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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 10:12
^^^Clap
 
Astute and to the point as always, Andy...
 
in fact, your first paragarph is an excellent summary of the following..
 
Thatcher%20and%20Sons:%20A%20Revolution%20in%20Three%20Acts
 
 
..except that the Blair/ Brown partnership continued to privatise the un-privatisable; everything that even Thatcher and Major steered clear of... like prisons, psychiatric services, social care, PFI hospitals and a means to getting us out of the present housing crisis.
 
Read this and weep, my friend... read this book and weep for the future generations...Ouch
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Points: 14693 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 12:26
Jared & Andy

A succinct & accurate summation of the British political system - I'd give you clappies or thumbs up emoticons, but both of those are smiling.

It's a shame there's no emoticon for a sad shaking of the head

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 12:48
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

..except that the Blair/ Brown partnership continued to privatise the un-privatisable;...like prisons


Don't blame Labour, the practice was started much earlier... Wink

History of prison privatization

The privatization movement can be traced to the contracting out the confinement and care of prisoners after the American Revolution. Deprived of the ability to ship criminals and undesirables to the Colonies, Great Britain began placing them on hulks moored in English ports.
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Blacksword View Drop Down
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:20
Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:


Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

..except that the Blair/ Brown partnership continued to privatise the un-privatisable;...like prisons
Don't blame Labour, the practice was started much earlier... Wink<h2><span ="mw-line">History of prison privatization</span></h2>

The privatization movement can be traced to the contracting out the
confinement and care of prisoners after the American Revolution.
Deprived of the ability to ship criminals and undesirables to the
Colonies, Great Britain began placing them on hulks moored in English
ports.



Very true. It's not a new concept. Amazingly, we are currently considering locking up crims on moored boats, once again. Our prisons are full apparently.

Of course, crime is falling, just as it did under the Tories. In fact I believe it has done under every single government in living memory, if their stats are to be believed. At this rate Britain will be crime free before long... Double plus good, hey!
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chopper View Drop Down
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Points: 20030 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:24
It's amazing what you can do with stats. They probably show crime is falling because they've stopped investigating minor crimes anyway.
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:39
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changing the subject...how can a miserable old scrote like you live in 'Blue Bell Knoll'??...
 
...are you sure its not Deadly Nightshade??....LOL
 
 
Wink
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:48
Originally posted by Jim Garten Jim Garten wrote:

Jared & Andy

A succinct & accurate summation of the British political system - I'd give you clappies or thumbs up emoticons, but both of those are smiling.

It's a shame there's no emoticon for a sad shaking of the head
 
Thanks Jim...Big%20smile
 
Thatcher sold off the crown jewels to international investors...
 
Major flogged the furniture, painting and grand piano through a county town auctioneers...
 
Blair and Brown have spent the last decade ripping the lead off the roof, the copper piping from under the floorboards, and the toilet cistern, and flogged them to a tattooed bloke with a white van, round the back of the Dog & Duck.....
 
...and (as Andy mentioned), even if we wanted to, we can't afford to buy any of it back
 
...welcome to the boarded up council estate property in Middlesbrough, which is modern Britain... 


Edited by fandango - May 30 2008 at 14:49
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Blacksword View Drop Down
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:54
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

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changing the subject...how can a miserable old scrote like you live in 'Blue Bell Knoll'??...

 

...are you sure its not Deadly Nightshade??....LOL

 

 

Wink
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Behind every cynic, Jared is someone who just wants to be loved. Or is it just wants to get plastered and moan all the time..... cant remember which..

BTW, did I mention that I passed my driving test at long last. I shall do my best not allow my my angst to turn into horrible road rage!

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Padraic View Drop Down
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:57
Congratulations!  Just remember, in Britain they drive on the left.  Wink
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:57
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

Originally posted by Jim Garten Jim Garten wrote:

Jared & Andy A succinct & accurate summation of the British political system - I'd give you clappies or thumbs up emoticons, but both of those are smiling. It's a shame there's no emoticon for a sad shaking of the head

 

Thanks Jim...Big%20smile

 

Thatcher sold off the crown jewels to international investors...

 

Major flogged the furniture, painting and grand piano through a county town auctioneers...

 

Blair and Brown have spent the last decade ripping the lead off the roof, the copper piping from under the floorboards, and the toilet cistern, and flogged them to a tattooed bloke with a white van, round the back of the Dog & Duck.....

 

...and (as Andy mentioned), even if we wanted to, we can't afford to buy any of it back

 

...welcome to the boarded up council estate property in Middlesbrough, which is modern Britain... 


I thought I was the miserable old scrote! Jared, you're like old man Steptoe coming down from a bad trip..


Yeah, cheers Jim..
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:58
Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:


 Amazingly, we are currently considering locking up crims on moored boats, once again. Our prisons are full apparently. 
 
oh yes...and furthermore, they are very popular with our discerning underclass.... did you hear the story of how Wakefield prison was broken into recently, to smuggle in drugs?  apparently, there was plenty of time for the inmates to escape, but none of them wanted to, as they thought they had a better life inside...Confused
 
strangely enough, in my previous incarnation, I was giving unemployment help to an ex con, who had been sent to me over the course of several weeks by Employment Services...he then stopped coming in, and I found out that all his best mates were inside Wakefield prison, where he had already done 2/3 stretches..and he was bored, so he went and smashed a shop window and stole the contents, just so he'd get put back in again....LOL
 
Ouch
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 14:59
Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

Congratulations!  Just remember, in Britain they drive on the left.  Wink


Ah, now that must be why I failed the first few times..

Thanks for the congrats!
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:00
Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:


BTW, did I mention that I passed my driving test at long last. I shall do my best not allow my my angst to turn into horrible road rage!

 
ClapClapClap
 
about bloody time 'n all....Wink
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:03
Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:



I thought I was the miserable old scrote! Jared, you're like old man Steptoe coming down from a bad trip..
 
oh, I'm on form tonight, Andy...
 
I feel like a Scotsman with a grudge....LOL
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:06
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:

 Amazingly, we are currently considering locking up crims on moored boats, once again. Our prisons are full apparently. 

 

oh yes...and furthermore, they are very popular with our discerning underclass.... did you hear the story of how Wakefield prison was broken into recently, to smuggle in drugs?  apparently, there was plenty of time for the inmates to escape, but none of them wanted to, as they thought they had a better life inside...Confused

 

strangely enough, in my previous incarnation, I was giving unemployment help to an ex con, who had been sent to me over the course of several weeks by Employment Services...he then stopped coming in, and I found out that all his best mates were inside Wakefield prison, where he had already done 2/3 stretches..and he was bored, so he went and smashed a shop window and stole the contents, just so he'd get put back in again....LOL

 

Ouch


I cant imagine how having your liberty taken away can be better than being free under any circumstances. It's a terrible situation. I dont want to be one of these people who say prisons are like B&B's, but being in prison should be extremly unpleasant, in order to have some deterrent effect.

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Padraic View Drop Down
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:06
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:


 Amazingly, we are currently considering locking up crims on moored boats, once again. Our prisons are full apparently. 
 
oh yes...and furthermore, they are very popular with our discerning underclass.... did you hear the story of how Wakefield prison was broken into recently, to smuggle in drugs?  apparently, there was plenty of time for the inmates to escape, but none of them wanted to, as they thought they had a better life inside...Confused
 
strangely enough, in my previous incarnation, I was giving unemployment help to an ex con, who had been sent to me over the course of several weeks by Employment Services...he then stopped coming in, and I found out that all his best mates were inside Wakefield prison, where he had already done 2/3 stretches..and he was bored, so he went and smashed a shop window and stole the contents, just so he'd get put back in again....LOL
 
Ouch


I know I shouldn't laugh at that tale, Jared, but I can't help it.  And breaking into prison!  Confused  Not a good comment on the opportunities available for those guys...
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Blacksword View Drop Down
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:09
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:

BTW, did I mention that I passed my driving test at long last. I shall do my best not allow my my angst to turn into horrible road rage!

 

ClapClapClap

 

about bloody time 'n all....Wink


Tell me about it! I knew there was something I meant to do 20 years ago, it's been bugging me ever since..
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Points: 1594 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:16
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

It's amazing what you can do with stats. They probably show crime is falling because they've stopped investigating minor crimes anyway.

The police no longer investigate credit card fraud so that'll reduce the crime figures ever so slightly.
"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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Jared View Drop Down
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Points: 19757 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:17
Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

I know I shouldn't laugh at that tale, Jared, but I can't help it.  And breaking into prison!  Confused  Not a good comment on the opportunities available for those guys...
 
Patrick, the stark situation in the UK is that on the one hand, an unskilled person just cannot earn enough to live on without being topped up by State benefits...so what's the point?
 
on the other hand, imprisonment means they don't have to work, get 3 meals a day, use of a gymnasium and sports facilities, TVs, DVDs etc, free counselling, and ready availability of illegal substances....
 
...the choice isn't quite so black and white as we'd like it to be...Confused
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Blacksword View Drop Down
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:22
Originally posted by fandango fandango wrote:

Originally posted by NaturalScience NaturalScience wrote:

I know I shouldn't laugh at that tale, Jared, but I can't help it.  And breaking into prison!  Confused  Not a good comment on the opportunities available for those guys...

 

Patrick, the stark situation in the UK is that on the one hand, an unskilled person just cannot earn enough to live on without being topped up by State benefits...so what's the point?

 

on the other hand, imprisonment means they don't have to work, get 3 meals a day, use of a gymnasium and sports facilities, TVs, DVDs etc, free counselling, and ready availability of illegal substances....

 

...the choice isn't quite so black and white as we'd like it to be...Confused


Very true.
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