The Labour Government

Don Karleone said:



Arresting those dangerous terrorists.
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George Orwell referred to Newspeak as the language of an authoritarian state designed to curb critical thinking yet the creep is more subtle IMHO.

Why is this relevant to your post? Well an act of vandalism has been called an act of terrorism- now we see people calling those who are painting flags on monuments etc as terrorists (in reference to a similar act not similarly punished). So you shout terrorist at a vandal and vandalism starts slipping from the language leaving us with only one word to describe it - terrorism, which then covers pretty much anything from holding a poster, painting a tag on a bridge to 9/11 as we lose the ability to call it anything else.

Far fetched? Maybe but consider the example we see on here where people incorrectly scream “racist” at anyone who dare question immigration- no longer can you seemingly be bigoted or concerned or anything else, now you can only be racist (anti unfettered immigration) or not racist (pro unfettered immigration) with nothing left to define the subtleties of everything in between.

Without a broad language we deny ourselves the ability to think. Social media has accelerated this phenomenon with things like the cancel culture as we become less tolerant of other people’s opinions and people use words to conform.
 
metalblue said:
George Orwell referred to Newspeak as the language of an authoritarian state designed to curb critical thinking yet the creep is more subtle IMHO.

Why is this relevant to your post? Well an act of vandalism has been called an act of terrorism- now we see people calling those who are painting flags on monuments etc as terrorists (in reference to a similar act not similarly punished). So you shout terrorist at a vandal and vandalism starts slipping from the language leaving us with only one word to describe it - terrorism, which then covers pretty much anything from holding a poster, painting a tag on a bridge to 9/11 as we lose the ability to call it anything else.

Far fetched? Maybe but consider the example we see on here where people incorrectly scream “racist” at anyone who dare question immigration- no longer can you seemingly be bigoted or concerned or anything else, now you can only be racist (anti unfettered immigration) or not racist (pro unfettered immigration) with nothing left to define the subtleties of everything in between.

Without a broad language we deny ourselves the ability to think. Social media has accelerated this phenomenon with things like the cancel culture as we become less tolerant of other people’s opinions and people use words to conform.
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I hope you've written to Yvette Cooper to explain the linguistic implications of proscribing Palestine Action as terrorists.
 
The gov is looking at a potential financial disaster. The deficit last year was 4.8% of GDP and is forecast to rise further. Investors have been selling gilts and the new borrowing is at the highest rate for several years, pushing the cost of interest to be borne next year and beyond to unprecedented high levels.
Either they will have to cancel some current spending such as social security or raise taxes significantly or both.
Will the chancellor survive?
 
They are doing a pretty terrible job. It's as if they can only focus on one thing at a time and at the moment that is putting as many flags up in Starmer's house as possible.
 
Chippy_boy said:
Incorrect. She valued it at £650k, which is the limit for capital gains tax relief for a couple passing a property on to their children when the property is not their primary residence. Had it been valued above £650k then IHT is payable immediately (which is what happens when you put something in a trust), either by her at 20% or by the trust at a higher rate. So for example, at £800k she'd have had to pay £30k in IHT, or the trust would have to pay £37,500k.

So by valuing it at exactly £650k she's avoided having to pay any IHT. How convenient.

Heather Powell, a property specialist at Blick Rothenberg: "Valuing the property at £650,000 is a remarkable coincidence. It's the nil-rate band for two people for inheritance tax purposes so I'm sure that was a very comfortable number to go in at and would have maximised the benefit for Angela."

And regards the other points I made, you think "you have all lost it" for calling foul about her rank hypocrisy? Bizarre.
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Surprised at you moaning about this...
 
metalblue said:
George Orwell referred to Newspeak as the language of an authoritarian state designed to curb critical thinking yet the creep is more subtle IMHO.

Why is this relevant to your post? Well an act of vandalism has been called an act of terrorism- now we see people calling those who are painting flags on monuments etc as terrorists (in reference to a similar act not similarly punished). So you shout terrorist at a vandal and vandalism starts slipping from the language leaving us with only one word to describe it - terrorism, which then covers pretty much anything from holding a poster, painting a tag on a bridge to 9/11 as we lose the ability to call it anything else.

Far fetched? Maybe but consider the example we see on here where people incorrectly scream “racist” at anyone who dare question immigration- no longer can you seemingly be bigoted or concerned or anything else, now you can only be racist (anti unfettered immigration) or not racist (pro unfettered immigration) with nothing left to define the subtleties of everything in between.

Without a broad language we deny ourselves the ability to think. Social media has accelerated this phenomenon with things like the cancel culture as we become less tolerant of other people’s opinions and people use words to conform.
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There is a distinct lack of subtlety in society for sure. I’d also add cancel culture. Good people can do bad things from time to time
 
KS55 said:
The gov is looking at a potential financial disaster. The deficit last year was 4.8% of GDP and is forecast to rise further. Investors have been selling gilts and the new borrowing is at the highest rate for several years, pushing the cost of interest to be borne next year and beyond to unprecedented high levels.
Either they will have to cancel some current spending such as social security or raise taxes significantly or both.
Will the chancellor survive?
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Feels a little bit like watching the Titanic heading towards the iceberg and being criticised for advocating for a change in direction, whilst the political class is obsessed with rearranging the deckchairs.
 
Hgblue2 said:
Feels a little bit like watching the Titanic heading towards the iceberg and being criticised for advocating for a change in direction, whilst the political class is obsessed with rearranging the deckchairs.
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Yup. I am amazed the this is not featuring highly in the media. Some people are in for a big shock, I think. Possibly the end of the triple lock on pensions.
 
metalblue said:
George Orwell referred to Newspeak as the language of an authoritarian state designed to curb critical thinking yet the creep is more subtle IMHO.

Why is this relevant to your post? Well an act of vandalism has been called an act of terrorism- now we see people calling those who are painting flags on monuments etc as terrorists (in reference to a similar act not similarly punished). So you shout terrorist at a vandal and vandalism starts slipping from the language leaving us with only one word to describe it - terrorism, which then covers pretty much anything from holding a poster, painting a tag on a bridge to 9/11 as we lose the ability to call it anything else.

Far fetched? Maybe but consider the example we see on here where people incorrectly scream “racist” at anyone who dare question immigration- no longer can you seemingly be bigoted or concerned or anything else, now you can only be racist (anti unfettered immigration) or not racist (pro unfettered immigration) with nothing left to define the subtleties of everything in between.

Without a broad language we deny ourselves the ability to think. Social media has accelerated this phenomenon with things like the cancel culture as we become less tolerant of other people’s opinions and people use words to conform.
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Graham Linehan who wrote Father Ted was arrested at Heathrow this week by FIVE armed policemen after a complaint about some tweets he made. WTF?
 
KS55 said:
Yup. I am amazed the this is not featuring highly in the media. Some people are in for a big shock, I think. Possibly the end of the triple lock on pensions.
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Oh, and right on cue the BBC politics page today has analysis ahead of the budget due late November. The chancellor says the economy is not broken, it just isn’t working too well. Strewth!
 
KS55 said:
The gov is looking at a potential financial disaster. The deficit last year was 4.8% of GDP and is forecast to rise further. Investors have been selling gilts and the new borrowing is at the highest rate for several years, pushing the cost of interest to be borne next year and beyond to unprecedented high levels.
Either they will have to cancel some current spending such as social security or raise taxes significantly or both.
Will the chancellor survive?
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She essentially did for herself with that ridiculous Budget last October.

Excessive borrowing, excessive departmental spending and an ignorance of the changing conditions within bond markets, and indeed the persistence of inflation. All motivated by a superficial understanding of growth during Labour’s last period of government.

Since then she’s compounded the situation with stagflationary tax increases - no doubt with more to come in November- and an inability to exercise any control over expenditure.

Quite what happens in November is anyone’s guess, because Reeves can’t simply hope to fill the gaps with additional taxes, particularly after the NiC increase was so poorly received. They will have to lower their spending figures, but whether Starmer has the authority to get his party onside, or to remove Reeves if conditions deteriorate still further, is another matter entirely. I think they’re in for an extremely difficult few months.
 
hilts said:
Public sector is struggling, they wanted ten.
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I witnessed a small shunt between two cars recently. Nobody hurt, not much damage, both drivers parked by the curb exchanging details. There arrived 3 police patrol cars and 7 policemen. Just bonkers.
 
KS55 said:
Graham Linehan who wrote Father Ted was arrested at Heathrow this week by FIVE armed policemen after a complaint about some tweets he made. WTF?
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I think the main point is the arrest itself rather than it being five armed officers, think that happened more just because it was at Heathrow rather than any intentional requirement for it.

I do have a bit of sympathy with the police as successive governments have made the law an absolute nightmare for them to actually police. Hopefully this’ll lead to a change in it but I still think we have no idea how to govern social media or the internet.
 
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