Comments for Alastair Campbell http://www.alastaircampbell.org Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Another call for full inquiry into banking catastrophe – it will have to happen so Dave may as well do now by Janiete http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/03/another-call-for-full-inquiry-into-banking-catastrophe-it-will-have-to-happen-so-dave-may-as-well-do-now/#comment-26567 Janiete Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:12:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4807#comment-26567 We certainly need an inquiry into the banking crash, but it’s important that it has a wide enough remit to go wherever the evidence leads. There is a danger that any inquiry initiated by political parties that exist to maintain the status quo, will not ask the sort of fundamental questions we need answers to. We’ve had an example of this with the Vickers proposal, a step in the right direction but by no means a comprehensive solution, if indeed it ever happens.   Within the Labour Party we need a root and branch review of business practice and its impact on wider society. Excessive remuneration at the top is out of proportion to degrees of success, while low paid employees often require top-ups from the public purse to keep their heads above water. There is little confidence in a tax system that tightly controls PAYE contributors but allows the wealthiest to siphon money overseas or take advantage of tax avoidance loopholes.   In opening up these issues for debate we will feel the wrath of entrenched and powerful forces that will fight us all the way. They will try very hard to frighten the electorate into believing that abuses endemic in the system must be tolerated, that there is no other way. We do have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water and to support businesses that pay full taxes, interact with the public in an honest and transparent way and provide jobs and training for the long term benefit of all.   Olli is right to say ‘It is the neoliberal version of capitalism which is in crisis - not capitalism itself.’     We certainly need an inquiry into the banking crash, but it’s important that it has a wide enough remit to go wherever the evidence leads. There is a danger that any inquiry initiated by political parties that exist to maintain the status quo, will not ask the sort of fundamental questions we need answers to. We’ve had an example of this with the Vickers proposal, a step in the right direction but by no means a comprehensive solution, if indeed it ever happens.
 
Within the Labour Party we need a root and branch review of business practice and its impact on wider society. Excessive remuneration at the top is out of proportion to degrees of success, while low paid employees often require top-ups from the public purse to keep their heads above water. There is little confidence in a tax system that tightly controls PAYE contributors but allows the wealthiest to siphon money overseas or take advantage of tax avoidance loopholes.
 
In opening up these issues for debate we will feel the wrath of entrenched and powerful forces that will fight us all the way. They will try very hard to frighten the electorate into believing that abuses endemic in the system must be tolerated, that there is no other way. We do have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water and to support businesses that pay full taxes, interact with the public in an honest and transparent way and provide jobs and training for the long term benefit of all.
 
Olli is right to say ‘It is the neoliberal version of capitalism which is in crisis – not capitalism itself.’  
 

]]> Comment on Francois Hollande could be the beneficiary of Merkel-Sarko election pact by Michele http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/01/30/francois-hollande-could-be-the-beneficiary-of-merkel-sarko-election-pact/#comment-26568 Michele Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:59:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4798#comment-26568  To avoid the one letter to a line and re the facetious crap abutting this, read pg i and then comment, dare you.ent c  To avoid the one letter to a line and re the facetious crap abutting this, read pg i and then comment, dare you.ent c

]]> Comment on So Sir Fred loses his K? So what? Is that to be the only reckoning of the banking disaster? by Michele http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/01/so-sir-fred-loses-his-k-so-what-is-that-to-be-the-only-reckoning-of-the-banking-disaster/#comment-26573 Michele Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:55:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4800#comment-26573   I think you must mean Credit Unions Ehtch? People have to save for about six months to prove they're steady before applying for a loan. I'd like to see all non-bank money transfer shops, Western Union etc and all giro cashing shops closed down; I have no idea why they've ever been allowed. Grrrrrrrrrrr ...... bad journey home.  
I think you must mean Credit Unions Ehtch?
People have to save for about six months to prove they’re steady before applying for a loan.

I’d like to see all non-bank money transfer shops, Western Union etc and all giro cashing shops closed down; I have no idea why they’ve ever been allowed.

Grrrrrrrrrrr …… bad journey home.

]]> Comment on So Sir Fred loses his K? So what? Is that to be the only reckoning of the banking disaster? by Michele http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/01/so-sir-fred-loses-his-k-so-what-is-that-to-be-the-only-reckoning-of-the-banking-disaster/#comment-26574 Michele Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4800#comment-26574  I've discovered that when a post is slow to go it does eventually; I've been trigger-happy and re-pressing after about 5/6 secs and consequently been repeating myself (beg m'lords' n' ladies' pardons). Counting to ten is useful on those occasions, just like with others.  I’ve discovered that when a post is slow to go it does eventually; I’ve been trigger-happy and re-pressing after about 5/6 secs and consequently been repeating myself (beg m’lords’ n’ ladies’ pardons).

Counting to ten is useful on those occasions, just like with others.

]]> Comment on So Sir Fred loses his K? So what? Is that to be the only reckoning of the banking disaster? by Michele http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/01/so-sir-fred-loses-his-k-so-what-is-that-to-be-the-only-reckoning-of-the-banking-disaster/#comment-26575 Michele Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:47:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4800#comment-26575  I bet you could re-post all your 'calls' if anyone expressed any doubt.  I bet you could re-post all your ‘calls’ if anyone expressed any doubt.

]]> Comment on Britain needs a few MPs like Canada’s Bob Rae to help break down stigma and taboo of mental illness by Anonymous http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/02/britain-needs-a-few-mps-like-canadas-bob-rae-to-help-break-down-stigma-and-taboo-of-mental-illness/#comment-26572 Anonymous Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:17:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4803#comment-26572 Well I don't know what part of the country you live in but in my part "There is f all wrong with them" is a common refrain, and if I had depression I would not tell an employer nor would I expect understanding if I did. Plenty of people lose their jobs because of it you know. Well I don’t know what part of the country you live in but in my part “There is f all wrong with them” is a common refrain, and if I had depression I would not tell an employer nor would I expect understanding if I did. Plenty of people lose their jobs because of it you know.

]]> Comment on So Sir Fred loses his K? So what? Is that to be the only reckoning of the banking disaster? by Anonymous http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/01/so-sir-fred-loses-his-k-so-what-is-that-to-be-the-only-reckoning-of-the-banking-disaster/#comment-26576 Anonymous Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:12:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4800#comment-26576 (I replied to your other one below.) I called the veto as BS at the time, my posting record on other sites would confirm this. Cameron always selects the pro-EU option, his main intention was and is avoiding a referendum. Was really disappointed by the eurosceptics patting him on the back at the time! The EU is set up to steamroller over vetos, referendums that give the wrong results, or even ones that look like they might (Greece.) (I replied to your other one below.)

I called the veto as BS at the time, my posting record on other sites would confirm this. Cameron always selects the pro-EU option, his main intention was and is avoiding a referendum. Was really disappointed by the eurosceptics patting him on the back at the time!

The EU is set up to steamroller over vetos, referendums that give the wrong results, or even ones that look like they might (Greece.)

]]> Comment on So Sir Fred loses his K? So what? Is that to be the only reckoning of the banking disaster? by Anonymous http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/01/so-sir-fred-loses-his-k-so-what-is-that-to-be-the-only-reckoning-of-the-banking-disaster/#comment-26577 Anonymous Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:07:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4800#comment-26577 I haven't heard about them. Seems like more giving people credit and debt, as opposed to helping them save like the mutuals, building societies and trustee savings banks planned to do. I haven’t heard about them. Seems like more giving people credit and debt, as opposed to helping them save like the mutuals, building societies and trustee savings banks planned to do.

]]> Comment on Another call for full inquiry into banking catastrophe – it will have to happen so Dave may as well do now by Gilliebc http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/03/another-call-for-full-inquiry-into-banking-catastrophe-it-will-have-to-happen-so-dave-may-as-well-do-now/#comment-26562 Gilliebc Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:06:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4807#comment-26562 I thought the bagpipe playing was great too! Not many people will admit to liking the bagpipes, I suppose they think it's not cool!  I luv the bagpipes especially when combined with drums, stirring stuff imho. I thought the bagpipe playing was great too!
Not many people will admit to liking the bagpipes, I suppose they think it’s not cool!  I luv the bagpipes especially when combined with drums, stirring stuff imho.

]]> Comment on Another call for full inquiry into banking catastrophe – it will have to happen so Dave may as well do now by Gilliebc http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2012/02/03/another-call-for-full-inquiry-into-banking-catastrophe-it-will-have-to-happen-so-dave-may-as-well-do-now/#comment-26563 Gilliebc Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:55:00 +0000 http://www.alastaircampbell.org/?p=4807#comment-26563 The facility to cancel a comment no longer seems to be an option Michele.  It was until very recently though.  Maybe the site needs updating.  I would very much like it to include email notification of any replies to comments as exists on other Disqus run sites. The facility to cancel a comment no longer seems to be an option Michele.  It was until very recently though.  Maybe the site needs updating.  I would very much like it to include email notification of any replies to comments as exists on other Disqus run sites.

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