ChatterBank0 min ago
A petty petition
58 Answers
Anyone else glad Blair's *finally* gone??? If so stick your name and optional dig at him here!
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For me, it's nothing to do with loyalty and patriotism. And as smudge rightly says, people are well within their rights to be glad to see him go.
I'd even put mysefl in that category. He lost my support with Iraq, he stayed too long and he made himself the story, rather than the politics.
What I'm criticising is peope's inability to be objective. Just because you don't like the guy doesn't mean his never did anything right. He's not a baddie in a cartoon.
Northern Ireland is now sorted. Crime overall is down 40%. NHS waiting lists are MILES shorter than they were 10 years ago, we've got more doctors and more nurses, we've had a strong stable economy that's grown every single quarter since he became PM, we have a minimum wage, average salaries overall are a third higher, there are one third fewer people living below the poverty line etc etc.
You could easily do a huge list of his failings. My point is, it's not all bad is it?
I'd even put mysefl in that category. He lost my support with Iraq, he stayed too long and he made himself the story, rather than the politics.
What I'm criticising is peope's inability to be objective. Just because you don't like the guy doesn't mean his never did anything right. He's not a baddie in a cartoon.
Northern Ireland is now sorted. Crime overall is down 40%. NHS waiting lists are MILES shorter than they were 10 years ago, we've got more doctors and more nurses, we've had a strong stable economy that's grown every single quarter since he became PM, we have a minimum wage, average salaries overall are a third higher, there are one third fewer people living below the poverty line etc etc.
You could easily do a huge list of his failings. My point is, it's not all bad is it?
A point well made NJOK, sadly the Iraq situation has overshadowed everything and peoples vision (well mine anyway) may be clouded by this. I think the thing that gets me about him (and all other politicans elected) is that they start off with ideals we may agree with and believe in but somewhere along the way a certain amount of arrogance creeps in and we feel duped and call their whole administration into question.
Agreed.
Maybe this will have lessened people's expectations in the future?
I was over the moon to see the Tories voted out, but all this flag-waving and cheering and lining the streets I couldn't understand. Like he was some saviour who was going to make everything alright.
As far as I can tell, it's those same flag-wavers who are now gnashing their teeth with hatred at the man, because he's dashed their hopes. People need a reality check surely? These are politicians we're talkng about after all.
Maybe this will have lessened people's expectations in the future?
I was over the moon to see the Tories voted out, but all this flag-waving and cheering and lining the streets I couldn't understand. Like he was some saviour who was going to make everything alright.
As far as I can tell, it's those same flag-wavers who are now gnashing their teeth with hatred at the man, because he's dashed their hopes. People need a reality check surely? These are politicians we're talkng about after all.
Our local A&E is under threat. They are planning to downgrade to just one A&E department for the whole of West Sussex.
Last year a letter was sent by a local councillor to the Prime Minister regarding our hospital situation. He received a letter back stating that the letter had been passed on to the Department of Transport.
That just about did it for me.
Last year a letter was sent by a local councillor to the Prime Minister regarding our hospital situation. He received a letter back stating that the letter had been passed on to the Department of Transport.
That just about did it for me.
re: the NHS, people get very agitated about bed closures, DGHs downsizing, A/E departments threatened etc.
The point is though, government policy here is actually sensible, and working. People don't want to lay in a hospital bed for 5 days (picking up MRSA) when they could be treated as a daycase in a GP centre and straight back home. Certain DGHs will have to downsize or even close. My local hospital is one of the most controversial nationally and the press have a field day. OP Attendances are down by a third because people are now being referred elsewhere. Wards are closing because the length of inpatient stays is markedly reduced. The brand new gleaming GP health centre 1/2 mile down the road is in stark contrast to the peeling walls at the hospital. It's what people want.
The point is though, government policy here is actually sensible, and working. People don't want to lay in a hospital bed for 5 days (picking up MRSA) when they could be treated as a daycase in a GP centre and straight back home. Certain DGHs will have to downsize or even close. My local hospital is one of the most controversial nationally and the press have a field day. OP Attendances are down by a third because people are now being referred elsewhere. Wards are closing because the length of inpatient stays is markedly reduced. The brand new gleaming GP health centre 1/2 mile down the road is in stark contrast to the peeling walls at the hospital. It's what people want.
When my daughter gashed her leg very badly I took her straight to the GP. They informed me there was nothing they could do as they were not equipped.
We were sent to A&E, where she was seen within 10 minutes for suturing. If our A&E closes I will have to travel to Chichester or Brighton (depending on the outcome).
As this one A&E will serve the entire county not only will it take an age to get there the queues will be horrendous. Unless a proper GP centre is built, this is certainly NOT what we want, whiff. We have nothing else but the A&E.
We were sent to A&E, where she was seen within 10 minutes for suturing. If our A&E closes I will have to travel to Chichester or Brighton (depending on the outcome).
As this one A&E will serve the entire county not only will it take an age to get there the queues will be horrendous. Unless a proper GP centre is built, this is certainly NOT what we want, whiff. We have nothing else but the A&E.
As stated above a lot has been achieved under his administration and he , I am sure wished he could have acheived even more.
Running GB Plc is not as easy as some on here would appear to think . We are an island but not immune from external world events .
People will judge any administration according to how it impacts on their daily lives .
As far as I am concerned I have been better off under his administration than I was under the previous conservative years - remember negative equity , high interest rates , high inflation , to mention a few ?
Politicians, irrespective of their colour will always promise the earth to get into power - as the Conservatives and Liberals are now doing - you know - we will erradicate crime , sort out the middle East etc ... and bring us utopia - i dont think so .
The post iraq invasion years has certainly been his and others , Annus Horribilis
Whether you agree or disagree that going into Iraq was the right thing to do , we have a democracy that allows us to do something about the administration in power .
There has been an election since the invasion , which returned the Labour administration to power - the same system could have replaced it ,with a Tory or Liberal administration - it didn't
You pays your money and you takes your choice - so long as you realise that whatever your choice is , it will not be perfect
Running GB Plc is not as easy as some on here would appear to think . We are an island but not immune from external world events .
People will judge any administration according to how it impacts on their daily lives .
As far as I am concerned I have been better off under his administration than I was under the previous conservative years - remember negative equity , high interest rates , high inflation , to mention a few ?
Politicians, irrespective of their colour will always promise the earth to get into power - as the Conservatives and Liberals are now doing - you know - we will erradicate crime , sort out the middle East etc ... and bring us utopia - i dont think so .
The post iraq invasion years has certainly been his and others , Annus Horribilis
Whether you agree or disagree that going into Iraq was the right thing to do , we have a democracy that allows us to do something about the administration in power .
There has been an election since the invasion , which returned the Labour administration to power - the same system could have replaced it ,with a Tory or Liberal administration - it didn't
You pays your money and you takes your choice - so long as you realise that whatever your choice is , it will not be perfect
I'm thinking you're not a million miles away from me Pip!
Anyway... Actually Whiffey re the NHS makes a good point and to a certain extent I do agree with it. It makes a lot of sense to get people out of hospital as soon as possible and to make the best possible use of outpatient centres.
However, before we start going down the new modern GP route it might be nice if they're actually built and ready to use before we close down the wards in the hospital! Alas, someone at head quaters forgot about that minor detail so we're still seeing patients who with a bit of co-ordination could be seen in a GP surgery.
Also, shipping out the easy stuff to private companies is an utter bar steward of an idea if you'll excuse the language... If it turns in to a complex case then they come back to the NHS anyway! If private companies want to take it on that's fine but they shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose to my mind. They either specialise in a field or they don't.
I do think the NHS is in a lot better place than when the tories left it all those years ago... now if we can just convince all parties that you can't run the NHS half like a business and half like a charity we'll be laughing.
I could get on my soap box for quite a long time about the current state of the NHS but I won't a) because the question didn't ask for that and b) I'm really glad we have it, it is a black hole on finances but for all the sob/horror stories out there there's at least ten amazing things done on a daily basis and we're lucky to have it.
Sorry for the side track!
Anyway... Actually Whiffey re the NHS makes a good point and to a certain extent I do agree with it. It makes a lot of sense to get people out of hospital as soon as possible and to make the best possible use of outpatient centres.
However, before we start going down the new modern GP route it might be nice if they're actually built and ready to use before we close down the wards in the hospital! Alas, someone at head quaters forgot about that minor detail so we're still seeing patients who with a bit of co-ordination could be seen in a GP surgery.
Also, shipping out the easy stuff to private companies is an utter bar steward of an idea if you'll excuse the language... If it turns in to a complex case then they come back to the NHS anyway! If private companies want to take it on that's fine but they shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose to my mind. They either specialise in a field or they don't.
I do think the NHS is in a lot better place than when the tories left it all those years ago... now if we can just convince all parties that you can't run the NHS half like a business and half like a charity we'll be laughing.
I could get on my soap box for quite a long time about the current state of the NHS but I won't a) because the question didn't ask for that and b) I'm really glad we have it, it is a black hole on finances but for all the sob/horror stories out there there's at least ten amazing things done on a daily basis and we're lucky to have it.
Sorry for the side track!
No, I haven't had the fire on Bazile - the cost of our heating bills have soared too much! Besides, I've been swimming this morning & have had lots of exercise to keep me warm!
Silly joking apart - interesting to see what all the so called 'Arm Chair Critic' bashers think of the new AB Poll.
Quote: Labour has been a disaster from the start, Gordon Brown won't change this....46.3% & in the lead so far!
Interesting......
Silly joking apart - interesting to see what all the so called 'Arm Chair Critic' bashers think of the new AB Poll.
Quote: Labour has been a disaster from the start, Gordon Brown won't change this....46.3% & in the lead so far!
Interesting......
Telling though, AB isn't all that representative of the wider electorate.
Otherwise, we'd have no contact with any other country in Europe, public hangings would be taking place in front of sell-out crowds every week and the BNP would have about 10 seats in the House of Commons.
Oh and paediatriacians would be getting beaten to death by pitchfork-wielding mobs.
Still, it takes all sorts.
Otherwise, we'd have no contact with any other country in Europe, public hangings would be taking place in front of sell-out crowds every week and the BNP would have about 10 seats in the House of Commons.
Oh and paediatriacians would be getting beaten to death by pitchfork-wielding mobs.
Still, it takes all sorts.
Blair did some good things, some bad. The kowtowing to the rich was one of the bad things; it brought us Bernie Ecclestone and ultimately (allegedly) cash for peerages. This wasn't personal sleaze as under the Tories but party sleaze. Spinning wasn't invented by New Labour but they did more of it than anyone previously, and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
But it was really Iraq that tipped the scales: a war undertaken on the basis of misrepresentation and in the pockets of the Americans. He might still have got away with it if he'd won the war quickly, but he hasn't. The failure of postwar planning is down to the Americans, but it rebounds on Blair - the downside of hitching your star too closely to the wrong player. The only people who lost their jobs, for daring to question the whole affair, were at the BBC; apparently ministers aren't supposed to take responsibility for the failure of their policies. RIP Robin Cook, an honourable man.
On the other side of the scales, Northern Ireland, a fall in crime, economic stability, and allegedly the NHS - but personally, under the Tories, I could walk in and see my doctor; now I can't see him in less than a week. Anecdotal evidence, of course, but the NHS has failed me.
But it was really Iraq that tipped the scales: a war undertaken on the basis of misrepresentation and in the pockets of the Americans. He might still have got away with it if he'd won the war quickly, but he hasn't. The failure of postwar planning is down to the Americans, but it rebounds on Blair - the downside of hitching your star too closely to the wrong player. The only people who lost their jobs, for daring to question the whole affair, were at the BBC; apparently ministers aren't supposed to take responsibility for the failure of their policies. RIP Robin Cook, an honourable man.
On the other side of the scales, Northern Ireland, a fall in crime, economic stability, and allegedly the NHS - but personally, under the Tories, I could walk in and see my doctor; now I can't see him in less than a week. Anecdotal evidence, of course, but the NHS has failed me.
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