Malcolm Robinson

What really rankled me about the Thatcher privatisation run out was the way that the industries were privatised with basically the same management teams in place and whereas beforehand they were making losses as nationalised industries almost overnight they became huge money/profit generating machines. Why couldn't they have done that for us? Now most are controlled by foreign entities, not a very good or secure place to be with your indigenous power/water/communications/etc. industries. Gordo was just a bumpkin, not a good Chancellor and a hopeless Premier but then he was a product of our political system, as was Mr Blair. As is the current crop of ne'er-do-wells! Nigel looks appealing to some because he looks to be different or at least possess a set of Maracas! Or in Boris's case provides entertainment! The whole economic 'ideological verses proven practical' argument is futile because it's the politicians who control the system. (Or who are supposed to!) We can see the excellent example just over the water where a political ideal was put in first, followed by all practical economic/financial elements. That's the wrong way around and that's why the Euro will fail. Nothing wrong with a Euro project but that has to lead and dictate the 'political make up' where it's used. I too think we should be looking at the Mutual models for a whole raft of uses.

It's an apolitical way of improving things for the entire community. I agree GGG but as the COOP has amply just demonstrated its really down to the integrity and acumen of the people given the task to run it/them. I would take issue with your previous statement too about nationalisation; I am not so sure it can't work. In fact I think it could work if it's given the same structures and obligations a privatised unit has to endure. At the end of the day its only about ultimate ownership but I think where we both do agree is that the way its ran tips the balance. We started off right at the cutting edge of technology, eg Industrial Revolution, and exported to the world making us rich beyond avarice, or certainly compared to the previous Agro economic models of previous centuries. Somewhere along the lines we became complacent and other nations took up the baton for technological advances. Not only that we lost our traditional industries to other places once they saw how they equated to rising living standards. Now by and large we have been deluded into thinking the service sector can sustain our economy but without a robust manufacturing sector all that does is cut hair and sell imported goods, AKA contemporary Bedlington!

Is anyone now in doubt that we have a social revolution taking place? Is there? Its at a snail's pace if there is, certainly in this neck of the woods!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27531094

Back in the late 90's I ran the Bedlingtonshire Chamber of Trade and one of the fund-raisers for the Xmas Lights we did was a charity cricket match between us and the cricket club. I even made a trophy ( I think we played for it twice?) called the Owzat Trophy. Course the Cricket Club won each time but a good day out and few bob for the Bedlington Xmas Lights.......(now I wonder whatever happened to them!!!!)

Used to live here.........or very close by. Great community spirit.

Hmmmmmmm,,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmG15WZdWo#t=165

Living dangerously Foxy!

Would you?

Look into the eyes GGG, look into the eyes...........

Well they did pick the best to end with.........

Get a decent browser Keith! I read the originals too, Angel, Iceman, Beast and Cyclops along with Prof X, if I remember correctly.

Take the test.......... https://xmen.norton.com/?app_data=quiz#

Happy Birthday.......

Foxy....... They reckon you were a horny little devil!

When you can get down on your knees but you need you need to think about getting back up again.

If this works its a cracker........ TheGreatestTelemarketerCallEver.wmv

Back again, is it really a year! http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/news/local/town-ready-to-rock-over-the-bank-holiday-1-6620665

These people sit in London and send our countrymen away to fight and sometimes die for a cause most don't understand. Peasants! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2629385/Fury-peers-walked-House-Lords-names-six-dead-soldiers-read-out.html

I have that Merc, sure I posted it up before somewhere? Use it for some of the Development Trust time line. Anyway your PDF works for me!

Make them PDFs Merc.

Oh Dawn..............

Scranchums..

So entry level GGG...........Acer C720 WiFi ?