Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa May appears quite deliberately to be singling out countries whose citizens are normally black or brown – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. They are all citizens with extremely close ties to the UK. For example, all of those countries supplied large numbers of men to British armed forces in two World Wars; with little resulting gratitude.
The true level of Britain’s regard for the Commonwealth is disclosed in all its arrogance; citizenship of the Commonwealth countries with the longest link to the UK will become a positive disadvantage in visa application. Israeli settlers living in Occupied Palestine on the West Bank, incidentally, will still be allowed to enter the UK without any visa at all, despite membership of neither Commonwealth nor EU. Paradoxical, isn’t it?
The measure shows the arrogant British disdain for these countries – of which India pre-eminently but also Ghana are fast growing and important trading partners. Undoubtedly Ghana will retaliate with measures which hurt British businesses; many of my good friends are senior Ghanaian politicians, and they are all furious. The rhetoric the British employ about transformation from colonial status to a modern partnership of equals is exposed for the tissue of lies it has always been. This is a straightforward racist measure, aimed at securing the racist vote to the Tories.
Not does it make any sense. If you are intending to enter the UK under false pretences, and have the intent illegally to settle and start a new life there, then £3,000 is scarcely a deterrent given the substantial economic gains you intend to make over the long period you intend to stay. It will rather seem a good investment; people will find the money. The people it will deter are those who never intended to overstay. The extra cash upfront, to the businessman for a business trip, for the student coming to study, for the tourist will drive them to go elsewhere, to the UK’s net loss.
More cruelly it will deter decent middle class people from coming to see grandchildren in the holidays, from going to the niece’s wedding, from going to graduation. Those things will become the prerogative of the wealthy, those with plenty of cash to spare.
This does nothing to deter illegal immigration. It merely demonstrates populist racism, demonstrates contempt for some of the UK’s best-disposed friends, and demonstrates that the government thinks the right to travel is only for the rich. It is contemptible.
What is the name for someone who is being trolled?
so, back the the nhs and the current associations of racist discrimination –
@ Technicolour (re Morsi and the petition)
Thanks for the links.
But I must say I’m still doubtful. Disinformation and false claims are perhaps not a monopoly of the evil West or the satanic Israelis; perhaps the wily Arab is also a practicioner of these dark arts.
Seriously though, if you calculate on the basis of the figures given in the first link, to get to a figure of 22 million signatures you would have to accept that not only ALL the votes which went against Morsi at the Presidential election signed this petition but also that 10 million of the 25 million voters who did not vote at all in that election were sufficiently stirred to sign. I don’t know whether that’s entirely convincing.
‘back to the nhs’ – drat
“What is the name for someone who is being trolled?”
again, if that is you, mary, this has very little to do with the issues at hand.
“But I must say I’m still doubtful.” – always good. Will dig, when I finish this chunk of work….
HI TC yes i realise Einstein is difficult to understand, but in this case not precisely. If i understand your question precisely, the cue lies in the optical delusion. Nodding off now so more about the NHS tomorrow if you’re around.
Meantime thanks for the daily mash.
Over on media lens and dissident voice there is a great concern and debate raging as to whether FJ will self-destruct at midnight tonight, in the spirit of Y2K.
but whether it is 22 million or 20 million, or 10 – people in Egypt, from my sources, are horrified by what has happened to the people’s revolution, It was taken over by the resident spy chief, as I remember. good grief.
there is another possibility, where the ‘ruling elites’ do not have to be scared of losing, you know.
Technicolour…’very little to do with the matters in hand.’
Not if you are someone who is singled out, picked at and picked upon. Read back a bit. There in black and white.
Mark Steel on Racism, albour and the BNP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UIN1NM7GlE
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@Villager. 3 08pm on “Work for the UN” thread.
“Yes, just more evidence of schizophrenia.
On a serious note, don’t dismiss it easily. But also don’t be disheartened for i believe your objectives are true but your methods are destined to lose. Forget about analysis and narratives and tipping points. Focus on your self so that you may access insights. The only tipping point perhaps is when there comes a critical mass through a change in our collective human consciousness which is different from collective beliefs and ideologies etc.
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/about-krishnamurti/the-core-of-the-teachings.php”
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That’s a peace offering?
First you psycho-analyse me.
Then you diss the stuff I feel deeply to be important. Who the hell gave you the right to tell me what issues to forget?
Then you talk as if I had taken you on as my personal guru. Well thanks a bunch, but no thanks.
WTF entitles you to make such assumptions and give such instructions?
I take the piss when I witness bullying and pompous bullshit. And occasionally with genuine posters who I know can take it in the spirit in which it’s offered. (Thanks Jives, Ben, Technicolour other surviving victims.)
As regards Krishnamurti, I’ve no argument with him and I’m sure he had great wisdom to share. Are you sure he would really have chosen to have you use him to score points?
I’ll happily disengage from your posts if you enter into the spirit of the blog and stop asking for it.
(Sample: Villager
18 Jun, 2013 – 12:00 am
“Kibo don’t venture towards Krishnamurti, not for children.”
Also why do you go bleating continually Jon? He’s shown he’s a big boy, generously doing a rotten job. He’s asked us to allow him to use his judgement. So what if he zaps us now and then, or doesn’t zap those who we would have liked him to? Craig clearly trusts him to do his fallible best.
You know as well as I do that Sofia’s sock-puppetry was continually being flagged by, well, Sofia herself. That was a pretty obvious clue if you ask me. That’s why it was so unintentionally funny when you sought to steal all the credit for working out what everyone had known all the time. And that’s the first time I’ve teased you for that because I felt it would have been cruel.
If you were for a moment deceived into thinking she was offering a real 13.5 year old’s perspective then, I suggest, you need a lot more help than Mr Krishnamurti could ever have given you.
You’ll find Kibo/Sofie’s piss-taking is generally a response to a post. Part of the cut and thrust of threads which, at best, tests to destruction those narratives that you so often seek to shepherd us away from.
Let’s lighten up on the hostilities up by all means. But not at the price of turning the comments section into a kind of sanitized Green Zone, with all the life and humour of a mouldy sponge.
villager, einstein is just normal. i was referring to your peculiar and lengthy plea to the moderator about something completely distracting and different, but carry on, why not.
“Imagine you are a doctor, and someone arrives with a suppurating eye infection. It might not be a life-threatening emergency: it is, however, agonising, debilitating and easily cured. Are others on this board seriously suggesting that that doctor should refuse to treat them?” Technicolour, earlier today.
Totally agree, Technicolour. Anyone in authority who suggests that treatment of a human being should be withheld or premised on ability to pay, or that I even consider requesting proof of insurance will receive a Glasgow Kiss, personally, from me (in line with the Hippocratic Oath).
Useless fucking trolls.
Mind you have managed to get under their skin pretty good, in any opportunity (almost all the time) they are whinging, whining and calling for “mod” to “sir” them so they could delete your posts, and banish you to the four winds.
This is then passed as debate. Although I don’t read any of the wankers’ “contributions” but scrolling past I can see Flaming June said this and said that. June dearest you have my vote, and thanks for your comments, keep up the good work.
Flaming June. 10:30 pm
“What is the name for someone who is being trolled?”
How about an asset to the blog?
@ Technicolour
Is there a contradiction between the British NHS being the best in the world (if true) and the fact that it is also an example of unlimited demand for a product which is free at the point of delivery (and this in a context of finite resources)?
If there is not, then I don’t understand the point you’re trying to make with your post and link.
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BTw I did read your link…and some of the commenbts from readers on the Telegraph’s two year old article. The “best” claim comes from a report from the Commonwealth Fund, which is an American institute apparently favorable to President Obama’s proposed healthcare reforms.
One of the comments I saw however siad, and I quote :
“The Commonwealth Fund report is at variance with analyses of the OECD and the Euro Health Consumer Index, both of which rate the NHS poorly.The difference is that they look at the availability of treatment, outcomes and efficiency” (Habbabkuk note : the Commonwealth Funhd report appears to focus on speed of access to GPs, the coordination of care and number of medical errors))
Mary: “singled out, picked at and picked upon” – yes, it was awful. And I was not the only one to be keeping a close eye. But being supported with vicious if ultimately ineffective insults (Nevermind, Doug Scorgie) made it much harder. I’m sorry that it made it harder to support you.
But can we move on now, perhaps?
Habbakuk, you’ve chosen a few vague things at your leisure. I think you are possibly not connected with anyone poor, or vulnerable, and therefore do not care much about them. That is, of course, your prerogative, The facts though, about the creation of the NHS, its sincere purpose, and the people who have since dedicated themselves to it remain; they humble me. Perhaps not you.
@ Technicolour
Thanks for your latest – and for staying on a subject of substance.
I do think that it would be important to know what the real number was. The reason for saying that is this : it would be reasonable to assume that all of those who voted for candidates other than Morsi would sign the petition – this brings us to a little over 12 million signatories (just under half of the 25 or so million who exercised their vote in the Presidential election).
So if the number of signatories is almost double that number, it is impressive and rather significant. But if nearer 13 or 14 million, then rather less so.
Having said that, I’m sure we’ll never know the real figure.
@ Technicolour
“Habbakuk, you’ve chosen a few vague things at your leisure. I think you are possibly not connected with anyone poor, or vulnerable, and therefore do not care much about them. That is, of course, your prerogative, The facts though, about the creation of the NHS, its sincere purpose, and the people who have since dedicated themselves to it remain; they humble me. Perhaps not you.”
_____________
You’re not that different from the Eminences, are you. When stuck for a reply of substance or out of arguments….make it personal!
in many ways,’knowing the real figure’ is ultimately irrelevant, because many people will not vote, or sign a petition at all. The background truth is that, all around the world, young people ( I think younger than the people on this blog) are rising up in horror, backed by large numbers of everyone else, of whatever age. It doesn’t matter where they live: the issues of environmental pollution, corporate control, totalitarian spying, threats of violence, evidence of murder and torture, are the same.
so do we support them? I say hell, yeah.i want a world where i can face my grandchildren.
No shit Sherlock!
To witness some old fart begrudging another human being relief from pain and agony, because the poor bastard has not the means of paying for any kind of medical care, ought to be a cause for sneering and rage.
The unbelievable mean spirited attitude of some of the contributors, who have been going on record without any shame, will turn any sane and normal human being’s stomach. On one hand there is the bail out of the bankers, costing trillions, which is good for we the people. On the other paying to pull some poor bastards appendix out proves too much for the rich tossers who are running the dog and pony show and calling it democracy.
Mind beggars belief at the inhumanity of the decisions which are being taken in the name of making savings. One hundred billion on Trident, and then some on Aircraft carriers, not forgetting the spies sand fuck knows what else, but make savings through picking on the dying, sick and the poor by not paying their benefits, or claw back their benefits through trumped up bedroom tax charges, and better yet get the “immigrants” ie “illegal asylum seekers” to pay their own way for their way for medical care.
Then even more bizarre is to find certain characters* on this blog approving of these reactionary and weird measures floated by the out of touch and pampered elite.
However the same gubermint has the money for SOCMINT;
Special UK Police Units SOCMINT Watching Your Every Move On Social Media
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* These characters probably used to torture their pet animals in childhood, and during their adolescence, and have since qualified to kick around the “immigrants”. Muslims, and illegal asylum seekers.
“You’re not that different from the Eminences,,,When stuck for a reply of substance or out of arguments….make it personal!”
ouch – and I would try not to hold it against you. but of course things are a bit personal. we are alive and ourselves – and individuals. we all have different fingerprints.
It’s odd, though, that the reality seems to bear out the peaceful majority. As in, there is enough food to go round ( if we weren’t wasting a third of it); there is no need to build drones; endless torture in Guantanamo doesn’t help anyone. I do wonder why that is?
Habbabkuk, it doesn’t take long for false character flaws and imaginary personality traits to be attributed to you when you make an unwelcome observation. Some people call that ad hominem.
I’m sure it will be a nightmare to administrate this bond, but – just to play devil’s advocate – isn’t there a logic to this? Presumably the countries targeted, including Ghana, have low rates of GDP per capita and high rates of visitors absconding? Which won’t be the case for Israel or other more economically successful countries.
Jemand, please don’t attack Habbakuk.
Fedup, always good to read your posts. Who’s the “old fart” you witnessed doing some begrudging? And who the fuck do old people think they are, what with their old age, limited rights and whatnot?
Why can’t they just accept that Generation Yo-Gabba-Gabba are now in charge and want a future where everything is free, people always smile and strangers hug each other in the street and meth-heads are happy and their dealers don’t short them on crystal? Do they even appreciate that Gen Y-GG brought Koni to trial in 2012 for crimes against the Pokemon generation?
I think old people should be put in special prisons where they get ignored by their family – at least until they stop begrudging on others.
A passing snap-shot of defense spending intelligently reveals an interesting consolidated cost.
Military expenditure was £61Bn in 2012 (sipri database)
Current cost of wars £20Bn (Daily Telegraph 20-6-2013) this figure is nearer £30Bn if Libya is included.
The ‘special activities’ special reserve is about £20Bn
GCHQ and intelligence services including signals and spies is approximately £10Bn
Military subsidies, grants to universities engaged in defence, Porton Down, AWE operations, Trident program and NDA activities:
£60Bn at a guess. That is £160Bn folks total. On what? Death?
We spend much less in real terms (public/private claw-backs) on the NHS. Health? Life?
We are consumed by death, by darkness. America and Britain must be the grim reapers; our lives a tomb.
Are you serious? Their economy is a basket case as the constant flow of the US et al “aid” funds into that basket case economy proves.
However if the bond is to be taken at the point of application for visa, and as pointed to the low GDP of the target countries that would automatically blanket stop the would be visitors dead in their tracks from these countries.
Experiencing a senior moment there?
Pitiful, just pitiful a garbled and confused comment, in rebuttal, which discounts the earlier “contribution” and then rips into some bizarre soliloquy of forgetfulness. Although there is a pointed effort to remain relevant and with it:
Fuck me with teachers the likes of you, there is not a strong enough psychotropic drug in existence to relieve the boredom or induce an amnesia of experiencing the tutelage!
However the bitter and twisted hate so palpable and manifested itself proves the earlier contention forwarded with respect to pet animals and childhood.
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Thanks for the figures. The sad fact is, the darkness has consumed some souls to the extent that they no longer can find any compassion in their being for the next pilgrim along, and would rather gleefully enjoy the demise, pain, illness, and agony of others. Sad, and truly disgusting.
NHS budget for this year is £109 billion.
ANNUAL cost of wars in Afghanistan etc is nowhere near £20 bn although the total spent since 2002 is closer to £40 bn. “Military Subsidies”; figure a guess, plucked from thin air.
For your painted Celtic Barbarians.
http://crookedtimber.org/
“Anglo Irish Bank —Ireland’s third-largest bank and the most spectacular exemplar of the Celtic Tiger’s flameout— bet its future on loans to well-connected property developers. O’Toole suggests that “[i]t may be an exaggeration to call Anglo Irish a private bank for Fianna Fáil’s more flamboyant friends—but only a small one.” Not only did Anglo Irish itself invest heavily in the property market, but it lent more than 100 million euros to its chairman (as well as smaller sums to other directors) to speculate in property on his own account, and then hid the loan on its balance sheet through sleight of hand. The Central Bank–based regulator charged with regulating financial services knew about both the loans and the cover-up but declined to act. To borrow University College Dublin economist Morgan Kelly’s term, Anglo Irish was “too connected to fail”—no serious regulatory response was possible.”