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cjtsmith

Listed below are comments made by cjtsmith between Wednesday, 5th November 2008 and Friday, 20th November 2009.

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Why cars are greener than buses (maybe) 10:06am on 20 Nov 2009 Where on Earth does Annsome get the idea that "Climate scientists now seem to be in agreement that manmade global warming is a fallacy and always has been"

There are many, many people who question man-made global warming, and I am not necessarily saying they are wrong to do so, but as a group, climate scientists are not among them. I can't say I have read a single report by reputable climate scientists, other than those funded by oil companies perhaps, that would support Annsome's claim.
Why cars are greener than buses (maybe) 10:02am on 20 Nov 2009 I don't think this article invalidates the general rule that cars are less efficient than public transport.

If everyone only used their cars when they contained at least two people, and used public transport the rest of the time, this would improve the average occupancy of both cars and public transport and hence the fuel efficiency of both.
A case for healthcare reform? 12:21pm on 09 Sep 2009 Noone could have anything other than sympathy for Johanna's situation, but you need to remember that healthcare is not 'free' in Canada, Britain or France either - someone always has to pay.

You need to ask the other side of the question as well. If Johanna did indeed move abroad, how would the tax-payers in her new home feel about the taxes they have been paying for years being used to treat someone who has only come to live there to take advantage of the healthcare system?

I personally wouldn't mind, but I can't speak for everyone.
Labour's long night of painful firsts 12:50pm on 08 Jun 2009 I was filled with a deep sense of shame this morning that the area where I grew up, and which has always seemed to me to be a region of tolerance and fair dealing, has seen fit to send a politician of Nick Griffin's persuasion to Brussels as their representative on the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

Thanks Nick, for making me feel that perhaps that is not the conclusion I should draw.
Fewer votes for BNP 10:48am on 08 Jun 2009 bankingballs said:

"He probably didn't fit the thicko type that the BBC likes to infer all the BNP members of are."

I think you mean IMPLY, not infer. BBC's case proved I think.
A greener Germany 12:46pm on 22 May 2009 Soounds like a lovely place to live, but I would have liked to have heard if there have been any disadvantages.

Does the pedestrian zone simply push the cars out to the surrounding roads, as in so many 'park and ride' schemes in the UK?

Do local businesses find they get fewer customers? How do they get their stock delivered in the pedestrian zone, or is it only customers that are not allowed to drive?

Is it difficult to start a new business with all the additional green regulations?

Are there plenty of trams, and how are they powered? What happens if the trams don't go near your house? Do disabled citizens have any problems with access?

Are local taxes higher to pay for all this? If so, how much higher?

I would love to believe that pleasant towns like this can be created all over Europe, but something tells me that we are not hearing the whole story, otherwise surely people would have done this before? After all, we don't live in modern urban hellholes just for the fun of it ...
Healthcare reform looks inevitable 11:44am on 14 May 2009 I wish people writing from the UK would stop saying or implying that our health care system is free. It is not. Check out the following site for 2008, where you can see that 17.4% of all tax collected in the UK was spent on health care in 2008. This year's figures are estimated as being slightly less.

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/government_expenditure.html

Now all UK residents - consider how much tax you paid last year - Income Tax, National Insurance, VAT, Captial Gains etc. etc. etc. and work out what 17.4% of that was - that is what the NHS cost you last year. A considerable amount for most people unless they are paying no tax.

Personally, I would rather have this situation where people receive treatment without receiving a bill, but unless they are unemployed, it is blatantly incorrect to say that they will not be paying for it.
'I've never joined Facebook because...' 12:03pm on 04 Feb 2009 I am obviously over the hill. I have no idea what the benefits of joining Facebook would be.

I am already in contact with everybody I want to be in contact with.
Who benefits from rate cut? 2:17pm on 06 Nov 2008 Calm down ... calm down

Even before the crunch, my own bank always took until the next day to pass on any interest rate cuts.

It is a bit unreasonable to jump up and down like this a mere two hours after the BoE gave them a surprise cut like this. Let us see what tomorrow brings.
Obama - Tiger, Lewis and me 2:17pm on 05 Nov 2008 We won't know that we have reach a truly 'post-race' society until people stop asking for your race in official documents, and until someone can be elected to high office without their race being mentioned. I hope it comes soon ...

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