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dippyhippy

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Everything posted by dippyhippy

  1. Hi Colin, thanks for the update on your thoughts. This is not about anti - corruption, it's about government having control of the judiciary system. That is what is corrupt, which is why so many are protesting on the streets. I guess you get the government that's voted - which is why I campaign against austerity, and why the left/centrist are protesting against this. With media and the judiciary under government control, this isn't a forward thinking step. Populist, isolationist policies may have seen them gain power, but how soon will any power be taken from the people? A return to an authoritarianism rule is only going to go one way. Not good news.
  2. Hi Frank, check out an article called "The Labour Can't Be Trusted With The Economy Myth.' It will open your eyes to an uncomfortable truth to all those who unquestioningly swallow Tory lies. The picure on the front page - which is the clearest - shows very little mess as far as I can see. In fact, compared to the many images we have on Hereford Voice of weeds, litter and the like, it looks positively gleaming. Granted we have an eyewitness who, whilst on the bus, saw paper blowing around on a windy day. (This is obviously completely shocking in a city as neat and tidy as Hereford, and would therefore appear to be good grounds for the flurry of abusive comments about the lady in question, by some contributors to this thread.) As I said - we don't know the full story. I just don't understand why some folks can't keep their spiteful remarks to themselves. Enjoy what's left of Sunday!
  3. I agree for the most part with that. Nobody wants to see fraudulent benefit claims - my point being that it is a tiny amount, 0.7%. Tax dodgers cost the economy far, far more. Get the receipts in for the tax, then there will be money to sort out the rest, without further penalising the vulnerable. Believe me, the vulnerable have already been punished enough under this government.
  4. Hello Frank. Here's a reality check for you. There are people in this country who ' work hard and try to better themselves' who cannot afford a roof over their heads. There are nurses using food banks, and schools requesting parents provide toilet paper for pupils to use. Thank you for noticing that I go against the opinion of the majority of contributors on here. I'm left and proud. I take full ownership of my values. Do you own your right wing opinions? Do you take ownership of what years of austerity have done to the most vulnerable? We do have something in common though, Frank. I too work hard and have a house. The difference being that I don't begrudge others in a less privileged position having the same. We all need a home. (PS - I don't think you're a 'bad guy', I just don't agree with a lot of your political views.)
  5. Hi K Butt, I would have thought the answer was simple - just do the maths. Sort out tax evasion first.
  6. Hi Colin, it all comes down to politics in the end doesn't it? Here we have a Polish government, whose minister in charge of security was serving a suspended sentence for abuse of power and slander, when given his position. A Senate who are hell bent on removing any sense of impartiality or independence of its judiciary system, and who have already increased state oversight of the media. I see faint echoes in this country, with legal advice now only truly available for those who can afford it, and a mostly right wing main stream media. It is my view that extreme right wing narratives are becoming common place, and they do need to be countered. Polish people that I work with see this government as regressive. I agree. Perhaps this is going off on a tangent, but it would be foolish to think you can discuss a subject involving disability and there not to be political points to be made.
  7. Morning Colin, These are the governments own figures. I'm pretty sure if they could get away with massaging the figure upwards - they would. It would help to perpetuate the myth that Britain is full of scrounges. Figures released in the last six months, show that at the very most , fraudulent claims cost £1.3 billion - to put that figure into context, the figure for missing corporation tax receipts, is £120 billion. Estimates put the number of staff employed chasing fraudulent claims at ten times the amount chasing tax dodgers. Does that make any sense to you? Programmes such as Benefits Street do nothing to help reveal the truth. Now labelled 'Poverty Porn' they seem to be fulfilling their brief of outraging those who have no interest in understanding what the true picture is like for the many who are struggling. 'Tar them all with the same brush' would appear to be the plan. My question about the recent Senate vote is not to do with Polands refusal to take refugees - I seem to recall that has been discussed previously.....I have no wish to repeat past disagreements! This is, as I said, about government having control of the Supreme Court and Judiciary System. As stated, I do not recognise this as being democratic in any way, shape or form. I would be interested to hear if this is considered a backward step - which is why I directed that question specifically to Irena. Have a great Sunday!
  8. Evening Colin. The governments own figures show that just 0.7 % of benefit claims are fraudulent - this is a minuscule amount when you look at those companies who are dodging their tax bills. A whopping £10 billion is unclaimed in benefits. The elderly, those on low incomes and carers, are prime examples of groups who do not claim, because as a society, we are stigmatising them. On a separate note, I'd be interested to hear Irena's view on Polands right wing government. The senate have just voted to put the Supreme Court and judicial system under government control. This is seen by many as a step towards authoritarianism. As in, do as we say, don't question and don't think for yourself. Surely this must be viewed as very much a backward step? It certainly isn't a form of democracy that I recognise.
  9. Agreed Bobby. I'm pretty sure that nobody commenting on here knows the full story. Yet so many feel the urge to demean, demonise and vilify in their posts. It is truly depressing when one comment suggests that Russia - with it's record of human rights abuses - would be better placed to deal with this lady. It's a sad state of affairs when folk feel they can post threats, and barely anybody condemns their words. I hope all of the 'I'm alright Jacks' on here, never have the misfortune to find themselves on the fringes of society....or they might just find themselves the subject of a Hereford Voice thread, being given a public mauling.
  10. Good to read your thoughts, Bobby. I discussed this thread with my brother in law - who hails from Poland. He is old enough to remember life pre 1989. His take is that the disabled population is hidden. He says that unless you are in a large town/city, disabled access - such as dropped kerbs, ramps etc. - is woefully inadequate, and many people with physical disabilities can be prisoners in their own homes. He tells me that although attitudes towards the disabled are changing - and he notes that those with learning disabilities in particular, can be treated in a pretty dismal way - there is still a long way to go. We discussed at length, those horrific images which appeared on our TV screens not that long ago, of orphanages in Romania, where children born with a disability were tied to cot rails and more or less left. There was no point in crying - they had learnt that all too often,nobody came to comfort them. There are countries where the disabled are not seen as equal. Those countries have and are making progress in the right direction, but it will be some time before disability rights are where they should be. To those who view holders of blue badges 'scammers' or seem to think that the majority of those in receipt of disability benefits in the UK are playing the system, I'd put money on the fact that those people would happily hand back those badges/benefits for a life that hasn't been shaped by disability and tainted by people's prejudices towards them.
  11. Good work, Mr 47. And don't forget, there are also showers and toilets aplenty at the newly refurbished Shire Hall. Bought and paid for by the tax payer...I see no reason why any citizen wild camping shouldn't make use of these facilities. Also of note, are the much improved Herefordshire Housing HQ. With their much vaunted 'Breakout Space.' (If memory serves me correctly - this vision required some 'outside the box thinking.' I'm sure anybody finding themselves 'outside, in a tent' will appreciate the shed loads spent on this venture.) On a more serious note, I hope that whoever this is, gets the help and support they need. Clearly residing on the roundabout cannot be a viable solution to their housing needs.
  12. Good grief! This is the second post in a row that I've agreed with you, Paul. Stop it at once!
  13. Paul, that genuinely made me chuckle! Great response. (Bells and sticks at the ready!) Bobby, terrific post - I could not have summed up the replies to this thread better. Pete - agreed. That said, I don't regret posting a single word!
  14. Ah. Sarcasm. T'is the very lowest form of wit, Paul. If I may respond to a point you made in post number 45, I will never - and I mean never - support this, or indeed any Tory government. I'm pretty sure there are a fair few who share this view. I don't know. These bloomin' looney lefties are everywhere now Paul. They'll soon be playing the tune that you'll find yourself dancing to.
  15. And the hate just keeps on coming from some quarters doesn't it? Tell me, just what is this "elephant in the room" which has been alluded to? On second thoughts - don't bother. I don't think I could stomach the response.
  16. Hello Bobby, to my mind, no it's not a preposterous idea.(And lovely to speak with you my friend.) The decision makers have never been so out of touch with the man in the street. The gentrification of London continues - forcing out the working class, and the divide between the wealthy and the poor has never been so great. That divide is brought into stark contrast when you look at Kensington and Chelsea. The bottom line is, this tragedy was completely avoidable. The Conservative council,sitting on millions in reserves, could not even respond to this horrific event. Jeremy Corbyn speaks sense. He speaks for the working class. He speaks for the many, not the few.
  17. The tragedy at Grenfell Towers, made me weep. This blog post, by Charlie Dickinson, spoke volumes to me..... "First they came for the unions, and you said : they are ruining the country. Then they came for the gay community, and you said : best keep that sort of thing out of schools. Then they came for The City, and you said : The Big Bang will free us up to spend. Then they came for the council houses, and you said : property owning democracy. Then they came for telecoms, and you said : it's good to talk. Then they came for the mutual building societies, and you said : £1000. in shares? Bring it on. Then they came for the safety regulations, and you said : too much red tape for small businesses. Then they came for the railways, for ship building, the dock yards, the steel industry, and you said : sad, tired, out of date - time for a new direction. Then they came for the council houses again, and you said : my Mum bought hers....loadsa money. Then they came for benefits, and you said : bloody scroungers, sitting in all day watching Tricia on a big TV. Then they came for the immigrants, and you said : about bloody time. Then they came for Sure Start, and you said : well, our kids had things proper tough. Then they came for councils, and you said : we have to live within our means. Then they came for libraries, and you said : books are so last century. Then they came for The Arts Council, and you said : who watches this crap anyway? Give me Andrew Lloyd Webber any day. Then they came for the sports centres and swimming pools, and you said : we're fine at The David Lloyd, thank you very much. Then they came for students, and you said : about time they paid their way. Then they came for schools, and you said : well our Academy is fine, actually. Then they came for the Primary schools, and you said : the problems lie with the parents really. Then they came for council houses again, and you said : there's nothing wrong with getting the 'right people' in. Then they came for bedrooms, and you said : why do these people need so much space? Then they came for disability, and you said : everyone needs to try to work. Then they came for the NHS, and you said : of course it will still be free - we just need to move with the times. Then they came for the Police, and you said : just scaremongering tactics. Then they came for the fire service, and you said : well, pretty much the same. Then Grenfell Tower burned down, and you said : " Oh dear God. Those poor souls. How could this have happened?" These words summed up for me, why we are where we are. This cannot be allowed to continue. When are folk going to realise - austerity is killing people. Things must change.
  18. I'm so very sorry to hear that news, my friend. I had genuinely hoped that this situation could have had a happier outcome. You threw everything at it - but unless both parties were prepared to put this effort in, it couldn't have been resolved. PM me if you need a chat.
  19. Hi Glenda, yes, this information was posted by Aylestone Voice last month. The consultation day was very interesting. The plans as they stand, are to keep the original and beautiful façade of the building. It will become 82 units of much needed social housing. To me, this is the very best solution. If the façade - and therefore the character of the building - can be incorporated, this will preserve a part of Hereford's cultural history. Personally, I'm delighted at this proposal. It has made the battle to prevent it being demolished worthwhile. Time to start a new chapter for The Working Boys Home.
  20. Evening Colin! Hope all is well with you??? Would it be worth moving the dozen or so comments across to this thread? I think folks were posting before they were aware you had started this one!
  21. Hi Glenda, this information has already been added to the original thread. Alan Sheldon abstained. There are quite a few comments already about this, but they are all on Megillelands original one.
  22. Ah. Phillips. Well and truly back into the bosom of the family....
  23. Posting simultaneously again, Denise! Can't believe Chris Chappel.....'Every South Wye resident will benefit.' Really Chris?? Really? I know plenty who beg to differ. He also states the SLR will take South Wye out of deprivation. It's a road Chris. But not one constructed with yellow bricks. The Wizard doesn't exist, and they'll be no pot of gold somewhere over the rainbow either. There will however, be : vast destruction of beautiful countryside, ancient woodland and Jean's garden. It will not solve Hereford's traffic issues. If anything, it will make them worse.
  24. Vote passed in favour of the SLR. Twelve for, Four against. One abstention. So much for listening to the evidence. I really hope this decision get's challenged.
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