General News Thread

[CornwallFox]

9 hours ago, danny. said:

Sure. In that niche tightly focused example of local businesses that sell kids toys (any even left these days!?) they could benefit, but would also be hit with increase in corporation tax, NI, income tax and dividends tax…

 

Feels mainly left to me, maybe 60/20/20 left/centre/right. But it’s so hard to objectively analyse things like this as a human. Also the window has shifted so much someone that was left 20 years ago is labelled far right now. 

I think if I was reading the forum from afar I'd say most posters are left but it's the right leaning posters I tend to be in conversation with. 

 

Most of the reform platform - and to some extent the Tory platform - is identical to the BNP platform of 20 years ago. Some of these ideas ARE far right.

[Jon the Hat]

23 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

I think if I was reading the forum from afar I'd say most posters are left but it's the right leaning posters I tend to be in conversation with. 

 

Most of the reform platform - and to some extent the Tory platform - is identical to the BNP platform of 20 years ago. Some of these ideas ARE far right.

Some of us have been pointing out for nearly 20 years that telling anyone who had a question about immigration they were racist was not going to end well.

[CornwallFox]

12 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Some of us have been pointing out for nearly 20 years that telling anyone who had a question about immigration they were racist was not going to end well.

I don't disagree with that TBF 

[leicsmac]

48 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Some of us have been pointing out for nearly 20 years that telling anyone who had a question about immigration they were racist was not going to end well.

Yes. "Legitimate concerns" haven't been listened to, so apparently the jump to neofascism (and let's not beat around the bush, the platform of most populist policies of the type being referred to right now mirrors that closely) is the logical next step. With all the likely consequences it entails.

 

I just hope the people with the aforementioned "legitimate concerns" have the courage to own their part in those consequences.

[leicsmac]

In rather related news, what do you call an order to leave no survivors ("kill them all") when you order a strike on a vessel at sea, that is then followed, including the death of two people clinging to the wreckage of their ship and therefore clearly unable to fight back?

 

If you are at war, it's a war crime. 

If you aren't, it's murder. 

 

Which exactly is it, Mr Hegseth?

Edited 2 December 2025 by leicsmac

[foxes1988]

12 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Another good result for the government that will go completely unreported virtually everywhere else. 

 

I realise I'm coming across happy clappy labour, but it's more I think there needs to be more balance so I'm trying to offer it.

 

11 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

Do you really think this forum is right leaning?

 

11 hours ago, danny. said:

Sure. In that niche tightly focused example of local businesses that sell kids toys (any even left these days!?) they could benefit, but would also be hit with increase in corporation tax, NI, income tax and dividends tax…

 

Feels mainly left to me, maybe 60/20/20 left/centre/right. But it’s so hard to objectively analyse things like this as a human. Also the window has shifted so much someone that was left 20 years ago is labelled far right now. 

This site generally seems slightly left leaning to me rather then particularly right leaning.

 

I think in general good news doesn't get the attention it should or that it use to thanks to algorithms and social media and the bad news sells nature of 'MSM'.

 

There definitely is a difference the way Labour is reported on and judged compared to the Tories though.  Some of that is that the left isn't happy and it's idealistic nature means they tend to complain about their side more then the right complains about there side however this Labour government being as unpopular as the last Tory government and quickly as that happened show the difference that labour face in the reporting of job it's doing.

 

Labour had one poll showing they were less trusted on the economy then even Liz Truss Tory party which is just mental (although it should be said that public don't trust anyone on the economy in that poll). There are things to criticise Labour on of course but if anyone actually believes that they could trust the Liz Truss Tories over this Labour government then they just have a massive bias against labour and I think again it shows the nature of the political system in the UK generally taking it much easier on the right.

 

Edited 2 December 2025 by foxes1988

[danny.]

1 hour ago, Jon the Hat said:

Some of us have been pointing out for nearly 20 years that telling anyone who had a question about immigration they were racist was not going to end well.

 

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Yes. "Legitimate concerns" haven't been listened to, so apparently the jump to neofascism (and let's not beat around the bush, the platform of most populist policies of the type being referred to right now mirrors that closely) is the logical next step. With all the likely consequences it entails.

Not sure calling people facists helps either. The amount of people on social media now that call everyone they don’t agree with facists and Nazis is crazy, and all it’s done is devalue the words.  

[leicsmac]

23 minutes ago, danny. said:

 

Not sure calling people facists helps either. The amount of people on social media now that call everyone they don’t agree with facists and Nazis is crazy, and all it’s done is devalue the words.  

Agreed, there's a lot of crying wolf going round. 

 

But then that story does end with the wolf actually coming and if that word can't be used for the platforms of some of the movers and shakers right now, what word would describe them, I wonder?

Edited 2 December 2025 by leicsmac

[Md9]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

In rather related news, what do you call an order to leave no survivors ("kill them all") when you order a strike on a vessel at sea, that is then followed, including the death of two people clinging to the wreckage of their ship and therefore clearly unable to fight back?

 

If you are at war, it's a war crime. 

If you aren't, it's murder. 

 

Which exactly is it, Mr Hegseth?

Self defence apparently. Because 2 people are going to cause lots of trouble floating in the water on bits of boat that have been blown to pieces 

[danny.]

10 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Agreed, there's a lot of crying wolf going round. 

 

But then that story does end with the wolf actually coming and if that word can't be used for the platforms of some of the movers and shakers right now, what word would describe them, I wonder?

But the people being called facists and Nazis aren’t facists and Nazis, are they. It’s just an attempt at slinging insults and it’s doing no good for anyone. 

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, danny. said:

But the people being called facists and Nazis aren’t facists and Nazis, are they. It’s just an attempt at slinging insults and it’s doing no good for anyone. 

Then, once more, what word describes some (bolded and italicised for emphasis) of these people, including some that have, or are looking for the power to shape policy?

 

Pragmatists? Concerned citizens? Tribalists?

 

Genuine question, because I really would like less cause to worry about a rather horrible future. 

 

8 minutes ago, Md9 said:

Self defence apparently. Because 2 people are going to cause lots of trouble floating in the water on bits of boat that have been blown to pieces 

It will certainly be interesting to hear the justification Hegseth and his boss come to with for this. 

[Jon the Hat]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Then, once more, what word describes some (bolded and italicised for emphasis) of these people, including some that have, or are looking for the power to shape policy?

 

Pragmatists? Concerned citizens? Tribalists?

 

Genuine question, because I really would like less cause to worry about a rather horrible future. 

 

They are opportunists.  I don't think half of them believe anything they say, they just want publicity and money.  

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

They are opportunists.  I don't think half of them believe anything they say, they just want publicity and money.  

There may be something in that. 

 

Not sure it makes the results of what they do any less potentially (and actually) severe, though. 

[Md9]

21 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Then, once more, what word describes some (bolded and italicised for emphasis) of these people, including some that have, or are looking for the power to shape policy?

 

Pragmatists? Concerned citizens? Tribalists?

 

Genuine question, because I really would like less cause to worry about a rather horrible future. 

 

It will certainly be interesting to hear the justification Hegseth and his boss come to with for this. 

They will blame someone else that was with them and absolutely nothing will happen to them no doubt as they seem to lie and get away with what ever they want. 
not sure they can justify blowing up drug boats the pardoning someone that has been out in jail for drugs but they will find a way to .

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Md9 said:

They will blame someone else that was with them and absolutely nothing will happen to them no doubt as they seem to lie and get away with what ever they want. 
not sure they can justify blowing up drug boats the pardoning someone that has been out in jail for drugs but they will find a way to .

Oh, it's patently obvious that they are liars and hypocrites. However, it appears that even Repub Congress members are looking at this one a bit dimly, which is something. 

[Md9]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Oh, it's patently obvious that they are liars and hypocrites. However, it appears that even Repub Congress members are looking at this one a bit dimly, which is something. 

It does seem like a few more people are starting to call them out on stuff slowly so fingers crossed something gets done about reining them in. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, foxes1988 said:

 

 

This site generally seems slightly left leaning to me rather then particularly right leaning.

 

I think in general good news doesn't get the attention it should or that it use to thanks to algorithms and social media and the bad news sells nature of 'MSM'.

 

There definitely is a difference the way Labour is reported on and judged compared to the Tories though.  Some of that is that the left isn't happy and it's idealistic nature means they tend to complain about their side more then the right complains about there side however this Labour government being as unpopular as the last Tory government and quickly as that happened show the difference that labour face in the reporting of job it's doing.

 

Labour had one poll showing they were less trusted on the economy then even Liz Truss Tory party which is just mental (although it should be said that public don't trust anyone on the economy in that poll). There are things to criticise Labour on of course but if anyone actually believes that they could trust the Liz Truss Tories over this Labour government then they just have a massive bias against labour and I think again it shows the nature of the political system in the UK generally taking it much easier on the right.

 

Looks like nobody particularly trusts anyone with the economy.

[l444ry]

1 hour ago, danny. said:

But the people being called facists and Nazis aren’t facists and Nazis, are they. It’s just an attempt at slinging insults and it’s doing no good for anyone. 

Better to call them Gullible Fascist Enablers. 

[foxes1988]

28 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Looks like nobody particularly trusts anyone with the economy.

Yeah I did add that tbh.  Obviously the incumbents are always going to judged harder then the alternatives at that time.

[danny.]

24 minutes ago, l444ry said:

Better to call them Gullible Fascist Enablers. 

Can you define what a fascist is, off the top of your head?

[danny.]

7 minutes ago, foxes1988 said:

Yeah I did add that tbh.  Obviously the incumbents are always going to judged harder then the alternatives at that time.

100%. Labour were always going to be screwed because the Tories spent the best part of a decade and a half screwing up the economy and leeching as much money to their mates as possible. There was an argument that lockdowns exacerbated this, which is probably fair, but then every country had to deal with this. There is no way that can be undone in months or years.

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, danny. said:

100%. Labour were always going to be screwed because the Tories spent the best part of a decade and a half screwing up the economy and leeching as much money to their mates as possible. There was an argument that lockdowns exacerbated this, which is probably fair, but then every country had to deal with this. There is no way that can be undone in months or years.

Exactly. 

 

And couple that with a culture that seems to be going ever more towards wanting instant solutions rather than long term patience, and what you get is what we have. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, foxes1988 said:

Yeah I did add that tbh.  Obviously the incumbents are always going to judged harder then the alternatives at that time.

Yeah, I also imagine the Conservatives being liked re: financial policy to a very high degree in Jan 2021 might have something to do with most people getting a free handout for months the year previously.

 

I had to work for mine

 

[l444ry]

1 hour ago, danny. said:

Can you define what a fascist is, off the top of your head?

A political system based on a powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country and race, and which political opposition is not allowed. 

[foxes1988]

48 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Yeah, I also imagine the Conservatives being liked re: financial policy to a very high degree in Jan 2021 might have something to do with most people getting a free handout for months the year previously.

 

I had to work for mine

 

It should have been pretty obvious after Austerity, Lack of government infrastructure investment, Brexit and Covid but yeah there is definitely a degree of the public 'catching up' with the state of our finances.

 

With our debt the Truss budget was about the worst thing we could have done at the time. Luckily Hunt and now Reeves have managed to reverse a lot of that now and hopefully our government borrowing costs will come down a bit.

 

Edited 2 December 2025 by foxes1988