tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post1547314810402676362..comments2024-03-29T09:13:55.008+00:00Comments on UK Commentators: Tariffic !Labanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12031578024191117985noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-66528940231717253012009-01-04T22:00:00.000+00:002009-01-04T22:00:00.000+00:00We still manufacture things, yes, but our manufact...We still manufacture things, yes, but our manufacturing is owned by foreign companies, which means the profits ultimately go abroad.<BR/><BR/>The financial sector has no nationality, and as such it is ridiculous that the taxpayer should bailout private companies which have no loyalty to this country.<BR/><BR/>The City wants cheap labour yet also thinks the taxpayer should pay for their bonuses. Their contempt for ordinary people is plain to see.<BR/><BR/>We are being screwed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-41698721125945788422008-12-27T12:13:00.000+00:002008-12-27T12:13:00.000+00:00The Economist is the 'intellectual' cheerleader fo...The Economist is the 'intellectual' cheerleader for globalisation.<BR/><BR/>It's now feeling a bit uneasy because the whole system may well unravel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-32731897078319816252008-12-25T12:58:00.000+00:002008-12-25T12:58:00.000+00:00Notice how massive bailouts for the financial sect...Notice how massive bailouts for the <BR/>financial sector are never denounced as "protectionism" by the mainstream <BR/>press.togohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564696576032840221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-62131406276708681862008-12-24T20:30:00.000+00:002008-12-24T20:30:00.000+00:00I dont like the meme...er meme.Its not without som...I dont like the meme...er meme.<BR/><BR/>Its not without some utility but the degree to which the likes of Dorkins pushes it is going too far down the route of nurture vanquishing nature.<BR/><BR/>That is the paradox that many liberals face. Evolution, rationality is all very well when bashing Christian creationists. When it comes to intractable racial differences they dont want to know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-65453680787690662562008-12-24T13:05:00.000+00:002008-12-24T13:05:00.000+00:00Anon 10:55: Good point. I'd overlooked that.Anon 1...Anon 10:55: Good point. I'd overlooked that.<BR/><BR/>Anon 10:57: Yes. And recently (2006? 2007?) UK car production broke all records, I believe...Not bad for "an industrial wasteland"! (Martin, are you listening?) <BR/><BR/>Anon 10:59: I don't like The Dawk's pseudo-scientific term - meme - for a popular idea, but I sympathise with your question. Where did this bizarre idea spring from? Perhaps Laban and Martin can enlighten us? <BR/><BR/>Granted the UK has gone from being the "workshop of the world" to being a major but second-rank manufacturer, and certain UK communities (who believed they had jobs for life, generously subsidised by the rest of us) have had to feel the pain of the readjustment to economic reality (eg the NE of England, parts of the West Midlands, Lanarkshire), parts of the UK appear economically desolate --- but only because of their lack of enterprise and their culture of welfare dependency.<BR/><BR/>Elsewhere manufacturing has grown steadily and sustainably. So, for example, in Cambs and parts of W Suffolk, new hi-tech manufacturers thrive providing products that the world wishes to buy.<BR/><BR/>So the UK is not "an industrial wasteland". But economic Cassandras, like Martin, will not be deterred: against all the facts they will reiterate their views, I fear. That said, even if Laban's economic perceptions tend to be skewed, his cultural critique is surely spot-on!paul ilchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971581388762736463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-90039633778340408742008-12-24T10:59:00.000+00:002008-12-24T10:59:00.000+00:00Can anybody tell me where this "We don't make anyt...Can anybody tell me where this "We don't make anything anymore" meme first arose?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-65326662435582101862008-12-24T10:57:00.000+00:002008-12-24T10:57:00.000+00:00Honda cars, Toyota cars, Peugeot, Vauxhall Opel, F...Honda cars, Toyota cars, Peugeot, Vauxhall Opel, Ford, BMW Mini. Easily forgotten as they are not "British" - just happens that not only do we make a lot of them, and export them, but we now sell a lot of parts into those "foreign" cars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-88002889412275363282008-12-24T10:55:00.000+00:002008-12-24T10:55:00.000+00:00We sell an awful lot of Radar equipment in a cleve...We sell an awful lot of Radar equipment in a clever little scam. We sell a country a radar, then we sell equipment that can block that radar, then we sell equipment that can get around the blocking of the radar, then we sell something that can disguise stuff from radar, then we sell radar that can get around the disguising of radar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-69905762878563051482008-12-24T09:27:00.000+00:002008-12-24T09:27:00.000+00:00Anon 0830:As far as I can see from an internet sea...Anon 0830:<BR/><BR/>As far as I can see from an internet search, UK defence contractors (eg BAe Systems; Rolls Royce; Smiths; GKN; Qinetiq; Vosper Thorneycroft, Alvis, etc) supply aircraft, artillery, communications/IT/electronics, missiles, naval vessels, ordnance, armoured vehicles, engines, helicopters, and maintenance/professional services.paul ilchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971581388762736463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-46360661112360412032008-12-24T09:15:00.000+00:002008-12-24T09:15:00.000+00:00MartinMy source, which I give at the bottom of my ...Martin<BR/><BR/>My source, which I give at the bottom of my comment, is The Economist.paul ilchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971581388762736463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-75062701639479599172008-12-23T23:43:00.000+00:002008-12-23T23:43:00.000+00:00We often hear about how the UK is one of the world...<I>We often hear about how the UK is one of the worlds biggest arms suppliers.</I><BR/><BR/>This may be true or false. Perhaps you could ask yourself who makes the claim. Many still maintain (despite all the evidence to the contrary) that Saddam was armed by the US and the UK. Total bollocks of course but true if your SWP membership card is up to date.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-26854113085416797002008-12-23T20:30:00.000+00:002008-12-23T20:30:00.000+00:00Re Paul's numbers.We often hear about how the UK i...Re Paul's numbers.<BR/><BR/>We often hear about how the UK is one of the worlds biggest arms suppliers.<BR/><BR/>Maybe its true but I see little evidence for it.<BR/><BR/>Generally given a choice foreign militaries dont buy much in the way of British guns, tanks, aircraft, ships, helmets and so on.<BR/><BR/>Even British police forces favour US kevlar helmets rather than the Brit version. No-one wants the SA80 assault rifle, not even British squaddies.<BR/><BR/>As for army trucks, we dont make trucks any more, so that cant count.<BR/><BR/>I suspect its down to a few one off deals. Tornado for the Saudis, Hawk planes for the USN and selling off surplus RN ships.<BR/><BR/>Does anyone know any different?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-77108676183486374272008-12-23T20:11:00.000+00:002008-12-23T20:11:00.000+00:00Paul,Where are the figures from?Paul,<BR/><BR/>Where are the figures from?Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11219870920638914624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-52012072076157147702008-12-23T10:57:00.000+00:002008-12-23T10:57:00.000+00:00Expect to see the Greens vigorously promoting tarr...Expect to see the Greens vigorously promoting tarriffs and other trade barriers. With exemptions for middle-class staples such as wine, pasta, rice, etc...of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-89966226595674829502008-12-23T09:27:00.000+00:002008-12-23T09:27:00.000+00:00The UK is not an industrial wasteland. In 2005/6 (...The UK is not an industrial wasteland. <BR/><BR/>In 2005/6 (the last year for which comparative figures are available), the UK was the 6th largest exporter by value of manufactured goods in the world (behind the US, Japan, China, Germany and Italy - but well ahead of France in 8th place).<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, ignoring the Euro area and considering only states,in 2006, the UK had the 4th largest service sector - well behind the US, Japan and Germany.<BR/><BR/>Overall, the UK was the third largest exporter of goods and services in the world - ahead of China, Japan and France.<BR/><BR/>(Source: POcket World in Figures, The Economist, 2008/9)paul ilchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971581388762736463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-90777304459480643052008-12-23T05:35:00.000+00:002008-12-23T05:35:00.000+00:00Re train journeys, Laban. Or indeed journeyed thro...Re train journeys, Laban. <BR/><BR/>Or indeed journeyed through Lanarkshire, or walked the streets of Greenock.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11219870920638914624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187043.post-81207861130653756802008-12-23T03:40:00.000+00:002008-12-23T03:40:00.000+00:00When he says we he means in France.No way he will ...When he says we he means in France.<BR/>No way he will be crying over Landrover Jaguar for example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com