Kens proposed 4x4 ban

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"David French" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Exit" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:VWhHc.14537$I%[email protected]...
> > > No. There is no one party which accurately represents everything I

> would
> > go
> > > for. Lib Dems are by far the closest at the moment. But of course, I

> > don't
> > > agree with all their policies.
> > >

> > If you don't understand and agree 100% with their european plans you

> should
> > not vote for them however much you agree with their other plans as their
> > european policy involves giving away all sovreignty making their other
> > policies irrelevant as they will not have the power to implement them.

>
> I don't recall that being in the manifesto. In fact the Lib Dems are keen
> on devolving government to the regions - not centralising to Brussels. I
> think you are mistaken here.
>

I'm afraid not - it is lib-dem policy to hand over control of national
taxaton to the EU. If they hand over control of tax, they will not be in
charge of the money needed to fund amongst other things, education.

http://www.libdems.org.uk/documents/policies/Manifestos/2004EuroManifesto-small.pdf

> > A simple glance at the markets will tell you what the implications are.
> > Compare the UK economy with those of euroland. Compare euroland levels

of
> > tax. Look at the euroland pensions crisis - they have only a fraction of

> the
> > pension funds necessary to maintain their current pension levels, the UK

> has
> > huge pension reserves the EU is desperate to absorb towards the euroland
> > pension deficit. Compare current UK unemployment levels with those

across
> > euroland.

>
> Huge pension reserves in UK? Huh?
>

Many people in Britain are already members of private occupational pension
schemes, or have taken out personal pension policies. This has partly been a
response to tax incentives which the present government has largely
withdrawn. This has placed Britain in a far better position than several
other EU countries. There is little private pension provision in Germany and
Italy, for instance, and so the pension 'overhang' in these countries is
much greater than in the UK. It is widely acknowledged that these unfunded
pension liabilities will become a serious burden, and this is a concern for
Britain as a member of the EU because of the likelihood that we shall be
obliged to assist through the EU budget. In simple terms this means the EU
hoovering up our pension reserves to fund other less well prepared
countries.

> > The real implication of the EU is communism - what is commonly refered

to
> in
> > EU circles as 'harmonisation'. Harmonisation in reality means taking an
> > average. This is great if you live in a country which is in the bottom

> half
> > of the EU - you can expect your standard of living, social security and
> > pensions to rise. If you live in the 4th largest economy in the world

(the
> > UK) you can expect the inherent wealth of that economy to be used up to
> > bring the poorer countries of the EU up to the average, while we are

> dragged
> > down to the average. That is harmonisation.

>
> Personally I think there's a big difference between the EU and Communism.
> There's no question of getting rid of free market capitalism, any more

than
> the UK being governed from London makes it a communist state.

Harmonisation
> is NOT about taking money away from the rich and giving it to the poor.
> It's simply not the case.
>

Harmonisation is about getting the same levels of taxation across the EU. As
one of the richest economies with the lowest tax levels we will have to use
our money to fund the poorer countries whilst dropping to the average. An
average across the EU is not possible at our level of wealth and taxation -
we will have to drop for others to rise. This is EXACTLY what harmonisation
means.

> > Your argument is weak because the EU only fund the propaganda for one

> side.
> > In the UK it is electoral law that all parties who poll above a certain

> low
> > level are granted free access to party political broadcasts so that the
> > electorate may see all sides. The EU is undemocratic and does not

support
> > this fair access for all and thus people only see the EU message or

> believe
> > the tabloids by your example. This is the fault of undemocratic

practices
> > within the EU propaganda machine that under UK law would be illegal. If

> you
> > want an educated electorate campaign for our taxes to be spent fairly to
> > give both sides, not kept by the EU and spent on one-sided propaganda.

If
> > you are not stupid enough to believe the tabloids, it is very

patronising
> of
> > you to assume that most others do. You evidently believe yourself to be

> far
> > more intelligent that the poor mass of tabloid reading fools who believe
> > everything they read. Perhaps people like yourself should be given

several
> > votes to make up for all the electoral dunces who aren't as bright as

you?
>
> Could you clarify, by the way, where this E200m slush fund comes in? Now,
> how about the power of the media moguls, notably Murdoch, who maintain
> editorial control over what the majority of the UK press puts out?
>

Under the 1996 British education act political indoctrination of any kind is
illegal. Despite this EU Education Ministers' Resolution 88/C-177/02
provides 200 million euros per annum for propaganda much of which is used to
support the following section of the above EU resolution:

"strengthen in young people a sense of European identity;
prepare young people to take part in the economic and social aspects of the
Community;
make them aware of the advantages of the EU;
improve knowledge of the Community."

No monies are provided from enforced taxation for those who do not wish to
be encouraged to tow the EU line whilst at school or to demonstrate the
disadvantages of the EU.

And now you advocate the curtailing of a free press if it does not agree
with your aims - closer and closer to communism. . . . . .

> Now Julian, it's you who has introduced this idea of "stupid". You say

it's
> evident I believe myself more intelligent etc. In fact here you're just
> making things up. Please don't insult me by coming up with this crap.
> You're not reading what I'm saying, you're taking the bits you want to see
> and ignoring the rest.
>

I'm reading exactly what you are saying just as anyone else reading this
thread is - 'I can make an educated decision but most anti-EU sentiment is
knee-jerk or a tabloid opinion.' You are the one who keeps saying you know
what is going on but most of the electorate can't be trusted to work it out.

> In particular do NOT try to pick me out in this way as being some kind of
> snob. You don't know me, you've never met me, you have no IDEA of what

I'm
> like. You're just being insulting and provocative. You evidently believe
> that you can bolster your "case" by trying to make me into some sort of
> intellectual pariah.
>

Just re-read what you wrote - you can make a reasoned decision but you don't
think most of the electorate can on EU matters. Cut the bull**** and
prevarication - that is what you said and now you are back-peddling. You are
right that I don't know you, thats why i base these posts entirely on what
you have said, not assumptions that other people aren't bright enough to
decide like you have.

> Next thing you'll be outside the door with a bloody pitchfork and torch.

I
> can see exactly what you're trying to do here Julian.
>

Of course you can see it, you wrote it. Being more able to make a reasoned
decision than us tabloid reading knee-jerk anti-EU types you are bound to be
well ahead of me.

> > > > Ones own reasoning is always fair, the opposition are always

knee-jerk
> > > > reactionaries. This is the same flawed reasoning that sees 90% of

> > drivers
> > > > rate themselves as above average - the mathematical contradiction is
> > > > obvious.
> > >
> > > Not necessarily. The "opposition's" opinions may or may not be

> knee-jerk.
> > > In this case, I think they are. Taking other examples, such as

> education
> > > and healthcare, I think most people have taken time to weigh up the

> > options,
> > > whether or not they agree with my opinions.
> > >

> > You think anti-EU opinions are knee-jerk because you don't agree with

> them.
>
> No. You've not read what I've said. Julian, take time to read what I'm
> writing, don't just keep coming up with bull****. I've not even said I
> don't agree with them. You're just being an asshole now.
>

It's you who needs to re-read it. It's typical of your superior attitude to
become abusive if anyone dares to disagree with you. If you can't enter into
a political discussion without resorting to personal abuse and childish
name-calling, you should avoid politics.

> > You have already made it clear you think you know better than much of

the
> > electorate - whereas you can see through the nationalistic knee-jerks,

the
> > rest of them just drink it in as gospel. I don't have such a patronising
> > attitude towards the electorate, as any successful politician will tell

> you,
> > the british electorate have a remarkable ability to spot the bull****

and
> > underestimating them has been the downfall of many a politico.

>
> No, I'm not saying that. I said the majority of the electorate don't
> understand European issues. In fact, if you read what I've written this
> evening, you'll see that I've not even claimed to understand these issues
> myself. Stop extrapolating and interpreting to try to make me look a

fool.
>

So you say the majority of the electorate don't understand european issues?
You also say in an earlier post that you know enough about europe to make a
reasoned decision when most others are lead by tabloids. What patronising,
intellectualist nonsense. Has it never occured to you that everyone believes
like you they can make a reasoned decision and that it's the others who
can't?

> And if the British public are so good at spotting the bull****, why do we
> have the government we have now? Somebody must have voted for them. And

I
> certainly didn't see it until it was too late.
>

The electorate worked perfectly at the last election - they reasoned that
although the incumbants were deeply flawed, they were nonetheless still a
better option than either the conservatives or lib-dems at the time. Though
of course you will continue to assume they vote entirely on the basis of
their tabloid headlines I am sure. . . . . . . .


 
On or around Thu, 8 Jul 2004 21:55 +0100 (BST),
[email protected] (Niamh Holding) enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
>(Richard Brookman) wrote:
>
>> The argument is (AFAIUI) all about using large 4x4s in congested
>> city environments when a small economical car would do the job as well or
>> better, and I think they have a point

>
>Fine if one can afford to own several cars and choose the most suitable one
>for the occasion


quite. I drive a disco, previously a 110. part of my work involves
transporting 6 schoolchildren; OK, I could have a peoplecarrier and save a
bit on fuel thereby. But the people carrier wouldn't tow my big trailer.

I do in fact have a car, which is something like 60% more economical on fuel
than the disco, but I can't afford to keep it on the road (and no bugger
seems to want to buy it for any remotely-credible price) so it sits on the
drive, awaiting the possibility that I might one day have the money to
restore it properly.

meanwhile, since I can only afford the insurance etc. for one vehicle, I
quite often use the disco with just me in it to get from place to place.

I do maintain the bike for fun, admittedly, but that don't cost much.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so."
John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873)
 
"Exit" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:39lHc.15741$I%[email protected]...
<snip fascist comments>
> > > You think anti-EU opinions are knee-jerk because you don't agree with

> > them.
> >
> > No. You've not read what I've said. Julian, take time to read what I'm
> > writing, don't just keep coming up with bull****. I've not even said I
> > don't agree with them. You're just being an asshole now.
> >

> It's you who needs to re-read it. It's typical of your superior attitude

to
> become abusive if anyone dares to disagree with you. If you can't enter

into
> a political discussion without resorting to personal abuse and childish
> name-calling, you should avoid politics.


Time out. Let's just recap.

I say I'm neutral on Europe. You come up with an emotional outburst which
amounts to you equating the EU with communism. You perceive that I'm
disagreeing with you (even though I've already stated I'm neither anti nor
pro Europe).

So then you come up with a piece telling me I'm not "stupid enough to read
the tabloids" - which in itself evidently sums up what you think of the
tabloid press - and without any further justification says I'm being
patronising, states that I believe myself to be more intelligent than
anybody else, and introduces the idea of everybody else being "electoral
dunces" (your words).

You then state that because I point out that much of the UK media is
controlled privately by people like Murdoch, I want to "curtail the free
press" and you then imply I'm a communist!

This is a gem, Julian. You cap it all by saying *I'm* resorting to personal
abuse and childish name calling. Amazing. In fact, it's quite a clever bit
of psychology when I think about it.

I love your approach to somebody who you've decided disagrees with you.
Single them out, drive a wedge between them and everybody else, throw in
some highly emotive comments, accuse them of being a communist (this is one
of the best bits - me a communist). Deliberately manipulate and
misinterpret what they've said to come up with something so far from the
truth as to be laughable, always heavily on the attack. Hey everybody,
welcome to a climate of democracy and free debate.

I don't need to make snide implications of how people might want to perceive
you, Julian, I think you've done enough work there yourself for people to
get your measure nicely. Whilst it's tempting to make some analogies I'm
not going to use your tactics.

From some of the postings you've made in the past I thought you were
opinionated and aggressive, and couldn't tolerate anybody having a different
opinion than yourself. However I put it down to the medium. Now I can see
I was right the first time. You clearly can't stand any sort of open debate
without turning it into a witch-hunt if it disagrees with what you think.
Thank goodness for killfiles.

David


 
"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Thu, 8 Jul 2004 21:55 +0100 (BST),
> [email protected] (Niamh Holding) enlightened us thusly:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
> >(Richard Brookman) wrote:
> >
> >> The argument is (AFAIUI) all about using large 4x4s in congested
> >> city environments when a small economical car would do the job as well

or
> >> better, and I think they have a point

> >
> >Fine if one can afford to own several cars and choose the most suitable

one
> >for the occasion

>
> quite. I drive a disco, previously a 110. part of my work involves
> transporting 6 schoolchildren; OK, I could have a peoplecarrier and save a
> bit on fuel thereby. But the people carrier wouldn't tow my big trailer.


I'm also thinking of the environmental issues with everybody having
*several* cars. A lot of the environmental costs of a car comes out of the
manufacture. Doesn't really add up, does it.

The three main arguments I've heard are:
1) 4x4s are bigger so take up more room - simply not true in many cases. My
Volvo was bigger than my old Disco, and it wasn't a particularly big Volvo.
Just because they're tall doesn't mean they take up a big area. And if we
all drove around in Smarts, is this really going to solve all our congestion
problems? Of course not, because the space you have to leave round your car
is more significant than the space you take up in it.

2) 4x4s are big smelly polluting monsters - OK so they may be less efficient
than a typical saloon car, but what about all the big luxury cars (Merc /
Lexus / Jag) which guzzle gas at an equal or greater rate? To recap the
earlier comment, let's see people (MPs included) trade in their S-Classes
and Jags for a Ford Focus before we start on 4x4s.

3) 4x4s are less safe in accidents (to the people outside) - this is the
only one which adds up, but I don't think this in itself is reason to ban
them from city centres. I don't have data to back this up, but I would have
thought the number of accidents leading to serious injury or fatality would
have been lower in congested city centres, where nothing moves very fast
anyway, than in suburban areas.

From the discussions I've heard on the radio it seems some people have just
decided 4x4s are bad, without really considering whether they can back this
up in fact. People seem to feel naturally defensive against 4x4s,
presumably because they're in a minority and people find them imposing, and
this is being turned into a point of attack.

David


 
Exit wrote:

> It all boils down to freedom of choice - no urban housewife really
> needs a lifted, lockered 4x4 for the school run but I believe in a
> society where the individual may choose and thus if they want one and
> can afford it, they can have it. A Discovery takes up no more road
> space than a Vauxhall Vectra so congestion is not the issue, it is
> all about find a group to blame.


I quite agree. I'd be dead against an outright ban of 4x4s anywhere, for
the reasons you state. My point was that the debate is around 4x4s in
congested cities, not remote lanes and flooded byways. Even the antis
haven't suggested that yet! Deliberately exaggerating your opponent's case
to the point of ridicule, and then trashing it for being unreasonable, is a
poor method of argument.

--

Rich
Tiggrr - V8 trialler
RR 4.6HSE

"Her name was Mia
From North Korea
I said come over
Bring your Land Rover"


 
No they want a blanket ban on 4WDs, they don't want us on city streets, and
they don't want us on green lanes either.

--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes

"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Exit wrote:
>
> I quite agree. I'd be dead against an outright ban of 4x4s anywhere, for
> the reasons you state. My point was that the debate is around 4x4s in
> congested cities, not remote lanes and flooded byways. Even the antis
> haven't suggested that yet! Deliberately exaggerating your opponent's

case
> to the point of ridicule, and then trashing it for being unreasonable, is

a
> poor method of argument.
>
> --
>
> Rich
> Tiggrr - V8 trialler
> RR 4.6HSE
>
> "Her name was Mia
> From North Korea
> I said come over
> Bring your Land Rover"
>
>



 
Larry wrote:
> No they want a blanket ban on 4WDs, they don't want us on city
> streets, and they don't want us on green lanes either.
>


And who would "they" be? Ken and his cronies are looking for a ban in
cities. The Ramblers and others want a ban on green lanes. Both are worth
arguing against. However, the OP seemed to be complaining about people
wanting to ban him from using a Land Rover to carry his four kids and to
visit his parishioners in the rain and snow. Nobody has suggested banning
that yet - unless I am reading the wrong newspapers.

--

Rich
Tiggrr - V8 trialler
RR 4.6HSE

"Her name was Mia
From North Korea
I said come over
Bring your Land Rover"


 
Larry wrote:

> No they want a blanket ban on 4WDs, they don't want us on city streets,
> and they don't want us on green lanes either.
>


If I'm not getting to use half the roads in the country, can I have a 50%
rebate on my road fund license please?

P.
 
The Alien/CIA/vatican/masonic/commie conspiracy of course, who else could
"they" possibly be :)

I was of course refering to the people who voted Ken in, whom he hopes to
please with his latest proclamation

There are also those around (don't ask me for names please) who wanted to
get all old cars off the road never mind engine size, because old cars are
not as efficient as modern ones, in spite of the fact that the production of
modern replacements continues to do environmental damage to a greater degree
than the keeping of old ones on the road does.


--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes


"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>

> And who would "they" be? Ken and his cronies are looking for a ban in
> cities. The Ramblers and others want a ban on green lanes. Both are

worth
> arguing against. However, the OP seemed to be complaining about people
> wanting to ban him from using a Land Rover to carry his four kids and to
> visit his parishioners in the rain and snow. Nobody has suggested banning
> that yet - unless I am reading the wrong newspapers.
>
> --
>
> Rich
> Tiggrr - V8 trialler
> RR 4.6HSE
>
> "Her name was Mia
> From North Korea
> I said come over
> Bring your Land Rover"
>
>



 
On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 23:28:12 +0100, "Bob Hobden" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So our Ken, Mayor of London, is proposing some sort of ban on large,
>polluting, gas guzzling 4x4's entering the city and seems to be receiving
>some applause from various sections.
>Whilst this would not affect most manufacturers much, e.g.Toyota would just
>sell more cars, what effect would it have on Land Rover who don't make
>anything else other than the aforementioned 4x4's?
>Also, I wonder if a Defender van would be caught up in this too, I know two
>workmen that use these in preference to a normal van.
>
>Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.


We stopped living in a democracy a long time ago. About the same time
we signed up to the common market, I think.

Alex
 
Couldn't I get round that by registering as a bus ?

And could he really ban any landie being used by a utility or for breakdown
recovery or any of the other multitude of legitimate uses, after all is my
landie worse than the ubiquitos white van ?

In any case I would just go out and buy an old bus just to spite the bugger.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"



"Bob Hobden" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So our Ken, Mayor of London, is proposing some sort of ban on large,
> polluting, gas guzzling 4x4's entering the city and seems to be receiving
> some applause from various sections.
> Whilst this would not affect most manufacturers much, e.g.Toyota would

just
> sell more cars, what effect would it have on Land Rover who don't make
> anything else other than the aforementioned 4x4's?
> Also, I wonder if a Defender van would be caught up in this too, I know

two
> workmen that use these in preference to a normal van.
>
> Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.
>
> --
> Regards
> Bob
>
> 1974 LR S111 2.25 petrol "88" H/top
> 1987 LR 90 2.5 petrol H/top
> 2004 BMW330i Sport (the wife's)
>
>



 
All hypothetical of course as I usually travel to London by train :)


--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes

"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Couldn't I get round that by registering as a bus ?
>
> And could he really ban any landie being used by a utility or for

breakdown
> recovery or any of the other multitude of legitimate uses, after all is my
> landie worse than the ubiquitos white van ?
>
> In any case I would just go out and buy an old bus just to spite the

bugger.
>
>
> --
> þT
>
> L'autisme c'est moi
>
> "Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
> expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
> believe in the laws of mathematics"
>
>



 
Ken is a right plonker,

I will confess what I do. I am a Reverend (Methodist) and live in the north
East. I have four chidlren and so need at least a six seater and if we are
going to carry the pram a seven seater. So I need a large vehicle.

Further complicated with this is the need to go out in any weather if I need
to visit one of my congregation, deal with someone who is dying or has died.
To go and visit a number of old people and to be able to use my Disco for
fishing (I sometimes have to go up some rather interestig tracks).

So is Ken and other politicians saying that when at the end of March I was
called out at 10 p.m. at night and it was snowing heavily (at least 4 inches
of snow on the road) with only me on the road in my landrover I should not
have gone out? So the old lady who was frightened of dying who I went and
spent an hour with, holding her hand, comforting her, this was not
legitimate. She died peacefully after I had read the 23rd Psalm to her.

I sometimes wonder if Ken and other politicians think through what they are
saying.

Is it Gwynneth Dunwoody who said all cars should be banned. Now come on what
happens when I get a call to the hospital at 3 a.m. as a little girl from my
congregation has had a bleed in her stomach and is dying. Should I wait for
a taxi (a bus , at 3 a.m.) or should I get there immediately. Or when a baby
is about to die and I need to baptise it in hospital.

These damn politicians are so insensitive.

I think Ken needs sectioning.

Andrew

"Alex" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 23:28:12 +0100, "Bob Hobden" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >So our Ken, Mayor of London, is proposing some sort of ban on large,
> >polluting, gas guzzling 4x4's entering the city and seems to be receiving
> >some applause from various sections.
> >Whilst this would not affect most manufacturers much, e.g.Toyota would

just
> >sell more cars, what effect would it have on Land Rover who don't make
> >anything else other than the aforementioned 4x4's?
> >Also, I wonder if a Defender van would be caught up in this too, I know

two
> >workmen that use these in preference to a normal van.
> >
> >Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.

>
> We stopped living in a democracy a long time ago. About the same time
> we signed up to the common market, I think.
>
> Alex



 
Perhaps the good people of London should not have re-ellected him then !

Andy
SIII 109 12 Seat S/W (soon to be re-classified as a bus - well it is red
LOL)

"Andrew Renshaw" <andrew.hart.i hate [email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ken is a right plonker,
>
> I will confess what I do. I am a Reverend (Methodist) and live in the

north
> East. I have four chidlren and so need at least a six seater and if we are
> going to carry the pram a seven seater. So I need a large vehicle.
>
> Further complicated with this is the need to go out in any weather if I

need
> to visit one of my congregation, deal with someone who is dying or has

died.
> To go and visit a number of old people and to be able to use my Disco for
> fishing (I sometimes have to go up some rather interestig tracks).
>
> So is Ken and other politicians saying that when at the end of March I was
> called out at 10 p.m. at night and it was snowing heavily (at least 4

inches
> of snow on the road) with only me on the road in my landrover I should not
> have gone out? So the old lady who was frightened of dying who I went and
> spent an hour with, holding her hand, comforting her, this was not
> legitimate. She died peacefully after I had read the 23rd Psalm to her.
>
> I sometimes wonder if Ken and other politicians think through what they

are
> saying.
>
> Is it Gwynneth Dunwoody who said all cars should be banned. Now come on

what
> happens when I get a call to the hospital at 3 a.m. as a little girl from

my
> congregation has had a bleed in her stomach and is dying. Should I wait

for
> a taxi (a bus , at 3 a.m.) or should I get there immediately. Or when a

baby
> is about to die and I need to baptise it in hospital.
>
> These damn politicians are so insensitive.
>
> I think Ken needs sectioning.
>
> Andrew
>
> "Alex" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 23:28:12 +0100, "Bob Hobden" <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >So our Ken, Mayor of London, is proposing some sort of ban on large,
> > >polluting, gas guzzling 4x4's entering the city and seems to be

receiving
> > >some applause from various sections.
> > >Whilst this would not affect most manufacturers much, e.g.Toyota would

> just
> > >sell more cars, what effect would it have on Land Rover who don't make
> > >anything else other than the aforementioned 4x4's?
> > >Also, I wonder if a Defender van would be caught up in this too, I know

> two
> > >workmen that use these in preference to a normal van.
> > >
> > >Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.

> >
> > We stopped living in a democracy a long time ago. About the same time
> > we signed up to the common market, I think.
> >
> > Alex

>
>



 
> >
> >Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.

>
> We stopped living in a democracy a long time ago. About the same time
> we signed up to the common market, I think.
>


We don't live in a democracy cos no one can be bothered to vote unless its
for big brother

The EU is a smokescreen - if you want really powerful organisations to blame
try the WTO and the IMF which have far mor effects on our lives and I don't
remember electing their members. While we argue about europe the wto attacks
legislation consumer safety legislation,workers rights, environmental
measures and wants the ability to sue governments for lost profits caused by
'restrictive' (their definition) legislation (including forcing us to import
and sell GM food without any form of labelling on it so that stops us
choosing not to use it

In a democracy our right to freedom has always been limited by the fact of
restrictions based on not harming others (thats whhy its illegal to kill
someone!) so we have to judge if the use of unsuitable vehicles in london is
a problem (that could well apply to sports cars and big engined vehicles
too), then that freedom may need to be reduced for the common good.

Note I am not backing either side on this but we must see the differences in
uses - if you live in a rural area then the use of a 4x4 may well be
desirable and nessesary, in a large city maybe not - Kens comments seem to
be aimed quite squarely at London use of 4x4's . Maybe the conjestion charge
should be higher for these types of vehicles. Are we willing to pay the
price to run our 4x4s ? As most eat more fuel and don't have lower roa tax
the answer is probabily yes.

Rich


 
On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 23:28:12 +0100, "Bob Hobden" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.


When _did_ we ever live in a true "democracy"?

Can you tell me any subject of any State who does?
The Americans p'raps?

We are all free to do exactly as we're told.

If you're not paranoid, you're not paying enough attention.


--
Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net


Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info
 
On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 09:05:46 +0100, "Rich Clafton" <rclafton at
lineone.net> wrote:

>We don't live in a democracy cos no one can be bothered to vote unless its
>for big brother


People simply can't be bothers IMO, about anything - until it affects
them. Then it's too late...

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller


--
Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net


Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info
 
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 08:31:38 GMT, "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Perhaps the good people of London should not have re-ellected him then !


I've met him on a good number of occasions over the years. Like him
or loath him, he tells it the way he sees it. I prefer to see this in
any publicly elected representative rather than the spin and skim,
lies and simple overall fraud that is currently seen as 'politics'.

Tony Benn reckons that the current electoral system gives everyone the
ability to collectively sack their MP should they so desire. Ken once
wrote (also the title of his autobiography): "If voting changed
anything, they'd abolish it".


--
Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net


Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info
 
Andrew Renshaw <andrew.hart.i hate [email protected]> wrote:
> Ken is a right plonker,


> I will confess what I do. I am a Reverend (Methodist) and live in the north
> East. I have four chidlren and so need at least a six seater and if we are
> going to carry the pram a seven seater. So I need a large vehicle.


> Further complicated with this is the need to go out in any weather if I need
> to visit one of my congregation, deal with someone who is dying or has died.
> To go and visit a number of old people and to be able to use my Disco for
> fishing (I sometimes have to go up some rather interestig tracks).


> So is Ken and other politicians saying that when at the end of March I was
> called out at 10 p.m. at night and it was snowing heavily (at least 4 inches
> of snow on the road) with only me on the road in my landrover I should not
> have gone out? So the old lady who was frightened of dying who I went and
> spent an hour with, holding her hand, comforting her, this was not
> legitimate. She died peacefully after I had read the 23rd Psalm to her.


> I sometimes wonder if Ken and other politicians think through what they are
> saying.


> Is it Gwynneth Dunwoody who said all cars should be banned. Now come on what
> happens when I get a call to the hospital at 3 a.m. as a little girl from my
> congregation has had a bleed in her stomach and is dying. Should I wait for
> a taxi (a bus , at 3 a.m.) or should I get there immediately. Or when a baby
> is about to die and I need to baptise it in hospital.


> These damn politicians are so insensitive.


> I think Ken needs sectioning.


Into halves or quarters ??.

> Andrew


> "Alex" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 23:28:12 +0100, "Bob Hobden" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >So our Ken, Mayor of London, is proposing some sort of ban on large,
>> >polluting, gas guzzling 4x4's entering the city and seems to be receiving
>> >some applause from various sections.
>> >Whilst this would not affect most manufacturers much, e.g.Toyota would

> just
>> >sell more cars, what effect would it have on Land Rover who don't make
>> >anything else other than the aforementioned 4x4's?
>> >Also, I wonder if a Defender van would be caught up in this too, I know

> two
>> >workmen that use these in preference to a normal van.
>> >
>> >Is it me, or are we no longer living in a democracy.

>>
>> We stopped living in a democracy a long time ago. About the same time
>> we signed up to the common market, I think.
>>
>> Alex




--

We were always told that a million monkeys typing for a million years
would eventually produce the works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the
Internet, we know this is not true.
 

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