Pieman Pieface

Companies like this are in SERIOUS trouble. The bottom has fallen right out of the phone market now everyone has realised upgrading their phone every year is pointless. These companies thought they were running a little goldmine but in reality they are incredibly fragile. If everyone gets a SIM only deal in the future then their profits drop off a cliff. And that is what is going to happen. Thats why they are all scrabbling for new markets and products to sell to make money, but it won't work, the days of consistent mobile innovation are over, now the newest iphone is basically the same as a 3 year old one, except with an imperceptively better camera and some random feature you didn't want and don't need.

Funnily enough just started reading this book myself. Personally I like Murray, I think he puts his points across on the whole in a sensible measured manner. I might put more thoughts down when I have finished the book. So far its quite depressing and hard to get through. My own personal experience is that there is a severe problem with Ghettoisation in the UK, whole areas of London for instance are completely devoid of a white english presence. Having said that, I grew up in a very multicultural area of London and many of my friends are 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants. They are as much culturally british as I am, even those who grew up in Muslim backgrounds. I know very many 1st generation eastern europeans, who i would consider friends, culturally they are european and there is very little difference between them and me. There is definitely a problem with the integration of some immigrants, I don't think anyone can deny that. I'm not sure about his correlation with terrorism however as on the whole most terrorist incidents are not caused by migrants.

I'm going to have to assume that they have been given rather a large sum from their parents because even that mortgage isn't going to get them much.

I'd say the major reason is that the perception of the UK property market as a safe place to hold your cash is quickly falling apart. At the top end foreign investors are starting to wobble on the issue, finding other places to put their dodgy money, money isn't flooding out of places like Russia and China at quite the same rate as it was. I think this perception is due to a number of factors. Brexit being a big one, not so much the immediate effects, but the idea that Brexit could screw the British Economy is more than enough to make people worried. There are also too many voices saying that something has to be done to balance the economy and get money away from people hiding it in their homes, must worry some people. The BTL changes have been great as well, clearly many LL's are changing their minds about their lifestyles now.

I asked this on the other thread, but do we think that her having a smaller majority will have a genuine affect on the Brexit negotiations, and if so, what is the likely outcome?

I guess my question is more 'what would be the best outcome in terms of Brexit in this election'

So what is everyones opinion on who to vote for to get the best outcome from Brexit? I'm very split. I feel like in some ways it makes sense to vote Tory to give may a big majority so that she goes into negotiations without having to look over her shoulder, so she can come out with a better deal. This however might be a complete nonsense of a concept, and she'll go hard brexit anyway. I'm personally all for stopping FoM, but less happy about crashing the economy to do it. Or vote tactically for Corbyn or Lib Dems. Policy wise I'm ok with many of their views, but for me Brexit is the most important issue this election (see as it doesn't matter about what happens to the NHS if the country goes down the toilet), but I don't think their views on Europe are helpful.

some good news at last.

How is that different to anyone else in French Society?

Clearly she is a traitor for daring to criticise Putin publicly for his appalling record on gay rights and democracy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/02/angela-merkel-vladimir-putin-russia-investigate-lgbt-torture-claims-chechnya

No I honestly don't believe there is. Unless I pay them more than the Russians do then it's pointless

Snowden who is currently being held by Putin? Sure ok. By the way, when will you admit who you work for?

Russia might not have directly affected voter numbers ( debatable) but they certainly interfered in the US election in a number of ways. Hacking Clinton for one, as well as its propaganda war against her and support for those who were against her. You can see very similar things in the French election. Macron openly criticised Putin and was suddenly caught up in a sex scandal that he attributes to Russian efforts to discredit him. Putin has been funding Le Pen and her like for years as well. If you need to know Russias opinion on the election just read Errols post as he is vlads mouthpiece

You don't need to be physically changing votes to be manipulating elections.

Again more Russian mis information. But you know keep trying. In fact the investigation was blocked because there is already an investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the incident, which has already stated there was incontrovertible evidence that Sarin gas was used in the attack. You must be so very proud that your country is covering up these genocidal attacks.

You deny he's interfered in foreign elections around the world then, especially the French election?

It's also been engineered by Putin but I guess he didn't win this time

Let's be plain here. There is a big difference between being sceptical of what you read in the MSM and believing everything is a complete lie. I think we are firmly in the tin foil hat category around here. I'm glad you are ok with that.

I don't need to even say anything here do I.

Yep, but not a racist which is plus ten points over Le Pen

When was the last time a British prime minister had a political opponent assassinated or thrown in jail? Or in the US? How come you can post critical atracks on western governments here without fear of being thrown into jail? Thats the difference. All countries essentially have the same goal and often the same methods but the difference is we can vote out our governments, we can chastise them and make changes. Putin has eliminated democracy in his own country and can basically do whatever he wants without worrying about what his citizens think. So if I had to pick one of those devils then clearly the western ones are the ones I'd go for.

But at least he's not a fascist and a racist.

That makes sense, but I think that is simply trying to put a brave face on what is clearly a crippling situation for Putin and has put him under real pressure. If it was a good thing, then Putin wouldn't have been pulling out all the stops to cripple the EU and get them to relax the sanctions.

Again I'm not defending Western Governments exactly, but if it came down to a choice between a brutal dictatorship that openly murders its opponents, has a lying propaganda arm (which seemingly posts here looking at this forum) and untouchable by any form of free speech or democracy, and a overly aggressive western government that at the very least has some semblance of a free society, open democracy and a free press. None of it may be perfect but at least we are allowed to complain about it and try and change things. The mentality that you don't like some of the west actions and so therefore Russia is better is one of the most mindblowing going around here, Chomskyism at its worst. In the same breath, while there is certainly a western media campaign to highlight the actions of Russia and paint them in a poor light, that doesn't mean Russia are somehow innocent or 'the good guys'.

Hmm, so it seems that Russia is backing Le Pen then. Thanks for clearing that up @Errol