Roger440

Is this actually a requirement now? I cant believe everyone designs all that before you even start work on the house.

Thing is, im not sure i actually want "change". Just people that can govern, honestly, in the best interests of the people and country. Where they sit on the political spectrum, actually comes a poor second. Id hapily vote for someone/people who i disagree with politically, if i thought they were honest and had integrity. Indeed, doing so might not even be good for me personally. I suspect you are right that the the majority will vote for alternatives, probably ever more extreme. But thats simply a response to the abject failure of those who do win to actually do anything. Anything other than enrich themselves that is. Strangely, they, mostly, seem quite good at that. Some of them exceptional. Shame they couldnt put those talents to good use for the benefit of all of us. Im not angry. Just resigned to the inevitable. I recognise and appreciate ive lived through the good times, probably the best times. But i think im ok to be "unhappy" with where its going. Though i guess i do get a bit worked up when they take my money, that ive worked so hard for, to try and provide for my impending retirement by continously moving the goal posts, at a stage of life where there is little i can do to recover it. Id imagine most people would get a bit annoyed by that.

Well i cant be a politician can i? Because i have some principles, and morals, im not going to get far am ? Ive always voted. Sadly, it seems we get the same result each time. Just a different colour. The only good news is that our two favourite colours of the past, might not be the same two going forward. Though, i suspect i will be business as usual as the new suspects get settled in to things and do exactly the same as the previous suspects with regard to enriching themselves. And lying. But, more worryingly, from more extreme positions. Which in wales will be the far left, while england goes the other way. But, no, you are niether realist or pessimist. At least based on your postings here. Which may or may not reflect reality.

I did say that was a bit extreme, and it isnt a serious suggestion. It was more to demonstrate the ridiculous position we have got to.

Oddly enough, the welsh government proposed a bill to do that. You wont be surprised to know they have now changed their mind and wont be proceeding with it. And one wonders why we are cynical.

Not sure id call it defeatist. More, realist. No doubt, from many decades of experience. You on the other hand appear to be a hopeless optimist. Writing it down makes no difference at all. Maybe to you, but not to any outcome. 5 years in office is plenty enough time to enrich yourself, who cares if you lose next time round. After being "tested" as you put it. We have become so used to the lies that come, almost on a daily basis, that we all just ignore it and get on with our lives as best we can. Ive got this great idea. Dont action your manifesto promises, lifetime prison sentance. That would stop it dead. Ill vote for that. Ok, maybe a tad extreme, but writing it down does exactly nothing. I had, lets call it an exchange, with a member of Plaid (being as im in wales) the far left party looking in pole position to take over here. Constant posts on facebook about various things, refer to our manifesto for details. Sure, so i did. So, given its at odds with some of their current utterings, i question it. After a lot of roundabout weasel words, seems i cant and shouldnt take the manifesto as a manifesto, and that they will change it anytime they want (and do). Whatever else you might say about them, their new leader has clearly seen what worked for Starmer and is basically saying whatever he thinks plays well to the gallery at that moment in time. Manifestos? Worthless. Summary: Dont rely on our manifesto as we will just change it whenever we feel like it. Dont think this "its written down" idea of yours will fly. Ive still got "no tax rises for working people" ringing in my ears. Another complete lie. It will be interesting to see if your hopless optimisim is still in play in 20 years time?

Looks like things will stay as they are then...................... Or get worse.

I an genuinely surprised you cant see what he is getting out of it. Are you really that blind to how it works? Take a look at net worth of ex PM's before and post being PM. Even Angela Rayners net worth has gone up by a couple of million in a year! Money, and lots of it. Far beyond anything possible by a good legal career. By the time he is done he will be worth tens of millions, if not more. Same as Rishi rocking up in politics whilst already incredibly wealthy beyond most peoples comprehension If you think Whitty is a good example, there is no hope. Buckled at the first sign of pressure and then did whatever he was told to do/say. Principled, right up to the point it mattered. Still, at least we agree on the corporate influence and a woeful civil service. However, as you yourself observe, little likelihood of resolution, if indeed its even possible at this stage of decline.

It has. For now. Another route is now the prefered option. But yet to make it through planning. Though, as minsters who claim to object to it, sit on the board, i would imagine it will glide through. Result for me if so, not so much for the poor buggers who do get a pylon plonked in their garden. But perfectly possible for it to make a return, depending how things go. Lets be honest, its already virtually unsellable until such time as the pylons route is aproved AND built, as theres always the risk of the proposal coming back. If i actually needed to sell it now, im screwed.

I was thinking about current politicians, not those of the past. Bit worrying that you include Starmer though. A big part of the problem. In it, only for what he can get out of it. Id probably go beyond that to say, the big problem now is that the very idea of government has been hijacked by corparate interests. Starmer being a great example. Probably running off topic now...............

Thats TEN times further away. My last place there was one about 350m away. That wasnt much of an issue.

Indeed. It would render the property unsellable. Its one thing to have a pylon 1/4 of a mile away, but a 100ft is a whole different ball game. To me, the only acceptable compensation would be the ful value, prior to the plans + inflation. Even then, id be significantly disadvantaged as it a bit of a unicorn proprty, but i guess you cant cover everything. But if you are in the southeast on the HS2 route, then you do get the full value,

Do please enlighten us who the serious politicians are? Yes, there are some, but the system doesnt reward those. The ones that rise to the top are, manifestly, not the ones we need at the top.

Hmmm, but close to home that. The scam outfit currently seeking planning for a pylon route near me did, on the first round, plan to put a pylon in my garden, 100ft from the back of my house. Plan 2 put it 50ft in front of my house. Fortunately its now gone elsewhere. Theres a few on here suggesting that is all ok in the greater interests of the country. Try being one of those affected. And get a one of £1500 for the pleasure. A close escape so far, but it aint over yet.

Clearly you can fathom it, for you answered the question in the same paragraph!