tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post8908673231033468194..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: A Tale of Two Barnet HospitalsMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-76482737469302765842012-04-03T16:44:55.025+01:002012-04-03T16:44:55.025+01:00Well, best on offer and least worst are the same, ...Well, best on offer and least worst are the same, in my view, in regard to politicians. I think it was someone like Gore Vidal who once wrote that anyone who wanted to stand for public office should automatically be barred from doing so, and I agree. Political careers attract the worst sort of meddling fools, and gives them power over our lives.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-19828775812068749682012-04-03T15:19:37.992+01:002012-04-03T15:19:37.992+01:00I don’t wish to appear pedantic, Mrs A, but I must...I don’t wish to appear pedantic, Mrs A, but I must take issue with your “for once” comment. You very rarely mention Ken Livingstone by name in your blogposts. He gets mentioned when you are commenting on other people’s press releases. He gets mentioned in the comments section, but the Google search box at the top of every blogger page could find only four mentions of his name, made directly by you.<br /><br />This seems to go to the heart of the malaise in the British political system. We no longer say “Vote for Fred, he’s got the best policies”. Instead we say “Vote for Fred. He’s not as bad as the other guy”. I would not expect you to vote for Boris, but very few of the left leaning blogs actually provide any positive reasons to vote for Ken. Similarly, the right leaning blogs have adopted a “not Ken again” approach rather than say specifically why they think their man is better for the job.<br /><br />I find it utterly depressing that the three main parties are putting up the same three has-beens as candidates. In a Capital City such as London surely we can do better. Londoners deserve better. I accept that tactical voting is a legitimate part of the democratic process, but just for once couldn’t we have some candidates worth voting for, instead of forcing people to vote against?<br /><br />Do you really believe Ken to be the best on offer, or just the least worst?Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-74845583517921941112012-04-03T15:00:20.730+01:002012-04-03T15:00:20.730+01:00No, you are right, DCMD, I forgot to namecheck him...No, you are right, DCMD, I forgot to namecheck himself,for once, but I take it for granted that no one with any sense will vote for him this time.<br /><br />As for Ken: I will vote for him on the same principle as always, the best on offer - I think the Mayor's post is largely pointless but there is still too much opportunity for dangerous meddling, and I would rather have Labour meddling than any Tory's. do I think he is a perfect candidate? No, no one is. He often says the wrong thing, but I do think he cares passionately about London, and what he does. I think he was right, and brave, to bring in congestion charging. I know he is more in touch with ordinary Londoners than Boris Johnson, and I think Boris Johnson is very bright but a dilettante with no real political ideals, always a dangerous combination<br /><br />Most successful politicians are completely bonkers, and quite a few unsuccessful ones too.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-84674979154257929612012-04-03T12:45:11.067+01:002012-04-03T12:45:11.067+01:00Thank you, MickeyN.Thank you, MickeyN.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-27998410650360534752012-04-03T12:42:55.838+01:002012-04-03T12:42:55.838+01:00With respect Mrs Angry, you didn’t talk about Cole...With respect Mrs Angry, you didn’t talk about Coleman in your post. You specifically mentioned voting for Boris. You also omitted to mention the name of Labour’s candidate - Ken Livingstone. Why are so many Labour supporters afraid to mention his name in public? Is it because they know that to many people - in Barnet in particular - Ken is not simply bad, but completely mad?<br /><br />I have not been particularly impressed by Boris as Mayor (his failure to remove Coleman from post being one issue) but I think Ken’s extremist views will endanger the lives of citizens. If there is any chance of Ken actually winning I will, without hesitation, alter my intention to abstain.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-43816062550618652542012-04-03T10:45:37.680+01:002012-04-03T10:45:37.680+01:00Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.MickeyNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570868546328992414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-41643198169316390662012-04-03T09:45:35.515+01:002012-04-03T09:45:35.515+01:00Thank you.
Labour inherited the PFI model from th...Thank you.<br /><br />Labour inherited the PFI model from the Tories, and the mistake is not taxpayers money pumped into the NHS, but the introduction of profit and private enterprise into the equation. <br /><br />Where is the evidence for the idea that all the problems are due to the surplus of managers? Easy to say, more interesting if you can produce the facts and demonstrate that this is where the resources have all gone.<br /><br />Whatever a blue Labour government has done in the past, the reality now is the choice, of the least dangerous course of action. Do you want to see another Tory led London, with Brian Coleman selling off what's left of our emergency services? Would you trust him and his fellow Tories to oppose the onslaught on the NHS from the Lansley proposals? When Barnet Council takes responsibility for healthcare, do you trust the bunch of spivs running the administration to look after our best interests, One Barnet style? If not then you need to be pragmatic and vote accordingly.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-17786198859947452952012-04-02T22:18:42.955+01:002012-04-02T22:18:42.955+01:00Mrs Angry
I am very sorry for your loss.
Do you ...Mrs Angry<br /><br />I am very sorry for your loss.<br /><br />Do you remember when Labour were in Government? They pumped billions and billions of taxpayers money into the NHS. Did it improve things much? Not really, because instead of spending the money on front line services, they used it to recruit under managers, junior managers, middle managers and senior managers. There are now more managers in the NHS than was needed to run the British Empire which you love so much.<br /><br />The system is choking under bureaucracy, and that is the fundamental problem which needs to be addressed.<br /><br />As for your call for people to vote Labour at the Mayoral elections because of the health service, please remind me: which political party decided to close down Chase Farm and transfer services to Barnet?Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.com