So now the election dust has settled I feel I should now vent some of my concerns over the new policies emerging about Education, Economy and Political Freedom.

Education
The government has announced the plans to encourage businesses and parents groups to set up their own schools semi independant from the government - These so called academies have been on trial for a while now in the UK, the last three academies to be OFSTED assessed have all been found to be unsatisfactory - The government has announced a cut in funding for state schools so they can pump more money into these academies.
They plan to allow schools to set teachers wages and timetables independantly from National Guidance, at the moment as a teacher my pay scale is in line with a national average - if I worked in a good city school my wage would be no different if I worked in a good rural school (where I currently do) - this new measure will give larger schools the ability to take teachers from smaller schools and will leave students worse off.
They plan to cut 40,000 jobs across the NHS and Education.

Economy
At the moment it is predicted the new government will raise VAT to 20% despite promises not to.
They have announced that banks need bringing under more control and be forced to lend to small businesses - however their way of doing this is to set up a commitee which in a years time will make a reccomendation to the government on how to plan their future strategy. Essentially meaning the banks are free to act how they wish for a minimum of twelve months.

Political Freedom
Two things annoy me here.
First is raising the time limit of the standard government from 4 years to 5. At the moment only exceptional circumstances (leader change etc) can let a government go for five years - They wish to make this standard essentially giving them longer in power.

Secondly they wish to raise the vote needed to dissolve parliament - at the moment 50% of MPs plus 1 is enough by our unwritten constitution to dissolve a parliament. The conservatives wish to raise this figure to 55% plus 1. This means (due to Sinn Fein not being able to sit in parliament) that if every single political party in the House of Commons ganged up on the conservatives and voted to dissolve parliament the figure is only 53% - Even though the tories are a minority government if they lose Liberal support this new measure would give them the security of a majority one. (both these measures I do believe were also employed by the Nazi party lol)

A few other things irritate me, the plan to legalise fox hunting, raising interest rates on student loans, allowing universities to up their tuition fees once more, getting rid of teachers PPA time, cutting the spending on the armed forces etc a freeze on pay for all public sector workers (NHS, Schools, Government etc) and they will campaign against any voting reform that could see the actuall percentage of votes a party recieves into account.

Rant over!

Now now calm down everyone

Einstein asked for his opinion on the candidates, obviously some people are going to have negative opinions.

That said Arfeh simply saying someone is crazy and running off adds nothing to the debate - bring reasons for your opinion or its you who begins to sound "batshit crazy".

A moderate Republican who isnt too old and looks like bringing the party closer to the middle then the right could do very well at the next election, which of them fits that model best do you think?

I think out of those the only two who should NOT run are McCain and Palin.

I think Palin proved she cannot handle interviews, she comes across as the image democrats would like to paint on all republicans - a shouty non intellectual.

McCain had his chance and frankly blew it spectacularly - when there is clear example of Republicans voting for Obama simply because he is better then the Republican candidate you know you have messed up. Though I hate to say it age is also an issue, many were saying he was too old to run, four years later this would become a real issue.

I have no real knowledge of some of the others, I think dismissing Romney due to his religious beliefs would be foolish - personal belief should not impact on the running of the country (for instance I am Christian but were I to be in office I would not suddenly pass pro christianity laws).

I think love or hate Obama he has re galvanised American politics, many people who did not vote last time (both pro and anti Obama) will be flocking to the polling stations in the next election which can only be a good thing - It was fairly foregone conclusion Obama would beat McCain, I dont think it will be anything like that at the next election

Hey Chris, thanks for the link it was really interesting - There does seem to be a definite link with kidnapping at least (a crime that is never justifiable)

To be fair my first post was more poking fun at the issue then being serious, I agree all country need limits on immigration but after the post by einstein of "lets invade mexico" etc the issue of immigration is one source of amusement just for the reactions it garners from certain quarters.

As far as I know about the Arizona laws they are not protesting against the laws that apply to every person in America but a law that is targetting them specifically - I still have little sympathy as my attitude is and always will be that if the country you have immigrated to offends you so much then they should leave it.

To be fair to Greece and Spain the politicians in the UK have hardly painted themselves in glory

Back on topic though, how do people feel about constitutions?

So you wouldnt care about Americans becoming criminals and murdering people but you find it appalling that illegals could do that? Nice logic.

I have read many news sites that report that percentage wise illegal immigrants commit far less crime than the "native" American populus (though this is clearly failing to realise that by American law they are all criminals for entering the country seeking a better life)

If you had read my posts I actually do talk about why I think Obama not stooping to the level of the Mexican politician was a good move.

Again you resort to insults - thus propagating the image of the angry right wing American - When people disagree with you you get angry and shout obscenities and cuddle yourself with your supposed superior intellect - Though I congratulate you, you have brought me down to your level of insults, something Obama was wise enough to avoid in the initial topic.

Provide statistics that prove that percentage wise immigrants are responsible for more crime then Americans.

Provide statistics that prove most kidnappings in America is caused by immigration.

Why do you attack others for making sweeping statements when you yourself have made many?

My statement was anecdotal based on my experience discussing immigration with American friends and with people on these boards in the past, I admit that in this sort of debate anecdotal evidence is not sufficient and I accept I shouldnt use it, but so far it is all you yourself seem to be using.

As to your offence at Obama not calling the Mexican leader on his comments? Maybe he did in private, perhaps he wanted to seem reasonable and a good statesman rather then rebuking a foreign leader on television?

Not to be an arse but I always find it amusing that a nation founded by immigrants, which doesnt have a single area of its culture that is not influenced, borrowed or stolen from other countries and immigrants, whose very own president is the son of an immigrant.....can be so paranoid about immigration!

Yes it needs to be kept in check, you cant have open borders or you end up with the same problem Israel has but the whole "immigrants want to come here.....we should kill them!" seems a bit overboard

Politics is made up of two words, poli - which is greek for many - and ticks, which are small blood sucking parasites
Gore Vidal

I would like to vote for the best candidate but sadly he isnt standing.

I think the war crime tribunals based around the Serbian conflicts are a joke.
Does not mean all war crime tribunals are however.

I actually think Saddam was a special case, no it should not have been handed over to the Hague but at the same time America could have handled things better. At the end of the day he was executed in the name of his own people and it was no more then he deserved.

The idea that the Hague should be done away with is a frightening one though, there needs to be some international court to decide on war criminals otherwise it would be anarchy. Every captured general from the losing conflict could be executed as "war criminals" if it was left to each individual nation.

Ok guys, yes we have free dental care, yes it can get stupid at times but we also have a private dentistry sector as well.
Those that can afford private dental care go for it and its a great service, those that cant may have to wait to see their dentist but at least they will get seen at some point.
Its better then no dental care at all.

I have to admit my teeth are in a terrible state, however its due to the vast amount of coca-cola I drink! An evil American conspiracy to keep their cartoons in visual gags when visiting Britain

Every country is stereotyped to be fair, Americans are stupid and fat, English are intellectual and buck toothed, Irish are drunks, Scots are incoherent, Welsh are patriotice hobbits demanding attention, French are smelly cowards, Germans will always be marching teutonic bastions of ill humour and Australians are...well pretty much every stereotype going!