dagblog - Comments for "UK Students trash British Conservatives' HQ ... the children's crusade "

Valid point, David, about the

acanuck — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:09:40 +0000

In reply to UK Students trash British Conservatives' HQ ... the children's crusade

Valid point, David, about the welfare state being capitalism's way to defend itself from the revolting masses. And I agree with the protesters that the first place to cut is the massive military-security apparatus, not education or health.

But 200 people trashing Conservative Party headquarters does not strike me as a portent of "a Europe-wide trend." Yes, you're going to get a backlash against any austerity measures. But I don't see a real pattern here. The Greek turmoil seems to have played itself out, and the opposition to Sarkozy has lots deeper roots than just the retirement bill. It's not 1968, not by a long shot.

Activist must

David Seaton — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:28:54 +0000

In reply to UK Students trash British Conservatives' HQ ... the children's crusade

Activist must read:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/13/nus-campaign-oust-lib-dems

The National Union of Students will launch a "decapitation" strategy aimed at ousting Nick Clegg and other top Liberal Democrats from parliament in protest at the party's U-turn on student fees.
The move aims to build on anger about coalition policies – which spilled over into violence on Wednesday – in Lib Dem-held constituencies with large student populations.
The key targets will be Clegg in Sheffield Hallam, Simon Wright in Norwich South, Stephen Williams in Bristol West and Don Foster in Bath.
Aaron Porter, president of the NUS, said the campaign would aim to force out Lib Dems who break their pre-election pledge to oppose any rise in tuition fees. The move has echoes of the Lib Dems' own "decapitation strategy" in 2005, when the party threw resources into efforts to oust leading Tories with narrow majorities, including Michael Howard and Theresa May.

This is how it is done kiddies.

The whole science of

David Seaton — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:30:12 +0000

In reply to Betting takes two sides.

The whole science of probability stems from Pascal's wager.

Betting takes two sides.

A Guy Called LULU — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:06:23 +0000

In reply to I don't expect miracles, but

Betting takes two sides. Pascal can wager his way and I'll wager my way. If he wants to bet money and he wins my money, I will owe him all my life before I beat him out of it.

I don't expect miracles, but

David Seaton — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:01:06 +0000

In reply to "It is a very short trip from

I don't expect miracles, but then I am an agnostic who bets that the atheists are right.

If you read Pascal you'll see you are making a lousy bet and should hedge your positions.

"It is a very short trip from

A Guy Called LULU — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:33:34 +0000

In reply to Bread and Circuses. Roman

"It is a very short trip from decadence to decay and desolation. Empires do not fall from without but crumble from within."

Not to argue with that statement, but the world as a whole is in a new situation. There are new things under the sun. Our way of life, which does depend largely on our being a successful empire, may be changed by external factors before internal problems bring us down.
God could look down and perform the miracle of investing every single American with the knowledge that true change is needed, what those changes are, and with the character and sense of team play that would allow us all to work in a sensible, coherent way towards productive change, and life in the U.S. would likely still undergo harsh and painful adjustments to a severe cut-back in the availability of petroleum. A major war in the Mid East could ruin our economy even if we were not already going broke preparing for one and even if we did not participate.
I don't expect miracles, but then I am an agnostic who bets that the atheists are right.

Bread and Circuses "In the

SleepinJeezus — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:13:08 +0000

In reply to Bread and Circuses. Roman

Bread and Circuses "In the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave," as reported on the BBC.

Couldn't help but think I prefer lions versus Christians for wholesome entertainment, but that's just me. How soon do you suppose it is before this gets placed on cable television so it can be enjoyed by a much wider audience?

God help us all.

Bread and Circuses. Roman

cmaukonen — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 14:27:28 +0000

In reply to UK Students trash British Conservatives' HQ ... the children's crusade

Bread and Circuses. Roman spectacles and our spectacles. Largesse from the conquering proconsuls and giveaways from the successful lipstick king. Chariot races and automobile races. Throwing Christians to the lions and Muslims to drones. Show me a major difference between a Roman Galley Slave and a wage slave to scared to leave his job where he is worked to death. Because if he does, he would loose his home and what little health care he might have for his family and himself.

It is a very short trip from decadence to decay and desolation. Empires do not fall from without but crumble from within.

What's mind boggling is

Beetlejuice — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:17:26 +0000

In reply to Perhaps the US could use a

What's mind boggling is social societies are willing to fight for what they believe is right, especially seeing how they pay hefty taxes to support those rights...they have a stake in the game. Whereas, Americans don't pay very much in taxes so their stake in the game isn't very deep which makes them avoid altercation with authorities because they don't think they have much standing to argue against the government when they reduce or cut out social programs that are benefiting the public good. That's why American's aren't taking it to the streets...they don't feel they have ownership of their government and have a say in what is good for the public good and should be kept. They can only accept what is given or taken away.

Perhaps the US could use a

David Seaton — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:46:54 +0000

In reply to I was discussing this with

Perhaps the US could use a little more socialism.

That is an idea that is dawning on more than a few Americans, that is why Murdoch has Glenn Beck working overtime.