Hey, somebody just stole a thread!

Indeed. The OP is at liberty to pull a thread at any time. This is where it went, plus one other.

Moggy

I’m guessing you may be right. Maybe Andy wanted to delete it.

Andy probably regretted his return to the forum after a sabbatical.:)

Like many others, after taking time to reply and give the matter some thought, it’s disappointing to see the thread deleted completely, especially one with my name in it. 😉 Perhaps I was right, only trivia is discussed here.

You probably exceeded the emergency quote limit Snaff ; )

Or praps you exceeded Andy’s LOL – Like others on here – I do not read ultra long quote ridden posts 😀

It was the political thread from Andy in Beds.
I was just about to hit the ‘go’ button but decided to see if there was a recent last post…

If anybody cares (which I doubt) he is my latest missive to that thread (which will get this thread deleted, I expect):

As with Snafu, I’m deeply honoured to be mentioned in a thread title – in a good way (I think…)

Not sure honoured is quite the right word…;o)
Agree with the rest though.

What I would like to see is

Allowances totally got rid of, take an average of all MP’s allowances and increase their wages by that amount plus £5000.

Issue MP’s with a combined Underground, Bus and Train Pass

Housing for MP’s in London, if living within the accepted London commuting distance for industry then commute, no second mortgages etc, If outside the commuting belt, then subject to attendance at Parliament provide fixed price accomodation at set hotels within the Commuting area paid direct to the Hotel.

No second jobs or honorary board positions while serving.

Any of the cash for questions or criminal convictions, instant dismissal and a byelection held.

MP’s wages linked to inflation and civil servents pay, no over the top payrises

if they cannot accept these, do not stand for parliament.

Not too much to disagree with there either, except that they should be on minimum wage, by the hour, with a board of ordinary voters deciding on (ok, generous within reason) extra pay for work undertaken (constituency surgery, etc, with independent proof that the event took place) and for appearances in parliament and committee work – without knowing who they are judging. Wages rises should be linked to benefits/pension/minimum wage, and any personal staff required (secretarial, admin, etc) should be recruited via job centres, etc. with equal MP staff pay scale across the board (so that they are not paid a pittance but equally not paid huge sums for ‘other’ reasons) paid via parliament, and the staff must not be family. Any researcher or work experience whose work had been unpaid will be on the MP staff pay scale as long as they are assisting with constituency or ministerial work. Any party work within the constituency must be paid for by the political party once the MP gains office, there is to be no unpaid workers associating with or working for MP’s. All finances are to be freely available – where it’s from, why, etc.

I’m sure I”ll think of more to add, but that should be enough to be going along with.

I am not sure that Andy is becoming any wiser by our contributions. The strong message is they the current system is heavily criticized, politicians are held in low regard but no one has any suggestions to improve the, as they see it, flawed system.

The problem is, neither have they (the politicians) (or lizards). I don’t know of any who have made a suggestion as to how to improve their reputation, or indeed any that felt that their personal reputation needed improving and until that is accepted you might as well try pushing a wheelbarrow full of rattlesnakes up a cliff face safely.

‘Capitalist’ lizards? Well, maybe, but I think ‘capitalist’ is just being used as a derogatory term by people who don’t have any alternative to offer.

Sorry, my capitalist jibe was more to do with the ‘class’ of people trying to become politicians, mainly public school, independent inherited wealth and the sort of income from their ‘main’ job that gives the impression they have blackmail material hidden away. Maybe it is their friends and backers who are capitalists…

…but surely you now have the possibility of electing a Labour leader who is certainly no Blair clone nor crony. His aspirations are certainly more statist than his recent predecessors. So would you not want to give him a chance.

Who, who? Tell us, oh knowledgeable one… Oh, you mean Miliband. Zzzz…

Simply put Charlie–NO.
Questioning what was once simple faith has moved me to a position of trusting no one who wishes for power–that pretty much goes for all organisations.

Blair bludgeoned to death the left of centre vote and brought in the champagne ‘socialists’ he leeched from the centre right and beyond. Now few really trust Labour, especially with the current leader whose challenges at PMQs has not exactly been…well, noticeable really.

1) ‘Capitalist Lizards’ sounds a bit David Icke to me.

Sorry, but we have latched onto it probably for that reason. If only Douglas Adams had written about meerkats or penguins or something less conspiratorial.

2) Beware the power of the news media, for good or ill.

Um, they are fully aware of the ‘evil’ power of the press, thank you. How many votes does Murdoch and his papers bring along?

Yes, but I actually meant the electorate; not the politician.

‘The electorate cannot simply vote themselves rich.’

Change the rules, why don’t you!

Ok, but if they bribe somebody important…;o)

.