[0762]

And we wonder why the NHS is still regarded as our 'national treasure' in the UK in spite of the political incursions and criticisms that we continually hear about! The reverence is endorsed tenfold after reading this latest unimpressive revelation from 'across the pond'.

[hibeejim21]

The nhs is a wonderful thing,sad to see it being eroded and underfunded by the tory scum. Their end game is obvious,indeed Jeremy hunt has written extensively on the subject!

[St Charles Owl]

Most Brits do not appreciate the NHS until they no longer have it there!!! I was certainly in that camp prior to living here. Now while I pay a lot for my healthcare, my taxes are significantly less here than they would be in the UK, so the cost does offset itself somewhat between the two systems. But as you say, the NHS should be regarded as a crown jewel and therefore untouchable!!

Having said that, putting aside the way it is currently run, the NHS is extremely expensive for the government to operate and as the population grows it requires constant updating, that all costs money and that only comes from the taxpayers. So there also needs to be a willingness on behalf of the general public to pay for this if it is to remain in place. Running it properly is crucial, but thats a whole different debate!!

[0762]

It could well be a 'different story' if Brexit eventually 'kicks in' and an economic reality/downturn (it's already happening!) finally prevails on the UK and the consequential effect on the NHS could be catastrophic. Remember this was the British institution that these Brexit liars/tossers highlighted as being a great beneficiary of Brexit! The opposite will happen and many people in this country wanna waken up to that fact before this govt formally throws us over the EU cliff face!!! I'm more comfortable in the fact the Scottish govt run the NHS differently 'north of the border' and, although it will never be perfect, they are doing a reasonable job. My concern centres on the impact of the politics in England and how much damage will pervade on Scottish affairs and governance.

[0762]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40692709

So the president professes he has the power to pardon himself and any offending aides or family members. Well that's fair enough eh OR so he thinks. I do wonder if this man actually wants to be 'trumped' if you pardon the pun!! No longer wanting the job any more mainly because he's been well sussed by most free-thinking Americans who just regard him as an embarrassing 'plonker' of a president with hardly any positivity attached to his persona or political activities!

[0762]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40715185

This story re the 'trumpet man' regaling at a boy scout jamboree is just another instance of the bizarre behaviour of this US president and a great lack of savvy in addressing a scout rally in the proper manner!!! Somebody within the American populace or society please find a way to remove this guy asap and do everybody normal person a favour worldwide!!

[St Charles Owl]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40715185

This story re the 'trumpet man' regaling  at a boy scout jamboree is just another instance of the bizarre behaviour of this US president and a great lack of savvy in addressing a scout rally in the proper manner!!! Somebody within the American populace or society please find a way to remove this guy asap and do everybody normal person a favour worldwide!!

That is such an inappropriate speech for such an audience and has been roundly condemned over here as such. But of course the Trump supporters loved it as per usual and it was delivered in West Virginia, a staunchly Red state!! The American populace really can't do too much to stop him currently, they had that big chance last November!!! I see his healthcare plan has passed the next step, that is disappointing as well!!

[0762]

Re his healthcare proposals I gather one of the biggest criticisms is the lack of comprehensive details and impressive in depth research into such an important change for millions of American citizens but rushed policies appear to be the order of the day for this unimpressive president.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegra...1014844640
Back here in the UK, this latest revelation re the multi-billion pound refurb of the Houses of Parliament is astounding and IMO 'open to question'! Simple question: 'What happened to such a tender award embracing the best of certain British building companies in the construction and services industry and will undoubtedly have the skills, reputation and ability to carry out this work to a high standard and quality'??? This scummy Tory govt has already sold out other massive projects to the Chinese (nuclear energy provision) and the French. Now we have this latest 'sell out' to the detriment of British business/industry again!! I despair!!

[St Charles Owl]

Re his healthcare proposals I gather one of the biggest criticisms is the lack of comprehensive details and impressive in depth research into such an important change for millions of American citizens but rushed policies appear to be the order of the day for this unimpressive president.

The problem is the effects of ACA (Obamacare) are only just being fully seen in the open market place and for the first time in many years my health insurance has gone down in price, no idea if that is a coincidence or not!! He talked about retaining some of the pillars of the ACA and this new plan will do that but its the parts that just simply hurt the low income sector in the US that will set this plan as a bad one. Millions of American will simply lose healthcare either through cost or pre-existing conditions, and these are the ones who have only just been able to get healthcare for the first time in their lives because of the ACA!!! But even putting Trump aside, this is the Republicans through and through, you know what you are going to get from them on certain issues irrespective of who is actually their president, its just a matter of how much they can achieve before they get voted out of office again!! Of course a huge proportion of those who will be most affected by this new plan voted for and still support Trump!! The word lemmings springs to mind!!!

---

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegra...1014844640
Back here in the UK, this latest revelation re the multi-billion pound refurb of the Houses of Parliament is astounding and IMO 'open to question'! Simple question: 'What happened to such a tender award embracing the best of certain British building companies in the construction and services industry and will undoubtedly have the skills, reputation and ability to carry out this work to a high standard and quality'??? This scummy Tory govt has already sold out other massive projects to the Chinese (nuclear energy provision) and the French. Now we have this latest 'sell out' to the detriment of British business/industry again!! I despair!!

I would love to see the scope of work involved in these bids. It would appear that the UK companies possibly priced themselves out of this work but then accepting the lowest bid is also not always the best way to go. Its always a touchy subject when it comes to government spending and whether such work should only go to UK companies, I am fairly neutral on it most of the time, but I suppose it is incumbent on the government to make sure they are getting value for their money, and taking the lowest bid is part of that. I'm not sure these days it matters as much where the contractor is from as well. Nearly all their workforce who get jobs on this contract will be British to start with and ultimately its only going to be some profit that goes back to the mother country, most of the money spent will be to British workers who will in effect end up working for a UK subsidiary of the US company, and all parties will be paying their taxes in pounds on the bulk of the transaction.

As I said, I am not too bothered one way of the other, as long as the project is costed correctly and funded correctly then most of the money will start and end in the UK either way.

[0762]

Lol! It's an ironic end point Saint Charles Owl! As the old saying goes: 'You reap what you sow' and I can still vividly recall Trump's derogatory comments made about these voters quite a few years ago in a tv documentary about the Trump business empire and specifically his chances of becoming the eventual US President - he reckoned rhe 'stupid vote' (quote) within the American population would give him the presidency!!! It's a pity the majority of these voters didn't view that specific interview to become enlightened well before the event of being conned!!