Iamon lyme: meaningless.

Artful Dodger: No. But you can stand upto it.

Iamon lyme: No.

"I always know when I've scored points when you decide to take a walk down memory lane."

I know (if it's all about point scoring as you state) that such an answer means you have no answer. You can't justify Bush crushing Americans First Amendment rights.

Ok... I can understand that. He was a Conservative, and Conservatives don't do that.

Right??

Iamon lyme: People having bought off the 'councils', I mentioned it earlier. That building projects now tend to be more 'general' not 'projects'.

"How many presidents do you think we have?"

One at a time. Bush was quite willing to have demonstrators against the Iraq invasion 'escorted' to zones away from the eye of the 'press''.

Isn't that a breach of your rights in the USA? When Raygun and other US governments supported terrorists isn't that a breach of American Law?

"Errant banks and phone hacking scandals and rich people with offshore accounts."

And a big company called UK.plc

"And if those people decided they too will no longer stand under any acts or statutes... do you see where I'm going with this?"

Them being responsible rather than need 'government' to tell them. I thought you were for that!!

Iamon lyme: Including the mix that happens? As 'estates' as such are disappearing.

"We have guys like that over here too. But they tend to keep to themselves and collect weapons"

Not the same.

"I see, so he wanted to remind the government of those rights in case they forgot or were tempted to ignore them."

No.

"Over here we have a president, fully supported by his party, who has been ignoring our constitutional rights from the day he stepped into office."

And you think the Republicans don't?

"You have much more important issues to fight and moan over."

???

"It appears he has given himself permission to ignore any of those acts or statutes if he so chooses."

You don't get it. If people were not ignoring common law, none of these statutes would be needed... or as a buffer to stop so many companies and 'persons' ending up in court on criminal charges.... for things like 'food safety'.

Iamon lyme: Subsidies for new homes (often termed 'social housing grant') amount to sizeable public investments. In its 2008–11 Prospectus, the Housing Corporation stated that in the three-year period to 2011 subsidy would be "at least £8 billion".[5] The majority of this would go to housing associations for use in development projects. Since 2003, in an effort to seek greater value for money, much of the funding by the Housing Corporation for new house building has been channelled to fewer than 80 "developing housing associations" that have achieved "partner status" through Partner Programme Agreements.

Housing associations borrow money to pay for new homes and improvements. After the Housing Act 1988, the proportion of the cost of new homes met by capital grant was scaled back by the Government, so borrowing became the primary source of funding for investment. Much of this was simply borrowed from banks and building societies, but after the late-2000s financial crisis these institutions ceased to offer long-term loans, so developing associations are increasingly turning to corporate bonds to raise funds for expansion.

"The only difference I can make out is that your social landlords have more latitude in drawing up allocations policies... other than that, there is no real difference."

From what I've seen...... a big difference. Maybe just your media misrepresents your 'projects' :/ Standards tend to be better here.

"Some people would happily give up many of their freedoms in exchange for being cared for, and others wouldn't like it at all."

Some people seem to think their freedom can be taken... sorry, but to me that is a big lie. Hence the reference to common law. Inalienable rights like you state your constitution provides... but we don't need to fight and moan.

One guy just sent a 15 page statement to the PM stating he does not stand under any acts or statutes and is therefore operating as a 'free' man of the land and bound by only common law. By that law we are all equal, no one has rights above the other. He was free but made sure the government knew he knew he was free.

But you are bound to not harm, defraud or cause loss or damage to anyone or their property under common law.

Iamon lyme: ... I stand by common law more than statutes and acts. The power on consent is then mine... as we are policed by consent.

.... If you are not breaking common law than what is the worry?

"I can see you are okay with that, and your complaint is actually about something else... socially funded housing."

No.... I'm not ok with it, but I accept if run well it could be a useful scheme.

"I assume what you call social housing is what we call low income (affordable) housing."

No. it's not the same. With some areas (eg London) being very expensive many middle class folk do live in social housing... The properties are better maintained than private landlords tend to can be bothered with.

Low income would be the slum owning private landlords renting places out that are 10 years overdue for an extreme makeover!!

Iamon lyme: It doesn't though, not imo. In the end your banks sold mortgages to other companies, who sold them onto other companies, etc.

...not the same as this.

Any lenders will have to pay a fee to have it 'underwritten'.

It seems the rules will be..

5-20% deposit
20% shared equity loan
75-60% mortgage

It replaces a system called FirstBuy, which helped first time buyers.. now it is being extended to those buying a new home under £600,000 ($900,000 approx)

It does not sort out the problem of a lack of social housing which started in the Thatcher years. Long term tenants were allowed to buy their homes at a greatly reduced price. The money went to the councils, but they were not allowed to reinvest it in new stock by order of Queen Maggie.

....by "parliament and our press."

Artful Dodger: From what Lamon has posted of it's operating nature... no. And in no way would such be allowed by the UK people... we've seen too much of the results of that, and how close the main UK banks nearly collapsed our financial system beyond control to accept a state backed toxic debt selling system.

So much has been picked on by the opposition that it'll be hard to squeeze a mae or mac out of a gnats posterior let alone parliament and our press.

The Government has released a new scheme to help people buy homes....

.... Yet most want the government to invest in new affordable housing, or to help develop areas that have become run down.

That the government will effectively underwrite mortgages.. It's right the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned there are risks. Some borrowers might be far less conservative in what they aim to buy, some may default rather than tighten their belts.

N' what is the government gonna charge the lenders to use such a scheme?

What's wrong with the current shared ownership scheme?

...<<< you buy part and rent the 'rest'>>>...

The new Pope got inaugurated today.

Verdict... nicely staged, but still creepy in light of recent news and the shadow of the child abuse cases. Hopefully the new Pope will not just be a figure head, some 'hints' of change were stated in his speech.

Did they have to use a 'blonde, blue eyed' kid.....no.

That an arch bishop is stating that the RCC wealth is open to all.. sorry, the Art collection is open to the public... ... that felt a bit Mafioso.

..... btw many of the UK papers have decided to question the new laws on the press being responsible. The publishers of the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Times, the Telegraph, the Daily Star and the Daily Express said they would wait to make a decision to co-operate or not with the new watchdog.

... ie the ones who's editors and owners were/are responsible for the mess they are in.

.... 'cry babies' comes to mind.

The Media pressure group "Hacked Off" reports there are two more investigations by the police into phone hacking to be reported on soon....

http://hackinginquiry.org/news/the-return-of-the-phone-hacking-scandal

Well it appears after all the wrangling a deal has been struck on the press regulation laws coming into effect. The Politicians won't be able to mess with the regs on a whim, no watering down on request from a media tycoon (such as Murdoch) and like for like apologies.... except in a case of a 2/3 more vote in a later parliament that is!!

ie If the paper publishes a story on page one in big fonts... then the apology has to be on page one in big fonts.

But one has to ask...... there were already criminal laws in place that covered the actions.... so why the buffer zone?

That some of the police and some of the politicians were too much in some of the media's pocket to be fully disclosed??

.... mmmmmm probably. It's nothing new these.. ... get out jail free for the connected cards.

Shakespeare wrote plays about this kinda stuff.

Artful Dodger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQa4iFmkW4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1l1XGiXgo0

Some bits from the past!! ;)

Iamon lyme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yovzZkf6OFQ

It's an old interview on Brit TV by the man himself!! ;P

Antibiotics. The lack of new ones a bigger threat to our way of living than terrorism... ... Northern Ireland based, etc.... As it appears some of the old angers are still burning.

anyway.. no new ones developed since the late 80's. Pharmaceutical companies have not been interested thanks to it not being profitable. And the over use now leaves in a position where resistant bacteria will make simple operations possibly 'deadly' in just 20 years time.

"""But as I indicated before, they are not the ones who institute law... it's the lawmakers (politicians) who do that. And as I've already pointed out the law does not MAKE them do it, the law ALLOWS them to do it."""

Lobbyists... I wonder what Douglas Adams would say about them?

"Don't Panic" or "Mostly Harmless"

Iamon lyme: No. When Raygun started off dropping taxes the US debt started rising. Nice cuts for the rich, but no way for the economy to absorb it, this was left untreated for decades.

"There would undoubtedly be less evasion and fraud under a fair tax system, because fewer people would feel the need to protect themselves."

LMAO.... LMAO .....

"I've already told you how many politicians have wanted government to take over the healthcare industry. That's why they won't allow tort reform, because they want the government to be in control of it."

No, that's paranoid. Our Gov just tells our NHS trusts that they have standards to live upto, and that they are accountable if those standards are not met. The hospitals pretty much are run by themselves or the local NHS trust.

"Tort reform would put a cap on awards, and bring them more in line with reality."

Who profits from the current tort laws.... lawyers, insurance firms and the middle men. Each wanting to take their piece of any payouts. One gets a million.. the other has to get 1.5 million, because it has to be bigger or better.

"Where does the UK get it's money? Does it earn it engaging in private enterprise or from taxation?"

........ ..... both.

"We could have delt with the problem of over inflated prices by dealing with the cause. But now we will have to deal with less accessibility and poorer health coverage."

You have been for years already.

""[ Seemingly common sense principles and morals have no part of modern 'merchant' banking. ]

Well no kidding! So who needs to have common sense these days if the government can be made to pick up the tab?""

Small problem with one bank in particular failing. It'd caused a domino effect in the rest of the industry.... With the amount of lending done interbank.

" Lying is a moral issue, not an efficiency issue."

Really... It can cause a great deal of inefficiency in the business world. Especially if you end up with a deal worth far less because of the lying. Or, like in the case of the Madoff investors.... screwed.

Iamon lyme: The law doesn't make them do it though does it.

"It's not just McDonalds that can be forced to pay someone for spilling coffee on themselves. Doctors and hospitals are also forced to pay out more than they should have to, and so the cost of health care naturally rises to cover those costs."

That is just one of the factors, an easy one to use to distract you from the rest of the ways health care providers and others in the health care business inflate prices.

"it's the fault of lawmakers who have steadfastly refused to fix this problem."

Why... who's interests are affected if tort reform is made?

"and your government knows better than the banking industry how they should be doing business."

lol... we've had to bail out the banks here. Our government owns substantial shares in a number of UK based banks.
.......... The reason, stupidity by the banks, fraud resulting in billions of refunds to business and private customers.

Why... regulations keeping the 'merchant' and 'high street' sides of the businesses separate were dropped as the banks said they didn't need them. Seemingly common sense principles and morals have no part of modern 'merchant' banking.

"You are proving my point. The key statement in your reply was "The UK contracted out to a private company...""

Am I...... That private companies are more efficient.... except when they are liars??

"Competition forces businesses to offer better deals than someone else, and what better way to drum up business than to charge less for the same thing?"

The UK is a registered corporate entity. I (as is every UK citizen) am a share holder in such as stated on my Birth Certificate... I think the same applies to US citizens.

My name as registered on my birth certificate is crown copyrighted, not to be used as identification and as such, a legal fiction. All acts and statutes passed as 'legal' laws are by consent in the UK. If we do not consent, they cannot enforce.

To show you do not consent is a process in some cases. But even the police cannot enforce consent in many cases.

"My point was that anyone who understands how lowering a profit per item can translate into more overall profit in a business should also be able to understand how lowering taxes can have the effect of generating more taxable income."

I understand the principle easily. But in reality we do not have a taxation system where it could be said to be true. While blatant fraud and evasion happens, your point is pointless. Not because taxes are high, but because they just like to not pay tax period.

Iamon lyme: It would be fair to say that there are some things that were never imagined of when it was written.

"In order for it to no longer be relevant people would have had to become fundamentally different, and last time I checked people have not evolved into some other species."

Our world has though, especially the way we do business. As you mention technology has changed greatly, transferring funds takes seconds... with little or no paper trail.

"Empower the politicians (all of them) to reject government funded health care,"

Then empower the people to have good access, not just high cost ER.

"and institute tort reform to correct the REAL problems with health care."

Tell that to the lawyers... the same ones that are at the heart of much of the tort problems in the USA.

"Defund unnecessary government programs (to reduce spending) and stop discouraging businesses from growing and hiring new people."

In the UK it has been seen recently that even if the Government gives money for banks to help businesses they won't. Even when they have said they will.

"If government can defer its greed for a few years and stop interfering with our lives and businesses, reduce the tax burdon instead of increasing it"

Same with private enterprises. The UK contracted out to a private company the roll of getting people back to work who've been out of work for a long time because of health problems....... The company made several promises, but it turned out that they were just interested in making a profit. In the end it's gonna cost the UK more.

"Grocery stores understand how low price / high volume will net greater profits than simply charging as much as they can get away with."

Right..... lol... ... ... No. In theory, yes... in reality... it depends. If the store knows it can charge more due to the likes of position... it will. Now adays loss leaders are more used.

"Taxing less encourages growth, and growth means more taxable income. How hard can this be for anyone to understand?"

If the taxation collected was properly collected. Greece got screwed up because no one was paying what they were supposed to and no one was standing up and making sure it was paid.

"I remember when there were so many jobs to chose from it was an employees market, and businesses were bending over backwards trying to entice people to work for them"

Yep.... and then other countries started up factories who's employees would work for a pittance.

China... India... and many others.

Can't expect Americans to work for nothing can you... unless they are prisoners, the only form of '''slavery''' left.

Iamon lyme: .... there is no quick fix that is a fact. Not for any country.

This has been building for decades. No-one challenging the bosses.....

.... .... demonstrations are getting more common in Europe though. The people want less talk and more action on those who created this mess and allowed it to happen.

N' yes we see America possibly going 'broke'.... Not able to come together as one people and act in the common good.... divide and conquer. :/

Iamon lyme: Don't worry, there will be plenty of candidates to fill that roll for the Republicans next election.... no need for jealousy that the Democrats can find a better idiot.

... maybe the Republicans need to change from good idiot and bad idiot to 'thinker/idiot'

What do you think??

Artful Dodger: I hoped you would get it!! lol

Artful Dodger: stand correctly, point, squeeze trigger.

... Aim big, hit big.

I was allowed to shoot them as a scout of 14.... they are easy.... and at short range far better than a AR15. Which, was designed for the battlefield.

"He's telling rookies they are easier than the AR15. He's an idiot."

Yes they are. One video does not make Biden an idiot.... ... ... that takes years of practice!! ;P

Artful Dodger: No.... they clearly show people who've never fired one before or have not heard that they kick.

Woooppeeee.

Farmers mums can handle them as this video demonstrates..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ka5pedLmLs

Or as this police training video shows..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cun-LZvOTdw

Artful Dodger: The video demonstrates alot of wrong techniques, including cherry picking video moments.

Come on.. I expect better evidence off you!! ;)

Artful Dodger: A double barrelled one... scare the poop out of most as they do tend to cut you to pieces if hit by one. More effective than a pistol for home defence, less need to be 'accurate'.

Iamon lyme: Just put Yes Minister or Yes Prime Minister in on youtube. Plenty there :P

Artful Dodger: Reminds me of this incident. It was a live TV children's show :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_Cj2TtFd_E

Iamon lyme: I like what the daily show said about the recent deadline... everyone was on holiday.

"a charge of racism is leveled by someone wielding power and influence to attack a police officer, who did nothing wrong. No politician in his right mind would try pulling a stunt like this."

Don't know the case. Usually politicians don't make public statements like that unless they have some idea.

... Then again..... ..... No, usually that's when they skip around the subject. UK politics is a case of reading between the lines.

And slagging each other off, blaming each other, part histories...

.... .... Does one have the ability to watch old UK TV shows such as "Yes Minister" or "Yes Prime Minister"??

Artful Dodger: No... the link was a mobile version...didna work.

Iamon lyme: Depends on who the appeased are. The Nazi's, Iranians, Egyptians, various South American governments who are supported and placed despite being nasty bully killer types.

"He criticised the police for being racist, then held a news meeting with both sides for the purpose of repairing his own image."

So.. stating something that has been seen to be true in many cases. .... .... The Met police in the UK was found to be institutionally racist.... it's being "robustly" dealt with, but that word "robustly" seems to be the in word at the moment for meaning jack.

Artful Dodger: nooo.... I'll pick some sentences and put one or two of his in the mix.

Artful Dodger: Dennis Prager statements could apply to all major parties in the USA.. replace lefty with righty and no-one would know the difference.

I pick on that point.

At least you don't have a situation where you've got Silvio Berlusconi running again. You'd think being on trial for sex with underage prostitutes and tax fraud would mean he ineligible.

Iamon lyme: I've already patented a removal of nappy mess system. I bought a load of non used mechanical meat stripping machines (the ones who strip meat of carcases) to recover baby poo. Then it is processed into fertiliser.

Iamon lyme: Is that because of the horse meat? ;P

"but everything I eat does that so it's not really relevant or even worth mentioning"

Not if my idea of an eco green fart deposit station gets off the ground!! :)

I plan to get Parliament 'tubed up' next week.... so many people sitting for hours... .... ....

Beck is a fraud!!!

Art... Lamon... you both sucked worm snot when you were liberals.... ???????!!!!!!!!!!!

Did it taste like McD's or BurgKing?

Artful Dodger: I did... but not how dense the testing was in certain areas. That the USSR and USA liked to blow up their own country alot... that is scary!!

It's caused a change in the background radiation levels that will not go away for one heck of a long time. No wonder leukaemia cases went through the roof in children. :/

Iamon lyme: That was a fake..... this is real!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNDxkXVjRFU

ssssss out?

Yes?!?

Iamon lyme: school.

Artful Dodger: It isn't though your average hunting rifle, is it!

You mentioned hammers earlier. They at least require an up close attack, a semi automatic military assault weapon has a range of over 500 yards. It has a magazine that can hold at least 30 rounds, magazines holding 90 rounds can be bought.

Like this http://www.tactical-life.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dsc00229.jpg

Or this for a pistol http://www.mississippiautoarms.com/images/GLOCK9357.jpg

Hardly home defence.. unless your Justin Bieber and you've just released a new single that is considered so bad it assaults the ear and mind!! :))

Iamon lyme: It's a line from a film called "RocknRolla"... the context is not the same as usual!!

"The most important lesson Obama has taught us is that no one is responsible for anything they say or do... unless they happen to be conservative, because they are responsible for everything that happens."

Really!! How interesting. .... .... .... .... Is this line gonna be used forever more?

Artful Dodger: ok... But an assault riffle is built for one purpose.. battle. N' the semi automatic version of the US own preferred main arms for it's military is still a gun built for battle.

Bwild: it's difficult for a person to throw a hammer 400 yards though.... n' not the competition side of the matter.

BTW... I don't think they'd be using assault rifles... not accurate enough.

Artful Dodger: No. you are splitting hairs. Guns are built for killing. Hammers and clubs may have other purposes.

You wouldn't use your assault rifle as a lever for jacking up your car would you.

Iamon lyme: ooooOOOOoooo ... One could say the same about graduating from a conservative university.... but are they to be blamed for her saying dumb things... production team?? A HaNgOvEr????

... I just saw the statement not what sex they were.

"Hey, if an asteroid slammed into your home with so much force it caused you to disappear into a black hole, then yes, that would be VERY painful. And humiliating."

Not painful, death would be instantaneous.. more humiliating for the doomsday preppers, that such an asteroid could cause a black hole suggests a very dense object like a bit of a stars core...

.... I'd be watching going "Jesus" ... beats the CGI from "2012".