Pathetic

teddy

Duckmeister
What do you think is the most pathetic, gutless thing your goverment has ever done?
Answers on a postcard please.

teddy
 

White Knight

Spectral Warrior con passion
The George W. Bush administration shamelessly and blatantly using the 9/11 tragedy as cover and excuse for the invasion of Iraq, which has cost so many thousands of lives, both American and Iraqi. He besmirched the memories of all those innocent victims of that tragic day by knowingly lying to us and the rest of the world about who was behind the attacks {Hussein and his "weapons of mass destruction, etc., etc.}, knowing full well {IMHO} that these assertions were nothing but outright lies and/or half truths.
And, shame on me as well, for at the time I was one of those Americans who believed what he said--even though I didn't vote for him--and supported our invasion of Iraq.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Steve we had the same trouble with Blair, sometimes known as B Liar. We could always tell when he lied because his mouth moved. Blatant lies about Iraq. Probably because he was jealous of Mrs Thatcher and her patriotic war over the Falklands. Now B Liar is making a mountain of money in America mainly because of his support for Bush. And this was paid for by the bodies of our dead troops. And also because of policies he introduced we have foreigners spitting at their funeral procession and we are not allowed to do anything about it. I can understand your anger.

teddy
 
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John Watt

Member
Sure!
Federal politicians aren't very welcome in Quebec, a separatiste province.
It's politicians from Ontario, mostly around Toronto, who form the federal Liberal party,
and they backed Trudeau to Chretien. A Conservative from Quebec, Mulroney, was another prime minister.
Trudeau signed energy agreements with the States that now have westerners subsidizing these long term deals.
That was the beginnings of the Reform Party, one of them now Prime Minister.
Quebec also made a deal with Newfoundland to build a hydro-electric dam,
but by the time it was over Quebec got it all and was selling surplus to the U.S.
This makes Newfoundland want to separate.
Quebec is going through a huge, province-wide corruption scandal, but hey, that's Quebec.
At least this time around it's all about the money, not children in orphanages or mailbox bombings.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
I believe that there is a French/Canadian rift over there. My uncle lived in Canada (Calgary) for about sixty years but never got involved in the politics.

teddy
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Continually bowing down to the Free Market and the Banks which means we are selling the country.
 

marval

New member
Allowing all the utility companies to charge what they like, letting all the bankers to make loads of money and looking after the rich and forgetting the poor. It would be nice if our government grew a backbone.
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
We have an arm of government called “Pharmac” it makes the international drug companies submit quotes for contracts to supply whatever drug we are wishing to purchase no manufacturer can supply direct to the retailers/wholesalers they must go through Pharmac I.e. it ensures competition and the American companies hate it, we are being pressured by the US government to abolish it.
It ensures we get the medicine at the lowest possible price.
Our Power generators are about to be privatised by a 49% share sale (this is to ensure we maintain the largest owner) and of course if a company goes belly up the poor old tax payer will have to pick up the bill, this sale is not a popular move and in my opinion is crazy.
Now the opposition has announced that if/when it becomes government it will form a simular set up (as Pharmac) to stop the direct sale of power to the population, the generators will have to quote for the contract. I think it is a brilliant move but the government are resulting to all sort of name calling. Fun aint it
 
^ Pretty coon there will be nothing left to sell off in NZ, don't worry Oz is heading the same way- think maybe State of Victoria may have beaten NZ in the race to sell off everything...........
 

teddy

Duckmeister
One problem is that if you do not placate the big companies while you are in power you will not get a cushy overpaid job when you are no longer in the goverment. No one in power should be allowed to take a job with a company where they have influenced their financial status. It should rank alongside insider dealing.

teddy
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
teddy ... our polys can retire after serving 3 terms (9years) they get one heck of a pension + 90% discount on all air travel for spouse as well, and as you mention a cushy well paid no, (grossly overpaid) part time job (for the boys) to make sure they don't take too much of a drop in living standards...... If I was 50 years younger I would give it a go.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
And I can understand why Colin. The trouble is in this country the "if you can't beatem join em" attitude is so strong the vast majority believe it is OK. We see so many snouts in troughs that everyone seems to want to join in. We have seen what that leads to in Greece. People believing that they are entitled to it, rather than having to earn it

teddy
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Locally, our "Modern Streetcar" project is just the stupidest thing I've ever seen local government ever do.

It is going to cost $4million (USD) to run it every year and this town does not have the funds. Why we even agreed to construct this abomination, is beyond my comprehension. The "system" will only traverse 3.9 miles on iron tracks, where we have 6 buses with rubber tires traveling that are nearly empty going along the same route. We have the highest city sales tax in the state, yet the worst roads and deplorable city services.
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Might I guess Lars that someone stands to make a lot of money out of it, irrespective of whether it is good for the people.

teddy
 

marval

New member
That sounds like a total waste of money Lars, I am sure there are more worthwhile projects it could be spent on.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Our local council decided we needed a second bridge between the main town and the suburb of Hamworthy, initially they decided a long high bridge bypassing much of the town would fit the bill, they spent a few £million on a design competition and consultants about 20 years ago, only for the government to say no you can't have it, all in the town agreed it would have been the ideal solution. They then argued and employed more consultants and another design competition, a few more £Million, we now have a second lifting bridge, the old one has worked fine for 87 years, opening and closing at set times each aday and closing to all traffic for a few days each November for annual maintenance.

The new bridge has been open for a year, within a few days of opening it had to close again as chunks of the road surface were falling off when it was raised and still fails frequently causing endless traffic congestion while drivers have to turn round and join the queue for the other bridge, the local paper makes a big splash every time this happens, and today reveal there are nearly 100 defects outstanding, ranging from minor problems with paint and rust to Hydraulic leaks, shock absorbers and software problems. The expansion gap allowance is such that it gives cyclists problems, must be like cycling along tram lines!

The councillor responsible for transport/highways etc is quoted as saying if she had bought something with as many defects she would return it as NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE or words to that effect.

The prices quoted for the bridge are between £M21.6 & £M37 but I wonder if that takes into account all the wasted consultations and competitions over the last 20 years.

The council are supposed to be responsible for repair and maintenance now it's been "officially open" for a year.

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/68/19/2681999_f877027e.jpg

Some reports say it's the first of its kind, lets hope it's also the last
 
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