The Lobby Group » johnbray

Is Obama just bluffing?

johnbray — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:32:28 +0000

Is it just a co-incidence that, now Obama can no longer force through legislation, he’s brought up the issues to deal with the banks? With little chance of getting through, the little people that funded half of his election costs (with their dollar or two) will not feel so aggrieved and the big people who funded the other half will get what they paid for. And if (when?) it fails to become law – it can always be blamed on the nasty Republicans.

UPDATE Mon 25th:

In an interview with The Sunday Times yesterday, the darling Chancellor dismissed the move by Obama as acting for domestic political reasons only so there would seem to be no immediate rush to emulate the USA on this within the UK. “I don’t think America has any detail to show us” he said.

The Tories are however not quite so dismissive (see politics.co.uk). . . . .’Mr Osborne said. “I have said consistently that we should look at separating retail banking from activities like large scale propriety trading – and that this was best done internationally.” ‘

But notice that this contains a get-out clause, ie: it probably won’t happen unless every other country does it as well.

No-one to win next UK General Election!

johnbray — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:38:50 +0000

The newly-formed “no-one” Party (New One-Off NonEntities) look set to take the country over in the forthcoming General Election in the UK. In pretty much every previous election, more people have voted for no-one than for any other party. No-one has noticed this – and so it has formed a party so that voters can register their preference. At the launch today, no-one said that “We are the party that gives a shit. Everybody knows that no-one gives a shit – so why not vote for us?”

Candidates will be selected by lottery – tickets go on sale tomorrow at £1 each. This is seen as a win-win situation for no-one because of the minimal cost of administering the selection process plus generating money for doing very little. No-one thinks this is a good way of selecting people for what are effectively safe-seats because “let’s face it: it can’t produces a bigger bunch of bozos than the current system. In any case, no-one will make sure they do a good job.”

The manifesto is simple: “no-one will be in charge!”. And so – as soon as the election is over – no-one will knock off and go home until the next election. A special hot-line will be set up, should anything vital arise, to be known as “no-one cares“. Of course no-one will answer the phone – no matter how trivial the matter is.

In between elections, no-one will be looking into doing bigger and better things. Sources close to no-one had indicated, yesterday, that they had plans to take over a complete country almost overnight as a trial-run. Today, this was confirmed by REUTERS: “Who’s running Haiti? No one, say the people“. So the people have spoken and now it’s up to no-one to sort this out. Obviously no-one will be be to blame if it all goes tits-up.

Initial concerns were raised about the “Anyone” Party as a potential threat, because of the likelihood that voters might be tempted to vote for “Anyone” if they had the choice on a ballot paper. These fears were quickly dismissed by the party’s top-dog (known as no-one special ) “Ridiculous. ” he said, ” The voters are not gullible enough to believe that anyone is really interested in them“.

Please go, Gordon!

johnbray — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Kalvis Jansons, who started this petition said “There are many reasons why we might want Brown to resign, but rather than having lots of narrow petitions on this topic (most of which have been rejected), I wanted one for all of us“. There are nearly 9,000 signatories already. Thanks to Guido for pointing this petition out. You can sign it here.

Giving anarchy a bad name

johnbray — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:47:00 +0000

Media coverage for the upcoming G20 protests in London – especially for “Financial Fools Day” seems intent on branding anarchists as the bad guys – but how much are they in control? On the one hand is the suggestion that they are are a bunch of deadbeat layabouts. And yet it’s proposed that they are are so well organised that a handful of them can control tens of thousands – that rioting will ensue and the protests will be a dangerous place to be.

How much is scaremongering to stop people joining in what might simply be a nice day out and a picnic lunch?

Endgame for the financial crisis

johnbray — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:48:00 +0000

What is the endgame for the financial crisis and was it deliberate?

Is it the crash in the property and stock market?
Is it the repossession of peoples homes?
Is it the levels of redundancies and unemployment?
Is it the implementation of a Global Banking System or New World Order?
Is it the control of individuals by reducing their freedoms and rights?
Is it an economic war against entire countries?
Is it in the end of materialism consumerism and modern industrialisation?
Is it the end of high borrowings and levels of debt and associated industries?
Is it the end of sophisticated financial instruments (funny money)?
Is it the end of several companies and industries?

*First posted on the original Lobby Group blog at the request of user Kiki Dread

Financial Fools Day

johnbray — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:47:00 +0000

Maybe people are starting to get a little angry now. During what could be the most expensive police operation in British history protesters could provide a real sense-of-humour test for the authorities.

Commander Bob Broadhurst, who is responsible for the operation (with a bill estimated at up to £10 million) said, “These are innovative people and we must be innovative as well. It will be an exciting couple of days, to say the least” (Guardian).

What's happened to the BBC blogs?

johnbray — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:47:00 +0000

All the comments and contributors have disappeared this morning from the BBC blogs! A clean slate for everyone? Or is it just me that’s not allowed to see them any more?

New coalition launches Post Bank campaign

johnbray — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:46:00 +0000

As the Government struggles to get to grips with the financial crisis, a comprehensive proposal for a new ‘Post Bank’ to run as part of the Post Office Network is launched today (Tuesday 17 March) by a new coalition of trade unions, a business organisation, pensioner and pressure groups and charities.

The proposal for the Post Bank will be formally launched at a Parliamentary reception hosted by Jon Cruddas MP this afternoon, with cross-party speakers including Pat McFadden, Minister for Employment and Post Offices, Vince Cable, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

more info …

Withdrawal symptoms

johnbray — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:26:00 +0000

In January of this year £2.3 billion was withdrawn from personal bank accounts and a further £0.4 billion from building societies. Figures for February should be out in the next couple of weeks. It sounds like a lot of money until you consider that johnny-foreigner withdrew about £380 billion from the UK in the last quarter of 2008. Maybe what cynicus economicus describes as the silent bank run has already started.

A New Bank ??

johnbray — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Alexander Curzon is looking into setting up a new bank. Here is my understanding of the proposals:

The idea is to run current accounts only – no lending, no speculataion – just a boring safe haven!

Multi Currency Accounts should be possible – the concept is ZERO risk so no interest would be payable.

Any venture would need to partner with others (eg: Co-op?) to access the cash machines & visa networks etc.

Alex doesn’t appear to be after any investment on your part.