Floods

[happy daze john in oz]

We saw the devastation of the UK floods whilst away, I felt so sorry for all those effected by it. There you are in floods whilst down here in Oz we ae in drought, makews no sense. Even south island of NZ in drought now. I just hope no lives were lost in all of the flooded areas.

[John Arton]

The government has pledged 40 million to Yorkshire to improve its flood defences.
It has also pledged 4 billion of foreign aid to improve floodd defences is---

PAKISTAN.

nuff said, we will never have a government that looks after our own before others, be it Conservative, Labour, Liberal or whatever.
Like Brian says, I despair.
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

As the EU has been mentioned quite a bit in this post, are you getting the same readout in your National papers as the rest of the world is. Jan 14th. 2016, the headlines on the front page is " Britain moves closer to an EU exit." On page 11 a very extreme small article titled Farage escapes death after his car is sabotaged. He says it was an assassination attempt. The nuts on all four wheels of his car had been tampered with. He has also received death threats. The main story is that the PM has freed up members of his cabinet to support publicly the outcome they prefer. I certainly hope Farage hasnt been scared off by the attempt on his life. It will finish up dirtier as one gets closer to the referendum. Cheers JS PS just looking through this weeks paper again and see they have put in my remarks about their journalist who wrote a not very good picture of Masonry. They have been whats the word again to also put my address so all the dick heads of the world can reply. Nobody can tell me that what the press comes out with is at times not calculated viciousness. Cheers JS The paper is the International Express. Letters Page. JS

[j.sabourn]

Sorry the word viciousness is incorrect, should be smoothness or craftiness. Viciousness is a bit harsh. JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

PRESS, don't you love em! headlines again, wrong again. Cameron expects all members to toe the Party Line, until, and only until, all current negotiations with the EU have come to an end in June 2016, after that date they will be allowed to vote as 'they' see fit, note not as their electorate see fit, we will not have that privilege until the referendum, still muted (at this time) for 2017 date as yet unknown, however the sooner the better, as we still have some do gooders, bankers, politicians, leading public figures (unaffected by any influx) who wish to sink this island nation by loading it with more immigrants whilst mother nature is eroding the coast line on all coasts making it smaller and thus the possibility of making it impossible to have any open spaces to live.

[John Pruden]

seeing that the eu put the blocks on dredging the rivers it may well be a vote as soon as possible so we can govern ourselves again and not wait for a foreigner to tell us that we can try and stop the flooding's every winter you could not make this up!!!! jp

[John Arton]

The U.K. is one of the biggest contributors to the EU budget and in return receives a "rebate" on its contributions. Now do not ask me what this rebate is as to understand how the EU and its finances work would take a lifetime of reading to even grasp the basics.
Within the EU budget there is a disaster fund that can be accessed by member states in the event of a natural disaster hitting them. This fund is there to supposedly help repair infrastructure, homes etc. damaged by these natural disasters.
So the recent floods that have hit the U.K. causing wide spread damage to our infrastructure and homes was caused by a natural disaster so GREAT, lets apply to this EU disaster fund to assist in repairing roads/bridges/homes etc. damaged by this natural disaster.
Well no-
Say we apply for £100 million from this disaster fund to assist in the required repairs,
how much would we receive, £100 million?
NO
We would receive 1/3rd of that with the remaining 2/3rds having to be repaid to the EU due to the terms of the U.K. "rebate".
You couldn't make it up if you tried.
A large majority of the U.K. are aware of the costs and stupidity of EU regulations (but not the details) such as restrictive employment laws, "straight" bananas, no borders so all and sundry can wander free willed anywhere and claim benefits etc. in any country they choose at the expense of that countries citizens yet ALL our politicians try to ignore (or change) the will of the general population by spouting meaningless platitudes about either how they are going to change things for the better or how well off we are as members of a European Federation of member states.
All of these politicians have grown up in a comfortable world where politics for them is a business and not a calling and most of them have half an eye on the gravy train of expenses etc. that come with all the so called benefits of being a member state along with turning a blind eye to the levels of incompetence and corruption that goes on within the various ruling bodies in the EU state.
They all seem to have forgotten the huge sacrifice that millions of Britain's made some 70 years ago to ensure that we actually could even think about forming a group of nations into a peaceful coalition of countries.
What needs to be done is to rip up all of the EU and start again making it what it was first envisaged as, A FREE TRADE AREA where goods can move freely and easily between countries yet each country is free to set its own laws according to its own traditions and heritage, its own social state etc. whilst at all times allowing its citizens the respect they are due.
Will it happen?
Will it sh*te, they are too interested in feathering their own nests.
rgds
JA

[happy daze john in oz]

The more I read on site about EU the more I understand just hwo stupid it all is. Why would any country want to give up it's border control, be told waht to do by some faceless men in another country? Give more into the system than it gets out and still be told what to do, when and how! UK pays billions in foreign aid, some no doubt to EU, yet gets little in return. The concept of a common market or free trade agreement such as Oz has with a number of countries is fine but to be dictated to by others, not on!!!!!

[Jim Brady]

John A #37 re;Disaster Fund. I have heard quite a few commentators saying Cameron wont apply for this fund as he doesn't want tobe seen as having to rely on the EU they obviously don't know the in's and out's of it as you have explained.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John Arton]

John A #37 re;Disaster Fund. I have heard quite a few commentators saying Cameron wont apply for this fund as he doesn't want tobe seen as having to rely on the EU they obviously don't know the in's and out's of it as you have explained.
Regards.
Jim.B.

Jim B
Cameron refused to access the disaster fund because of what I wrote. Having to pay back 2/3rds of any monies received from that fund makes it a stupid idea to even consider accessing the fund
rgds
JA