Posts by codejunky

Re: Pointless - Not Only But Also

@Fruit and Nutcase

"The Boris fan club is plotting - and the man himself has landed a £1million donation from yet another expat-Brexiteer - prepare for Boris 2.0."

That is not something I want to read on a monday morning.

Re: @localzuk

@Roland6

"The doctrine of the segment of the Conservative party Truss associates with believes reducing a person's income/wealth will motivate them to go out and find work..."

Why was the complaint that they wanted to tax less? The big crying complaint being the cut in tax? The crying which surprised me as she was gonna allow fracking and we know how nuts the green madness people are yet they were less noisy.

Re: "We currently have the highest tax's in decades"

@John H Woods

"This isn't a sim, and 'tax rate' is not a single slider that affects everybody equally"

Not sure where you think I said that? Or what you think it has to do with my comment? Or did you mean to post it to someone else?

"it's quite possible for very nearly all of the 60% of the country who pay income tax to be being absolutely hammered whilst very wealthy people are insufficiently taxed."

And vice versa. Still not sure what that has to do with my comment though.

Re: @localzuk

@Roland6

"Economics is not a science"

Guess it depends which end we look at. For predicting what will happen it is a bit like astrology, tarot cards and climate science. For understanding how changes affect the economy it does discover how actions affect the economy.

"But following the lettuce’s logic, she should have taken all the wealth off the 2 percent, as this would have encouraged them to go out and create new wealth…"

Not sure where you get your straw man from.

"Keep drinking the kool-aid. Taxes were much higher in the 70’s and 80’s, it didn’t stop people being entrepreneurial, just ask James Dyson…"

You even quoted me saying 'in decades'. A decade is 10 years. The 80's would be 1980's, currently it is 2023 so 2023-1980 = 43. How many in the tens column? 4 decades. (Guessing its a bit late). And according to the Taxpayers Alliance its a 70 year high (using 5 year averages so take it or leave it).

And yes back in the 70's and 80's tax was higher and is that the time of the massive improvement to our lives? How were things back then economically? So while there was economic activity there was more and a great improvement to our lives by not taxing until the pips squeaked.

"The people whinging about taxes are those who want the trappings of success ie. Look at me I’ve got a yacht, chateau etc."

I feel dumber just reading that sentence. Almost like it is a vacuum to rational thought. People complaining about tax because it interferes with them spending their own money that they earned. And of course in this country the rich, globally. As in we earn vastly more than most of the world. Why on earth are you buying a computer, phone, central heating, car, etc when you should be paying more tax. Thats just garbage.

"The “high tax” stuff is just b***ocks. If you found a company and it becomes successful - which is the exception among startups - there are plenty of tax breaks for you to personally do very well."

So its not easy to be successful, and those who achieve it seem to have figured out how to get to the next stage, so should be encouraged to serve more people so... steal what they earned? There is a shortage of doctors in the UK, and people contributing to large pensions get taxed heavier, coinciding with doctors retiring around the time their pension pot got so big. Correlation? Naa, steal more!

Re: @localzuk

@nsld

I see a lot of text but not much content. Guess you just needed to moan?

Re: Pointless

@Roland6

"The design was decided by and agreed by the national governments, in the case of the uk, the Conservatives as led by Thatcher…"

Not sure why you bring Thatcher into it. She turned against the political project. She supported the common market.

"Yes, we voted for MEPs but Westminster et al didn’t want them to have any real power anytime soon…"

Et al being the EU? And while the gov may have their desires the UK voted leave so I can only guess the people had a different view than the politicians.

"I’m not so sure given there was little democratic accountability for the lettuce - appointed by a selected few and then (thankfully) cast aside by the same few"

The same few? I am not sure about that since she won a leadership election and then the party replaced her with their desired winner. And they are likely to be voted out of the gov in the next election it seems. More accountable than the EU then.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Catch is many, back in the 80s, thought (a future) EU et al would slap down the worst excesses of Westminster…"

And living through the EU it seems not. As before the referendum and after and seemingly resurrected, the very important question I asked is still short of an answer.

"As I’ve said before, the real problem is at Westminster not Brussels…"

Or both. Which is why it is important to ask how another layer of bad government on top of our bad government improves anything.

Re: Pointless

@Roland6

"I note from the UK press that the Conservatives - the party that gave us “Brexit” but really wanted us to have an even harder “Brexit” has now effectively said Brexit was a big mistake and the main reason why the UK economy is currently doing so badly…"

Cant say I have seen that but I dont particularly follow the conservatives. Harder brexit would probably been a good thing I would think but thats my opinion. Since it was a cross party issue with remain/leave split within the main parties I am not sure a 'Conservative press' would necessarily capture the views of both parts of the party but I might be wrong.

"Which given how quiet the elected politicians were on this matter over several decades, is exactly the way they wanted it to be…"

I dont understand this statement. We voted for MEP's but the design of the EU is technocratic and to separate the politician from the voter. Thats why we got to vote for MEP's and not the important workings.

"BTW don’t remember receiving any voting papers concerning the appointment of the UK PM…."

And yet you have more democratic say over our gov than the EU. If we are going back to this argument I will revive the question- If our gov is so bad then how does adding another layer of bad gov improve things?

@localzuk

"You can count the number of people who thought Truss' policies were good on one hand."

Pro growth policies based on known economics instead of the preceding and continued hope and prayer managed decline?

"They forced us to the brink of recession in a month"

And the Japanese Yen? Or just the GBP? And you think in 2 weeks the plan under Truss brought the whole thing down and not the propping up since 2008 and recent covid blowouts including insanely low interest rates? Nope it must just be the pro-growth policies announced instead of the problem she intended to fix.

"The BoE had to intervene to prop things up."

Bad news for you. The BoE has been propping things up for some time, such as seriously low interest rates and funding the gov a lot of money. In fact the bill is coming due that the gov will need to repay the BoE with our money for the spending sprees that gave us this current economy!

"Tax cuts for the rich? That isn't pro-growth"

Are you sure? We currently have the highest tax's in decades and the laffer curve isnt theory but a fact.

"Its trickle down economics. And that has been repeatedly, thoroughly, debunked as nonsense."

Depending if you mean in actuality or the straw man that gets debunked. Otherwise you must have some seriously bad soviet era crap in your house.

"Sterling plunged to its lowest level against the dollar - meaning investors saw the UK as a giant risk. Not an investment opportunity."

All currencies have fallen against the dollar. Because the dollar is rising. The treasury hiked rates harder and faster than other countries and as a result have a stronger currency at the increased risk of a recession. The BoE didnt raise as hard nor as fast and so the GBP didnt rise with the dollar. For comparison-

https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=USD&view=5Y

https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=EUR&view=5Y

Re: Pointless

@Big_Boomer

"We had a chip manufacturing infrastructure but then we left the trading block where the fabs are located and now we have to trade on the open market for chips. Yet another "win" for the dumbfcukery that Brexit has been shown again and again to have been."

elsergiovolador has already knocked over your stupid comment of fab location and brexit. But as for the fabs the EU look to fund, why would we want to import dirty, low paid jobs here instead of the higher value jobs? And why would we want to pay to have said lower value jobs come here?

"As for competence and politicians, they seem to be mutually exclusive under our current electoral methods. All we end up with is people who are good at getting themselves elected."

While the EU presidents are elected away from the voters and are just as bad if not worse

Re: 45%

@AC

"Amazon pay 50p greater than the minimum wage, which is not a lot for 10 hour working day."

Is it a bad thing to pay 50p more than the minimum wage? Or even to pay the minimum wage? In of itself it is (in theory) the minimum barrier to hiring someone. Offering the wage in exchange for someone who values their time and effort at that amount. If its too low people wont work there. If its too high there is no shortage of workers and can even use things like zero hour contracts.

Re: Hmm

@AC

"Can't work out if you're ignorant of the solidarity they're looking to achieve or just being deliberately obtuse."

I was simply saying it might not be wise to point out other locations are taking a wait and see approach while trying to negotiate for improvements. If the other places were ready to strike then drawing attention to greater intended disruption would strengthen your hand, but if the others are taking a 'wait and see' approach Amazon might just kick out these upstarts from a union they dont recognise as an example to others.

@Eclectic Man

"I realise that this implies stealing by a very small number of Amazon 'fulfilment' staff, but I wonder whether there would be les of this is they were paid a decent, living, wage?"

I doubt it. They aint stealing high value luxury items to eat. Its either to flog because they are criminal scum or for themselves/friends. Also the words 'decent, living' dont have any meaning when it comes to wage. Its not a measurable item just some fluffy idea like 'fair'. One that keeps getting inflated until more people are put out of work and automation is cheaper.

Re: No such things as carbon free

@Snowy

"since when was nuclear power considered low-cost?"

When compared to the unreliables pushing up the price of energy

Re: @CodeJunky - What?

@Elongated Muskrat

"My point is that you would not"

I wouldnt say brexit is a bad thing because its not been a bad thing. I also dont see it being a bad thing either. So just because in your opinion you think its a bad thing (from your perspective it might be) does not mean I think it is. Just because I dont agree with your opinion does not make me wrong.

"Just like my point of comparing you to someone who is very obviously very intelligent is to compare and contrast, not to boast about "look who I know"."

Sorry if you missed it, I served back your insult. Dunno if it was too complicated but you did just make me laugh.

Re: What?

@Elongated Muskrat

"I have never, once, seen you provide a primary source"

You 'have never seen' being the key there. I have linked to datasets and laws where appropriate and yes I also link to opinion pieces and news articles, just as others here do. Amazingly when it comes to commenting on stuff where its announcements to media news sources are the right ones to link to. If you dont like it then you probably take issue with most 'sources' put on here. What have you provided? Your glorious opinion?

Re: @CodeJunky - What?

@Elongated Muskrat

"Do you ever wonder that your opinions might be wrong"

Yes which is why I am willing to discuss my opinions and I do admit when I am wrong. That is why when someone says the same dumb thing no matter how many times you prove them wrong over years it is fair to conclude they are an idiot. As I said at least they hid behind AC. A downvote is an irrelevance, its XFactor thinking that adds little but minor entertainment for some. Conversation with genuine sharing of ideas and perspectives is worth something.

That is why I gave up on our other thread of conversation as you were jumping around like a coked up kangaroo throwing insults and going on random tangents.

"Because I know some genuinely very intelligent people"

That is not a boast, that should be the norm. Everyone should know people smarter than themselves, it helps them grow. And I dont take offence at your statement that I dont operate at the same level as them. From our conversation so far I think you having friends who left high school is a good thing.

Re: @CodeJunky - What?

@AC

At least now you have the sense to hide such stupid behind AC. Maybe there is hope for you.

Re: What?

@Mooseman

"Sorry, self-referencing your own comments does not equate to facts. I know this comes as a shock to you."

But having to keep reiterating the facts and sources going on years gets tiresome.

"Still thanks for the bingo, I now have the full house on your ridiculous ntions - nazis were socialists (apart from the aryan stuff, natch), ? Cool."

Did I write that? Or that it is arguable that the national socialist party with left wing proposals and fighting for the same left wing voters as the communist party were left wing? But then reading isnt your strong suit.

Re: What?

@Binraider

"I'd love to hear the Brexit benefits, I have yet to see any examples other than the rhetoric of "taking back control". Show me some tangible stories and I'll listen. Nobody ever can."

Seriously? Have you never read any of my previous comments on this? One of the immediate benefits was the vaccine procurement. The difference between the UK and EU response was huge and the difference stunning.

Re: What?

@Binraider

"Sweden, Norway and Finland do not hide behind NATO."

Some of the nordics are in NATO and others understandably didnt want to antagonise Russia by joining, until now. FYI- https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=SE-FI-NO

"Sweden has one of the largest and most capable militaries in Europe, and their probable joining with NATO severely improves NATO's overall capability."

I agree they are and will be an addition, I dont dispute that. But the point is its easier to do social spending when you cut spending on defence.

*Edit: Oops I forgot to add-

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing-europe.php

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php

Re: What?

@Casca

"Nice projecting..."

How?

Re: What?

@Elongated Muskrat

"The first line that claims Labour* members agree with Nazi ideology."

Excellent start, you disprove your previous comments claim about me- 'Moderate social democracy is perfectly achievable, and functions well, but to the likes of our darling CJ, they look the same as Stalin'. So the absolute start of your comment is to prove your previous comment wrong. Looking good so far.

"You're really going to have to provide a verified source for that assertion, which borders on the libellous. I suspect you can't, and once again, you are presenting opinion as fact."

Why on earth is it libellous that leftys supported left wing ideas? This was a while ago and a quick google hasnt brought it up so I would have to go look back for where I have previously sourced it (anyone else have a link to the story feel free to save me the job).

"When asked to back up any of your various claims"

I usually do and you cry as in this comment. Didums.

"If you can't tell the difference between facts and opinion"

See the start of this comment. Hit and sink.

"*capital L please, it's a proper noun, I give the same courtesy to others I may disagree with, and to not do so is childish"

Not an english teacher. No disrespect intended but I honestly dont care about the capitalisation (same with others as you may note in my comments).

"**Even Thatcher admitted Minford's economic ideology, which he has been touting for decades is a load of old bollocks."

Not sure why you brought Minford into this. Not something I particularly studied although I have heard the name before.

Re: What?

@Elongated Muskrat

"Moderate social democracy is perfectly achievable, and functions well, but to the likes of our darling CJ, they look the same as Stalin. QED"

and

"Prove me wrong..."

Read my comments. Contradicts your first line.

Re: What?

@Roland6

"Agreed, the right wing have done a good job of elevating their victimhood culture (they are victims because the isn't running how they believe it should) to the point where many simply accept their highly distorted view of the world as being normal..."

I think you just described the left incredibly there. You see them as right wing?

Re: What?

@Binraider

"Stating the bloody obvious - the extreme far left and extreme far right end up looking much the same.

The most obvious examples are Stalin and Hitler."

True which is interestingly why the National Socialists as a claim of magically jumping to the extreme right is contestable. Interestingly without the Aryan race stuff the Nazi manifesto passes well with the labour members.

"Successful left-leaning social democracies are readily found in Western Europe and Scandinavia. When one argues against the current round of Tories, or lunatics like Farage and Corbyn; it's because we know there are better models to be found literally next door to us."

I hear arguments like that but not many people arguing for it seem to want to emulate Scandinavia. Some such being against Academy schools, privatising public services, abolish minimum wage, high taxation on the whole population and severely restricting immigration. There would also be the issue of effectively giving up on being a military power and hiding behind the US for protection. I doubt the conversation would get anywhere as soon as you mention disbanding the NHS.

"Brexshit with all of the obvious consequences that only the most blinkered religious nutters fail to see."

We do also have the benefits of being out so its swings and roundabouts really. Also brexit was a cross party issue with left and right having their own issues with the EU.

"New Labour did not rise to the challenge of creating change despite a wave of enthusiasm. Current Tories are corrupt to the core."

New labour were popular for giving sweeties to everyone but not telling them about the cost. And I couldnt agree more about the Tories.

Re: What?

@martinusher

"The so-called "whiny lefty" as we know it today is a creation of the right wing"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlRompc1yE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDYNVH0U3cs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rewp2EXSL9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04NXGb1pA6g

"So, yes, its quite possible to have a "whiny lefty" fronting for a rapacious right wing."

So in your mind the right wing is just evil people? You talk of Goebbels but seem to forget the current N.Korea, China, USSR, Russia after that collapsed. But I am guessing you consider these examples fronts for the right? No true lefty?

You should note Androgynous Cupboard was exaggerating my opinion but for some reason thinks organ of the state is different from left. I assume he was trying to comment the position of the tory govs

Re: Erm

@Dan 55

"However they're still sanctioned by the US (and other countries) and Twitter shouldn't be dealing with them."

But is Twitter banned in those sanctions? I dont know, it just seems the usual internet services are provided to Afghanistan.

Re: What?

@Androgynous Cupboard

"Hang on, I thought you thought the BBC was packed full of whiny lefty liberals? Come on man, pick a side - is it a pinko hotbed or an organ of the state?"

Nice exaggeration of my opinion but yes whiny lefty is correct.

"Unless you think UK.gov is also currently packed with whiny lefty liberals, in which case you are - frankly - terrifying"

If you consider it terrifying then go hide in your colleges safe space.