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Grawth

Listed below are comments made by Grawth between Friday, 23rd October 2009 and Sunday, 13th December 2009.

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Pre-Budget report disagreement between Treasury and No 10 4:06pm on 13 Dec 2009 248 xTunbridge

I agree. It's difficult to see this now as a particularly warm period when we know that in previous centuries there have been vineyards across Britain successfully producing wine from home-grown grapes.

I remember a Tomorrow's World from the 70s where they reported that all experts agreed we were heading for a mini ice age.

Our problem is that the human viewpoint rarely sees beyond decades, let alone centuries, the data from before the 1900's in unreliable and extrapolated, and there are too many vested interests attempting to sway the argument one way or the other.

Temperature has swayed back and forth over the ages and I have seen NO convincing argument that man's influence is significantly altering the prevailing natural trend.

However, that does not mean I don't think it's a good idea to investigate nuclear fusion, wave, high altitude wind, or solar as alternative energy sources, or to attempt to create cleaner, less polluting technology. Just don't tell me that putting up huge wind farms in the countryside that won't even function most of the time is a good way to solve the problem!
When politics matters... 08:04am on 10 Nov 2009 @Saga 235

"these days words mean pretty much what people want them to mean "

that would be words such as "no more boom and bust", and "whiter than white" would it?
Nearing the end of the expenses saga 10:09am on 06 Nov 2009 #260 pdavies65

Cabinet of millionaires? We already have that, don't we?
Nearing the end of the expenses saga 10:08am on 06 Nov 2009 Derek

You know full well (I assume) that Cameron's proposed new law about the transfer of power to Brussels does NOT preclude joining the Euro! Simply put it says that any transfer of power from Britain to Europe would have to be put to the people of this country before it could happen. A good thing, yes? Unless you're one of those who believes in democracy only when the people agree with him?

So, if you did know that then you are guilty of deliberately trying to paint a false picture of Tory policy. Of course, if you didn't know it, then you are also guilty - of not bothering to actually find out the truth of something before you post about it.
Nearing the end of the expenses saga 10:04am on 06 Nov 2009 Morning all. Let's try this line. For all those making mischief over whether or not Cameron should have put in his mortgage claim given he has some money of his own . . .

Point 1; the expenses system is there to cover EXTRA expenses incurred as a result of being an MP. No doubt many MPs of all parties could have afforded to pay their own mortgages on 2nd homes, but as they only have those 2nd homes to fulfil their MP role, so the interest cost is covered by the taxpayer. Unless you are suggesting that DC would have bought a 2nd home regardless of whether he was an MP or a checkout assistant?

Point 2; the whole point about expenses is a bit like the original idea of the NHS - available to all regardless of ability to pay. If you suggest that people should NOT claim because they have some money then you have a means-tested system. If that's what you want then fine, just be honest about it.
Nearing the end of the expenses saga 7:39pm on 04 Nov 2009 @ Balancedthought

THe reason no-one has been up in arms about Cameron, is because there is nothing wrong with his mortgage claim at all, despite what you would like us to believe in your oh so "balanced" way.

The rules are not there for second MORTGAGES, but for those who need a second HOME. Spot the difference? If you need a second home to do your job as an MP then the rules allow you to claim back mortgage interest (and interest only) up to a certain allowance.

You would be hard pressed to find an MP with a second home who WASN'T using this allowance.

If I were you I'd concentrate my fire on those who HAVE done wrong. Maybe paying for repairs on a 3rd home, neither in London or your constituency; maybe continuing to claimon a mortgage that had already been paid off. You know, actual wrongdoing, not just a vendetta against one person.
Cameron the Heathite? 1:58pm on 23 Oct 2009 Oh come on now Saga, you KNOW youcan't get away with that!

My research says that if we all changed our name to Zane Nefertiti III BDango and farmed ferrets for sale to Iceland we'd all turn green, win the lottery and happiness would rule forever . . . but I'm not going to share that research with you.

Balderdash!

Post it somewhere. Anywhere. Then post a link. And if its SUCH a good plan, why hasn't it been done already?
Cameron the Heathite? 12:05pm on 23 Oct 2009 imagination saga? ok, imagine this.

First you need to take ownership of the rest of the shares of RBS to fully nationalise it. That costs money. Next you want to set a savings rate so that "one would be crazy to put one's money anywhere else", well that costs money too. Then for mortgages you say you will make sure that "this National Bank (NB should we call it?) offers better terms than any other" which again costs money.

Now some of that will come from being a "not for profit" bank, but unless you show me hard figures I doubt that will fund everything.

In the meantime, all other banks fail. This leads to massive drops in tax receipts from the banks and thousands & thousands of workers who stop paying tax and start claiming benefit. This costs money.

So you now live in a one party state (all other parties banned for disagreeing with you), with one bank and a government that owns practically every house in the land. This would NOT however be a totalitarian state you claim!

Presumably you would also only allow one football team, the players being picked by lottery (can't allow pesky things like ability or competition in now can we!).

Imagination Saga - its a tricky thing. Its all very well saying "wouldn't it be great if . . ." but then you have to think it through.
Cameron the Heathite? 10:04am on 23 Oct 2009 101#

True, but its still a shame. When he first arrived Saga seemed a reasonable, give and take, prepared to accept rational argument kind of guy. Gradually he's slipped into this unyielding, twisted version of himself where nothing actually has to make sense any more, and believing what you say, when you say it, is enough. Its a bit like Gordon now I come to think of it!

I worry for him.
Cameron the Heathite? 08:32am on 23 Oct 2009 saga you are in danger of becoming a figure of fun. You are not totalitarian (you say) but you would ban specific non-illegal parties just cos they say something you don't like, and now you would force all banks other than your NB out of business, by adopting your state-controlled mortgage rate. Then you want to natioinalise a load of stuff (more state control). And when asked where the money comes from to do it, or to keep it going once you've done it, your response is effectively to raise your arms high and say "He will provide".

Saga, send us a postcard from cuckoo land please, I hear its quite nice there!

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