Politics Thread!

[Harlequin]

The Daily Fail lied out of its arse to the public because it wanted cash.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... nsons-aide

Covid inquiry: Daily Mail wanted people back at work to revive sales – Johnson aide

Document reveals James Slack’s messages about article prompted concern from Matt Hancock
Boris Johnson’s top media official said the Daily Mail’s rush to get people working in offices during the first Covid lockdown came from being “desperate” to sell newspapers, according to documents released to the official inquiry.
James Slack said a Mail headline in April 2020 predicting masks could allow people to return to work was spurred by a desire to revive their circulation figures. He had previously been the paper’s political editor before working for Johnson in No 10.

At which point in that article is it claimed that the paper lied, from its arse or anywhere else?

[Deckard]

Made me laugh from Apple Insider

The UK has had the bright idea that Apple and others should design a way to stop cellphone thefts — by doing precisely what they've already been doing for years.
There are children starving in the UK, school and theater buildings are literally crumbling, and the government has abandoned a high speed rail effort after spending 14 years and $121 billion on it. Seemingly unable to even address genuine concerns in the country, the UK has been repeatedly trying to look tough by cracking down hard on technology issues it does not understand.

London mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan (London) Police chief Sir Mark Rowley have called for a meeting with these Big Tech firms. The companies will be asked to commit to a plan to "design out" cellphone thefts.

"This meeting is an important milestone to developing a practical and long-term solution to ending the menace of mobile phone crime," said Khan, "which we know is driving violence and criminality in our communities - not just in London but across the UK."

It follows a reported rise in phone thefts of 28% over the last year. Unusually, the percentage figure is for once accompanied by some data: 157 cellphones were stolen each day in London.

The idea is that cellphone manufacturers could make it so that, for instance, phones are worthless when stolen. Perhaps the companies could make the phones so that they can't be unlocked except by the owner.

Like they are now. So, presumably it's going to be a short meeting.

[KlaxonCow]

At which point in that article is it claimed that the paper lied, from its arse or anywhere else?

Failing to disclose your vested interest is to defraud by omission.

I call that lying. Fraud and conscious deception is lying.

But you can call it by whatever weasel words you want, though, if it makes you feel better.

[PFVA]

Meanwhile elsewhere in the world,

in Brazil Bolsonaro got his first conviction for abuse of power, etc, etc, and he cannot run for elections for 8 years. It's a start.


And here, a study that will be published tomorrow finds that the number of homeless people in the country has increased by 80% in the last 4 years. I can see that. The price of housing specially in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto has rocketed into the sky.

[PFVA]

Big scandal regarding corruption with the contracts of exploration of Lithium. They are searching the homes of some members of the government and a private company.

Of course the center right opposition wants to bring down the center left government. The thing is the corruption won't change. I'm getting old...

[PFVA]

I have been doing a few things around the house meanwhile the 'Big Political Crisis' goes on on the news channels. I just walked thru the living room heading to the balcony when a reporter said " The President is going to the Mass at 11:00am". Uau that must be serious, are they appealing to a Higher Power to solve the problem.

Of course he can be going to the mass on a Tuesday for a burial, wedding or something like that. Or to avoid answering the questions of the media that is following him around.

If I understand anything of this it has something to do with the closing of the coal plant near the Sines Harbour and conversion to green hydrogen and something to do with the export of the lithium.

I have a feeling I'm going to have to go vote again soon. And I always vote for the environment but others always get the majorities.

[Orava]

The King's speech The staff of importance, state sword and the hat that must never be worn, wtf British?

[PFVA]

Well the PM will be resigning in a short while (according to CNN-Por who somehow already knows what he is going to say before his speech)

My curiosity is if all of this means the lithium exploration in the NE of the country is off or if it's going to be given to another company as the current one is in the center of all this. Since I'm not fond of the idea of them making a mess of that area I a kind of like the idea. I doubt though, they'll find a way, if not with this company with some other.

[Orava]

Smok8ng a good idea or restricting your liberties ?

[Harlequin]

Smok8ng a good idea or restricting your liberties ?

I like the concept of gradually raising the legal tobacco age. In practice, although I am amused by the image of forty year olds hanging around outside shops asking pensioners to buy some fags for them, I feel it would be unlikely to have much effect on overall public health.

As for liberties, do not all laws restrict them?

[gilesgoat]

Smok8ng a good idea or restricting your liberties ?

I like the concept of gradually raising the legal tobacco age. In practice, although I am amused by the image of forty year olds hanging around outside shops asking pensioners to buy some fags for them, I feel it would be unlikely to have much effect on overall public health.

As for liberties, do not all laws restrict them?

I think this is one of the shittest ideas ever .. and a worrying one too .. I guess we'll get the point where tobacco will become like any other illegal drug with all the usual consequences

[Kelloggs]

re: Smoking. I think (as does a smoking friend of mine) that it's a good idea, from a first principle of "smoking's bad, mkay?" which, given what goes into cigarettes that's there for reasons other than enjoying the tobacco, is something I agree with. However, I would also stand by the principle of individual choice on the matter, were it not for the nicotine (and whatever other addictive chemicals...) therein, which mitigates against it being the choice of the individual. This way, though, no-one has anything taken away from them that they currently have, except for potential future choices - to which I can only say, "Tory's gonna Tory".

A separate rant, if I may. I don't watch much news (and I steer clear of Sky like the plague - Murdoch's getting no money from me if I can help it) but I noticed on YouTube's "Headlines" section a screenshot of a Sky News piece with someone waving a "Not My King" banner. This, as far as I can remember, is an American Democrat phrase from Domald Trump's election ("Not My President") which seems to have infected some over here as well, but I just think that's utterly daft. The King is, until something changes, an integral part of The United Kingdom (yes, it's even in the name) and no-one who lives here has a choice in it. It's Not Your King, but it's Everybody's King. What are you going to protest next? "Not My Inland Revenue"? "Not My Rain"? Both are, arguably, more inconvenient - and for most people's daily lives, these are nothing more than inconveniences, if they rise to even that level of importance. This, I consider, is Stupid - and we need less Stupid, not more.

[Orava]

I see a business opportunity here being cigs and selling then to younger people.

[Orava]

The current political situation is developing to a proper shitstorm

[gilesgoat]

re: Smoking. I think (as does a smoking friend of mine) that it's a good idea, from a first principle of "smoking's bad, mkay?" which, given what goes into cigarettes that's there for reasons other than enjoying the tobacco, is something I agree with. However, I would also stand by the principle of individual choice on the matter, were it not for the nicotine (and whatever other addictive chemicals...) therein, which mitigates against it being the choice of the individual. This way, though, no-one has anything taken away from them that they currently have, except for potential future choices - to which I can only say, "Tory's gonna Tory".

A separate rant, if I may. I don't watch much news (and I steer clear of Sky like the plague - Murdoch's getting no money from me if I can help it) but I noticed on YouTube's "Headlines" section a screenshot of a Sky News piece with someone waving a "Not My King" banner. This, as far as I can remember, is an American Democrat phrase from Domald Trump's election ("Not My President") which seems to have infected some over here as well, but I just think that's utterly daft. The King is, until something changes, an integral part of The United Kingdom (yes, it's even in the name) and no-one who lives here has a choice in it. It's Not Your King, but it's Everybody's King. What are you going to protest next? "Not My Inland Revenue"? "Not My Rain"? Both are, arguably, more inconvenient - and for most people's daily lives, these are nothing more than inconveniences, if they rise to even that level of importance. This, I consider, is Stupid - and we need less Stupid, not more.

Could it be a call to reject totally monarchy once for all ?

Some states in the past did ...