously Brexiteers.
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,611
    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
    Now that Fox jr is earning, that may become an issue, but limited contact with the SLC so far.

    Student debt is the new PFI. A way of paying for something, but without thinking through the long term. Even on govt projections more than half will never be repaid. The sooner that nettle is grasped and written off the less painful it will be.
  • Options
    eekeek Posts: 24,979
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Although of course credit cards are more secure in several crucial ways than debit cards. A fraudster sucking your credit card dry won’t cause your direct debits to bounce.
    I have direct debits on my credit card for my mobile phone and I think my internet. @Casino_Royale has a point that the differences are already less stark than they were and they may become more so but right now I think this makes sense.
    You don't have direct debits - you have a varying price recurring billing which actually results in a bill of credit card safety measures being removed (you can't chargeback so easily).
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    StockyStocky Posts: 9,718
    edited January 2020

    Credit cards are far too easy to get. Full stop. Unfortunately, though, there is big money to be made from personal financial incontinence.

    Sadly, you are correct. Tell someone they are paying 0.75% pa charges on their £200k pension pot and they think that`s cheap. Tell the same person that they are paying £1,500 every year and they are astonished and angry at the expense! The financial services industry has thrived on this for years.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. 100, there aren't proles, or poverty, in the Federation. Just loveliness, and no money.

    That's probably more unrealistic than the warp drives, but there we are.
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    NEW THREAD

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    eekeek Posts: 24,979
    edited January 2020
    Stocky said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
    You have a good point. I`ve had a nightmare with SLC. You have to understand the rules yourself and relay them to them, slowly and clearly. (I find it helps if you imagine the operative IS Jeremy Corbyn.)
    They pay badly and even EE pay more. Plus it's a completely toxic environment due to low pay scales throughout lower management resulting in anyone any good disappearing elsewhere quickly.

    It actually wouldn't surprise me if workers left to go to the new Amazon warehouse instead - the place is that bad.
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    eekeek Posts: 24,979
    Foxy said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stocky said:

    Nice one Foxy, correct tactics. Pledges such as Corbyn`s over student loans has made it very unwise to repay any faster than is necessary. Very irresponsible policy statement.

    If a parent had cleared their child`s loan, wholly or partially, and then a future government wiped the book, the parent would have no chance of clawing back payments voluntarily made.

    The graduate can make repayments even less than need-be by making larger pension plan contributions. As I`ve pointed out before, student "loans" are best thought of a graduate tax which ceases after 30 years.

    On the other hand, that means 30 years of working with the mentally subnormal drones of the Student Loan Company.

    You thought Corbyn was thick? At least he can read a calendar.
    Now that Fox jr is earning, that may become an issue, but limited contact with the SLC so far.

    Student debt is the new PFI. A way of paying for something, but without thinking through the long term. Even on govt projections more than half will never be repaid. The sooner that nettle is grasped and written off the less painful it will be.
    But how do you stop the issue increasing - you can't stop people going to university (even though it's a waste of time in most cases).
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,329
    DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Debit cards can be debt cards just as much as credit cards, and the APR for being overdrawn far worse.

    Nanny state nonsense.
    I think that you will find the debt profile very different (although this is something to keep an eye on). The credit checks on who gets an authorised overdraft are very different from those offered credit cards in their junk mail.
    I get offered those by my bank (and others) each month.

    Don’t get me wrong. Problem gambling is an issue but this isn’t the way to fix it.
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,704

    Mr. Eagles, cheers for that answer on debit cards.

    Mr. Eagles (2), yes, but there are ways of handling things well and poorly.

    And recently TV has handled politics by preaching and laying their messages on so thick it suffocates characters and stories alike. This is on handling personnel, but is an... interesting comparison:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnlxugk3Qb0

    No one talks to Archer that way!
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,329

    Foxy said:

    IanB2 said:

    kle4 said:

    Foxy said:

    kle4 said:

    HYUFD said:
    That's unfortunate. For one thing that they are coming right out and saying so suggests it'll be a subtle as a brick about it rather than merely being cutting subtext.
    The same goes for the future worlds of Starship Troopers and Alien. It does seem more or less assumed in all Science Fiction set so far in the future that nationalism and nation states are obsolete.

    On the point of nation states being obsolete in the future its interesting it's so common a predicted view, as nation states have been dominant for many centuries now and can be very stubborn. Some sci fi stories get around it with the idea earth itself is still run by nations or unions of nations, but theres some unified body essentially acting as the face of humanity in the stars, a la Mass Effect and the Systems Alliance.
    Arguably the nation state in its current conception hasn’t actually been around for very long. The empires of ancient history and the family monarchies of medieval times were very different beasts. It is simply that we look back at history through the prism of our current circumstances.
    Indeed, those Empires broke up within my lifetime, creating numerous new nation states. Was Britain truly a nation state when we had an Empire?
    Yes.

    Strictly speaking, Scotland, England and Wales are nations. So is Ireland. The UK is a state. For a long time that didn’t matter, a pervading sense of Britishness overrode it. Now that is going - and pretty quickly - competing nationalisms are going to become a much bigger issue.

    In international law I’m afraid they are not. There’s one sovereign nation and it’s the UK.

    There’s a better case for Scotland being a nation, its always had distinct legal and education systems and governance, but Wales until the last 20 years has been in full and absolute Union with England. So its identity was purely linguistic and cultural.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,329
    eek said:

    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Although of course credit cards are more secure in several crucial ways than debit cards. A fraudster sucking your credit card dry won’t cause your direct debits to bounce.
    I have direct debits on my credit card for my mobile phone and I think my internet. @Casino_Royale has a point that the differences are already less stark than they were and they may become more so but right now I think this makes sense.
    You don't have direct debits - you have a varying price recurring billing which actually results in a bill of credit card safety measures being removed (you can't chargeback so easily).
    I’m increasingly pissed off with direct debit mandates.

    Utility companies in particular take the piss with their “estimates” and it’s extremely hard to get your money back from them once they’ve overcharged you.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,995

    Mr. 100, there aren't proles, or poverty, in the Federation. Just loveliness, and no money.

    That's probably more unrealistic than the warp drives, but there we are.

    The Ferengi are capitalists and still trade and use money in Star Trek
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    felixfelix Posts: 15,124
    DavidL said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    Although of course credit cards are more secure in several crucial ways than debit cards. A fraudster sucking your credit card dry won’t cause your direct debits to bounce.
    I have direct debits on my credit card for my mobile phone and I think my internet. @Casino_Royale has a point that the differences are already less stark than they were and they may become more so but right now I think this makes sense.
    In Spain with one bank they do a single credit/debited and you choose at the checkout how to use it. Makes for a thinner wallet.
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,760

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    For many people the point of politics is to identify groups of other people and hurt them: I alluded to this upthread in another context. One of my complaints about the Conservative Party is its propensity to do this, although in fairness other parties do it as well. I have stopped being surprised at the number of people on PB who dislike gambling and wish to stop it... :(
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,760
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    I agree. Credit cards are the most readily accessible mode of credit. If someone is using credit to gamble they have a problem.

    A lot of people using credit cards will not be using credit but their convenience but debit cards are as flexible these days (provided you have the money in your account). I think that this will target problem gamblers quite effectively. Along with FOBTs it appears that government's tolerance of a fairly rapacious gambling sector is reaching its limits. I suspect more steps will follow.
    People's freedom should not be dependent on whether some fuckwit in government approves of you or not. The history of gambling in the United Kingdom is so tied up with morality, religion and class oppression it's almost ridiculous. If you are allowed to do something legally you should be allowed to do it, and not this delegalisation-by-a-thousand-cuts snobbery.
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    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 18,760
    eek said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    For every person who is inconvenienced by this I suspect it will help 100 if not 1,000 others..
    Oh, well if you "suspect" it that's alright then. God forbid respect for people's freedom should override your "suspecting". Unfortunately I don't have your depth of perception of the universe, so I have to proceed otherwise.

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    kinabalukinabalu Posts: 39,187
    Foxy said:

    I have always been as dry as dust on debt. I hate it and use the minimum that I can. I am not a lefty that wants the government to borrow. I am more relaxed about tax rises to pay for national necessities.

    Like me. A Hard Left Social Democrat. I'm not alone!
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    kicorsekicorse Posts: 431
    viewcode said:

    eek said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nanny State or a good measure?

    The gambling watchdog has confirmed that the use of credit cards for betting is to be banned from April.

    The move, aimed at tackling problem gambling and protecting other vulnerable customers, was announced by the Gambling Commission following several reviews.

    The ban, due to take effect on 14 April, covers all online and offline betting activities.

    https://news.sky.com/story/credit-card-deposits-for-online-betting-to-be-banned-from-april-11908234

    Fux sake. Bad measure.

    I use them all the time. It’s an investment tool like any other.
    Financial sophisticates like yourself will only be mildly inconvenienced. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad policy.
    For every person who is inconvenienced by this I suspect it will help 100 if not 1,000 others..
    Oh, well if you "suspect" it that's alright then. God forbid respect for people's freedom should override your "suspecting". Unfortunately I don't have your depth of perception of the universe, so I have to proceed otherwise.

    Are there any serious negatives to it though? Non-addicted gamblers who will have to stop because they have credit cards but no debit card? Seems very unlikely. If not that, then what?

    If minor inconvenience is the strongest argument against, I would firmly say good measure, because the positives are obvious.
This discussion has been closed.