Class political rant (quite long)
Discussion
I've just had this sent to me by a mate.
He sent it back in response to a request "for the views of young people" from a political party's local office.
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Dear Leah,
Thank you for the unsolicited mail regarding your party that you sent to my address.
Please could you immediately remove me from your mailing list, as I do not wish to be sent any information, requests, surveys or any other unsolicited junk mail to my home address.
Since you asked about the political the views of young people, I shall include my opinion:
I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in your political party or any other’s whatsoever. I strongly believe that politics has never been about doing the right thing for a country, it’s population, or the environment. We have seen countless bumbles, cover-ups, mistakes and corruption. Not to mention stupid ideas.
We pay council tax for services such as roads, refuse collection, policing, etc, and yet when these services let us down, we have absolutely no comeback. I’m talking about road-works everywhere with nobody working at them, bin lorries that don’t turn up because the workers can’t be bothered (several times a year here), and police who cannot be relied upon. I myself have called them to report various crimes and they are not interested. They don’t even turn up to burglaries taking place anymore (probably because they can’t hand out a fixed-penalty). On the occasions that I required a service at a police station, I have waited over an hour to see anyone.
Further, the law is deliberately vague, and not made available or taught to the public. Few people know their rights. The law is forever appearing to be on the side of the criminal, and not the victim. Lawlessness perpetrated by bored kids on the street immune to the judicial system has been toned down by the label of “Anti-social behaviour”. No wonder, because discipline has been outlawed, and even teachers can’t raise their voice at an unruly pupil.
Public transport in this awful country is a total joke. And the government tries to encourage us to ditch the car! Practically every single journey I or my parents make cannot be made by public transport at all. Bus services are incredibly unreliable – a fact my mum can testify to – as she complained to a local labour MP recently. Working only near Moreton cross, it can take her up to 1.5 hours to get home if a bus service has been omitted (which frequently happens). There is one bus she can take, which requires a walk at both ends. We don’t live anywhere near a station. The journey by car takes just 10 minutes. To go on, the whole rail industry is far too fragmented, expensive, unreliable, unsafe (at least 3 recent crossing accidents in as many weeks!) and frankly, disgusting. I’ve seen TV documentaries which have exposed the filthy state of our trains in comparison to those which run in Europe. The government subsidized system in Spain works exceptionally well. When I am on holiday, I never need to hire a car, because public transport is readily available, cheap, on-time and clean. (And, why does the government allow us to continue burning limited fossil fuels to power vehicles unnecessarily, when there are fantastic alternatives that have been bought-out and shelved?)
I have contracted-out of the government pension scheme, as I am firmly convinced that I would be paying for nothing. It’s well known that the economics of the state pension don’t add up. Whilst the government now are quite happy to take our contributions, I’m pretty sure they won’t keep their end of the bargain in 40 years time.
It’s also well known that the war in Iraq was a big political lie. Everyone was deceived. The UK persistently says “Yes, Mr. President” and succumbs to all of America’s whims. Whilst claiming that practices such as “ethnic cleansing” or “racist / religious intolerance” cannot continue, Britain, just like every other country, is very selective about where it chooses to intervene. Guantanamo bay is America’s little offshore torture establishment, and nothing seems to happen regarding the Britons held there.
Political correctness has gone silly. Thanks to that, we can’t say “blackboard” or “manned” (Mersey tunnels), for fear of upsetting a different race or sex. Thanks to the government, the family values in the society in which we live, have completely broken down. Single parents get a better deal financially. Only the unemployed have got time to have kids, so they can then claim further benefits and sponge off the honest taxpayer for years.
Oh, and what about the gym and leisure facilities made available to those Asylum Seekers who have come to the UK? No, not the ones who’ve had their application approved – I’m talking about the ones that were rejected (recent newspaper). And why not spend a bit more of taxpayer’s public money on helping those who are a victim of society. Yes, I’m talking about criminals. Those who’ve come out of jail and been given new identities and everything on a plate, fresh from the state.
So, I hope you’re beginning to understand my point of view, as a young person. Call me negative, cynical, whatever, I don’t care. The fact is, that any British government (probably any on Earth for that matter) promotes the degradation of our society and the quality of life for us and our offspring is in grave jeopardy, if it isn’t already.
I hope this has been of interest to you, though I doubt that you really wanted anyone’s point of view. Would you still ask our points of view after the election, even if you win!? I think not. Like me, the views and fears of the public are ignored by a government that’s in cloud-cuckoo-land!
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He sent it back in response to a request "for the views of young people" from a political party's local office.
####################################################
Dear Leah,
Thank you for the unsolicited mail regarding your party that you sent to my address.
Please could you immediately remove me from your mailing list, as I do not wish to be sent any information, requests, surveys or any other unsolicited junk mail to my home address.
Since you asked about the political the views of young people, I shall include my opinion:
I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in your political party or any other’s whatsoever. I strongly believe that politics has never been about doing the right thing for a country, it’s population, or the environment. We have seen countless bumbles, cover-ups, mistakes and corruption. Not to mention stupid ideas.
We pay council tax for services such as roads, refuse collection, policing, etc, and yet when these services let us down, we have absolutely no comeback. I’m talking about road-works everywhere with nobody working at them, bin lorries that don’t turn up because the workers can’t be bothered (several times a year here), and police who cannot be relied upon. I myself have called them to report various crimes and they are not interested. They don’t even turn up to burglaries taking place anymore (probably because they can’t hand out a fixed-penalty). On the occasions that I required a service at a police station, I have waited over an hour to see anyone.
Further, the law is deliberately vague, and not made available or taught to the public. Few people know their rights. The law is forever appearing to be on the side of the criminal, and not the victim. Lawlessness perpetrated by bored kids on the street immune to the judicial system has been toned down by the label of “Anti-social behaviour”. No wonder, because discipline has been outlawed, and even teachers can’t raise their voice at an unruly pupil.
Public transport in this awful country is a total joke. And the government tries to encourage us to ditch the car! Practically every single journey I or my parents make cannot be made by public transport at all. Bus services are incredibly unreliable – a fact my mum can testify to – as she complained to a local labour MP recently. Working only near Moreton cross, it can take her up to 1.5 hours to get home if a bus service has been omitted (which frequently happens). There is one bus she can take, which requires a walk at both ends. We don’t live anywhere near a station. The journey by car takes just 10 minutes. To go on, the whole rail industry is far too fragmented, expensive, unreliable, unsafe (at least 3 recent crossing accidents in as many weeks!) and frankly, disgusting. I’ve seen TV documentaries which have exposed the filthy state of our trains in comparison to those which run in Europe. The government subsidized system in Spain works exceptionally well. When I am on holiday, I never need to hire a car, because public transport is readily available, cheap, on-time and clean. (And, why does the government allow us to continue burning limited fossil fuels to power vehicles unnecessarily, when there are fantastic alternatives that have been bought-out and shelved?)
I have contracted-out of the government pension scheme, as I am firmly convinced that I would be paying for nothing. It’s well known that the economics of the state pension don’t add up. Whilst the government now are quite happy to take our contributions, I’m pretty sure they won’t keep their end of the bargain in 40 years time.
It’s also well known that the war in Iraq was a big political lie. Everyone was deceived. The UK persistently says “Yes, Mr. President” and succumbs to all of America’s whims. Whilst claiming that practices such as “ethnic cleansing” or “racist / religious intolerance” cannot continue, Britain, just like every other country, is very selective about where it chooses to intervene. Guantanamo bay is America’s little offshore torture establishment, and nothing seems to happen regarding the Britons held there.
Political correctness has gone silly. Thanks to that, we can’t say “blackboard” or “manned” (Mersey tunnels), for fear of upsetting a different race or sex. Thanks to the government, the family values in the society in which we live, have completely broken down. Single parents get a better deal financially. Only the unemployed have got time to have kids, so they can then claim further benefits and sponge off the honest taxpayer for years.
Oh, and what about the gym and leisure facilities made available to those Asylum Seekers who have come to the UK? No, not the ones who’ve had their application approved – I’m talking about the ones that were rejected (recent newspaper). And why not spend a bit more of taxpayer’s public money on helping those who are a victim of society. Yes, I’m talking about criminals. Those who’ve come out of jail and been given new identities and everything on a plate, fresh from the state.
So, I hope you’re beginning to understand my point of view, as a young person. Call me negative, cynical, whatever, I don’t care. The fact is, that any British government (probably any on Earth for that matter) promotes the degradation of our society and the quality of life for us and our offspring is in grave jeopardy, if it isn’t already.
I hope this has been of interest to you, though I doubt that you really wanted anyone’s point of view. Would you still ask our points of view after the election, even if you win!? I think not. Like me, the views and fears of the public are ignored by a government that’s in cloud-cuckoo-land!
#####################################
That is absolutely perfect. It expresses my view on politicians in a way I have been unable to. I left a political party through being totally disillusioned and now when anyone asks I can simply show them that.
The work of a genius.
>> Edited by kenny320 on Friday 10th December 10:20
The work of a genius.
>> Edited by kenny320 on Friday 10th December 10:20
The sound of a nail being hit firmly and squarely on the head. I'm particularly pleased he mentioned alternative fuels - it really is possible to convert just about every vehicle on the road to run on a fuel less environmentally dangerous than breathing, yet it suits the government to continue to force us to use a substance they can tax almost unlimited, and just add to the general persecution of the motorist in the interest of constant revenue and control of freedom. If anyone accuses me of polluting the environment, the answer is simply that the government won't give me the choice.
We have poor farmers being kept up by EU subsidies, little knowing that use of Oilseed Rape as an alternative fuel would make them the new oil barons. This government's attitude isn't doing anyone any good at all, really.
We have poor farmers being kept up by EU subsidies, little knowing that use of Oilseed Rape as an alternative fuel would make them the new oil barons. This government's attitude isn't doing anyone any good at all, really.
v8thunder said:
The sound of a nail being hit firmly and squarely on the head. I'm particularly pleased he mentioned alternative fuels - it really is possible to convert just about every vehicle on the road to run on a fuel less environmentally dangerous than breathing, yet it suits the government to continue to force us to use a substance they can tax almost unlimited, and just add to the general persecution of the motorist in the interest of constant revenue and control of freedom. If anyone accuses me of polluting the environment, the answer is simply that the government won't give me the choice.
The governments got nothing to do with it, you can blame the free market for that one. When the cost of fuel cell technology gets anywhere near the cost of extracting the last drop of oil we might actually get somewhere. Government subsidy is probably the only way we might advance before using the last drop of oil and reaching the point of "oh sht, what do we do now?"
All well and good clinging to V8 noises but its undeniable we are heading up a dead end at the moment. Bring on the 2000bhp fuel cells.
>> Edited by Control on Friday 10th December 11:49
Control said:
v8thunder said:
The sound of a nail being hit firmly and squarely on the head. I'm particularly pleased he mentioned alternative fuels - it really is possible to convert just about every vehicle on the road to run on a fuel less environmentally dangerous than breathing, yet it suits the government to continue to force us to use a substance they can tax almost unlimited, and just add to the general persecution of the motorist in the interest of constant revenue and control of freedom. If anyone accuses me of polluting the environment, the answer is simply that the government won't give me the choice.
The governments got nothing to do with it, you can blame the free market for that one. When the cost of fuel cell technology gets anywhere near the cost of extracting the last drop of oil we might actually get somewhere. Government subsidy is probably the only way we might advance before using the last drop of oil and reaching the point of "oh sht, what do we do now?"
All well and good clinging to V8 noises but its undeniable we are heading up a dead end at the moment. Bring on the 2000bhp fuel cells.
>> Edited by Control on Friday 10th December 11:49
Well, why does the Government require Fuel Duty to be paid on vegetable oil used in diesel engines ?
If you invented an engine that ran on water, you would still have to pay tax on it as it would then be classed as "fuel".
Well, not entirely. You can run a diesel on chip fat oil (and the Z farm has converted a 260Z to run on it whilst keeping the performance and all the right noises), but it's illegal - you can be arrested and tried for it.
True, the economy relies too heavily on oil, but IMO the current situation suits the government's anti-car stance - they can use the environmental excuse every time they fancy extracting a bit more cash.
If the government refuse to let us run cars on alternative liquids, they'll just wait till the oil runs out, then force us all into 20mph electric boxes and say 'I told you so'.
Face it - they don't want to fund alternative fuels because it means people will have a greater degree of freedom than they'd like to squeeze us into
True, the economy relies too heavily on oil, but IMO the current situation suits the government's anti-car stance - they can use the environmental excuse every time they fancy extracting a bit more cash.
If the government refuse to let us run cars on alternative liquids, they'll just wait till the oil runs out, then force us all into 20mph electric boxes and say 'I told you so'.
Face it - they don't want to fund alternative fuels because it means people will have a greater degree of freedom than they'd like to squeeze us into
lunarscope said:
Well, why does the Government require Fuel Duty to be paid on vegetable oil used in diesel engines ?
If you invented an engine that ran on water, you would still have to pay tax on it as it would then be classed as "fuel".
Am no chemist but as far as I know using vegetable oil still fks up the climate so taxing that does not prevent cleaner fuel use. I think only electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells get round the problem.
Control
The government has everything to do with it.
Just recently an entire Welsh village were charged with Tax offences for running thir cars on chip fat and avoiding the duty paid on Fuel.
There are a number of far cheaper fuel alternatives out there that we can't use because the government will screw us and the infrastructure is totally geared towards Petrol, diesel and LPG.
Fuel cells are still far to expensive, not powerfull enough and the range is limtied. We can all continue to use our current vehicles with little modification with fuels such as alcohol based products (widely used in South america)or rapeseed oil based products.
V8thunder was right, lets put our land to decent use and produce a renewable fuel we could use rather than tons of crops for food that the EU just stores.
The government has everything to do with it.
Just recently an entire Welsh village were charged with Tax offences for running thir cars on chip fat and avoiding the duty paid on Fuel.
There are a number of far cheaper fuel alternatives out there that we can't use because the government will screw us and the infrastructure is totally geared towards Petrol, diesel and LPG.
Fuel cells are still far to expensive, not powerfull enough and the range is limtied. We can all continue to use our current vehicles with little modification with fuels such as alcohol based products (widely used in South america)or rapeseed oil based products.
V8thunder was right, lets put our land to decent use and produce a renewable fuel we could use rather than tons of crops for food that the EU just stores.
tvrslag said:
Fuel cells are still far to expensive, not powerfull enough and the range is limtied. We can all continue to use our current vehicles with little modification with fuels such as alcohol based products (widely used in South america)or rapeseed oil based products.
V8thunder was right, lets put our land to decent use and produce a renewable fuel we could use rather than tons of crops for food that the EU just stores.
Can see your point about the benefits of rapeseed oil, alcohol and cooking oil but they only provide a renewable source, not a renewable place to use them. Obviously the government is totally screwing those with plenty of money through fuel tax but people wanting to stick the remnants of yesterdays lunch into their car are really looking for a discount and not to save the world.
As far as I know the electric vehicles are slowly getting there (). Apparently normal car performance (0-60mph in 10sec, 115mph) can now be had with an estate with a boot full of batteries.
Control
Electricity is the way to go for a cleaner future, I agree, the problem is efficient storage or efficient generation. Electrical motors are far better than all internal combustion engines (but not from a sound perspective) they're quieter have less moving parts are easier to fix / replace and are smaller. The batteries are the problem to overcome.
Electricity is the way to go for a cleaner future, I agree, the problem is efficient storage or efficient generation. Electrical motors are far better than all internal combustion engines (but not from a sound perspective) they're quieter have less moving parts are easier to fix / replace and are smaller. The batteries are the problem to overcome.
Control said:
Can see your point about the benefits of rapeseed oil, alcohol and cooking oil but they only provide a renewable source, not a renewable place to use them. Obviously the government is totally screwing those with plenty of money through fuel tax but people wanting to stick the remnants of yesterdays lunch into their car are really looking for a discount and not to save the world.
As far as I know the electric vehicles are slowly getting there (). Apparently normal car performance (0-60mph in 10sec, 115mph) can now be had with an estate with a boot full of batteries.
Hi Control, I think you should stop reading the BBC website. Oil will almost certainly be available for the next 100 years, and it is highly unlikely it is having an significate effect on the enviromen.
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