bridge too far

Although http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14370681

I agree with you Nick (that's got to be a first!). You never know, it might help reduce obesity too and that'll save the NHS a fair bit. Did you see on BBC yesterday where they roped off an area of Hyde Park and didn't send litter pickers in for two days? You would have been gob-smacked at the amount of litter that accumulated! In just 48 hours!

There is plenty of fat to spare, Nick. You only have to read the 'feral elite' thread to see where it is. When people read about the huge distortions of wealth in this and other so-called developed countries, they either aspire to be as elite or they think 'what's the point in trying - I'll never get there'. That surplus fat could easily pay for all the cuts being imposed at the moment. Even charities are closing down because they've lost their funding and they're supposed to be the ones replacing our public services. There has been research that shows that the more equal societies are, they are the happiest and most productive and that benefits every member of that society. It's all very well talking about a society that 'pays you not to work'. Of course there are some lazy buggers who are happy to live off the state but I don't believe for one moment that they are the majority. With so many people being laid off at the moment, what do you propose we should do to support those poor souls who have done nothing wrong, paid taxes all their lives etc. etc and suddenly find themselves on the scrapheap through no fault of their own? Unemployment in families becomes a self-perpetuating problem and, to some extent we're seeing that families where the parents were laid off, as youngsters, in the 80s and 90s now have children who've never seen the worth ethic and who stand little or no chance of getting work themselves. But we've gone way off topic

No right minded socialist (if that isn't an oxymoron!) wants Equality, Nick. I don't know a single socialist who wants that. But some do want equality of opportunity and that's a different kettle of fish. It's a pipe dream in many ways, I know, but if every newborn had the opportunity to live in decent housing, to have a good health service and to have a first-rate education, then that child has the opportunity to fulfil his / her potential. It's the getting to that point that's so hard.

And I never, ever thought I'd see Prattlehead post a sarcastic comment either. Being in the Labour Party for the past 40 years (with a short break) is most definitely not being part of the herd.

http://action.compassonline.org.uk/page/s/public-interest Thanks DSM

I think you'll find, if you read the original article, that politicians ARE included in the 'feral elite'.

Oops! Humble pie

Don't be one of the herd - be an individual and be proud of that.

Where did I suggest it's the fault of the current government? Everyone with an iota of common sense knows it was endemic for about 30 years with ALL governments. I was simply pointing out that politicians are damned if they do and damned if they don't raise an issue. That doesn't qualify as mock outrage in my book.

Err - that's what politicians do. In fact, that's all they CAN do because every time they utter something, it's construed as making a political point. They sort of do what it says on the tin (sorry!) However, he did have the temerity to ask searching questions of the government, and, time and again, Cameron followed Miliband's lead and suggestion. An example of this is when Miliband demanded that Parliament sit for an extra day (to consider Select Committee findings and to receive a Prime Minister's statement). Cameron eventually agreed to this.

Surely, even if the seller is an on-line operation, it is still a retailer? Anyway, I've found another site that might help: http://whatconsumer.co.uk/how-long-should-it-last/

And with a Guardian article that also credits Ed Miliband with some of this train of thought "The declaration's main critique of Britain - that power is concentrated in the hands of a small elite - echoes the thinking of Ed Miliband. The Labour leader, who has been praised for shaping the public response to the phone-hacking scandal, recently said that too much power in the media and other industries is concentrated in the hands of too few people."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/31/public-jury-campaign-feral-elite For debate, discussion and, no doubt, insults and barbs.

Link doesn't work

Do contact Consumer Direct as linked above. It will give more weight to your dispute with the retailer if you have them on board.

Your contract is with the retailer. Sale of Gods Act and all that. EU rules mean that the goods should work for a 'reasonable period' - usually more than 12 months. Contact Consumer Direct http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/index.htm

Absolutely agree! And, recently, two women I know have had stillbirths at full term. Much better to wait until after the baby is born IMO.

I chuckled.

Nice to see a little mention of them here http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14342703.stm

Also slightly worrying http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/07/murdoch-news-education

I was about to go into a local bakery shop this morning and I changed my mind because the 'offers' board outside read 'Check it out'.

And there's this little nugget http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/murdochs-were-given-secret-defence-briefings-2326517.html

I've used this before (on behalf of a daughter). I submitted a 'joint and several liability' case against a road repair contractor and the County Council. The County Council admitted liability (and presumably counter-sued the contractor) before it got to court.

Oh I know that It's just that earlier someone said she was a Christian. That's what I was disputing - and I was right! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Phillips It's one of the reasons I found her intolerance so despicable