Western Morning News. . Letters

THE sound and decent people of Herefordshire have woken up to discover that their splendid community of Hoy has had its name ripped away from it to aggrandise Peter Mandelson.

Not just busted once, but twice, then sent to accept a vast salary in the European Union and now returned with a pension fund we; who pay for it; think is obscene.
In addition to that fund, for just four years’ work he gets roll-on relief for a new pay grade lower than that paid by the EU, so they (i.e. we) are obliged to top it up.

Consider the inconsistencies: pension investors everywhere struggling to build up a lifetime fund less than Mandelson gets for four years; pensioners struggling to find cash to pay fuel and social living costs; council taxes soaring, while that fine chap is so well paid that tax rates mean little to him and his partner.

We are expected to look inwards through the windows of power and glory in a vision of Lord Mandelson, using a partial title grabbed from a community that struggles every much as rural West Country folk do to survive in difficult times. All of that is rather insulting.
And to add insult to our injuries, he brings back with him his partner, who one assumes will in part be an added cost upon state funds (i.e. we, the humble taxpayers).

Those are the problems at the very heart of the attack Labour has made upon the fabric of British life. The workers sneered at while those wearing fine silks and bearing large public servant pension rights are adorned and uplifted.
Meanwhile, the real value of private sector pensions continues to drop while we are told that Lord Mandelson of Hoy is entitled to every pound or Euro the generous taxpayer loads into his backpack. We are all insulted by Mandelson’s re-emergence and public pay mountains.

Tom Jones, Plymouth

BEST READ FROM THE BOTTOM

That’s really very good Justin. But I like to think my compassion is also legendary, particularly for the homeless. . I fear what you can actually feel is the very, very warm air from your breath, rebounding from your monitor. . I’ve always assumed you would have to use a fan and a dehumidifier. . You really should wear a face mask. . I think. . You know. . . Health and Safety. .

Best Charles

Do I sense an air of compassion for your fellow man Charles,…amazing!.Get the flags out!. So in that cold heartless Tory body, their is a new man emergeging from the blue flames of deliberate Tory ignorance…or maybe not!…..O’ well, there’s always next life.

Justin, Cornwall

That’s all right Justin. . I’ll forgive you. . As the great 18th.Century poet Alexander Pope once said, “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” . Just ask your Doctor for some of that Ketamine I suggested. . It is working really well for this other guy I know; and he’s a really bad case.

Charles Henry

SorRy ChArLeS, I Am OnLy HuMaN AfTeR AlL!…..

Justin, Cornwall

There’s a capital ‘C’ in Christian Justin. . Didn’t they teach you ANYTHING? .

Charles Henry

A true dedicated christian, how lovely Charles!…. All things bright and beautiful,the lord God made them all…..You really are living in La La Land Charles….Have a break,release your mind of this self inflicted torture,BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!…. Is their a psychologist in the house??? ANYONE, PLEEEEEEEASE!

Justin, Cornwall

Some thoughts for you Justin.

Is There Really No Death?

Is there really death, or just a resting place where all life recuperates?
Will our thoughts and dreams just be banked for future generations,
Re-emerging as anothers inspiration carrying the world forward?
Could life just be nature’s hard drive,
Whirring until some section falters,
Lying dormant till called upon by Jupiter or Mars?
Was it never more than this?

What is this short and insignificant passage of time?
Compared to the enormity of distant galaxies that have no end.
What else if not just some side show powered by the Sun’s rays,
Played out on the Earth’s stage, right out to each horizon.
Could it not all just be one long interactive dream?
Does anybody really comprehend?

Moreover is their really life at all?
Or just positive energy and cathode rays,
All sequenced by some distant star with ones and zeros.
Maybe the Greeks were even smarter than we thought,
And it is all just one great Parthenon.
Either way, let’s all enjoy it whilst we still have a say.

If The Galaxies have no beginning or no end,
Must all things imaginable be possible?
That’s a terrifying thought.
If this is so, must all disease just be corrupt data,
Waiting for some distant Titan to delete and reinstall?
Are these the Miracles we all pray for?
There must be just one almighty God after all.

Best Charles

I think my point has be proven Charles, you really are up their with the fairies!….They’re coming to take you away Charles…..

Justin, Cornwall

I’m really flattered you think so highly of me Justin. . But atheism, the absence of any belief in deities or nontheism is a dangerous position to hold I believe. . . It could very easily come back and ‘bite’ you. . . You know where it all starts and all finishes do you? . Where our universe is?. . Perhaps you would send the the coordinates. . I’m anxious to find out. . . .

Best Charles

The true master of spin has spoken…..from the realms of darkness and into the light. It’s nice to see that Maggie has an important part to play in your life Charles!…As for accepting Thatcherism over Gordie,well both parties prostitute themselves to the philosophy or should that be worship in the church of BIG BUSINESS that to be honest I would’nt waste my breath even debating the issue!…As for my cerebrial cortex and the inter-connecting neurological pathway’s are operating superbly Charles,thanks for asking…..O’ I forgot to say Charles, I am atheist,so any form of devine intervention is based upon your own distorted mind. KEEP TAKING THE TAB’S CHARLES!

Justin, Cornwall

I always speak the truth Justin, that’s is why you are finding it so painful to listen to and accept. . Imagine how Gordon Brown must be feeling at the moment. . You be a good chap now and take your medicine. You will feel a great weight has been removed as a flash of light enters your cerebral cortex and you are awakened to the full beauty and spiritualness of Thatcherism. . .

Best Charles

You know what I mean….your not that stupid,or are you?????. That’s good…..just taken some TRUTH medicine…are you shore you don’t want SOME!,it’s rather good for the brain!.

Justin, Cornwall

What do you mean Justin? . . Dib dib dib, dob dob dob,. I promise to do my duty to God and the Queen!?. . Why wouldn’t I?. Have you taken your medicine yet? .

Best Charles

Keep it coming Charles!. You really are a true Tory Boy…..dear,dear,me!…how sad. If they had a true Conservative Party convention in Somerset ,you would be at the head of the queue with your picture of John,Maggie and David ready to sign, and don’t forget the fascist Tory salute!…like a good little Tory boy.

Justin, Cornwall

Well I did consider voting for UKIP once Justin, I have to admit. . And my F.I.L. always rated Enoch., but I have stayed loyal. . Though I was severely tested when John Major was PM mind you. . .

By the way, a friend of mine suggested Ketamine for you Justin. . You could try that. .

Best Charles

How low can you go Charles!…All those years of being in love with Maggie and her useless party that has made you psychologically warped in the mind.

Justin, Cornwall

Well yours won’t be any good Justin. . They are obviously not working properly. . What have you been ‘cutting’ them with?. LSD?

Best Charles

Charles, I recommend a good dose of TRUTH TABLET’S…which help to relieve the symptoms of a blinkered mind set!… ALL THE BEST..

Justin, Cornwall

That’s much better Justin.(for both of us). .

Best Charles

KEEP TAKING THE TABLET’S CHARLES!…

Justin, Cornwall

Very few politicians of ANY political persuasion are ‘idiots’ Justin. . You only let yourself down by not finding some other more specific derogatory phrase when attacking those with whom you disagree. .

Best Charles

Well Charles, if that’s the case, you should be able to understand why you sold your individual mind to these idiot’s called the Conservatives. It’s sad to think of a man that started out with very little, end’s up brainwashed by a bunch of total dictators who have left this country with a legacy of utter capitalist destruction which these New Labour puppet’s are only to willing to carry on. I am glad that you can live life knowing that you have contributed in a very, very small way to it’s overall destruction. If that was me,it would hang heavy upon my conscience. The End.

Justin, Cornwall

You can’t argue with a plank Justin, and you certainly can’t educate pork, so I’ll leave you to ‘conspire’.. One thing though before I go. . I started off from a single parent family on a council estate. . When I got married all my belongings fitted into one small cardboard box. . You have a good life and lots of luck now. . I think you are going to need it. .

Best Charles

Well Will,even if it is intelligible rubbish,it’s still an insult to a person’s individual comment!. And by the way Will, just because my opinion doesn’t fit your individual feelings on the world at large,doen’t mean to say that I am a conspiracy theorist…thank you very much!…

Justin, Cornwall

Come on now, kids! Why must everybody get so aggressive? Couple of small points, Justin, before I duck down under the cross-fire again. I didn’t insult Bob by saying he writes unintelligible rubbish. I complimented him by saying that at least his rubbish was intelligible. And I don’t need to snap out of any fantasy land - I’m not the one seeing conspiracies at every turn. And don’t think I’m a Labour supporter because I’m not. Right, that’s enough for me, I’m out of here to leave you to your bickering.

Will, Crediton

Banks certainly have protected their assets to the tune of billions of pounds of taxpayer’s money at the expense of US!…Mind you Charles Henry when you can support a demoniac tyrant like dear Maggie and her ilk it’s no wonder people like you have double standards. For someone who support’s a capitalist agenda and says that we should “take care of the elderly and those in difficulty” when you know very well Charles that the Conservative government in the 1980’s cut the link to earnings of the basic state pension to the elderly which this New Labour Big Business government has also carried through keeping millions of old people in total poverty you should be ashamed of yourself.
People like you make me sick to my stomach…Charles, you are a wolf in sheep’s clothing and nothing else will ever change my opinion!..

Justin, Cornwall

A depression is very unlikely Justin. It is a different world now. But there will be market corrections and people will be trying to protect their assets; particularly Banks. . If the wealth was shared out equally tomorrow, within a very short time some would be penniless again and others very rich. .That’s just the way of the world . We will all have to get our heads down again, get stuck in, take care of the elderly and those in difficulty. There will be no more places for skivers.

Charles Henry

GROW UP!…look who’s talking, Charles. You sound like a man who’s been in business, no wonder your so protective of dear Maggie!..o’,those Bilderberger’s must be rubbing their hands with glee over this impending recession Charles, they say it could be a world wide depression. It’s good to know that some of us have are heads firmly screwed ON…isn’t that right Charles….

Justin, Cornwall

Have you ever employed anyone Justin? . I mean paid them real regular wages. . . Did I hear you say ‘NO’. . Why am I not surprised I wonder?. . Sixth form politics Justin. . It’s time to grow up now. . We are in recession.

Charles Henry

Bob made a valid point about this New Labour/Big Business government which you insult with a statement like “unintelligible rubbish". Will, you need to snap out of this New Labour fantasy land which you seem to be living in before you make comments like that!….

Justin, Cornwall

As I said, you’re all bonkers! Come on, let’s have another post from Bob Ashton. At least he writes intelligible rubbish!

Will, Crediton

Will, just like Charles, you are unable to see the bigger picture. New Labour which has the same agenda as old Conservative. The list is pretty convincing of cross over policies used by the Conservative government and re-packaged under New Labour, continual Privatisation of the NHS, Rail Network, Utilities, creating pensioner poverty, deliberate mass immigration into Britain, creating a lack of morals in society, selfish individualism+ the destruction of local community life across Britain and I forgot prostituting themselves to BIG BUSINESS over the very people who elected them. Well Will and Charles all the excuses in the world won’t help you now….

The world’s not crazy Charles, you are!…I live in reality and understand the world I live in fully, but when someone goes into a looove fest about a female tyrant who was just a puppet for GRADE 1 CAPITALISM over the people of this country, then you know we have problems!….

Justin, Cornwall

My admiration for Lady Thatcher is ‘legendary’ Justin. . You still have such a lot to learn about this crazy world. . . Have you not seen how vested interest and large sections of the Media has rounded on Sarah Palin? . Think of some of the ‘real dicks’ who have become Vice President. . But for some reason they are all frightened witless by Strong Women.

Charles Henry

So finally,Charles, your true colours have emerged from the darkness and into the light. No wonder you don’t support my idea’s on Bilderberg,when you support the biggest political crooks of ALL TIME!…KEEP TAKING THE TABLET’S CHARLES…..All the best!

Justin, Cornwall

You don’t really believe that Will I can tell. . .Lord Sebastion Coe; well he is at least he’s a Champion; but Lord Mandelson, and ‘I’m Middle Class Now’ John Prescott. . They are just in it for them!. Not the workers! . . Maggie Thatcher did more to advance the opportunities for ‘Ordinary Joe’ than any of this lot. . She really did want everyone to become Middle Class and vote Tory.

Charles Henry

The Bilderberg Group has been in existence since 1954. So, even if the conspiracy theories surrounding it are true, even if the present government is significantly influenced by The Group, and even if the degree of influence by The Group on a particular government might be regarded as a major indicator of how corrupt that government is in general, is there any evidence that this government has been influenced to any greater extent than any previous one since 1954? I have no objection to accusations of corruption against any particular government, as long as they are genuinely believed by the accuser and, preferably, are backed up by evidence. But bald accusations that the present government is “the most corrupt Government the country has ever known” aren’t very convincing.

P.S. You’re all mad!

Will, Crediton

Good try Charles, but not good enough. Try again….Keep taking the tablet’s Charles!…with the added ingredient of political psychological brainwashing…

Justin, Cornwall

A Bilderberg Pound or Dollar is worth no more than anyone else’s Justin. . . They have just all been playing ‘PASS THE PARCEL’, but they hadn’t realised that suddenly someone has taken away all the chairs. . Keep taking the tablets.

Charles Henry

Bob,you are correct we are living in La-La Land and yes we not only have one of the most corrupt governments of all time but we are all unaware of who owns are political master’s and you might be saying to yourself what to I mean, well if you look into are hidden economic back history you will find that all western governments, whether it be Republican, Conservative, Democrat, New Labour have not been run for the ultimate benefit of Joe public, but for an elite group of financial banker’s called The Bilderberg Group. If you have time check it out because these are the people controlling all are lives not for the good of us, but for the financial security of themselves. You will hear over time more political parties use a key word more and more often over time, which is New World Order. This has been brought up in key note speeches by Gordon Brown and David Cameron. In America, the words N.W.O and One World Government have been talked about more and more often but people in the wider community don’t fully understand what it means. The world banking system is going through it’s biggest change in over 2 centuries.. Why?..because the Bilderberg group made up of top banking financier’s made it so, they want a one world currency system with a future one world government at the heart of the now dead old American economy. If you don’t believe me, look just recently with the G8 who have stated that a one world currency will be on the cards. With ever more financial/economic control over all are lives in the future. The impact will be massive. Read what has to be the best book recommended by a friend of mine who works in the banking system ,the book is called The True Story Of the Bilderberg Group by Daniel Estulin. READ IT!

Justin Cornwall

Not a Labour supporter then. Bob? You can, of course, provide convincing evidence that Britain has “the most corrupt Government the country has ever known". If so, I am sure we will all - including those of us who are not Labour supporters - be very impressed with your knowledge of British political history, as opposed to your apparent credentials as an inhabitant of La-la land, wherever that is.

Will, Crediton

Welcome, Tom, to the La-La Land that Britain has become under the rule of the most corrupt Government the country has ever known.

Bob Ashton, Bratton Fleming

Western Daily Press. . Your Say

It is patently obvious that some bank bosses have learned no lessons from the current economic crisis.

Eric Daniels, chief executive of Lloyds TSB, has told his employees that they will still be getting their bonuses this year; despite the fact that his bank has been saved from disaster with £5.5 billion of taxpayers’ money.

The sheer arrogance of the man is astonishing.

As for the pretence that senior executives will not be getting bonuses; that is nothing more than a smokescreen. They will be getting shares instead of bonuses this year and next year which they will be able to cash in for large sums of money once the banking system gets back on its feet.

Does Mr Daniels have no moral scruples about using our money to pay bonuses?

Frankly, with men like that at the top of the banking system, I’d almost rather the banks had been allowed to go to the wall!

Robert Readman, Bournemouth

A true market response to all this would be ‘inflation’ I think Robert, meaning the Bankers ill-gotten gains and ‘Stock in Trade’ would then buy them less. . And it would also assist all those with mortgage debt. . In the Pacific Rim last time this happened there, they allowed DEFLATION to take hold, meaning their ill-gotten gains bought MORE! . . Will we see that happen again here I wonder?

ANY reluctance to cut interest Rates severely now would suggest that I believe. .

Charles Henry

The Editor
Letters
Western Daily Press

Dear Editor,

R.S.Blackmore’s interpretation of political history (Western Daily Press, June 16th.) is obviously tainted by his political beliefs and devotion to this discredited Labour Government. He has conveniently forgotten the Winter of Discontent, Arthur Scargill, and the damage caused to all our industries by strikes and the ‘Lunatic Left’. It was Mrs Thatcher’s Conservative government that brought this country back from the brink. With Hindsight of course, all Governments would do many things differently; particularly the present one after the Iraq debacle. Never-the-less Saddam Hussein still needed to be dealt with; as does Mugabe and a few more yet if we are to have a ‘free’ world.

But just in case anyone has forgotten, the last recession that continues to be used by opponents to attack the Conservative Party, was the post ‘Black Monday’ period. . . . .

On Monday October 19th. 1987 the Dow Jones fell dramatically, and similar enormous drops occurred right across the world. By the end of October, the stock market in Hong Kong had fallen 45.8%, Australia 41.8%, the United Kingdom 26.4%, the United States by 22.68%, and Canada 22.5%.

At that time Mrs Thatcher’s Chancellor Nigel Lawson, had been shadowing the D Mark at about three to the mighty pound. It was then worth about 2.1 dollars. Mrs Thatcher’s famous words “You can’t buck the market” were ignored, but her Chancellor was already getting cold feet over the pound’s strength. The pro-European cabinet consensus was clearly against Mrs. Thatcher by then and Mr. Lawson went ahead and cut base rate to 7.5%. At that time still with a 7% or 8% inflation rate it was an almost negative ‘Real Interest Rate’. The property market took off and inflation with it. . . We didn’t have the cheap Chinese imports keeping the lid on price rises in those days; but we do have this damaging, greedy unproductive ‘State’.

There was then the change of Leadership that many still regret, but because of the Political Establishment’s obsession with the idea of the European Union, Britain was then saddled with the E.R.M. This meant John Major’s Chancellor, Norman Lamont, had little choice but to take on the market place. Then after being abandoned by the French and Germans he had to take on the speculators alone. He was forced to raise Interest rates until they reached 15%; despite his pleas to John Major to leave the E.R.M. much sooner, it was all to no avail. . John Major prevaricated, just as Gordon Brown has done with Northern Rock only more so. . He therefore succeeded only in bankrupting half the country, and collapsing the property market. The nations equity, its lifeblood had been needlessly sapped. Instead of a ’soft landing’, we crashed. Probably the biggest mistake the Tories made was to ‘bay for the blood’ of Norman Lamont. There was a True Blue Tory being hoisted by the petard of the Euro federalists. Hardly a business-plan anywhere could stand the doubling of interest rates. Then instead of the British people owing £50 billion and working their butts off to service it, the government owed £50 billion and we were all left standing around with our hands in our pockets. That is one lesson Gordon Brown seemed to have learned from it (I hope). Norman Lamont’s only crime was trying to make the E.R.M. work.

As far as 1997 is concerned; by that time Ken Clarke had acknowledged the fiasco that Europe and the ERM had caused and had guided this country back to a very strong position. . . As this benign last decade was approaching Michael Heseltine stated publicly many times, that the Conservative Party was in danger of handing a new Golden Era over to the Labour Party. . . In the event that is exactly what happened; and we are now left with this damaging, greedy, controlling, unproductive State that has now completely lost its way.

Thanks to Ken Clarke’s previous stewardship; two years after the Conservatives lost power, the FTSE 100 was getting close to 7000. . . Nearly 9 years later and after nearly 11 years of Labour government; it still struggles around the 6400 mark. (when first written). Now everyone is upto their eyes in debt except the very rich, and our children can no longer afford to purchase a home.

At close 25th. January 2008 it stood at 5869.00

At 10.14 am 16th.Oct. 2008 it stood at 3985.21

At close 24th.October 2008, it stood at 3883.36

12th. April 2010 we are again trying to recover from a recession caused by a Labour administration.

Yours

Charles Henry

As £170,000 a year is spent on an Afghan single mother… A story that sums up the howling insanity of modern Britain.

Richard Littlejohn

That’s not true ‘Errol’. . . Both your aunty Lilian and I are very concerned about you. . . And I wish you wouldn’t keep using that language. .

. . Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity)

I believe people everywhere now have an opportunity to buy at the bottom and secure their futures with real stockmarket gains. . Banks like Northern Rock can now be more like Credit Unions and have an opportunity to shine.

10.00 am. October 10th. 2008

At close 24th.October, it stood at 3883.36

November 5th. it is around 4370

The Editor
Letters
Western Daily Press

Published 24th. September 2008

Dear Editor,

Michael Thompson, Link-Age has a desperate dislike of Margaret Thatcher apparently. He is probably not alone. . He never misses an opportunity to vilify her. But let us examine a world without her influences.

Firstly we would have an economy totally dependant on coal with Arthur Scargill constantly in Number 10 having beer and sandwiches with say Michael Foot or Neil Kinnock. (And they think they’ve got a problem with Gordon Brown.)

Rats would now be infesting every household and would be coming up through everyone’s toilets. . The Rubbish collectors only work when they feel like it, and insist that the piles of rubbish are no more than 3 metres high. . When the stench becomes unbearable in the summer they demand quadruple time and then time off in lieu. . Health and Safety.

People would be being told by animal rights activists that they must learn to love rats; and anyone now found guilty of disposing of them with anything other than contraceptive drugs would leave themselves open to prosecution with a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment.

The Print Unions would have retained their stranglehold on the Newspaper Industry and we would be the only country in the world using Type Setters and old fashioned Platen Printing Presses capable of only 3000 presses an hour.

Computers!? . . Don’t be silly! . We would still all be using Typewriters!!!

More worryingly the Berlin Wall would probably still exist and the Cold War with the Soviet Union would really be hotting up now, as the American President Ronald Regan would have been no match for the Russians without Margaret’s guidance, friendship and influence. . She was The Iron Lady afterall.

Worst of all, Europe would have completely steam rollered any other incumbents of No 10 and so by now Germany would be virtually in control of all our foreign policy decisions. . We would have no Polaris Submarines and we would be dependent on France for any protection against Nuclear threats.

Since the Falklands would have been surrendered and we no longer had a place at the table with the G7 (There would be no G8) Nations, the Americans would no longer consider that we had a special relationship with them; which afterall has been one of the main aims of European Commission since its inception.

Pie in the sky!? . I don’t think so. . An exaggeration? . Maybe. . But after reading Michael Thompson’s backward rhetoric, I thought people should be brought back to Earth.

Yours

Charles Henry