|Home| Info| Community| Business| Beaches| What to do?| Rentals| News| Forum| Blogs| Finance| History| FAQ| Contact|
The pound in your pocket
-
Bruce Wallis
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 5505
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:35 am
- Location: Wroxham, Norfolk/ Vale de Centiannes
-
laserblazer
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 6209
- Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 11:11 am
- Location: Worcestershire and QdP
-
carvoeiro1
- CVO Senior
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:03 am
------ Forwarded Message
From: "David Cameron" <bulletin@news.conservatives.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:03:13 -0000
To:
Subject: Britain's businesses need urgent action
When the financial crisis happened, I made it clear that the Conservative Party was ready to put aside party differences to help bring stability. That's why we supported the recapitalisation of our banks. I also said that we would not suspend our critical faculties over this Government's calamitous economic policy decisions - decisions that helped not only cause this crisis by encouraging government and personal debt to spiral out of control, but could also make the recession deeper and last longer. That's why we have set out a positive alternative, starting with immediate action to tackle the credit problems at the heart of the issue. It's clear the recapitalisation is failing to restart lending to the real economy, so we've proposed a National Loan Guarantee Scheme to underwrite loans to businesses. It is vital that this £50bn proposal - which has been welcomed by the business community - is taken forward by the Government right now. I can't promise it will save the world, but the sooner the Government swallows its pride the sooner we can get credit flowing again, and help Britain's struggling businesses. Conservatives have always understood and supported businesses, we know what they need to prosper. We also recognise that they make a difference not just by creating wealth, offering employment, and paying taxes to fund public services, but by making their money in a moral way, treating their employees right, strengthening communities, and playing a positive part in society. So we don't see the financial crisis as an excuse to bash capitalism, we see it as a challenge to make it work better in the future. As well as better regulation we need to reinforce the values of trust, integrity and responsibility - with strong institutions, and incentives to do the right thing. And just as importantly the Government should lead by being as prudent with the public finances as we expect banks to be with private finances, and by being as moral and responsible with the public purse as we expect business to be with consumers' cash. That's what a Conservative Government would do. Let's hope we get a chance to have one in the coming year. Thank you for all your support, and have a very Merry Christmas.
------ End of Forwarded Message
From: "David Cameron" <bulletin@news.conservatives.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:03:13 -0000
To:
Subject: Britain's businesses need urgent action
When the financial crisis happened, I made it clear that the Conservative Party was ready to put aside party differences to help bring stability. That's why we supported the recapitalisation of our banks. I also said that we would not suspend our critical faculties over this Government's calamitous economic policy decisions - decisions that helped not only cause this crisis by encouraging government and personal debt to spiral out of control, but could also make the recession deeper and last longer. That's why we have set out a positive alternative, starting with immediate action to tackle the credit problems at the heart of the issue. It's clear the recapitalisation is failing to restart lending to the real economy, so we've proposed a National Loan Guarantee Scheme to underwrite loans to businesses. It is vital that this £50bn proposal - which has been welcomed by the business community - is taken forward by the Government right now. I can't promise it will save the world, but the sooner the Government swallows its pride the sooner we can get credit flowing again, and help Britain's struggling businesses. Conservatives have always understood and supported businesses, we know what they need to prosper. We also recognise that they make a difference not just by creating wealth, offering employment, and paying taxes to fund public services, but by making their money in a moral way, treating their employees right, strengthening communities, and playing a positive part in society. So we don't see the financial crisis as an excuse to bash capitalism, we see it as a challenge to make it work better in the future. As well as better regulation we need to reinforce the values of trust, integrity and responsibility - with strong institutions, and incentives to do the right thing. And just as importantly the Government should lead by being as prudent with the public finances as we expect banks to be with private finances, and by being as moral and responsible with the public purse as we expect business to be with consumers' cash. That's what a Conservative Government would do. Let's hope we get a chance to have one in the coming year. Thank you for all your support, and have a very Merry Christmas.
------ End of Forwarded Message
-
In-Spectre
- CVO Senior
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:02 pm
destroyer wrote:... it could be worse. We could have people with neither a spellchecker nor anything of interest to say. Or, indeed, totally lacking any sense of humour.Bruce Wallis wrote:Have you noticed how we always get somebody on here who has a spellchecker....but nothing of any interest to say?
Lee's comments not only apply to the Americans but also to the rest of us in the Western Hemisphere. What happens in the U.S. affects Canada, Britain and Portugal too. As a Canadian I am glad to see him come forth and say this.
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the 'America' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving.
We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country.
We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble.
Our borders are like sieves.
The middle class is being squeezed every which way.
These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?
We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America. In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America'. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the 'America' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving.
We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country.
We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble.
Our borders are like sieves.
The middle class is being squeezed every which way.
These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?
We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America. In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America'. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
-
Bruce Wallis
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 5505
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:35 am
- Location: Wroxham, Norfolk/ Vale de Centiannes
Careful sonny....you know what happens when you play with the big boysIn-Spectre wrote:destroyer wrote:... it could be worse. We could have people with neither a spellchecker nor anything of interest to say. Or, indeed, totally lacking any sense of humour.Bruce Wallis wrote:Have you noticed how we always get somebody on here who has a spellchecker....but nothing of any interest to say?
Hi there Canada,
Totally agree with you.
The UK is not much better. As we seem to follow the' Good ole USA' like a sheep on heat.
I admit to being a USA hater, however that does not permit the UK to follow suite. Biggest problem in the UK is our lack of decent education, morals and lack of respect. These younger generation will be the backbone of England in the future and God help us.
Those in powere seem to absolve themselves of any direct action in a positive way, just bleating liberals with spell checkers.
We need a radical upheaval in all aspects of our modern life, some of which requires draconian measures. If old gold standards were in place and those who now weald the £ applied those standards some of the recent downturns in finances would not have taken place. It seems the lets blag it patrol rule the £ at the dettrement of all others. Lets face it we all know the pitfalls of pyramid selling or do we!!!
Totally agree with you.
The UK is not much better. As we seem to follow the' Good ole USA' like a sheep on heat.
I admit to being a USA hater, however that does not permit the UK to follow suite. Biggest problem in the UK is our lack of decent education, morals and lack of respect. These younger generation will be the backbone of England in the future and God help us.
Those in powere seem to absolve themselves of any direct action in a positive way, just bleating liberals with spell checkers.
We need a radical upheaval in all aspects of our modern life, some of which requires draconian measures. If old gold standards were in place and those who now weald the £ applied those standards some of the recent downturns in finances would not have taken place. It seems the lets blag it patrol rule the £ at the dettrement of all others. Lets face it we all know the pitfalls of pyramid selling or do we!!!
I'm not sure whether that last post is meant to be deliberately ironic or not. I think it must be, given the reference to the uneducated young and liberals with spellcheckers, whilst containing a ton of (presumably deliberate) spelling errors. Just to put this one to bed, I know how to spell "clientele" without a spellchecker, although I would perhaps use the word "clients" myself. I also know how to spell power and all the other rather obvious incorrectly spelled words in your post.
Simply reiterating the editorial of the Daily Express will not solve this problem. The worldwide financial crisis was not caused by the uneducated, morally deficient young of the UK or any other country. It was caused by the amoral greed of educated and "respected" people in the world financial markets, blinded by that greed to common sense of the most basic kind. Unfortunately, they will suffer less than most for their actions.
Simply reiterating the editorial of the Daily Express will not solve this problem. The worldwide financial crisis was not caused by the uneducated, morally deficient young of the UK or any other country. It was caused by the amoral greed of educated and "respected" people in the world financial markets, blinded by that greed to common sense of the most basic kind. Unfortunately, they will suffer less than most for their actions.
-
Ellie
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 8886
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:16 pm
- Location: Londoner in the Wolds,Lincs
- Contact:
Im in total agreement with you Destroyer...destroyer wrote:The worldwide financial crisis was not caused by the uneducated, morally deficient young of the UK or any other country. It was caused by the amoral greed of educated and "respected" people in the world financial markets, blinded by that greed to common sense of the most basic kind. Unfortunately, they will suffer less than most for their actions.
and I get a little bit heated when folk generalise about the next generation..of them being uneducated etc etc.....
all the young folk in my wider family have done very well education-wise andall are in decent careers. I have a niece at the moment, in France where she is doing practical law and will be practising law in that country.
As Destroyer says, the financial troubles we're now in are caused by greedy banks and City whizzkids (trace that back to Thatcher's days & the 'loadsa money' culture, and they didn't care about selling off our currency)..
but unfortunately as Destroyer also says, they won't be the ones to suffer but the ordinary man /woman in the street, like you & I will for sure..we've bailed them out but we're the ones to suffer
-
HampshireRich
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 5733
- Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:21 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Sorry Ellie, but we cannot put the ills of our current society back on to Thatcher and her government. The current lot have been in power for years now and regulation of the financial sector has been allowed to slip beyond due dare. Additionally, Gordon Brown has sold off all the gold reserves we had at a cheap rate to resolve the shortfalls of his disastrous reign as Chancellor. If anyone is to blame, then it is Blair and Bush and their respective governments.Ellie wrote:[As Destroyer says, the financial troubles we're now in are caused by greedy banks and City whizzkids (trace that back to Thatcher's days & the 'loadsa money' culture, and they didn't care about selling off our currency)..
If anyone thinks Brown and Co could not have avoided the problem, do some research on Lebanon and why they are not suffering now from this economic crisis.
Borrowing excessively agasinst our future is as reckless as selling our assets - which both Thatcher's lot did and Brown has done - but at least Thatcher did not go down the excessive borrowing route.
-
Ellie
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 8886
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:16 pm
- Location: Londoner in the Wolds,Lincs
- Contact:
Okay Rich and Im sure you know more about these things than I do but I still believe that Thatcher started the ball rolling regards the 'loadsa money 'culture....and the ordinary Joe Bloggs could go hang.
('Theres no such thing as society' ?)
I visited Nottingham not long after the mines were closed down and spoke with a young woman, whose husband had lost his job as miner..they were having such difficult times...whole communities destroyed.
I have no political persuasion these days as they all seem to end up the same. I voted for Thatcher in '79 and very much regretted it....I voted for Blair in 97 and very much regretted it.
We never had the opportunity to vote for Brown and Im not keen on him either.
I don't always agree with the Mail columnist Peter Hitchens but he said once he thought we needed new parties here in UK and I do agree with him on that one!
Now if someone was to knock on my door and say they were starting a republican party, they'd get me as a member
Vive le revolution vive le republique
p.s. The chief of Barclays admitted today that they hadn't treated their customers right......he can say that again!
Its what lifes become all about in recent times..money, materialism, greed.
Sorry to repeat myself but its coming to fruition what Leon Trotsky said and I quote..
'One day Capitalism will eat itself'
('Theres no such thing as society' ?)
I visited Nottingham not long after the mines were closed down and spoke with a young woman, whose husband had lost his job as miner..they were having such difficult times...whole communities destroyed.
I have no political persuasion these days as they all seem to end up the same. I voted for Thatcher in '79 and very much regretted it....I voted for Blair in 97 and very much regretted it.
We never had the opportunity to vote for Brown and Im not keen on him either.
I don't always agree with the Mail columnist Peter Hitchens but he said once he thought we needed new parties here in UK and I do agree with him on that one!
Now if someone was to knock on my door and say they were starting a republican party, they'd get me as a member
Vive le revolution vive le republique
p.s. The chief of Barclays admitted today that they hadn't treated their customers right......he can say that again!
Its what lifes become all about in recent times..money, materialism, greed.
Sorry to repeat myself but its coming to fruition what Leon Trotsky said and I quote..
'One day Capitalism will eat itself'
-
HampshireRich
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 5733
- Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:21 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Ellie - I agree we need something else these days - someone fresh with new ideas. The trouble is the mindset of the UK voter (possibly in some Euro countries as well, although I'm not really sure about that). In the UK the majority of people will vote for a party rather than what's on offer. People will vote for the same party time after time and refuse to change no matter what - others vote for the personality of the leader.
The political set-up in the UK does not help either - first past the post encourages party voting - political manifestos are long, dull and difficult to read even if you do believe on what's in them. The whole process is outdated and stale.
I wonder if there is any difference in what other countries do that could improve our system? Perhaps a modern, bright building like they have in Scotland could throw off some of the stuffiness and outdated tradition? .... and don't get me going on the House of Lords!
The political set-up in the UK does not help either - first past the post encourages party voting - political manifestos are long, dull and difficult to read even if you do believe on what's in them. The whole process is outdated and stale.
I wonder if there is any difference in what other countries do that could improve our system? Perhaps a modern, bright building like they have in Scotland could throw off some of the stuffiness and outdated tradition? .... and don't get me going on the House of Lords!
-
Ellie
- CVO Oracle
- Posts: 8886
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:16 pm
- Location: Londoner in the Wolds,Lincs
- Contact:
Im with you on that one Rich ! Dyou remember Blair and all the 'reforms' he was going to do in the house of lords? That never materialised, just more cronies getting their ermine!HampshireRich wrote:.... and don't get me going on the House of Lords!
I think, as you suggest, that more of our young people would be interested if we had a more modern parliament. The House of commons could be preserved as a museum, and open to the public more?
I don't know if you saw any of that John Prescott docu about the class system? But he went to see some girls (think it was in Brixton) and invited them to parliament and they had no idea where it was or what it looked like! Although there are a lot more women there these days I think it still has the air of a mens club about it.
Yes you are right, we do need reform. As you know Im not a royalist (though I do have respect for the queen & think shes done a good job) and when I saw the opening of Parliament recently I thought how out dated it looked. About time they gave all that a rest. Parliament is for the people and we don't need all that pomp & ceremony, but thats just my opinion
(I feel Cromwell stirring in his grave when that takes place......but he never got it right either
)I think as you've suggested, that we are far behind other European parliaments, with our old fashioned traditions and thats probably why many young people these days, don't feel connected?
But Im not optimistic about anything changing
