Britain's First TV Election Debate

[Barrister]

But, but... you always struck me as a bit of a kindred-spirit, in that you were a doctrinaire party-man (even if it was a party of evil and villainy). 

I've always been able to respect a party man.  Reagan, Beria, Eden, Himmler.  Party-men to the last.

[Neil]

Churchill was a Liberal. Neener neener. 

Churchill was an opportunist.

[Razgovory]

Reagan switched parties. And lets not forget Churchill who switched twice IIRC.

Fate/Raz rule violation!

My troll took in Tim so Nyah!

[grumbler]

My troll took in Tim so Nyah!

[Josquius]

If it wasn't for her, Britain could very well be on the same road that Greece is on today.

And it also could be in far better shape than it is today, not having undergone the complete collapse of society.
Mine is more likely.

[Martim Silva]

If it wasn't for her, Britain could very well be on the same road that Greece is on today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/apr/19/uk-greece-financial-crisis

The UK isn't so different from Greece

[Sheilbh]

I really thought you'd voted for Blair from the tone of your political posting.

Oh I love Blair.  But I've never lived in a seat where Labour had a chance really.  I've mainly lived in Tory and Lib Dem areas.  My issue with Labour's always been the anti-immigrant rhetoric and populist authoritarianism.

[citizen k]

....not having undergone the complete collapse of society.
Mine is more likely.

Can someone fill me in on this bit of British history I'm not familiar with? I could've sworn I was still getting BBC broadcasts in the U.S. in the early eighties, i.e. "Doctor Who".

[Habbaku]

Can someone fill me in on this bit of British history I'm not familiar with? I could've sworn I was still getting BBC broadcasts in the U.S. in the early eighties, i.e. "Doctor Who".

There was actually a really good documentary about it a while back.  I dug it up for you.  Very illustrative of what he's talking about :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2023790698427111488#

[citizen k]

Can someone fill me in on this bit of British history I'm not familiar with? I could've sworn I was still getting BBC broadcasts in the U.S. in the early eighties, i.e. "Doctor Who".

There was actually a really good documentary about it a while back.  I dug it up for you.  Very illustrative of what he's talking about :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2023790698427111488#

So that's how mutants like Jos came to be.

[Palisadoes]

If it wasn't for her, Britain could very well be on the same road that Greece is on today.

And it also could be in far better shape than it is today

Highly doubtful - inflation was crippling us, and her economic policies modernised the country. Having heavily subsidised factories and mines would only make our position worse right now.

not having undergone the complete collapse of society.
Mine is more likely.

That whole "collapse of society" line is a load of nonsense. Look at other countries who didn't have Maggie-like leaders: their people often point towards a "broken society" being a route cause of many problems too.

I'm more convinced that the welfare state 'broke' society by removing local dependence (i.e. depending more on your local community/neighbours/family/friends, etc...) and replacing that with state dependence, thus meaning people lost that "community spirit".

Of course, it is ludicrous to attribute blame to just one person or just one factor on such a complex issue. There are many things which have led to creating a "broken society", and people have been warning of it long before Thatcher.

[Sheilbh]

....Phillip Blond?

[Sheilbh]

And you never voted for Labour?  I don't even know who you are any more...

Changed my mind.  Voting Labour.

Britain, Forwards Not Back!

[Fate]

Banks and markets are proper white collar jobs who support good Tories. Why shouldn't they be subsidized?

[Palisadoes]

Having heavily subsidised banks and markets only makes our position worse right now.

Which was done  by a Labour government and opposed by the Conservatives (apparently?). It was a necessary evil, unfortunately.

Banks and markets are proper white collar jobs who support good Tories. Why shouldn't they be subsidized?

Banks were bedchums with Labour for over the last decade or so. It's how Labour got into power (wooing big business).