R Soul on 9/5/2015 at 00:11
As a result of crosses being put on some pieces of paper, some people have new jobs, and others have been fired or resigned. And a lot of people kept their existing jobs. There has been a lot of surprise about who is in each of these groups, and a wide range of emotion.
I wonder if anyone saw this result coming? I didn't expect a Conservative majority; I thought we'd have another bloody coalition. But I think a lot of voters were trying to keep Labour out rather then get the Conservatives in. But they're in power now, regardless of why. Although I no longer support this party, I'd rather have a single party in power (even if it's Labour) than a coalition or informal deal between several parties. It's much easier to hold a government to account when they can't blame their partners for making them compromise.
But the overall majority was so unexpected the civil servants in No. 10 had got everything organized (food and drink, chairs, and maybe some pens) for coalition negotiations, and I woudn't be surprised if the Conservatives made some promises under the assumption that they wouldn't have to honour them because of deals done with other parties.
Oh and the SNP are here. Will they cry havoc and let slip the scotty dogs of war?
Sluggs on 9/5/2015 at 01:53
This country's gonna burn! :D
R.I.P NHS
Tony_Tarantula on 9/5/2015 at 03:23
Yes, easily predictable because it's part of a trend that is emerging worldwide: a backlash against collectivist ideology.
If you think that was interesting just wait until 2016. Both pattern correlation and socio-economic trends support a dramatic rise in 3rd party activity starting next year.
The most "fun" part of it? A rise in 3rd party activity is typically predated by a period of economic contraction and correlates with a rise in extremist political factions.
Tony_Tarantula on 9/5/2015 at 03:26
There's no way in hell the EU is actually going to let that happen. Not only would it be a tacit admission that Farage has been correct about the EU, but the EU is in a delicate situation due to how the Eurodollar appears to be doomed in the long run. Brussels is in a "fear" mode and they're likely to lash out quite strongly (although most likely it will occur in private diplomatic channels than the public sphere) against any such attempt. They're afraid that if any country leaves the EU they'll be out of a job.
In Italy, the EU had so little respect for national sovereignty that they were willing to force out Berlusconi against the people's will:
Quote:
Fabrizio Goria of the Italian news site Linkiesta researched a remarkable story that is not yet making headlines in the major international press. During the fall of 2011, interest rates on Italian government bonds rose to a record highs. The EU Commission then staged a political coup and demanded that the then Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi must be replaced by the former Goldman Sach's Mario Monti.
This report of a Brussels coup being organized by the EU Commission is showing the lack of democratic respect that the EU Commission has for the people of Europe that Nigel Farage has been yelling about. By the end of October, the then Italian Interior Minister, Roberto Maroni, was on a phone call with President Jose Manuel Barroso who was the then head of the EU Commission. The call came during a meeting, and Maroni turned pale according to a number of people present in the meeting. Barroso instructed in no uncertain terms:
“I do not want you to take it personally. Neither you nor the other members of the government. But you have to replace Berlusconi. “
Barroso explained that the EU strategy will be that the Italian Prime Minister should be attacked from all sides politically from all European politicians: Everyone would then say that Berlusconi was inappropriate. Then Barroso instructed, Maroni, should rise to power.
Both the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then French President Nicholas Sarkozy also began in late October telling the press that they questioned the “credibility” of the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and his government. Then at the G20 meeting in Cannes, on November 2nd, the day before the start of negotiations, the head of the UK Finance Adair Turner said: “In our view, Italy is in much bigger problems than Greece. A solution should be found quickly.” At Cannes over the next two days, Barroso and EU Council President Herman van Rompuy, announced that Italy by itself is willing to be monitored by the IMF. Finally, on November 9th, Berlusconi resigned. The former Goldman banker Monti then emerged with support from Brussels and suddenly announced a reform program and Mario Draghi made sure that the interest rates for Italy fell once again and the press was called in to twist the coup into a positive event for Italy and the Euro..
I doubt they'd have a problem doing the same to Cameron were he to attempt holding a referendum on EU membership.
SD on 9/5/2015 at 23:32
Quote Posted by R Soul
I thought we'd have another bloody coalition
That "bloody coalition" was the only thing stopping the Evil Tories from inflicting a torrent of shit on the populace that would make the Augean stables look like a teddy bear's picnic.
Well, the sluice gates are open now. At-will employment. Repeal of the Human Rights Act. Welfare slashed to the bone. Mass government surveillance. 1,001 other, equally nasty things that were being blocked by a Liberal Democratic party for whom, following their devastation at the polls, the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" could have been invented.
Be prepared. Be very prepared.
Tony_Tarantula on 10/5/2015 at 02:59
Britain doesn't already have mass government surveillance? That's news to me.
SD on 10/5/2015 at 03:02
(
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/09/theresa-may-revive-snoopers-charter-lib-dem-brakes-off-privacy-election)
Quote:
Speaking as early results on Friday indicated the Conservatives would form a government with a Commons majority, Theresa May said increased surveillance powers was “one very key example” of Tory policy that was blocked by the coalition arrangement with the Liberal Democrats in the previous government.
May’s remarks alarmed privacy campaigners who fear a Conservative government will revive the controversial draft communications bill, which was beaten last year after the Lib Dems withdrew their support.
That law, labelled a snooper’s charter, would have required internet and mobile phone companies to keep records of customers’ browsing activity, social media use, emails, voice calls, online gaming and text messages for a year.
Tony_Tarantula on 10/5/2015 at 18:41
Yeah. They already do that and for periods a lot longer than one year, they just don't take credit for it. The data is credited to "NSA" collection efforts and is then immediately shared with the UK government as part of an intelligence sharing agreement.
Medlar on 10/5/2015 at 19:28
Predictions for the next 5 years, I hope I am wrong.
Privatisation of the NHS.
Welfare system irreparably decimated.
Social council housing stock sold at huge discount
Lower taxes for high earners.
Fox hunting legalised.
Membership of the European Union rewritten.
Food banks becoming a permanent fixture.
Constituency boundaries altered to suit Conservative voters.
Renewable energy grants removed.
Best of luck everybody...
