@InNegative: A LITTLE optimistic

spit it out inNegative,what qualitys do you think i lack not to be a good leader and future prime minister of the uk.

I agree that the people should protest against this coalition, but it is a 'coalition' and one of it's party is sinking fast and to continue would mean certain death for them.

I think we need to be making a case to the Lib Dems, that the only way to save themselves and the country, is to jump ship, before the people start suffering and the economy takes a nose-dive, because, come 2015 it will be too late, far too much damage will have been done.

Sack your leader and move on Lib Dems.

Not sure the will to power is entirely their motivation (greed may figure) but at best the cuts reveal a staggering lack of empathy or any fellow feeling for those in a weaker position.

It also shows how much of a lie the notion of nationhood really is. We are not a "big society", neither are we one happy patriotic family: it's naked class warfare waged by the class that lost its sexy status and privileges after the 1945 government and is now clawing it all back.

If they want class warfare, may I suggest we give them class warfare?

Mr D: Re: The commune idea; you say using ex mod property to establish these. Do you not think that will segregate social divisions even further? Do we not want to move away from the days of grouping social sectors together; it creates bigger divides. This hit on the economy is going to cause massive damage as people have to move away from areas of unaffordable affluence. If you stick one of your communes in amongst those places, it will end up being alienated by those who would look down on those who are grouped together?

@Michael - so what you are saying, you thought this article was quite stimulating.

Five paragraphs suggests you do.

"For example, the money saved from George Osborne's crackdowns on benefit fraud could be recouped simply by persuading one man - the government's efficiency tsar, Philip Green, to pay his taxes like the rest of us"

In this context it's probably relevant to expand on Philip Green's role as the head of the Arcadia Group (TopShop, Dot Perkins, Burtons, etc), through which he not only likes to force us into painfully objectifying fashions, but is pretty much the only high street clothing chain not to sign up to the Ethical Trading Initiative, preferring to keep his workforce in their place - the sweatshop.

Excellent clip here from Paul O'Grady aka Lily Savage on his show from the other day, really giving it what for on Giddy Georgie's cuts - very cutting(!) but all 100% sense,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE88U5CocpM

Mrs Nobody, don't wait for anyone else to impose leaders on us. We need to produce our own leaders!

Buckskins, I'm a whingy backbencher through and though material, whinging abouts arts cuts especially.

But thanks for the compliment of offering me a cabinet post.

Calm down relax, it only hurts then you resist. And what is wrong with dirty talk. You and your writings are becoming quite hysterical.

'The French, who, as amply demonstrated this month, don't quite have our fetish for grumbling political obeisance, describe bondage and sadomasochism (BDSM)
as "the British perversion"; perhaps there is something in our national character that delights in ritualised deference, especially if it stings a bit.'

We're definitely a nation of (sado)masochists and ritual deferrers. But let's not forget the Marquis himself was a French aristo!

Good article, reminds me of the 80s 'sleaze' that characterised the Thatcher bunch.

EhtchTee: Laughed me 'ead off at this clip, thanks la!

The final clip was a bit dark.

@ Buckskins

I invite you to research our electoral system. In the vast majority of our constituencies your vote doesn't count - either it's a safe seat or it's a stitch up between two parties.

But just you wait for the bile the right wing press will heap on the AV (alternative vote system) campaigners.

The idea that we have real democracy in this country is laughable. The media and the politicians have convinced the majority that 'there is no alternative'.

Deeply ironic that the most individualistic people in Europe accept so much control.

And also, smack me, beat me, call me names Fergie, because you know I deserve it, you fecking sado- masochistic perve yew,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77tirxSTAWU

Met Gary Barlows misses in above video in Pricillas boyfriends birthday party in about 1991, in Woolwich, London. I made her laugh with a joke that I can't remember now.

ang - No probs ang, I sometimes post some sensible yewtubb shite, just got to wait that's all....

The final clip was Georgie having 'is 'ed filled in, circa May 1st, 2012.

That last paragrph was fiction, by the way, honest - I made it up...

I'm sticking with my commune idea. You are getting stuck in the 60s idea of wigwams and peace man. My idea is to have a commune that will have a main focus of increasing savings amongst the members. You have separate individual housing but also communal facilities. The most successful non-government social organisations are religious groups .. the Mormons started from nothing and now command billions of dollars in wealth. I'm not suggesting people should become Mormons but I am saying that they have just used their group status to become very successful.

And what is success? To lead a life that you feel free to. For many people it is to have enough money without having to work 40 hours a week especially in a job that you don't really like. Perhaps a 15 hour week would be most people's ideal working week, coupled with lots of long holidays. My commune idea is an easier way for people to achieve this kind of freedom.

The setting up of communes doesn't have to be on military or crown land but it does promise a clean slate and an opportunity. It'll be a slow brick by brick process that will take over a hundred years but has more chance of success than another protest.

Wasn't Gideon the victim of name-calling by his richer school chums at Eton? Now he holds the wip hand he obviously feels it's payback time. Unfortunately the bullies are all untouchable bankers now so he feels he can kick the poor ('oiks' to him) as they have no power at all (except a worthless vote).

I bet there's noone on here who can say what date they will be losing their home?

Mines 31st March 2011, I've already had my notice to quit as there will be no jobs left in my area and I was only on £18000per year!

mr d

We should allow in 100 million more people into Britain over the next 10 years.

Did you know that brand spanking really good new 4 bedroom houses are for sale in Florida for $100,000?

you are aware that land prices are directly proportional to local population density.

"the money saved from George Osborne's crackdowns on benefit fraud could be recouped simply by persuading one man - the government's efficiency tsar, Philip Green, to pay his taxes like the rest of us."

I'm always fascinated by the way this is presented as easy to do - how, exactly could he be persuaded? He does pay tax in the UK. His wife doesn't because she doesn't live here. He managed to structure things so that she owns the busines. How, in accordance with international law, are you going to get that money? Asking him nicely? Giving him a knighthood? (Too late - Labour did that!)

---------

Easy.

Pay what you deserve, or go to jail.

Would it involve retroactive law and a "breach of human rights"? Maybe. But so what! The rich have trampled over the rights of everyone else, and are now responsible for a savagery against the poor that can be reasonably described as genocide (particularly when the little old ladies start freezing to death this winter, or the young ravaged by the recession face massively raised suicide rates). And Philip Green is complicit in this crime against humanity.

Genocide kills (well, duh). And deserves to be punished. Frankly Philip Green, and anyone else who has made more than a million bob or so (beyond the point at which anybody needs money, yet it is money that would clothe and feed and pay the medical bills for the poorest and most vulnerable) is also complicit. They should all be thrown in jail for crimes against humanity and all their assets confiscated. Even the Cameron and Osbourne family estates would be worth a lot of heart operations if they were returned to the people they TRUELY belong to (the British people) and their current owners were sent to prison. In fact Blair has turned into a money-amassing machine too - he can join them, and we'll keep the book proceeds thank you very much.

No mercy can be given to the rich. None. They don't deserve a penny of pity and unless they radically reform and give all their money away to charity, their days are numbered. Once the people have known how strong the forces of darkness are, and how much hatred and disgust the rich hold for them (listen to it in Osbourne's snarly voice, observe it in figures as Sir Philip takes away millions of pounds of potentially life-saving money) then the revolution will come. It is long long overdue. And there are centuries of injustice to avenge...

@Luddite; Don't you think that you might be taking my viewpoints to an extreme? Where have I mentioned loin clothes and caves? I don't mind if some people, young females spring to mind, wear only loin clothes but as for sleeping in caves that's taking the bat piss. No I rather rest my head in my top of the range kingsize bed in my six bedroom mansion on my small acreage.... with my lovely wife.

If you want to sleep with the bat urine and the bats then that's your business. They say its pretty smelly in those bat caves but at least you'll have a hoard of loin clothed young females to keep you amused.. although they'd stink as well.

I agree with Anna Chen - this is class warfare.

The ruling elite are squeezing the poor until their eyes bulge.

There's more of us than them - one day enough people will wake up to that

well put your necks on the line,get out on the barricades,the time for small talk has gone on these blogs,the time is coming when you have to make a decision,are you with us, or are you going to watch from the comfort of your your cozy lifestyles the coming battles that will rage all over the nation in opposition to these spending cuts,come on make your minds up,be brave and show some bottle ,get out there and stop this evil now or be dammed into eternal slavery of the con/lib cutters goverment,your country needs you,dont let us down.

No, I tend to agree with Nick; it's more serious than the kind of nonsense described here ie a guilty appeal to the easy narrative of punishment and hierarchy.

I suggest a quick revision of the book of Lamentations, especially Lamentations 3, to get a more original narrative of punishment and the kind of hope that springs eternal. Austerity isn't about populist notions of no pain, no gain ..it is a test of contentment in my view - but even so we need to be able to account for what we happen to be experiencing along the way openly and transparently and in a way that respects all stakeholders equally -preferably with one's elected Parliamentary representative ( M.P.) who on the face of it and in the face of us citizens really needs to function efficiently, properly and independently of party political considerations, in my view.