2015 UK Politics Megathread

[Alyakia]

i agree. tories out.

Yes, they should go out to the streets and stop a catastrophe. The anti-British elements will never stop acting even if the Torries win this elections.

anti-british? we want to keep our industries british, run for and by the british people. they want to sell it off to france and germany. literally. half our power is owned by the french state and half our transport is owned by the german state. they are also openly opposed to the welfare state and the NHS, some of the greatest achievements in this nations history. UKIP want to do the same. but suuuuuuuuuuure. :-)

[Die Volkstaat]

Yes, they should go out to the streets and stop a catastrophe. The anti-British elements will never stop acting even if the Torries win this elections.

anti-british? we want to keep our industries british, run for and by the british people. they want to sell it off to france and germany. literally. half our power is owned by the french state and half our transport is owned by the german state. they are also openly opposed to the welfare state and the NHS, some of the greatest achievements in this nations history. UKIP want to do the same. but suuuuuuuuuuure. :-)

Y'know what is partially responsible for this? The EU. Though, I believe that free trade is one of the few benefits the EU offers, so I applaud the EU for this.

Edit: I'm largely joking around.

[Valaran]

Yes, they should go out to the streets and stop a catastrophe. The anti-British elements will never stop acting even if the Torries win this elections.

anti-british? we want to keep our industries british, run for and by the british people. they want to sell it off to france and germany. literally. half our power is owned by the french state and half our transport is owned by the german state.

I certainly don't agree with Tory NHS plans, but the bit of your post I've quoted really isn't a major problem. Foreign ownership really shouldn't matter.


And the only other option is protectionism, which is, frankly, a ridiculous one.

[Alyakia]

anti-british? we want to keep our industries british, run for and by the british people. they want to sell it off to france and germany. literally. half our power is owned by the french state and half our transport is owned by the german state. they are also openly opposed to the welfare state and the NHS, some of the greatest achievements in this nations history. UKIP want to do the same. but suuuuuuuuuuure. :-)

Y'know what is partially responsible for this? The EU.

do you think they wouldn't do it if the EU wasn't there? half of it was done before the EU was even called the EU.

anti-british? we want to keep our industries british, run for and by the british people. they want to sell it off to france and germany. literally. half our power is owned by the french state and half our transport is owned by the german state.

I certainly don't agree with Tory NHS plans, but the bit of your post I've quoted really isn't a major problem. Foreign ownership really shouldn't matter.


And the only other option is protectionism, which is, frankly, a ridiculous one.

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

if you're basing your entire ideology on being british it does seem like it would be a problem

[Die Volkstaat]

Y'know what is partially responsible for this? The EU.

do you think they wouldn't do it if the EU wasn't there? half of it was done before the EU was even called the EU.

I certainly don't agree with Tory NHS plans, but the bit of your post I've quoted really isn't a major problem. Foreign ownership really shouldn't matter.


And the only other option is protectionism, which is, frankly, a ridiculous one.

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

if you're basing your entire ideology on being british it does seem like it would be a problem

I should've pointed this out, but I'm largely joking. Plus, I don't care too much, free trade is a relatively good thing.

[Valaran]

I certainly don't agree with Tory NHS plans, but the bit of your post I've quoted really isn't a major problem. Foreign ownership really shouldn't matter.


And the only other option is protectionism, which is, frankly, a ridiculous one.

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

Honestly, I don't consider it stupid. The French and the Germans aren't exactly national security risks, and this encourages investment in ailing industries. It keeps jobs, it keeps FDI and business interest on the UK, and it promotes international links. It also keeps competition brisker than it would be otherwise, and allows for more reforms and the 'creative destruction' touted by Schumpeter (than if the govt ensured they all remained in domestic hands).

Edit: not all of the above will happen, but they would still be much improved than allowing protectionism.

The only possible bad points are that they could close operations (as could domestic firms), and that the profits flow out of the country. But then, a lot are reinvested back in here anyway, and the same applies to any UK company with foreign shareholders.

After all, we do the same to other nations in aerospace, financial and legal services, tech, pharmaceuticals, even defence.

Furthermore, the French tried the opposite (protectionism), and in this aspect, they have become stuck in a rut because of it.

I really don't actually think its stupid.

[Salandriagado]

The results will begin coming in around 11pm, no? If so, that's afternoon for us yanks, so I'll be attentively watching the results come in while eating my dinner.

A few of them (Sunderland and Newcastle, mostly) will be in before midnight. St Ives, on the other hand, is likely to be at 2:30 pm tomorrow.

[Monkeykind]

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

Honestly, I don't consider it stupid. The French and the Germans aren't exactly national security risks, and this encourages investment in ailing industries. It keeps jobs, it keeps FDI and business interest on the UK, and it promotes international links. It also keeps competition brisker than it would be otherwise, and allows for more reforms and the 'creative destruction' touted by Schumpeter (than if the govt ensured they all remained in domestic hands).

Edit: not all of the above will happen, but they would still be much improved than allowing protectionism.

The only possible bad points are that they could close operations (as could domestic firms), and that the profits flow out of the country. But then, a lot are reinvested back in here anyway, and the same applies to any UK company with foreign shareholders.

After all, we do the same to other nations in aerospace, financial and legal services, tech, pharmaceuticals, even defence.

Furthermore, the French tried the opposite (protectionism), and in this aspect, they have become stuck in a rut because of it.

I really don't actually think its stupid.

The French already have experience with a privatized NHS anyway.

[Valaran]

if you're basing your entire ideology on being british it does seem like it would be a problem

Sorry, I didn't see this extra comment earlier.

The Tories haven't though. They espouse economic competence over chaos to the point of caricature, and Osborne has that constant mantra "Britain is open for business".

(I have a lot of beef with the Conservative Party, but this isn't one of them).

UKIP, on the other hand...

[Valaran]

The French already have experience with a privatized NHS anyway.

I don't have much knowledge on the French healthcare system*. Was it effective (or not)?


*ironically, everyone seems to dwell on the disparities between the UK and US systems, rather than on the ones in Europe.

[Alyakia]

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

Honestly, I don't consider it stupid. The French and the Germans aren't exactly national security risks, and this encourages investment in ailing industries. It keeps jobs, it keeps FDI and business interest on the UK, and it promotes international links. It also keeps competition brisker than it would be otherwise, and allows for more reforms and the 'creative destruction' touted by Schumpeter (than if the govt ensured they all remained in domestic hands).

Edit: not all of the above will happen, but they would still be much improved than allowing protectionism.

The only possible bad points are that they could close operations (as could domestic firms), and that the profits flow out of the country. But then, a lot are reinvested back in here anyway, and the same applies to any UK company with foreign shareholders.

After all, we do the same to other nations in aerospace, financial and legal services, tech, pharmaceuticals, even defence.

Furthermore, the French tried the opposite (protectionism), and in this aspect, they have become stuck in a rut because of it.

I really don't actually think its stupid.

have british state companies bought aerospace stuff in other countries? do we even have any left at this point?

[Valaran]

have british state companies bought aerospace stuff in other countries? do we even have any left at this point?

We have the second or third largest aerospace industry on the globe, so we definitely do have some left.

And for instance MBDA (a missile developer) is 37.5% owned by BAE systems, the third largest aerospace defence contractor in the world.

[Alyakia]

have british state companies bought aerospace stuff in other countries? do we even have any left at this point?

We have the second or third largest aerospace industry on the globe, so yes, I think we do have some left.

And for instance MBDA (a missile developer) is 37.5% owned by BAE systems, the third largest aerospace defence contractor in the world.

...and are they owned by the british state?

[Monkeykind]

The French already have experience with a privatized NHS anyway.

I don't have much knowledge on the French healthcare system*. Was it effective (or not)?


*ironically, everyone seems to dwell on the disparities between the UK and US systems, rather than on the ones in Europe.

http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centr ... elease/en/

[Valaran]

We have the second or third largest aerospace industry on the globe, so yes, I think we do have some left.

And for instance MBDA (a missile developer) is 37.5% owned by BAE systems, the third largest aerospace defence contractor in the world.

...and are they owned by the british state?

Why would they be?

Most aerospace contractors receive significant state support (and ours get this too), but equally most aren't owned by states.

[Alyakia]

...and are they owned by the british state?

Why would they be?

Most aerospace contractors receive significant state support (and ours get this too), but equally most aren't owned by states.

because that is what i said, mostly

[Greater vakolicci haven]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

[Eastfield Lodge]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

All-nighter for me.

[Valaran]

I don't have much knowledge on the French healthcare system*. Was it effective (or not)?


*ironically, everyone seems to dwell on the disparities between the UK and US systems, rather than on the ones in Europe.

http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centr ... elease/en/

Thanks.

And also, huh; I never realised it was that exemplary. I suppose my next question would be how much does France spend on its healthcare, but I see its about 11.6%, which is nearly double what the UK spends (6%).

[Monkeykind]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

Stay up all night. Wish me luck.

They'll do unfunny comedy until about 1 AM. Then, it's the results.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

All-nighter for me.

An all-nighter of sleep or an all-nighter of Paxman?

[Fartsniffage]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

Sleep is for the weak.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

Stay up all night. Wish me luck.

They'll do unfunny comedy until about 1 AM. Then, it's the results.

It's usually difficult to do election comedy. Although, David Mitchel could probably manage it.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

What is everyone's proposed sleep schedule for tonight?

I'm going to go to bed at 9:30, and wake up at 2:30, putting on one of the programmes (does anyone know if channel 4's 'alternative election night' is actually going to cover the election, rather than be unfunny comedy?) which I will listen to all night, possibly falling asleep (if certain people come on, that'll be 'definitely, rather than possibly.)

Sleep is for the weak.

In the words of the great Frank Turner, that is.

[Valaran]

Why would they be?

Most aerospace contractors receive significant state support (and ours get this too), but equally most aren't owned by states.

because that is what i said, mostly

I'm not gonna lie, this sentence wasn't the easiest to understand:

you've gotta admit that the state should not these industries *sells them to another state* is one of the stupidest things ever though

But even then I don't think that's exactly what you were saying. The implication here, based off the preceding post of yours, was that selling stuff to foreign companies/states was a bad move, which I was contesting.