Bring back BR!?

You must have a short memory OTE!

Once again "either or" seems to be the only proposal . How about running the business as it should be ? Can't be that hard as other Countries seem to have an efficient rail service , so why don't we ?

What, you'd rather have the economy run like dear old Mr Baldwin did it back in the 1930s? Or perhaps how good old Supermac managed in the 1950s? Classic Tory policy, borrow and spend, then let Labour try to sort out the mess left behind.

Sorry, Turin Machine, one day you'll also understand it's only your top boss or your financier who gets to cruse round the Med. Read Mrs T's favorite economics tutor, Hayek, it's all there.

So, old son, the outlook is pretty bleak, be nice to Newres, he may be the charity worker looking after your ward.

I quite agree; it seems to be a unique British disease. Full nationalisation by centralisation isn't the only alternative model by a long chalk, indeed for any of the 'nationalisations' - even what people see as good ones like BBC.

Ironically, as far as the railways are concerned, they had been run as private firms, who offered the Government a couple of good alternatives but as usual, political ego's on both sides got in the way. BR as we can see now, wasn't brilliant, but as even Tory pundits now realise, it was better than the inept arrangements we have now.

BRs chronic lack of money wasn't really down to inefficiency or waste. Two things created the issue - first, the massive change in traffic caused by society's move to road transport and the external political pressures that resisted any change even after Beeching and worse, the slieght of hand where a Tory government essentially used the assets for free during the war and renaged on promises to pay.

The 'privatisation' as you rightly say was the other side of political dogma. Not at all about delivering a public service, more, unlocking the assets to enrich others. The quiet selling off of land, rolling stock etc, in the model of the capitalisim 'Sir' Philip Green and Mr Fred Godwin practiced thus made the privatisation 'successful' by that measure. But, please, please, don't imagine that Great Western Railway is remotely concerned with customers, it's just their wallets they want.

Think you'll find it was the last labour government who borrowed up to the hilt and left the country in dept, try to keep up. And it's also Corbyns avowed policy to do the same, thinks it's good to borrow, so your wrong, again. Anyway, not quite the Med, but near, I've already got a house out there, boats not too far off so unless Newres can speak French your proposal is as unlikely as it is uninformed. But that's your forte' again. Oh, and I'm my own boss ta. 😎

Not my view about UK economics old chap, MIT; Johnny Foreigner often has a more detached and thus more objective view. Worth keeping up with World anslysis. I had guessed you were self employed; but your idea of a 'cruising retirement' and mine are radically different. Sorry, I must admit selling up and floating round France in a tiny boat has about as much appeal to me as doing the same in a dormobile. Still, good to know you are still one of us, keep dreaming!

Just Google sealine c330, there's a good chap. I think you'll find that as a leisure accessory it beats a Dormobile. And I will need something to keep me occupied 😂 while I'm not managing the old property portfolio. Still I expect that you're rather limited view on leftonomics can't quite grasp that. And as for labour, remember a little note left for the incoming treasury secretary? "Sorry, there's none left" I do. It's just a shame your horizons are so low you still can't rise above them. 🤣

Yep, remember that joke...did you ever read the rest of the press cutting? It was actually an ironic joke, playing on the real situation in 1964, when Reggie Maudling did the same thing.....but that time it was true, as history demonstrates!

Sorry, the boat does nothing for me, there doesn't even seem to be a bar. Hardly Shemara is it Lord Docker! Surely, you'd have people to manage the portfolio for you whilst you enjoy your retirement? That's what it's about after all.

So, then, I can claim a rather wider and somewhat broader economic horizon than you seem to have managed.

However the borrowing was necessitated because of city greed. Whenever this comes up the accusation is that it’s because Labour failed to regulate. An argument akin to blaming the householder for being burgled for not having the latest burglar alarm. City bankers caused the last recession, not Labour.

No, you can't, put quite simply you as with many other leftist snide commentators can't get your little lefty brain around the concept of personal wealth. So let's turn this on its head shall we? How precisely do you plan to spend your retirement years? Gardening? Little allotment? Shopping on Saturday with wifey? Pint in the snug in the evening in your flat cap with only your seething resentment towards others to keep you company? Your horizons in a nutshell. ��

Oh and yes it does have a bar.

You forgot his 18 holes on a Sunday! Ha ha. On a different note, the sealines quite a decent boat, seen a couple of them on the next pontoon and a vast difference to the s330. If you're doing any extended cruising I would get the twin 220's, safer. I'm still looking to trade up from our much beloved but now slightly dated Hardy 40 as we do less long distance all weather cruising now so hey ho. Be sad when she goes though, bin good.

I'm sure it does have a bar, just like the hotel room I'm in right now!

Oooh, touched a nerve haven't I?

Did you realise that Conservative policy, based on Hayek's theories is Darwinian; survival of the fittest? So, if someone uses deviousness to extract someone else's wealth; its quite fair and reasonable. It's all about choice - let the buyer beware. All fine and dandy, but what about those without the capability to do this, for whatever reason? Hayek agrees a 'safety net' is necessary, but only sufficient to stop this under class physically revolting and injuring the strong. I'm sure you'd go with that, because it's base economics and I have no issue with it either.

However, I do have a massive issue, yes, seething resentment indeed, against what is really legalised theft. Those who have corrupted and manipulated the system for their own ends gulling economically illiterate politicians to support them. The likes of 'Sir' Philip Green, and Fred Goodwin and worse, the holders of office in quango's and such.

Personally, I can think of nothing worse than bobbing about on the sea, in a small boat, even if it is new, where the only break from the monotony is to visit a French bistro. If you want to do that, great, your choice, but please don't think I'm in anyway envious. And as your scheme is by no measure un-affordable by many, I don't see you in the 'rich league' - way to go there!



A worked example.

The local builder who shins up his ladder and convinces an OAP to pay £5 grand for making a few minor repairs on the roof is likely to find himself in gaol for pinching her savings.

Whereas the MD of the firm who takes the Company that pays her pension under, is likely to get a substantial payoff and even an honour for services to industry.

Small points, I don't 'bob' anywhere, I love France and the French, I never said I was rich, you merely inferred that. No, not many people can afford to spend £236k on what is for me a hobby, albeit one I love. And I'm not trying to make anyone envious, merely stating what my desired intentions are. It's you who seem to have a touched nerve, not me. And you still haven't revealed your grand plan for your retirement.

Oh dear!!
Are these boats of which you are so fond powered by "dirty diesels"?!!

Fraid so. except of course these days not so dirty! Good old Volvo penta! Worst thing is, at full chat with full tanks 30 knots? 40 ltrs per hour? Ouch.

These "economically illiterate politicians " wouldn't include dear John 'hang a Tory' McDonnell who couldn't answer the simple question of where the proposed spending was coming from, live on TV the other week?

Frightening isn't it, got chatting to a chap with a 60 footer last summer and he gave a sick grin and confessed he was lucky if he got 1/2 mile per gallon! Per gallon! Which explained why he was tied up on his berth most of the summer.

Really? A good few of my friends and colleagues wouldn't find that difficult at all. In fact, one or two also have hobbies costing just as much. As for me, I collect, and numbers aren't at all difficult for me either.

You are right, though I did draw an implication, I'm not sure I'd be alone in doing that from the response that started this.

Good that you enjoy your hobby and have such an affinity with France; so is your yearning to stay there also fuelled by Brexit?

Been holidaying in France since I was fourteen. Always the plan to move there as soon as she retired a few years yet, still gives me the chance to finish getting the house how we want it. Find a nice mooring near Sete, there's a good stables down the road for the horse.

Which is why I am looking to go down the single 440 route, don't want to spend rest of my life moored against the refuelling pontoon. What are you looking at now?