Sergei Gotsmanov

Billy Bragg, the anti capitalist, with two houses. I would suggest that this dilutes his message a little bit. Providing good housing, schools and medical care for your employees was pretty widespread particularly among the Quakers. I know of somebody who set up factories in China but unlike many gave them a good wage, built them houses, educated their children and gave them medical care. As a result everybody wanted to work for him and he was well respected in the area. He then got the best and most motivated workforce and prospered. Living standards can only really go up with economic growth. Welfare intervention without growth causes debt and that is where we are today - living standards are consequently dropping.

Not sure it is that amusing is it Pap. I am surprised that you think there is one country with a model that works perfectly. For two comparable models that highlight the gap between left and right - North and South Korea. Not sure where you are going with the banker bit - there are lots of people who have done well finacially other than bankers. Being called a hypocrite is not exactly uncommon for people who delve in politics. Generally the left are involved in financial scandals and the right sex ones. The left preach about greed and the right about morals so the label hypocrite is quite common. I am pleased that I will be able to read about them in the Sun on Sunday again.

http://en.mercopress.com/2012/02/21/argentine-personalities-openly-support-falklands-right-to-self-determination

Well to put it more clearly or another way Verbal. Many of us on the right believe that you have to have an effective capitalist system to raise people's living standards and to deliver social justice. No it won't be perfect but we don't want to end up like Belarus do we where only the communist party officials enjoy the trappings of affluence. Billy Bragg is a hypocrite because he commutes to his class war battleground from the luxury of his big house in Dorset. I am surprised you cannot see why he might be vulnerable to that accusation.

'This recalls an earlier thread but let's leave that for now'. Try to make sense Verbal. As regards a 'messy jumble of thoughts' - firstly there are just two points both very clear. I will have to try again; you can be right of centre and believe in compassion and social justice.

Where we seem to differ is that I believe you have to create wealth to enrich people's lives. You assume that compassion is exclusive to the left which is utter rubbish.

Sorry Pap I did not see your question. I admire Bill Gates a great deal, he has built up a massive global business and enriched the lives of thousands of his employees on the way. Having created the wealth, in the great tradition of industrialists in years gone by, he has decided to put something back into the world which made him his fortune. He is a classic example of how capitalism can take people out of poverty and brings about progress. Multi millionaire Billy Bragg marketed himself as an anti-capitalist rebel rouser, flying the Red Flag and waging his class warfare from his large country house in the rolling hills of Dorset. I find that rather hypocritical.

I like Kelvin but if you speak to Sunderland fans they will tell you that he single handedly got them relegated a few years ago. I think he has matured since then and adds a lot to the team with his presence. I also liked the fact thatb he refused to leave when we got relegated to Div 1.

What do you think he would have said to you if you asked him in the late seventies about people who have two houses? For me it is all about the pigs in animal farm preaching one thing and then living in Jone's house.

I refer you to the answer I gave earlier. As they say.

So you would acknowledge then that they would be acquainted with Katie Price and her lifestyle and relationships?

Billy Bragg the 'successful businessman' exploited the opportunity that capitalism offers but with his an anti capitalist brand. Is that hypocritical? I believe that right wing capitalism has delivered far more people out of poverty than left wing socialism. You just need to get the level of compassion right.

I would be very surprised if I could not have a good discussion on Katie Price and how she has been so succesful with any business leader or prominent politician. What do you think?

It depends what you want your newspaper to deliver. Interest in who is screwing who and celebrity tittle tattle is not exclusive to the stupid.

Very true.

Thats the multi millionaire Billy Bragg.

I read it. It seemed a bit strange to read the Sun on a day when you don't normally see it. Generally the Sun has always been more tongue in cheek and the NOTW far more malicious and spiteful and that did not seem to have changed now it is published on a Sunday. I like the sensational sports coverage but generally this paper can be read in twenty minutes and you do not get bogged down like you do in the Sunday Times or the Observer.

Not sure about him. I will give him every chance though.

Lambert will score goals in the premier league. I am amazed he ended up with us for so long.

I think to say that the Church collaborated is abursdly strong. They were fighting for their existance and probably less hostile to Hitler because they feared Communism more. You should also not shun the role of Christians around Europe who offered sanctuary to persecuted Jews.

that was quick for such a broad topic. So what were your thoughts on the buring anxiety statement?

That is a great generalisation. I would suggest that you do some reading on the subject.

Then what is the relevance of Verbal's point?

You are rather naive if you think that Hitler was a pious man. I will simplify it for you Verbal by saying that people with close religious associations to the mainstream religions are less likley to be involved in crime than those that are not. Would you agree?

Dawkins goes on about actions and how you ask the questions in a survey. What do you think would be the answer if you asked people if they wanted a spiritual or religious ceremony to their funeral? I would argue that the figure would be pretty high.