Got a question?
In iPM tonight at 5.30pm, your chance to put a question to the nation in an opinion poll.
Plus: the listeners who hear "a soldier has been killed in Afghanistan" differently from the rest of us.
Oh and...red rubber bands.
Podcast the show (remember you don't need a pod!) by clicking here.
Listen to PM
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~14~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Should the expenses system for rewarding MP's be scraped, retained or modified - particularly in the light of the second homes fiasco?
Complain about this comment
fJd: I suspect the universal answer to that is going to be "yes"!
Complain about this comment
You should definitely scrape it - and a quick polish wouldn't do any harm. :-)
Complain about this comment
Question for the national poll:-
'Do you believe cheap oil will run out within 20 years?'
I fear 99.99% of the population think life will carry on as normal for the forseeable future and have no idea what the implications are of a society without cheap oil, despite all the warnings. Everybody needs to accept it and plan for it now, not just Government and the few voices in the wilderness. The poll will demonstrate how large the educational task is, or maybe how encouraging progress has been so far.
Complain about this comment
Is the country prepared to work towards a national pay structure where everybody is guaranteed a living wage and nobody is rewarded excessively?
Complain about this comment
Can final salary pension schemes especially for MPs and public sector workers still be justified when the majority of the working population can only dream of such a benefit?
Complain about this comment
Here's one that's been exercising me for a little while and I'd love to know how people felt about it.
Should we make our moral, ethical and political decisions in a context of what we believe a more civilised (future?) society might regard as right?
The reason that I'm interested in this is because we are very good at looking back and seeing past actions as wrong, reprehensible or backward - we even label whole periods of history for their actions - for example 'the dark ages' - but it strikes me that we tend to make our own decisions based on what we think now rather than how they might be seen in the future.
Complain about this comment
A question: Where is the photo of the red rubber band lined Easter basket I sent?
Complain about this comment
#7
"Life must be understood backwards; but...it must be lived forwards."
Kierkegaard
Complain about this comment
As is to be expected, most of the posts here are anti banker and whilst as an ex employee of Barclays i have some sympathy with this view I sincerely believe that the Government is getting off too lightly. A text book example of Lord M spin to keep the issue to the fore in the minds of the voter.
Please can we concentrate on applying pressure to the real architects of our woes - Mr Brown and his inadequate crew. Yes the bankers were (and are) greedy, but lets remember that it was GB who reorganised the regulation of the City which allowed the situation to develop. It was GB who gratefully received the tax revenue to pass on to an even greater public sector, most of which is employed to monitor itself rather than provide much needed services to the populace.
It was GB that ruined the pension sector by stealth tax. A measure which has greatly contributed to the poor performance of the Stock Market over the years that he has been at the helm.
Is it just that GB and the political elite will receive gold plated pensions when they are finally voted out of Government, whilst the rest of the population struggle to pay off their, student debt, mortgages and build a pension pot within a money purchase scheme, if they are lucky! How easy it is to issue regulations/taxes on the majority which will not affect you.
Complain about this comment
#No10
OOPs wrong blog!!
Complain about this comment
Why hasn't the Royal Air Force / MOD permanently grounded their fleet of Nimrod aircraft and Chinook helicoptors?
They are not fit for purpose and are potential death traps.
Complain about this comment
Should we provide financial incentives for people living in UK to have less, rather than more children? (And therefore encourage debate on limiting world population?)
Complain about this comment
@9 I guess that could be either a yes or a no huh?!
To 'live forward' in my book would mean progress - and to progress means understanding what is more civilised than what we have already - ie looking forwards :D
Another idea that fascinates me is whether enlightened self interest is fundamental to democracy working?
I suppose I think that most people would agree that it was, but would probably not act on that at the ballot box...
Complain about this comment
Should the Home Secretary resign?
Complain about this comment
Lady Sue (2)
Cairn Terrier (3)
Yes, but what would you replace it with...a massive pay rise to compensate or what?
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
DMCN (8)
Same place as the photo of my Christmas log I shouldn't wonder. Get over it!
Complain about this comment
Lady Sue (15)
The cynic in me wants the course of action that would cause her the most humiliation. I have never liked her and just watcher her become more and more arrogant with each difficult interview.
Part of me thinks it would be best to keep her just to know that whenever she came on the screen or radio, she would know the rest would be thinking of what her husband might be up to while she was away. so I guess, its a toss up!
Perhaps a more pertinent question might be, which of them should not resign?
Complain about this comment
#10
it is about time that the definition of bankers was refined to spilt the lot in the City who made huge amounts of cash, and those who look after the local community from the branch network - some of whom have had to forgo bonuses in light of media hubub. The branches opened today - Saturday - splitting up the four day break that those in the City are enjoying. The term "bankers" is broad, and too many hardworking bank employees are having a hard time justifying their existence to customers who read the headlines and take out their frustrations on the nearest target.
Complain about this comment
Do you listen to iPM?
Complain about this comment
You should examine why with the UK in such an economic mess due to the Brown/Blair mismanagement, we should not be surprised that a Senior Brown aide tries to deflect public attention away from the economy with juvenile pranks against the Conservatives.
Complain about this comment
I'd be curious to know what the great British public think about these questions:
Have you personally ever witnessed a police officer behaving aggressively?
Do you spend money you don't have?
As a society, are we failing our children?
Does Jacqui Smith's husband now have more credibility than Jacqui Smith herself?
Complain about this comment
TRW 21, The last iPM was boring beyond belief.
Complain about this comment
fJd 18, My Christmas pics are still viewable.
Complain about this comment
Further to mine @15: after I posted it I heard the end of a segment of 'Any Questions' and someone had obviously asked the same question. I don't know if that disqualifies mine, or adds further weight to it, as it appears I'm not the only one who would like this question put to the nation.
Complain about this comment
L_S 26, Yes, someone in the audience.
Complain about this comment
fJd 18, I'm going to counselling for it.
Complain about this comment
TRW 21, Some kid singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Complain about this comment
Should the 26 bishops of the Church of England (Lords Spiritual) who serve in the House of Lords be removed?
Complain about this comment
nl 30, Now that ours isn't there (retired), go ahead.
Complain about this comment
FLASH: Brown adviser resigns. Or should I say 'Adviser to Brown resigns' as he isn''t brown. Smith next?
Complain about this comment
Where is Baroness Morgan?
Complain about this comment
Should all special advisers and communications officers(of which this government has over 3000) be sacked??
Complain about this comment
re SATS. My son is currently in year 5 and will be due to do SATS in May 2010. I would be overjoyed if the teachers refused to carry out the tests. The children learn nothing in year 6 as September to May is spent revising for SATS and June and July are treated as 'end of term'. I was already considering taking my son out of school for SATS week and am behind the teachers all the way. I'm sure I'm not alone.
Complain about this comment
bew 34, Given enough time, they might all resign.
Complain about this comment
bew 34, I like to use the word 'resignate', but there are too many pedants here.
Complain about this comment
Now that the furore has quietened down, should Fred Goodwin's big pension just be forgotten about?
Complain about this comment
Oh dear me, now Derek Draper is complaining that somebody broke into the No 10 website anf found the email.
Complain about this comment
Sorry had to come back here when I heard that the very dubious Derek Draper was 'on the line' - Lord Mandelson must have called him to phone up and given him the script. Don't the BBC know how sick and tired we are of these people who have been employed by the Labour Party. I hear that he's now claiming his e-mails have been hacked into. Here we go -that's the line they're taking.The 'tittle tattle' he's talking about are those which have exposed many of them very real scandals that have come up and which the media have not exposed.
Complain about this comment
L_S 38, Who's Fred Goodwin?
Complain about this comment
Further uses for red rubber bands: hand cuffs (good for tying friends together when crossing the road), catapults (stretching the length of the kitchen and for firing juggling balls), nooses (for hanging soft toys), bracelets (running up entire arm, with the odd blue one for variation). And giant bouncing balls make good birthday presents for friends. Posted on behalf of Finley (9) and Elvy (6) by their mother who is constantly clearing up after the cat because she's tried to eat a rubber band, again.
Complain about this comment
13 -GM. Not financial incentives probably. But maybe neutering vouchers included with the first baby goody bags handed out after a birth? (I'm thinking particularly of those families where the staffie with studded collar is as vital piece of baby accessory as, say, the earrings worn in pierced ears by the 2 month old baby.) Any intelligent vet could work out who the neutering vouchers were for...
Complain about this comment
RED RUBBER BANDS
What are the BBC PM Team going to do with them all....
~Dennis Junior~
Complain about this comment
Another week closes with MORE revelations of SORDID behaviour by this
dreadful Labour government.
Now its horrible emails when will Brown
give up? We seem to have to put up
with more and more dishonesty and sleaze as each week goes by.
Complain about this comment
friendjacky, they do keep coming back, don't they?
;o)
Complain about this comment
How about:
Should we always tell the truth?
But I think I know the answer.
Complain about this comment
23. fantasticfreeflow
As my answer to your question
"Have you personally ever witnessed a police officer behaving aggressively?"
is "yes more than once" (but only in London) it prompted me to think of the following question for iPM.
"Are you ready to ensure root and branch reform of the Metropolitan Police?"
A supplementary question might be, "Are you ready for a democratically accountable police force?"
That question works on many different levels but also allows for the usual cop outs (groan).
Complain about this comment
DIY @ 12
Nothing the MOD have ever specified is fit for purpose. It's what they do best. Why single out the Nimrod?
Complain about this comment
"Would you support the development of treatment for cancer which would save the life of a close member of your family if you knew that the overall environmental cost would result in the loss of an important animal species like the elephant, gorrilas or tropical rainorest?"
This question can trully access the public's commitment to protect the envronment. The cost for the develoment of a new drug or therapy these days runs in billions of dollars and has a significant direct or indirect environmental cost. This type of question focuses peoples mind and obliges them to declare their true priorities.
Complain about this comment
Annassee (43) ha! Clearly you see through my inadequate diplomacy!
Complain about this comment
Should Child Benefit be means tested?
A lot of people collect their child benefit and just hand it over to their (older) children as pocket money or bank it for them, whereas for less well off members of society it is a much needed injection of cash to top up the coffers.
If it were means tested, perhaps the poor members of society could receive a little more and the affluent (who don't need it) none at all.
Complain about this comment
DMcN (8) - I can see it here - is there something wrong with your monitor?
Complain about this comment
Sid 53, Sorry, not here. Maybe I should try the Happy Easter thread.
Complain about this comment
Sid 53, Just checked the aquarium. Lizard is fine.
Complain about this comment
LS (52) Seconded.
V (50) I feel this is such a hypothetical scenario, I fail to see the relevance of the question. I can't envisage such circumstances. And yes, I am committed to saving the environment. However, we seem to be destroying those species you mentioned quite adequately without having to use them for any cure!
Complain about this comment
Can New Labour cure me Farmer Giles?
Complain about this comment
Do ALL religions worship the same God..?
Complain about this comment
Charlie (58)
I don't think God is religious!
Complain about this comment
fjd 59
If there is one (a God, that is) you'd probably be right...
Complain about this comment
Charlie, did you hear that piece tonight where Tony Blair was asked similar? Interesting response.
Frankly can't equate someone who sent the country off to war for no real reason (WMD such a con and Saddam was not Osama), resulting in hundreds of soldiers being killed, having any kind of religious belief.
Beggars belief.
Then I am a pacifist and an atheist.
Complain about this comment
At the risk of posing yet another question (were we only allowed one each?), this one is a bit Hello-mag mentality but...
Should Camilla become Queen?
Technically I believe she will be, whatever the public are fobbed off with but I can't imagine Charles not insisting on a proper coronation for her too. Despite their years of adultery (not good) she does seem a rather lovely woman and they are obviously very happy after years of unhappiness but - Queen?
Complain about this comment
L_S 61
No, didn't hear that I'm afraid.
Strange, to me at any rate, that so many wars have as their basis concepts based on the "belief" that there's a supreme deity of some sort.
Anyway, perhaps Mr Blair is "adopting" religion to cleanse his conscience. Didn't Popes, years ago lead troops into battle..?
Oh no, no, PLEASE don't let it lead to "Pope Tony I"
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
(63) Charlie - agree with your comment and equally horrified at the thought of Pope Tony. He seems to be setting up some kind of oragnisation that brings together different religious beliefs.
I don't think he's corrupt at all but there is that wonderful quote from Macbeth about "absolute power". Perhaps being PM has gone to his head (why wouldn't it?) and he now feels he's on some kind of calling from God to unite different religions.
Think it's a shame there aren't more 'Questions to the Nation' on this thread. You would think people would have lots of ideas for questions. Anybody there?
Complain about this comment
Should England have and use its own recognised national anthem instead of using the British National anthem at sporting events etc.
Complain about this comment
Apart from 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'?
(And why that was chosen I do not know... not v English ;o) )
Complain about this comment
Question for the Nation
" Should anyone standing for the Westminister, Scotish, Welsh or European parliaments be required to have been employed for at least five years in a commercial company or enterprise to gain 'real world' experience before they enter the political arenas?"
My own opinion is that 'career politicians' are the bane of modern life, as they have no experience of working in a comercial profit-making organisation, facing and solving everyday problems. If they had this experience, they might be less tempted to make ludicrous laws and spend/waste money freely
Complain about this comment
Since the government would be very quick to legislate retrospectively on a loophole they found UK citizens exploiting, I am keen to know if anyone is looking at getting MPs to pay back all excess profits retrospectively once the new rules are in place.
(Sorry for the long sentence).
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS