Are we getting electoral bribes on the never never?

[jake-the-peg]

Apparently the Government is planning to announce tax breaks for married couple "before the next election"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11478320

Governments that announce tax cuts shortly before elections are usually accused - probably rightly - of trying to bribe the electorate.

Is this a cunning ploy to avert such criticism when tax cuts come in just before an election?

[youngmafbog]

I take offence to your comments. I did not direct anything at you neither did R1. his comments though generalization are basically sound. The groups mentioned do vote labour and so are left leaning.
As for this site, yes it is full of lefties, who immediatley slander or abuse anyone who does not share theuir views.
Not surprising I suppose, Noo labour did that for years but a debating site is not really the place for it is it ?

[R1Geezer]

Well racists do use those words that have now been edited out of your post, the words that are offensive and really unnecessary.

It goes against the grain but the ED said I should report insults rather than retaliate so I'm giving it a trial. If the Ed deals with this effectively then it may well become the norm. So wheneever you open your comments with some sort of name calling that is unprevoked and unjustified, merely based on someone daring not to concur with your own beliefs, you are going to get reported.

You do seem to take it personally when people don't agree with you I must say. Perhaps you should try debating a point occasionally rather than throwing out the toys straight away. Just a thought.

[youngmafbog]

The reports I have seen say they MAY need more.

In all truth though the state is likely to see its money back and more long term. I may not have liked Brown but he was nto that stupid.

[jake-the-peg]

The state is likely to see its money back on the money leant to the banks after the "bad bank" split off of bad assets!

I love the idea that this site is "full of lefties" doesn't look that way to me

Anyone who'd call Blair a lefty needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

To me the touchstone of a leftwinger is someone who'd support public ownership of non essentail businesses.

I'm not sure that I've ever seen anyone on here advocate that

What's your definition of a left winger then?

[Answerprancer]

"You do seem to take it personally when people don't agree with you I must say".
Not really,I thought it was you that did that.

I only get annoyed when the small handfull of angry drooling right wingers such as yourself Youngmafbog and AOG spout outrageous generalisations in the way you do. Having one of my responses removed/edited was a cowardly move IMO - you know full well that I am not only not a racist, but extremely anti-racism.
To have my post removed because it had a racist term thrown in ironically was an act of cowardice - I won't be reporting any of the outrageous bile you spill forth, I'd rather it remained there for all to see.

[R1Geezer]

Then debate, dear boy, rather than throw insults about. I'm not cowardly, normallly I'd do what I did before, but I'm obeying the ED. Bullies and racists always hate it when they get reported and start name calling.

[Answerprancer]

Let's re-word that:
Bullies and racists always hate it when someone opposes them and start name calling (as you did a few days ago).

I'll try again - you *know* I am not a racist and also you *know* that you just cheated by using the excuse that there was a racist term in there to get the post removed.
I notice that the word "jew" was edited out too, this wasn't racism in action (as you already know) it was my being presumptive about your views.
Anyway, I thought everything you stood for was 'freedom of speech' and being allowed your opinion, so how does that work with having my post edited ? Seems a bit hypocritical to me - there was no name-calling.

[youngmafbog]

Jake, Blair in my book, and many others is centre left, so a lefty. Brown is certainly a lefty and Red Ed, well no doubt there.
As all these are labour politicians anyone supporting labour is therefore agreeing with them and so is a left by association.
I dont see the problem. If you believe in leftyism then fine, despite people like AnswerPrancer, this is still a free country, so be proud of your beliefs, it doesn't mean all of you are an extreme marxist.
However many of the left leaners on this site rather like the white knuckle dragging comment to describe a Tory. Is that really fair ?

[Answerprancer]

Youngmafbog, in answer to your taking offence at my comment.
No, neither you nor R1directed anything at me, I reacted to what I saw as outrageous right-wing generalisations "workshy scum, lefties, guardianistas, public sector workers, union members" then "the amount of lefties whinning here lately!" and your general tone of agreement with this.

[Davethedog]

youngmafbog - I think you just hit a flaw in your argument in that you are taking what you read in the tabloids as gospel.

To the best of my knowledge Ed Milliband was never called "Red Ed" prior to his election I don't think that his brother would have been called "Red Dave".

As for Blair being Centre left he was more right wing than Cameron. The division of the parties now is practicaly none existant and its all about keeping thier traditional supporters (and paymasters) happy.

Prior to the election I would have said the most left wing party was the Liberals, but now that isn't true as they have sold thier soul.

You can disagree with someone without being lefty, but some of you on the right do appear to be unusualy sensitive to criticism.

[R1Geezer]

No name calling, you first barred post openned with name calling, you second contained some racist words. Believe it or not it was the editor that edited your post not me!

Why do you always use words like "Drooling", "rabid" etc when all I've done is post my opinion? The original point was valid I'd suspect very few in the groups I initially mentiioned vote tory, that was not a rabid, drooling generalisation but a solid fact. Tell you what see if you can find a Tory voter working in the public sector, or a Union member etc. See what I mean?

[Davethedog]

R1 I would imagine there a huge number of people who work in the public sector who are both unionised and vote tory. London and the south east is Tory town and there are an awful lot of public sector workers.

Or by public sector do you mean blue collar?

[Answerprancer]

Why use terms like "rabid" and "drooling" ?

Because of your use of terms like this:

"So none of you lefties think that paying triple the defence budget to workshy scum is an issue then?. Rather carry on with your anti British rhetoric eh?"

"workshy scum"

"if you aint upsetting these titfers you ain't trying hard enough!"

Also that when you retaliate to name-calling, your use of dogma, inaccurate opionatedness and dismissive terms like "end of" go through the roof.

[R1Geezer]

But that is the cold hard truth, the benifits bill is triple the defence budget isn't it?

[Answerprancer]

I'm not talking about what you believe to be the facts, I'm talking about your drooling rabid terminology and sweeping anger-laden generalisations.

Let's take your expression "workshy scum" for instance - what gives you the right to state that all people claiming benefits are "workshy", and why "scum" ? What exactly do you mean by "scum" - the "lowest of the low" ? ...are you any better, and if you think so - justify it.

[R1Geezer]

workshy scum = Those who can contribute who choose not to, they would rather get free money from someone else than contribute in their own right.

am I any better? Probably not in your eyes because I have never claimed a penny of the state and actively fund the workshy scum through my considerable taxes

[rov1200]

I get the impression that Tory policies are left of New Labour. Here they are attacking the middle classes with their child benefit. They are going to keep the 50% tax rate that Labour proposed. VAT is going up to 20% and will greatly affect big purchases such as expensive cars. Civil servants pensions are about to be re-negotiated with higher premiums and less payouts.

What's to come? Removal of winter fuel payments, TV licences for the over 75 and bus passes all to be means tested?

I agree about the bribe, just before the next election.