The Boring News Channel

[Scriblerus the Philosophe]

Sort of sad. An independent Britain would be nice, as I can see it challenging the US once in a while. We could use that.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

It's just taken as read that the U.S. will do what it wants, and that we might as well go along with it as the least worst option.

So in essence you are telling me that the UK much rather pull out of the EU and ask to become a kind of Puerto Rico* within the US?

Or are we talking about a more visible role in the new empire of Oceania? 

*officially an Associated 'Free' State

[beagle]

Most eurosceptics just want the UK to be a medium-sized self governing country with it's own currency, own laws and own (set appropriately for it) interest rates and economic policies. The concept of being a permanent part of any superstate doesn't really appeal; it's more a case of "friendly relations with all, permanent associations with none" (enhanced relations where Anglosphere ties have existed for centuries - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. etc).

Having said that, the politicians are very careful never to offer the public such a straight choice, but just impose the EU by stealth. (Plans are already afoot to have the Irish "redo" their referendum rejecting the EU Constitution (or Treaty as Goat would insist on calling it)). Both Labour and Liberals lied on that, which is one reason I couldn't countenance voting for them, whatever their other policies might be.

[Griffin NoName]

.... it's more a case of "friendly relations with all, permanent associations with none" (enhanced relations where Anglosphere ties have existed for centuries - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. etc).

Imperialism is Dead!  Long Live Imperialism !!

... Both Labour and Liberals lied on that, which is one reason I couldn't countenance voting for them, whatever their other policies might be.

Hang about. You cannot seriously suggest Tories never lie. Therefore I deduce it is merely a matter of what they lie ABOUT?  Presume it is hunky dory if they lie about things like the NHS, taxes to benefit the poor, etc etc.

GOAT!!!!   Come back....this is hard work. I need help.

[beagle]

Imperialism is Dead!  Long Live Imperialism !!

How is friendly relations between a like minded loose affiliation of autonomously governed countries sharing history and culture imperialism?  As distinct, say, from forcing through an amalgamation of disparate countries, against the wishes of their inhabitants, and ignoring any referenda that oppose the plan for unified central government?

Hang about. You cannot seriously suggest Tories never lie. Therefore I deduce it is merely a matter of what they lie ABOUT?  Presume it is hunky dory if they lie about things like the NHS, taxes to benefit the poor, etc etc.

GOAT!!!!   Come back....this is hard work. I need help.

I'll give you that Heath lied about Europe. He was a useless Brown-like PM and I can't be bothered to attempt to defend him.  I don't believe any Tory leader since him as lied so blatantly, so bare-facedly and insistently about an issue so important as who governs Britain as Brown, Clegg and Milliband have.

If you can provide examples of Tory NHS lies and tax lies I'll happily address whether I agree with you or not.

Interestingly there's apparently alarm in the Tories about the next election. Apparently some believe that the economic damage will be so great by then it will be impossible to turn round in a single term.

[Pachyderm]

Well, Labour have had 12 years in power, and, I will grant there is a period of transition as policies etc put in place by the previous incumbents come to fruition, but I personally would put that at a couple of years. Bliar, Clown and the Gang are still blaming the Tories, Maggie, Churchill and Pitt the Elder for their signal failings, so I don't why the next Government can't apportion blame in the same way.

[beagle]

I think the concern is that Labour will keep borrowing like mad, right up to the last minute, "safe" in the knowledge they won't have to sort out the mess.

[Griffin NoName]

Beagle, I give you Colonialism may be a better term than Imperialism. As to lies, we would need to agree the exact definition of a political lie. I believe all politicians lie at some time or other; sometimes it is by omission.

If a government behaves against good governance, then presumably they have an incentive to make sure they lose the next election?

Pitt the Elder is unlikely to be far enough back in the past to account for the mess we are in.

[beagle]

Beagle, I give you Colonialism may be a better term than Imperialism.

Well, there's considerable evidence some of the "colonies" I mentioned are all growed up.  And the regime in the remaining one may hold an election soon.

Pitt the Elder is unlikely to be far enough back in the past to account for the mess we are in.

I blame the Romans. Ruddy imperialists. What did they ever do for us?

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I blame the Romans. Ruddy imperialists. What did they ever do for us?

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

[Griffin NoName]

Beagle, I give you Colonialism may be a better term than Imperialism.

Well, there's considerable evidence some of the "colonies" I mentioned are all growed up.  And the regime in the remaining one may hold an election soon.

However grown up, remember Mother has always implanted the buttons to push

I blame the Romans. Ruddy imperialists. What did they ever do for us?

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

Sublimated us with Imperialist tendencies.

Actually this is beginning to sound like my son. What have you ever done for me? .... Ok, apart from going to parents evening at school, what did you ever do for me?..... Ok. apart from going to parents evening at school and holding the sick bowl, what did you ever do for me?.....   etc- how long can a single post be?  - which brings me back to Mother has always implanted the buttons to push.

Proof of the Nanny State?   

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Sublimated us with Imperialist tendencies.

And those in turn were sublimated by only one of the former colonies?

Down the Rio Grande we tend to think that the Spaniards subjugated us with their imperialistic tendencies. Now we have to deal with your unruly colonial child.

[Griffin NoName]

Yeh. It gets complicated. It mutates.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

More boring news: Colin Powell officially endorsed Obama.

"We need a president who will not just continue ... basically the policies that we have been following in recent years," said Powell, who once briefly considered his own run for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. "We need a president who is a generational change."

[Griffin NoName]

More boring news: Colin Powell officially endorsed Obama.

Is he trying to square things with St Peter?