General Chat

I read the article below in The Independent this morning, so is the government saying firstly, that they introduce polices not knowing whether they will work; secondly that after ignoring the findings of nearly every public consultation that has ever been commissioned they are now going to listen to ordinary people; and thirdly will this mean we can save a fortune and get rid of the current decision makers - The Cabinet ;-)

Well after listening to Vince Cable on The Sunday Politics Show on BBC1 yesterday I was left feeling that no one in "The Cabinet or The Treasury" knew, I need to be polite on here, their backside from their elbow ;-)

Today the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Policy Minister Oliver Letwin will announce that the Government is to try "Crowd Sourcing" key policies to see "What Works." The evidence based guidelines will examine which initiatives work in bid to save £2bn a year.

After years of policy disasters and U-turns for ministers of all parties, the Coalition is to establish the first network of bodies to examine which government initiatives actually work and which do not.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-to-try-crowd-sourcing-key-policies-to-see-what-works-8518515.html#disqus_thread

Probally ,,,,,,,then do just what it thinks is right. :-P

All Governments listen to ordinary people.

They just choose to have selective hearing.

Roy

OFG You pick out some interesting news stories (to me anyway).

Our confrontational style of government means that all initiatives started by one Government are overturned by next.

In an area I worked closely in (funding of young people to get into work and business development) we built up contacts with Manpower Services Commission, Ditribution Industry Training Board, HCITB etc. Then their levies ceased and they were disbanded or emasculated. Schemes like YTS, Sure Start, you name it, flourished and then were banged on head or emasculated.

Not sure what is on the agenda now. Is it modern apprentices? But, whatever Gove and Cable decide in education and occupational training, it will be overturned by next Government (possibly a UKIP/Respect coalition of all the talents with Neil Hamilton and George Galloway steering the ship in harmony). :-0 ;-)

I think Wales has a good opportunity to have a run at these things because it is likely to be Labour-led for the next 50 years probably. But Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru) and Andrew R T Davies (Conservative leader in Senedd) are both calling the Labour Government lazy in areas of policy.

If everyone was a floating voter assessing each party at each election, instead of the party faithful who will vote for a monkey on a stick as long as it is wearing the right colour rosette, we might get politicians to listen.

Unless you live in a marginal seat no one gives a fig what you think!

There’s an old saying “people get the government they deserve” while they vote blindly for the same party they selected for “aspirational” or “working class” reasons years ago nothing will change.

It’s a bit like deciding on whether you support Oxford or Cambridge, Man U or City at school because your mates did and for no other reason than habit supporting them for life.

(I’m Cambridge by the way) ;-)

Mayfield

Mayfield, I like that comment about "a monkey on a stick" :-D :-D :-D

My problem when I look at the Coalition Government, especially the four monkeys, Cameron; Clegg: Osborne; and Cable - is which one is the "Puppet On A String" :-D :-D :-D

There is no doubt in my mind that if they go ahead with this "Crowd Sourcing" idea or whatever else they decide to call it, this will just give them the excuse to blame the ordinary person when something goes wrong - I call that passing the buck, and governments of all colours are experts at that ;-) ;-) ;-)

Human rights leaders are a pain in the neck
Can't hold a candle to Eye Dee Ess
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Ban the bombers are afraid of a fight
Peace hurts business and that ain't right
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Daily News, daily blues
Pick up a copy any time you choose
Fifty five pee the newsboy's hand
And you ride right along to never, never land

We got to bomb Iran, got to bomb them flat
They're too damn successful and we can't risk that
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

There's millions of people in the freedom fight
Yelling for Lennon and human rights
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Seems like the whole damn world's gone wrong
Saint Maggie Thatcher is longtime gone
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Don't try to make me change my mind with facts
To hell with the graduated bedroom tax
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Lakshmi Mittal is just plain folks
The EU charter is a cruel hoax
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

Theresa May is the woman of the hour
All she needs is just a little more power
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News

(apologies to T Paxton)

We deserve better than trite gimmicks from any government.

MPs who have the unfortunate privilege of looking after our wellbeing, think they are very clever & are masters of evasion. Democracy demands more of citizens than a passive role between elections.

Battered, bruised & bewildered, we await in vain for a bit of sanity.

they never listen to the people because once they are elected they consider themselves above "the people"

AnnC, You no that's not true, They consider themselves above "the people" all of the time it's just at election time that they are prepared to stoop down to our level to gain a vote, That's where Gordon Brown got his smile from ;-)

They all smile with gritted teeth when appealing to the electorate for your vote,

Roy

The simple answer is "No" they never have and never will,once they,ve had your vote (Whichever Party) it,s "Pull the ladder up Jack, I,m in the Dingy"**M**

How can any of you have such a low opinion of our beloved honest and upstanding politicians, you would think that most of them were a bunch of, deceitful, lying, devious, money grabbing, two faced hypocrites :-D :-D :-D

Its in the Sunday papers
Its in the daily news
Its in black and white, so must be right
They'd never lie to you.



Andy

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Washington never told a lie.
I learned that soldiers seldom die.
I learned that everybody's free.
And that's what the teacher said to me.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends.
I learned that justice never ends.
I learned that murderers die for their crimes.
Even if we make a mistake sometimes.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our government must be strong.
It's always right and never wrong.
Our leaders are the finest men.
And we elect them again and again.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad.
I learned of the great ones we have had.
We fought in Germany and in France.
And some day I might get my chance.
That's what I learned in school today.
That's what I learned in school.

T.P.

just saw pig fly across te sky :-D :-D :-D

ecky thump you are right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhDMbo-2_qE

Pigs (Three Different Ones) (Waters) 11:26

Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are.
And when your hand is on your heart,
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost a joker,
With your head down in the pig bin,
Saying "Keep on digging."
Pig stain on your fat chin.
What do you hope to find.
When you're down in the pig mine.
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

They dont even listen to themselves :-|, so why listen to anybody else....

They say and promise "The People" yeaaaaah whatever :-P :-P

Gets my goat !!

you have a goat - bet they'll put a tax on it!!!

Here we go - more 'Jobs for the Boys' - or 'quango's'.

I bet the 'crowd' will consist of business 'leaders', and various cronies of MP's - so, for example, schooling will be biased even more towards what businesses want, and less towards giving children an all round education.


and part of the funding will come from the National Lottery!!!!
I thought the lottery was to pay for things the government thought 'unworthy' - like hospices and play areas, seems like they now consider themselves a 'worthy ' cause.


:-| :-P

Tax it or sell it on as Beef :-D ;-)