Messages

I think you've finally killed this thread Austin..

Not a tall!

sure people  have other things on their mind lately.

Come  January, they'll need this to fill  the long dark days. You'll see ......

anyway, any more Phil?

Or  shall we move on?

I just learned that  on this date, 8 December 1980, John Lennon was murdered.

He would  have been  85 today, had he lived.

I was too young to  remember it.

Do you have any memory of it? Where were you when you heard  the news?

[would you have any faith in them spending the money where needed]

"Layman's view on how to fix the issues, build more hospitals"
Has it occurred to anyone why we have an ever increasing sick population? Have we somehow created a system that incentivizes poor health, for as far as I can see most of this is self inflicted.
Also, how about tackling the systematic waste in the NHS. If something is "free", people can't help themselves but take the piss out of it.
I am for paying a bit less tax but paying for healthcare and medications as an when I need it.

Even if they did attempt to raise money, by doing away with free prescriptions for those working or introducing water charges, would you have any faith in them spending the money where needed, waste, waste and repeat and they yap the Brits aren't given them enough money.

100% No.

It's just more money for. them to piss up the wall. 

Let's say there's 500,000  households in the north, who pay £500 water charges a year.  That's 250 million. Correct me if I'm wrong , but that chicken house  scheme cost nearly 500 million.  Need I say more?

"Layman's view on how to fix the issues, build more hospitals"
Has it occurred to anyone why we have an ever increasing sick population? Have we somehow created a system that incentivizes poor health, for as far as I can see most of this is self inflicted.
Also, how about tackling the systematic waste in the NHS. If something is "free", people can't help themselves but take the piss out of it.
I am for paying a bit less tax but paying for healthcare and medications as an when I need it.

I've paid for private  consultations over the years, from £100-200. But the amount of missed appointments is ridiculous. If people were charged £100-200   for a missed appointment, they'd turn up next time.  Same with  missed doctors appointment.

If Stormont  are looking for a revenue raising  method, I'd say most  people would be  in favour of this one.

[Growing up, I knew of plenty who "did the double" - mostly because they couldn't afford not to. Of the people I know on who are on benefits all are in need, 1 has a DLA car and it's entirely warranted.]

You can't escape the benefit culture in the 6, I in 3 cars are DVLA ffs, the public sector is overloaded with folk doing little or nothing, that's not doctors, nurses, fire fighters, police etc. that is 30000 in the civil service kicking their heels up and folk on the hill paying family and friends to do likewise, it is a shithole and as long as these career politicians orange and green get voted in for doing nothing, nothing will change.

That's not unique to NI though, people on benefits all over the UK and indeed ROI.
There will always be people who abuse the system - doesn't mean do away with the system, more that it needs to be fixed. But it needs fixed in a way that doesn't adversely affect those genuinely in need.

Growing up, I knew of plenty who "did the double" - mostly because they couldn't afford not to. Of the people I know on who are on benefits all are in need, 1 has a DLA car and it's entirely warranted.
Whilst I agree there are plenty out there abusing the system, I also don't buy the assertion that they're all milking it which is what terms like "benefit culture" suggest. All sounds a bit Nigel Farage-ish.

But to return to my point on what a minimum acceptable standard of living costs, there are many people who do not have the skills or qualifications to earn a household 65K a year for a small family to survive. So of course they will revert to the benefit system, why wouldn't they? If the cost of living was lower, it might reduce the number of people on benefits. At the minute, the UK government approach is to increase the minimum wage and stop the boats and increase taxes, which increases cost of living and that just perpetuates the cycle.

I do agree with the Civil Service issues to a certain extent. Feels artificially bloated in areas. The entitlement to non-performance related pay rises is not conducive to a performant service - instead it rewards those who are not very good at their job. Then there's the pensions they get too, which we all pay for.
It's just another element of society here that's not really fixable in the short term, especially with unions in to the hilt. But remember Civil Service includes doctors and nurses, teachers and bin collectors. All essential - it's more those back office / managerial roles that seem to be where the issues are. At least from the outside looking in. There might be 30K in the civil service, but I'd imagine the numbers that could be trimmed from the service could be small enough.

As for career politicians, genuinely not entirely clear what you mean by that term? Do you mean just in it for the money? If so, I'm sure for some that is the case but others are in it for the ideology of their parties. I think that most do want to represent their own communities, it's just that some are not very good at putting that ahead of their own personal goals.

Yes, good points

What's this "six or seven"  craic all about?

Johnny has spoken ...

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1207/1547754-eurovision-johnny-logan/

[people cant afford]

Wonder how many poor parents weeks before Christmas had their kids yapping for the advertised products.

Dunno. Don't ever remember my kids looking toys off the LLS.. more into all the entertainment and fun. Is toys and commodities people cant afford waved in shops and everywhere else...

They can just  say no.

The money I've seen  spent on kids of friends and family  at Christmas is absolutely  ludicrous. It'll be  more of the same this year, no doubt.  Some people need to get  a grip of themselves

Watched that again.

Dingle no 12 with a  slight push on Finbarr's man. He was going down anyway , so not sure if there was enough force in the  push .

Regardless, No 5 picks up ball to give it back , and Dingle man barges  into him , crying  to ref for  it to be moved up. Which he did

That was absolute robbery.

Should that have been  moved up? Dingle man barged  into him

Morning Ireland RTE  radio 1  at 8.30 on a Monday morning was the place for that  charade

[My lovely horse]

Feel for Johnny Logan. This was his money-maker weekend. Wonder will he break ranks.

All set up for the big comeback. We will romp home I say. Jonny on lead, backed up by Dustin Dana bewitched Samantha mumba and Philomena begley

My lovely horse

Has to be an  original song to enter.  Surely you remember the  Norwegian entry  Ted tried to rip off?

And poor Fred Rickwood no  longer with us either to host it

And Kevin Hart is a very small man.

Who's Kevin hart?

[At least Trump didn't get up and dance.]

Jesus this is painful

My words exactly

Jesus, painful wouldn't cover it. Banter was cringe and wooden as you get. The forced/nervous laughing and giggling of your one and Rio, I was scarlet for them. And as for your man Wayne, who the hell is he? If you got him in a lucky bag you'd look for a refund. At least Trump didn't get up and dance.

Not a bad draw all the same.

He did.

If Ireland  qualify, it will be  Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

All the  Southerners in the same group .