Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

27/04/2008, 20:34 Dick Smith Joined on 23/08/2004 Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais) Posts 8,760 Re: Aspirations.................................. Not really. What were the parameters of the PR system concerned? Was it realistic, or one he whisked out of the air to prove a point? Did he factor tactical voting in or out? And of course it could be nothing at all to do with Prof Dunleavy having a book out at about the same time? He also predicted in 1999 that Labour might well lose the next election (in fact it won the next two). Margetts is more usually linked to research on e-government. Both are respectable academics, but you have to look at the system of PR that they have used as their model. It seems to be worst-case, that is it takes the position most opposite from the real result; I think you can safely assume that any government in power would not pursue that option, they would look for something that gave them an advantage. Probably a transferable vote system, with thresholds. So your 'proof' turns out to be an opinion expressed in a newspaper press release about a book by two academics witha  bit of an axe to grind and a less-than-brilliant record of predicting elections. Now, how about some proof of the dispirited electorate? Regards Dick Smith Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground    Report

27/04/2008, 21:03 Tressy Joined on 26/02/2008 Charente-Maritime Posts 189 Re: Aspirations..................................  Dick Smith wrote: No. Your comic claimed that 8 people a day were shot. That is 2900 a year - shot. Which is not borne out by the figures... I think Dick is right here. A 'gun related crime' doesn't necessarily mean someone has been shot as was stated. Another perhaps 'picky' point is that Labour didn't 'promise' to 'invoke PR'. They said there would be a referendum on the matter in their first term. There wasn't, of course, (Bad Labour!), but if we are going to pick through old manifestos and how we were let down or deceived, we could be some considerable time, particularly if we are searching for promises that were never made in the first place. And as for Gordon Brown, well I agree with the tone and spirit of Bugbears O.P.   Imagine being Gordon Brown, right now?    Report

27/04/2008, 21:04 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,723 Re: Aspirations.................................. Now, how about some proof of the dispirited electorate? How about some hope ? www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

27/04/2008, 21:29 Dick Smith Joined on 23/08/2004 Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais) Posts 8,760 Re: Aspirations.................................. ? Regards Dick Smith Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground    Report

27/04/2008, 21:49 Tressy Joined on 26/02/2008 Charente-Maritime Posts 189 Re: Aspirations..................................  Gluestick wrote: ...What is needed, IMHO is a political truce: when countries face serious strategic problems, such as war, politics is put on the back burner for the duration. Britain urgently needs a Coalition, during which period it can sort out its urgent social and economic problems:... Interesting Idea! But nope, things have to be far, far worse before that'll happen again. That said, I know politicians of all persuasions discuss reform of the Welfare State..and then run away as fast as they can. I do sometimes wish they could get together on that one thing. It was born of a coalition, a beautiful notion - and it could be re-framed as one (probably slightly less 'beautiful', but those 'framers' were a little lacking in that wonderful attribute called 'hind-sight', weren't they?).  But stop me now! I'm heading off into the land of fantasy and wonderment at what could be.            Report

28/04/2008, 6:30 Gluestick Joined on 22/03/2006 UK and Nord Pas de Calais Posts 2,342 Re: Aspirations..................................  Dick Smith wrote: So your 'proof' turns out to be an opinion expressed in a newspaper press release about a book by two academics witha  bit of an axe to grind and a less-than-brilliant record of predicting elections. Gotcha! No: in fact from actually bothering to read and absorb this analysis. I purposefully refrained from mentioning this, as I wanted to set a nice little trap for you to await your inevitable scathing response: and this from one apparently seeking open and reasoned debate! I now await your in depth and erudite reprise: after you too have carefully read and absorbed the presented data, too. http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/pressAndInformationOffice/newsAndEvents/archives/2005/Impact_ofUK_Electoral_Systems_report.doc "Yes, but that apart, Mrs Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?" Gluestick    Report

28/04/2008, 6:45 Dick Smith Joined on 23/08/2004 Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais) Posts 8,760 Re: Aspirations.................................. Oh you are far too clever for me! I shall go and live in a cave populated by people who are all bitter and twisted about England and read the Metro for my news! No. This alters nothing! You clearly do not understand that the world is not as you and the Daily Mail see it, but are too blinkered to accept the fact. Regards Dick Smith Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground    Report

28/04/2008, 7:03 Gluestick Joined on 22/03/2006 UK and Nord Pas de Calais Posts 2,342 Re: Aspirations.................................. I don't read the Mail. You yourself chose to denegrate two apparently learned professors and their work and called for "Proof": which, as we both know is a rare animal in academe. And now the ball's in your court: so it's up to you to revert with some learned analysis of the paper or cite your own paper as your "Proof". You don't escape that easily!   "Yes, but that apart, Mrs Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?" Gluestick    Report

28/04/2008, 20:42 trees 2 Joined on 28/04/2008 Posts 99 Re: Aspirations..................................  Dick Smith wrote: You clearly do not understand that the world is not as you and the Daily Mail see it, but are too blinkered to accept the fact. Dick: could you explain why you see it as silly to accept what a newspaper says, but you will accept as the whole truth, what a government department says? Especially as that department has something to lose if the paper's statistics are true. And especially especially as that department is part of a government who keep telling us that inflation nis 2% or thereabouts, when the Mirror ran a check on household budgets last week, and found that a PROPER shopping basket, containing stuff we all HAVE to buy, costs above 10% more now than this time last year? Sorry about the long sentence    Report

Page 4 of 4 (36 items) < 1 2 3 4

France Forum » General Discuss... » Other Topics » Aspirations..................................

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs