Poppy Watch

[theskull1]

right so in YOUR OPINION people who have serious political opinions aren't allowed to watch certain programming because that would impinge on their ability to think through proper policies 

Didn't say that. I said it puts into question their ability to make valid political arguments that should be listened to when they actively choose to watch egocentric bile like the xfactor. Do you think someone like Noam Chomsky sits down after dinner to watch American Idol or Paris Hilton Be My Best Friend? 

Also everyone that watches these type of shows do not or should not be allowed to have a political opinion but should let other people with no outside interests or a TV in their house for that matter decide what direction the entire country should go in.

Yes to the first part because I believe in general that people who are drawn to watch absolute rubbish like xfactor lack the ability to REALLY think. The fact that they decide to watch it exposes that reality. Draconian maybe but there you go. No to the second part...just how did you interpret that that was what I was saying from my previous post???

so you know every single person that watches X Factor or at the very least have conducted a poll drawn from X Factor viewers, asked them politically geared questions, broken down the results and you used this as the basis for your wide sweeping generalisation.

No...it's from my own observations of the people I know who dig the xfactor. They (in general) don't want to think beyond the everyday to do's in life. Ignorance is bliss for many and many watch the xfactor...I happen to think they are the same people. It's an unpalatable truth but I believe it's a truth none the less.

FFS catch a grip of reality

What? Of your reality? No thanks

[Banana Man]

right so in YOUR OPINION people who have serious political opinions aren't allowed to watch certain programming because that would impinge on their ability to think through proper policies 

Didn't say that. I said it puts into question their ability to make valid political arguments that should be listened to when they actively choose to watch egocentric bile like the xfactor. Do you think someone like Noam Chomsky sits down after dinner to watch American Idol or Paris Hilton Be My Best Friend? 

Also everyone that watches these type of shows do not or should not be allowed to have a political opinion but should let other people with no outside interests or a TV in their house for that matter decide what direction the entire country should go in.

Yes to the first part because I believe in general that people who are drawn to watch absolute rubbish like xfactor lack the ability to REALLY think. The fact that they decide to watch it exposes that reality. Draconian maybe but there you go. No to the second part...just how did you interpret that that was what I was saying from my previous post???

so you know every single person that watches X Factor or at the very least have conducted a poll drawn from X Factor viewers, asked them politically geared questions, broken down the results and you used this as the basis for your wide sweeping generalisation.

No...it's from my own observations of the people I know who dig the xfactor. They (in general) don't want to think beyond the everyday to do's in life. Ignorance is bliss for many and many watch the xfactor...I happen to think they are the same people. It's an unpalatable truth but I believe it's a truth none the less.

FFS catch a grip of reality

What? Of your reality? No thanks

well i think i can safely say you didn't make it through to judges house the skull, why so bitter did you try and sing a song in front of the judges the same way you try to structure (i use the term loosely) an argument i.e. make it up as you go along and devise your own tune.

Again you are assuming what people watch, how do you know what Noam Chomsky watches, let me guess, you done what you done with x factor viewers and made it up.

You have just stated that everyone who watches these shows should not be allowed a political opinion, well hitler is alive and well on the sod. Why don't you strip the vote of women and dish out votes based on the value of the rates you pay, maybe it's carson or craig that you are, you would like to reverse the civil rights movement.

You probably hate free speech too 

so apart from standing sniping, what's your opinion, do you have one? maybe you don't have time, you're too busy standing in the bathroom singing into the mirror saying to yourself i'll prove Cowell and that whole X Factor show wrong

that's the spirit buddy, you keep trying 

[glens abu]

right so in YOUR OPINION people who have serious political opinions aren't allowed to watch certain programming because that would impinge on their ability to think through proper policies 

Didn't say that. I said it puts into question their ability to make valid political arguments that should be listened to when they actively choose to watch egocentric bile like the xfactor. Do you think someone like Noam Chomsky sits down after dinner to watch American Idol or Paris Hilton Be My Best Friend? 

Also everyone that watches these type of shows do not or should not be allowed to have a political opinion but should let other people with no outside interests or a TV in their house for that matter decide what direction the entire country should go in.

Yes to the first part because I believe in general that people who are drawn to watch absolute rubbish like xfactor lack the ability to REALLY think. The fact that they decide to watch it exposes that reality. Draconian maybe but there you go. No to the second part...just how did you interpret that that was what I was saying from my previous post???

so you know every single person that watches X Factor or at the very least have conducted a poll drawn from X Factor viewers, asked them politically geared questions, broken down the results and you used this as the basis for your wide sweeping generalisation.

No...it's from my own observations of the people I know who dig the xfactor. They (in general) don't want to think beyond the everyday to do's in life. Ignorance is bliss for many and many watch the xfactor...I happen to think they are the same people. It's an unpalatable truth but I believe it's a truth none the less.

FFS catch a grip of reality

What? Of your reality? No thanks

Unbelievable snobbery Skull

[theskull1]

well i think i can safely say you didn't make it through to judges house the skull, why so bitter did you try and sing a song in front of the judges the same way you try to structure (i use the term loosely) an argument i.e. make it up as you go along and devise your own tune.

Close... I sang four green fields (on reflection I wish I'd have wore a poppy....might have helped my chances)

Simon said both I and the song weren't relevant to todays audience (consumers)
Cheryl thought a drum and bass mix might help the song. She winked at me as well .....which was nice
Danny liked it....think it was the fine old woman references
Lewy thought that jedwards version was much better

So 3 no's and 1 yes...that was me out. You can't argue with democracy can you?

[theskull1]

Unbelievable snobbery Skull

Some will say snobbery. I prefer to consider it a form of despair.

[Banana Man]

well i think i can safely say you didn't make it through to judges house the skull, why so bitter did you try and sing a song in front of the judges the same way you try to structure (i use the term loosely) an argument i.e. make it up as you go along and devise your own tune.

Close... I sang four green fields (on reflection I wish I'd have wore a poppy....might have helped my chances)

Simon said both I and the song weren't relevant to todays audience (consumers)
Cheryl thought a drum and bass mix might help the song. She winked at me as well .....which was nice
Danny liked it....think it was the fine old woman references
Lewy thought that jedwards version was much better

So 3 no's and 1 yes...that was me out. You can't argue with democracy can you?

you would have thought that but you're giving it a quare go

[ludermor]

This thread is a classic, cant believe i stayed away from it thinking it would be full of the usual politic bollix!

[Applesisapples]

Tell me this Maguire, do you honestly and genuinely believe that a United Ireland is high on the agenda of Ritchie or even the SDLP for that matter?

Do you honestly think, Bananaman, that 51% of people living in the 26 counties want a united ireland ?  Most of them couldn't care less. 
And who do you think would pay for it ? The European Central Bank ?

Are you one of those people who don't want a united Ireland seafoid?
I don't think nationalists/republicans in the north need to be reminded that a large degree of free state f***ers don't give a fcuk about their fellow countrymen in the six counties, as long as their county falls into one of the 26 freed ones.
History will judge ye lot very very poorly. Although in saying that, whislt I agree that most, to their shame, don't understand and don't give a sh1t about the north of the country, if it came to a vote, yes, over 51% would vote for a UI. A LOT more.

I don't think the average FF moron voter cares about Northern Ireland, to be honest.  What did the South fritter the boom away on? PS salaries and an insane property mania. There was no investment in Northern Ireland other than property speculation.   When do you think southerners are likely to wake up ?
I would love to see my fellow citizens taking an interest in NI but most of them are too shortsighted and greedy.  They don't give a flying sausage about the Irish language either. 

I see the current situation continuing indefinitely. Northern Ireland is like A intersection B from maths. It is neither fully Irish nor fully British.  If I were a Unionist living in Northern Ireland all I would want is someone to keep funding my statelet. And the Brits are currently doing that. They don't want Northern Ireland either really but they feel some sort of fiscal responsibility.

Northern Ireland is a bigger version of Gibraltar.   
[/quote]
That is a big statement which doesn't actually stack up, Kerry Group for example own and invest in the north, the southern government have also invested here as have many other countries, people forget that the state of the Irish economy was down to wreckless lending by the banks and much of to northerners, and who is footing the bill? you got it southern taxpayers.
On the national question, one of the few sensible commentators on unity is Conal McDevitt from the SDLP, who has posed the question as to what unity actually means in the current situation, he is wasted in the SDLP imo.

[thebigfella]

This thread is a classic, cant believe i stayed away from it thinking it would be full of the usual politic bollix!

Hardly, is it not just rehashing the same old bollix from this time every year? Just this year we have a few new wannabes that are trying out do each other with their Republican credentials 

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=14261.0

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=9970.0

[Banana Man]

This thread is a classic, cant believe i stayed away from it thinking it would be full of the usual politic bollix!

Hardly, is it not just rehashing the same old bollix from this time every year? Just this year we have a few new wannabes that are trying out do each other with their Republican credentials 

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=14261.0

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=9970.0

another valuable contribution there bigfella 

[theskull1]

You can't argue with democracy can you?

you would have thought that but you're giving it a quare go

But it's a corrupt regime. Surely a man like yourself can empathise with my difficulty with corrupt regimes 

Between you and me I think it's not really a singing contest at all. It's primarily a vehicle for Simon Cowell to make loads of money off dumb teenagers/adults as he creates drama, controversy and razzamatazz as a smokescreen. I reckon all the judges and wagner are in on it. I know thats crazy mans thinking but there, I've said it. 

Theres me babbling on...whats this thread about again?

[thebigfella]

This thread is a classic, cant believe i stayed away from it thinking it would be full of the usual politic bollix!

Hardly, is it not just rehashing the same old bollix from this time every year? Just this year we have a few new wannabes that are trying out do each other with their Republican credentials 

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=14261.0

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=9970.0

another valuable contribution there bigfella 

As valuable as yours but then again I'm not deluding myself that I have anything new to bring to the table.

[gallsman]

Tell me this Maguire, do you honestly and genuinely believe that a United Ireland is high on the agenda of Ritchie or even the SDLP for that matter?

Do you honestly think, Bananaman, that 51% of people living in the 26 counties want a united ireland ?  Most of them couldn't care less. 
And who do you think would pay for it ? The European Central Bank ?

i think a better question seafoid would be do we want to join you's the mess you's are in. People ridicule the leaders in the north but it ain't any better in Mexico lad.

And yes I do believe it is well over 51%[/quote]

I demand some evidence to back this statement up.

If can't produce any you're a snob.

[Evil Genius]

Lynchbhoy,
You can delude yourself all you like over debateable topics like how many people in the ROI really want a UI, or whether the British Govt is going to go on supporting/subsidising NI's place in the Union etc.

Fwiw, I personally am very confident that when we both draw our last breath, there will only be one of us in shock that it won't be in a United Ireland.

But no matter. It is when you start making things up to support your case which are capable of being factually and indepentally rebutted, that you end up looking silly.

there is massive undertakings to attract dev and industry to th enorth.

huge tax breaks and incentives

I know of a number of companies in IT sector that have set up in the north or just set up offices and employees there as a branch of their HQ's - on the back of tax breaks and capital investment from British and Irish gov's !

it will take a while but if this continues, they will have a platform - akin to our own - with low corporation taxation bringing them in.

To get these (unspecified) incentives out of the way first, of course as the most economically deprived region of the UK, NI benefits from certain incentives. However, it is by no means the only such region to benefit, as eg Scotland, Wales and NE England could testify.

And even where these do exist, as often as not they are "outbid" by equivalent incentives which the ROI is able to offer as a whole, since they (ROI) are not inhibited by EU prohibition on State Aid to regions within a particular country (i.e. NI within UK).

Moreover, what few local NI incentives that exist are likely to be swept away by the "Bonfire of the Quangos" which the Coalition Govt has pormised everyone.

And moving on to the "huge tax breaks" from which NI supposedly benefits, what exactly are these?

Our tax rates are essentially the same as the rest of the UK, with the most important in terms of investment and jobs etc being Corporation Tax.

And Corporation Tax in NI (UK) is currently 28% - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/corp.htm . Whereas CT in ROI is currently 12.5% - as you well know.

Of course, I say "currently", since two things are capable of changing this. First, when (not "if") the EU/IMF bail-out of the ROI takes place, it seems very likely that one of the prices which will have to be paid is a raising of the ROI's CT rate to one nearer that of the rest of the EU.

Whereas by contrast, there is a lobby to presuade HMG that NI should be permitted to benefit from a lowering of the CT rate locally, in order to help it recover economically. Of course, this would need to come within the EU State Aid rules I mentioned above, but it is thought likely that this could be done via a corresponding decrease in the general NI subvention from Whitehall.

And as this authoritative study argues, this could bring immense competitive benefits to NI, if implemented:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmniaf/writev/corptax/we05.htm

As the north has no history of decent ICT employment - the companies dont have any proper medium to advertise for jobs, and potential candidates dont seem to know where to look.
jobs websites apparantly get hits in in the dozens and the belfast telegraph (the traditional advertisment vehicle for job in the north) got three responses to a multi jobs advert in the past 6 months (IT related roles).

That just shows that the north doesnt have the candidates- as there are jobs up there but they cant get the people !!

I think you devalue the employment pool available to investors in NI.
For example, the NI boss of Citigroup specifically mentioned this as the No.1 attraction of NI in an interview last year:
http://www.wheretowork.com/news/news.asp?articleid=956

And since then, Citi have announced plans to expand significantly:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11692964
Of course, the above move was helped by a "sweetener" from Invest NI, but £8m is peanuts really, the kind of figure which was regularly trumped by the ROI's equivalent (when the ROI had the money, that is).

Naturally, there will always be a danger that we suffer a skill shortage in certain specialise dareas, but as experience has shown, if we can get Poles and portugese to come to NI to work in chicken processing plants, it shouldn't be too difficult to attract their more skilled counterparts.

If nothing else, we are bound to be able to attract our share of economic migrants from South of the border. After all, it would fit in nicely with buying up your bankrupt companies:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8517566.stm

Of course, I am not saying everything is rosy for NI on the economic front, far from it. Indeed, I am sure there is a lot more pain to come before things get better. However, the exact same applies to ROI (and then some).

In any case, I genuinely believe that our prospects as an integral part of a much larger and intinsically stronger economy than that of the ROI, will protect us much better than our counterparts in the ROI will face when the EU/IMF Auditors come calling.

[Banana Man]

Tell me this Maguire, do you honestly and genuinely believe that a United Ireland is high on the agenda of Ritchie or even the SDLP for that matter?

Do you honestly think, Bananaman, that 51% of people living in the 26 counties want a united ireland ?  Most of them couldn't care less. 
And who do you think would pay for it ? The European Central Bank ?

i think a better question seafoid would be do we want to join you's the mess you's are in. People ridicule the leaders in the north but it ain't any better in Mexico lad.

And yes I do believe it is well over 51%

I demand some evidence to back this statement up.

If can't produce any you're a snob.
[/quote]

Ya see there's your problem right there Gallsman, I would say you near creamed yourself thinking you had me. Firstly I never called you a snob, secondly I said I believe it to be over 51%, I didn't say it was over 51%. It is my perception and continues to be therefore i don't need evidence.

If i said it was over 51% i would have to back up the claim, I see you weren't in Trinity the day they taught how to differentiate, perhaps that's how you swapped universities, you dandered into the wrong building one day as you couldn't tell the difference??