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If you were Prime Minister what would you do!

(244 Posts)
JessM Wed 11-Apr-12 10:32:42

Yes what about some politicians who actually have some experience of managing things in the real world. Then they might not make such daft decisions.

Greatnan Wed 11-Apr-12 10:29:57

On a serious note, I would get rid of some old-Etonians out of my cabinet and choose some people, including women, with some experience of the kind of life most voters live. I would stop talking about making rich people pay tax and actually do something about closing loopholes which allow individuals and companies to bank their profits offshore.
I would initiate investigations into procurement policies which hand hugely lucrative contracts to a handful of firms which have manifestly failed to deliver on previous contracts.
I would read Private Eye so I could foresee where the faeces were going to hit the fan!

Annobel Wed 11-Apr-12 10:29:02

OK, Greatnan, I obviously just have too much faith in human nature! wink

MrsJamJam Wed 11-Apr-12 10:23:09

Calorie free chips as well as calorie free chocolate, and some sunshine every day.

Greatnan Wed 11-Apr-12 10:17:38

Judging by her other posts, I think she really means it.

Annobel Wed 11-Apr-12 10:15:15

I think ninnynanny was stirring the pot. Does she really take such a reactionary stance or did she want to get a reaction? If she did, she certainly succeeded. That's why I haven't reacted, though I could.

Anagram Wed 11-Apr-12 10:14:43

The DM has a lot to answer for....confused

JessM Wed 11-Apr-12 10:13:18

I seem to remember the death penalty was got rid of, in part, because there were a number of innocent people hanged.

Let me see if I can be similarly contentious - I would pass a law that demanded that cat owners should not let their pets roam free so that they can c''''p in other peoples gardens and slaughter songbirds as they go along their merry way. Any wandering cats to be confiscated and put down. You think I'm joking?

Greatnan Wed 11-Apr-12 10:11:46

ninnynanny thinks tatoos are common, reads the DM and the Sun and thinks life is pointless without religion. I don't think we will every be best buddies!

kittylester Wed 11-Apr-12 10:05:46

I'm with you FeeTee, on all counts (especially the chocolate onegrin) and with everyone else who thinks that prisons and capital punishment are not the way forward.

I would also ensure that we have summer, in the summer, every year! flowers

ninnynanny have you had an awful experience that leads you to post as you did?

Greatnan Wed 11-Apr-12 10:04:05

I'm not sure it is worth replying to this thread, as nothing we can say is going to alter the OPs mind set but who knows - it might not be too late!
Britain already imprisons a bigger proporion of its citizens than almost any other European country - I think Turkey has a worse record. People who have been in what is laughingly called 'care', black men, ex-members of the armed forces and people with learning difficulties are disproportionately represented.
Many US states have the death penalty (again, mainly used against black men) and it hasn't lowered murder rates. The US also keeps prisoners in conditions which would shame a Third World country - in cages rather than cells, shackled and denied all privacy.
I don't know what I can say to someone who wants to deny people their human rights.
I don't know whether I feel more indignant or just sad that this kind of thinking is still around, although usually it is more covert.

FeeTee Wed 11-Apr-12 09:54:36

I would introduce the harshest punishments for anyone who drinks and drives. I would clamp down on the super rich's tax scams. And - on a lighter note - I would make Cadbury invent a chocolate bar with no calories

MrsJamJam Wed 11-Apr-12 09:53:45

I'm with you Carol, as a retired teacher I know from experience that any form of physical chastisement is always counter productive and just models uncivilised behaviour.

I think capital punishment is utterly appalling and can never, ever be justified.

Carol Wed 11-Apr-12 09:44:26

The acid test of a civilised society, for me, is one that does not use barbaric treatment against offenders who have been barbaric themselves. It's like belting the children and shouting 'stop hitting each other!' We have to model civilised behaviour to get people to behave in a civilised way.

But then, I'm a retired probation officer - I would say that, wouldn't I? grin

greenmossgiel Wed 11-Apr-12 09:39:00

Oh! ninnynanny, I do see where you are coming from to a certain extent, though. There seems as if there's little deterrent for many crimes now, but to bring back Capital Punishment cannot be the answer, can it? How can any legal 'system', (police, lawyer, etc), be really, really sure that the person they're 'disposing of' can really be the perpetrator of the crime of which they're accused? Flawed, falsified or circumstantial evidence makes it almost impossible to be completely and absolutely sure, though being able to produce DNA is an (almost) perfect tool to ensure sufficient evidence. confused

susiecb Wed 11-Apr-12 09:28:23

Hand in the towel to Labour providing they got rid of Ed Milliband then perhaps we could stop rewarding the rich and do something about unemployment and the disadvantaged.

Annobel Wed 11-Apr-12 09:25:09

shock

Carol Wed 11-Apr-12 09:19:14

Good heavens!!!

ninnynanny Wed 11-Apr-12 09:12:06

I would bring back Capital Punishment, build more prisons, have zero tolerance for certain crimes. Get rid of Human Rights Bill so illegal immigrants can't hide behind it.