The General Politics Thread

Goat

More like Huxley had a problem with people enjoying themselves.

noodles

He was probably all about Mill's higher v lower pleasures distinction and the spiritual desolation that would result from not being able to feel love or do philosophy. Actually I have no idea what he thought since the only other book I've read of his was about seeing.

Goat

I was trying to make a joke there, by the by, not genuinely believing Huxley was some kind of puritan killjoy. :rolleyes: :wink:

noodles

oops!

Goat

IN YOUR FACE, PHIL WOOLAS! :dio: Ed Miliband looks a right prat now, appointing him to the Labour shadow cabinet. Another hammer blow to the Torture & Rendition Party, god rot them.

Goat

Bloody students. You put the anti-tuition fee cause back by years today, you little pricks. :lame:

C_Chulainn

Goat wrote
Bloody students. You put the anti-tuition fee cause back by years today, you little pricks. :lame:

WHAT WHAT HAPPENED? I've been out of the news, did the protests actually do something??

Goat

Oh, Fridge.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822</a>
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11729912">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11729912</a>
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/nov/10/student-protest-london-millbank?CMP=twt_fd">http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/vid ... CMP=twt_fd</a>

traptunderice

Who were the rioters? It wasn't obvious from close-up.

Hmmmm.

Goat

Social Workers' Party goons (yes, America, we have REAL socialists over here) anarchist louts and over-excited students is the word on the grapevine. Such a shame - vast majority of students protesting (which included a big Lib Dem presence, by the by) were peaceful and whole event will now be tarred with same brush.

Interesting thought experiment - imagine if, in America, a bunch of socialists went on the rampage at Republican party headquarters, fighting police, smashing windows, etc. Wonder what the bodycount would be there? Much higher than a few injured on either side, I'm guessing...

traptunderice

REAL socialist? I assume that was a jab at people who call Obama a socialist. The socialists here tend to just protest small companies. The violence started because of the Lib Dems possibly fucking the students over, no?

A body count? What was the last "political" thing in America to involve a body count? Possibly injured but more to do with police brutality or stupid moves on the part of the protestors than any kinda "Uhmerican" passion towards violence or whatever you may be alluding to.

C_Chulainn

I'm torn. On the one hand, ok, violent vandalizing tars the entire protest. On the other hand, I doubt Westminster would have changed a single thing because of the student protest, no matter how big, and probably the only way to get through is to scare the shit out of the conservative assholes trying to fuck us all over.

Goat

@ Trapt - wow, defensive, much? Yes, a jab at the anti-Obamaites. The Lib Dems haven't fucked students over at all (not that violence would be a good response if they have - the sort of people rioting today would have kicked off whatever the provocation) and I was making a point precisely about police brutality, free availability of guns, and the varying levels of security between various conservative party headquarters here and over there.

@ Fridge - You do appreciate that students would be facing unlimited fees were it not for Lib Dems in government? Of course, try telling that to the neanderthals in London today. Beside, trying to change peoples' mind through violence has a name, an ugly one.

C_Chulainn

Goat wrote
@ Fridge - You do appreciate that students would be facing unlimited fees were it not for Lib Dems in government? Of course, try telling that to the neanderthals in London today. Beside, trying to change peoples' mind through violence has a name, an ugly one.

Aye, and Scotland would have entirely free universities were it not for the budget cuts demanded from the parasite that is England. I'm not taking it up with the Lib Dems, not at all- out of all the parties viable for power in the UK, they're among my favourites. Yet parasitism it still is. As for violence... It is either called terrorism, or revolution. Depending on the cause, I'd still call it valiant. I almost wish I'd been down there today, brick in hand.

Goat

It amused me that the Lib Dem HQ at Cowley Street had all the police presence protecting it, whilst Tory HQ was more or less unguarded. Who says that we're getting nothing from the coalition? :lol: And it's amusing how you think it's England that's the parasite on Scotland...

C_Chulainn

Goat wrote
It amused me that the Lib Dem HQ at Cowley Street had all the police presence protecting it, whilst Tory HQ was more or less unguarded. Who says that we're getting nothing from the coalition? :lol: And it's amusing how you think it's England that's the parasite on Scotland...

What natural resources do you possess?

Goat

Englishmen, of course! What better natural resource do you need? :wink:

Seriously, no reason Scotland shouldn't have more devolved powers and the ability to raise their own taxation. Jo Grimond argued for that (I think). It's just a shame that the SNP are so cack-handed in general.

C_Chulainn

The SNP is simply the most recent incarnation of an age-old drive for independence for a land that, by rights, should have found self-determination when the rest of the British Empire collapsed. While Salmond may personally believe in the re-institution of Scottish monarchy, and be content with becoming a commonwealth state like Canada or Australia, Scotland and Scottish culture deserve better. The SNP as it stands currently is simply the most promising way to achieve such standing. Fuck the Old Firm, fuck Highlanders vs Lowlanders, goddammit.

Goat

I mean, eh, I could go on a mini rant about how they're a wishy-washy Labour-lite nationalist bunch of useless tossers who spend more time releasing terrorists and trying to pass useless policies than do anything actually useful, but you know all that. :wink: Given a miracle, there may be a SNP-Liberal coalition up there come next year, so we'd better start saying nice things. No real reason Scotland shouldn't rule itself - I'm in favour of a United Kingdom, however, think that that's better for everyone.

C_Chulainn

Just because if it weren't for Scotland's left-wing vote the rest of the Union would soon succumb to conservatives...

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