Anyone understand why Johnson is so far ahead in the polls?

Exactly Callistemon.

I can't believe that anybody could blame Nick Clegg for two pension age increases, both of which were introduced by Tory Chancellors.

The worst thing about the 2011 increase was the change to benefits. Until then, people over 60 who really needed help could claim Universal Credit if they worked 16 hours a week without being forced to look for more work. After the changes, they had to work for 30 hours, which meant that people over 60 found it more difficult to wind down and do part-time work.

MayBee70

It’s the country that’s losing. I find it sad that that amuses you.

I agree. Not funny for the people who are suffering from the results of all the cuts over the last 11 years.

Says a lot about anybody who thinks it's funny. It's like watching a character in a Hogarth painting.

vegansrock

What % of the electorate is below average intelligence?

16%
68% are average
16% are above average

By definition.

Mollygo

Would you believe it if any political party claimed to have weeded out all corrupt practice and put something in place that will stop corruption happening again?
Only needs a yes or no answer.

No. I would be extremely suspicious.

What I'd really like to know. And it is a genuine enquiry. Can anyone of you point to a British government that was beyond reproach at any time in the last 100 years - since we've had universal suffrage.

I can't think of one. That's not to say there hasn't been one, but it does suggest that what this post is actually asking for has never been achieved in reality.

That being so, all we can do is work towards rooting out the worst examples of corruption and sleaze, but acknowledge that we all fall short of perfection sometimes.

Not off the top of my head, but I can't think of one which was quite so mired in corruption and sleaze.

GrannyRose15

vegansrock

What % of the electorate is below average intelligence?

16%
68% are average
16% are above average

By definition.

Well, not quite.

68% are within a few points of average and assessment errors mean that it's more practical to group them all together, using a standard bell curve. If you've read my comments on grammar schools, I made the same point that the vast majority of people are in fact very near average.

Mathematically, half of people have below average intelligence.

growstuff

Not off the top of my head, but I can't think of one which was quite so mired in corruption and sleaze.

I think that might be your perception and the result of 24 hour news and social media rather than being factual so.

But there's more to an understanding of issues such as politics, society and one's environment than intelligence.

factually so

Sorry you've lost me. Can you explain what you mean?

GrannyRose15

growstuff

Not off the top of my head, but I can't think of one which was quite so mired in corruption and sleaze.

I think that might be your perception and the result of 24 hour news and social media rather than being factual so.

I disagree. I hardly ever watch TV news and send little time reading main stream sources. I have, however, spent years having an interest in post war governments and politics.

GrannyRose15

Sorry you've lost me. Can you explain what you mean?

Mean about what?

Oh, yes. Now I understand what you mean.

But why do so many people call others stupid?

Sorry growstuff. I think we crossed posts.

I was referring to the bell curve which is what I use all the time in my work. Can't stand the fact that most people don't realise that half of us are below average and half above.

I disagree. I hardly ever watch TV news and send little time reading main stream sources. I have, however, spent years having an interest in post war governments and politics.

So in your opinion, who has been our best PM, or our best government in the past 100 years, from the point of view of honesty, integrity and the like?

GrannyRose15

Sorry growstuff. I think we crossed posts.

I was referring to the bell curve which is what I use all the time in my work. Can't stand the fact that most people don't realise that half of us are below average and half above.

But the bell curve can be shifted, GrannyRose. And it's a very dubious tool for use in drawing conclusions about something as nebulous and difficult to measure as 'intelligence'.

GrannyRose15

Oh, yes. Now I understand what you mean.

But why do so many people call others stupid?

Because half of people are below average intelligence on standard tests of cognitive ability? Or maybe because "vox pop" interviews manage to find the people with the most nonsensical arguments?

MaizieD

GrannyRose15

Sorry growstuff. I think we crossed posts.

I was referring to the bell curve which is what I use all the time in my work. Can't stand the fact that most people don't realise that half of us are below average and half above.

But the bell curve can be shifted, GrannyRose. And it's a very dubious tool for use in drawing conclusions about something as nebulous and difficult to measure as 'intelligence'.

Exactly! I wasn't going to go there. Tests of cognitive ability are specifically written so that the results fit a standard bell curve. There is no such thing as an objective test of intelligence, which is in itself a disputed concept.

GrannyRose15

^I disagree. I hardly ever watch TV news and send little time reading main stream sources. I have, however, spent years having an interest in post war governments and politics.^

So in your opinion, who has been our best PM, or our best government in the past 100 years, from the point of view of honesty, integrity and the like?

Probably Attlee and Thatcher.

PS. I didn't like what Thatcher did, but she was reasonably honest about it.

Thanks for that. It's interesting.

Growstuff I thought Thatcher, was reasonably honest too. She said we would be worse off and for quite a while we were.
I wasn’t much interested in politics when Wilson was PM, but my parents rated him.

I agree. I think Thatcher has been the most honest PM we have had.

PippaZ

GrannyGravy13

poshpaws attitudes like yours towards others is the reason why Conservatives have an eighty seat majority.

So yet again you are saying you are voting Conservative because other people are not nice to you when you do?

If I comment I'll be deleted.

I am not saying that I am voting Conservative because other people are not nice to me what a silly conclusion to draw.

How about if opposition parties and supporters posted (both here and MSM) something positive about their own party? Let the electorate know what X will do for Y and how they intend to do it?

Constantly being negative and outright nasty towards the opposition and posting cartoon jokes which are not even funny is lazy, even Labour MP’s on Twitter have resorted to this. It hasn’t worked for Labour to date, so an about turn is needed, run a positive campaign that catches the mood of the electorate.

(For what it’s worth I actually voted for a Lib Dem candidate with one of my votes this time)

Just for you, Poshpaws
Enjoy ?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9552903/StarmerOut-Keir-Starmer-subject-humiliating-memes-Labour-loses-Hartlepool.html