Your political colour

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What was it about my posts that you had to ask me such a question?

That is my ethos. In fact it's the core of my ethos.

My major problem with socialism is that the people who follow it often have an authoritarian, controlling nature about them. They think everyone must follow their way. I'm all for a free marketplace in ideas and opinions - it's how we grow, how we involve. It's a core tenet of our civilisation and it's what all societies need in order to thrive.



I'm more thinking of those socialists that can't tolerate non-socialist/non-communist societies. Free-market societies, for instance, or even in case of other people social market countries like Denmark. Although Denmark is expensive I loved it when I was there. I felt free. I've been to Ireland a few times, and Northern Ireland even more times.



If you don't own your things, they're not yours. Goons can be sent to take them. Do you want that? I want a society where once you've paid for something, it's yours - and anyone not lawfully seizing it is a thief, and it's someone the police want a word with. To help out with their enquiries.



Let's just say I used to own a purple and yellow striped scarf! I was on TV with it!



No; what's planned is very popular. It's returning individual countries to national governance, with intergovernmental relations to deal with stuff between each other. It's all fast, fast, fast these days. Everything is done via the Internet. If you can watch TG4 in South Korea or New Zealand in full broadcast quality, anything can happen.



I want some immigration, but I want it tailored to the interests of the UK, and I hope Ireland feels the same way about immigration to the Republic. After Brexit we have to work together. We have a close relationship - you are not foreigners to us. My concern principally is not that of the country of the immigrant, but my own interests (although, that said, I don't want to be starving Nigeria or Pakistan of its doctors and nurses to fulfil an NHS hospital somewhere). The same way I am not overwhelmingly concerned with the minutiae of the lives of a couple of Poulton, Portmeirion, Pollok or Portrush...



Most British people don't consider that benefit particularly useful. To add to that, I don't believe it fair that I can theoretically move to Greece or Latvia without first OK’ing it with the government of that country. Why should I have that right? What real benefit has it been to Britain to have mass unfettered immigration from Poland and the other 2004 accession countries? We’ve had a lot of Polish shops. Some have done their level best to integrate and will stay and prosper - but many of us never wanted this influx in the first place. Many are returning to Poland in fact; they don’t see their future here, not because Britain is a terribly racist country but because Poland is their home.

Informally, I have to admit that some Polish food is absolutely stonking. I love their Baltic porters!



It is my contention that a highly regulated, highly taxed society is harm to the people that live there.



I know people with big houses. I like many of them. They have flash cars and stuff. They’ve earned it, so I’m happy for them. I’ve not got that but I’ve got what I want. I’m happy even in less than pleasant circumstances. I haven’t got much but I can be happy with what I have. I like buying things but I’m not a bling-y person. I don’t dress for fashion. If I want it, I’ll get it. I buy and make foreign dishes - in fact, there is a bit of xenophilia there on the QT.



I don’t want all that. I want my own place. There are co-operatives up in Scotland I believe for autistic people, but it would be the last place I’d want to live. I have my own place, and in that sense I’m happy.



I know you get Channel 5 over the Irish Sea so do you watch Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away? There are often terrible properties on there and I (and the bailiffs) really feel sorry for the people that have to live in them. Surely poorly-kept properties are illegal? The problem is that a lot of those living in them are either not legally allowed to be here or are using said properties for nefarious purposes.



Basically it’s do what you want as long as you’re not harming anyone else.

I've enjoyed my discussion. Back to my last glass of Italian chinotto orange. De-licious!

I've had a less than positive experience with people claiming to be artists, that's all. I'm really sorry for taking this out on you - you seem a good person.

Last edited by Tequila on 18 Aug 2018, 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

What's wrong with artists? (As I'm a published author, I count myself as an artist, too.)

Because we're the "media" dude - haven't you heard?

We're public enemy number one so says orange ogre Drumpf!

It's also that many right-wingers believe there's an artist/media/Hollywood conspiracy on par with the frightening academia conspiracy of turning all kids left. Both of which are funded by right-wing boogeyman George Soros.

Well, my check from Soros must have gotten lost in the mail, because I'm living in poverty!

Tequila: My major problem with socialism is that the people who follow it often have an authoritarian, controlling nature about them. They think everyone must follow their way.

Yes, some socialists are a little...narrow-minded, just like those of other political persuasions. I do think contemporary socialism does have the greater good for the greatest amount at its heart.

Although Denmark is expensive I loved it when I was there. I felt free. I've been to Ireland a few times, and Northern Ireland even more times.

I loved Copenhagen but I did not feel free...it’s pretty much a cashless society and using my card meant every transaction was recorded and my location with it, etc.

If you don't own your things, they're not yours.

I concur. I prefer to buy books instead of borrowing from the library (books are my Achilles’ heel). However, I will survive if I can never afford to buy another book, own a property, car, Vivienne Westwood accessories, etc. Do you really need to own everything?

It's returning individual countries to national governance, with intergovernmental relations to deal with stuff between each other. It's all fast, fast, fast these days. Everything is done via the Internet. If you can watch TG4 in South Korea or New Zealand in full broadcast quality, anything can happen.

There was always national governance for individual countries; naturally being part of the EU there was input (an understatement if ever there was one, perhaps?) from other countries but I don’t believe that this was necessarily a bad thing...no system is perfect and there will always be trade-offs but Ireland seems to be benefiting from its inclusion in this project.

I want some immigration, but I want it tailored to the interests of the UK, and I hope Ireland feels the same way about immigration to the Republic. After Brexit we have to work together. We have a close relationship - you are not foreigners to us.

Ireland is hardly in a position to get all wall-buildy about immigration...I think something like 40 million people abroad consider themselves Irish...a lot of countries have taken in a lot Irish over the centuries...

Most British people don't consider that benefit particularly useful. To add to that, I don't believe it fair that I can theoretically move to Greece or Latvia without first OK’ing it with the government of that country. Why should I have that right?

Would you actually emigrate to another country? Otherwise this is a moot point.

It is my contention that a highly regulated, highly taxed society is harm to the people that live there.

Sweden has a 50% tax rate and it seems to be doing quite well. Highly regulated...like banks...hmmm, if only we had had that here some years back...

I buy and make foreign dishes - in fact, there is a bit of xenophilia there on the QT.

It must be the dash of red that mixes with your yellow to make your orange...!

I want my own place. There are co-operatives up in Scotland I believe for autistic people, but it would be the last place I’d want to live. I have my own place, and in that sense I’m happy.

I did mention hermetic places too...I can be quite reclusive and do need my own space.

I know you get Channel 5 over the Irish Sea so do you watch [i]Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away?[/i]

I haven’t actually owned a TV in years.

Basically it’s do what you want as long as you’re not harming anyone else.

On this we agree...and I would add: nor oneself.

I've enjoyed my discussion. Back to my last glass of Italian chinotto orange. De-licious.

Sláinte! (I’ll be having milk and M&S extremely chocolatety chocolate cake...)

Oh! So the issue isn’t with artists but people who aren’t and claim to be? Then we’re good because I am most definitely a visual arts practitioner.

I would turn anyone left that I could...via the dialectical method, of course!

Hmm, poverty, I know thee so well...

I think it's miserable. I could live under a social democratic government with a market economy, like Denmark. I like their society because I found it very free and easygoing. I could go have a couple of bottles of strong stout in the park. Lovely place. I don't smoke but cigarettes are quite cheap there. Denmark is really all to do with who you talk to.



When I was there in 2009 I only used banknotes and coins. Now I would use Monzo or something of that order.



I haven't borrowed a library book in years. That said, I must ask: what's the shipping costs like for Ireland? I take it you order from the UK, or perhaps you would order from an Irish retailer?



Pretty much. Some things I hire out, like Spotify and other subscriptions.



I think it's top-down and controlling. Why should the taxpayer pay for a sewage works in Bulgaria, for instance?



OK.



The Government is not going to build a wall at Newry, Belleek, Strabane and Derry!



But it has to be what the Irish living in Ireland want. And I don't think they're all that different from the British. There is now a different national culture to that of the UK.

Do the diaspora all have Irish citizenship?

Also: you don't want people just coming to Ireland because they might have a distant ancestor or they feel some vague connection to the old sod.



No. Malta if I literally had to leave the country next week. I have no connections there. I have no connections to anywhere other than the UK really.



It has quite a few problems with immigration. The Sweden Democrats are popular there.



They should have done what they did in Iceland you know. Iceland - doing quite well despite not being an EU member. If piddly little Iceland can do alright, think what we can do.

[/quote]

Something like that.

Last edited by Tequila on 18 Aug 2018, 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

As for Ireland: I'd bore you. I want your things. I want a full Irish breakfast (white pudding is quite glorious, and potato bread), Tayto crisps, Guinness Foreign Extra, Club Orange, colcannon...

Yes, when I can afford to I order from an ‘independent’ bookseller in Dublin...my favourite cafe just happens to be there too. Bliss. Hodges Figgis is great too. Having said that I have gone down the Amazon UK/US route for secondhand (first) editions...



For all the European tourists’ benefit...too...maybe...



Probably not...but I know there was a huge increase in passport applications from the UK after the Brexit result...

"You've got a UKIP scarf on!"

I'm no longer in the party. I left.

I've been to Dublin. Nice city.

Simple food, well made...can’t go wrong...

You seem breathy and distant.