Disqus - Latest Comments for chrisbeach

Re: Improving the Scala Community Through Personal Action

Chris Beach — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 16:34:52 -0000

Signed

Re: Tesla Model Y Big Family Test: Mostly Good, But There Might Be One Death Star–Type Weakness

Chris Beach — Sun, 02 May 2021 19:54:34 -0000

It’s likely Tesla would need to comprehensively replace the seat and fasteners because this is a brand new vehicle. If they sold it and the new owner found evidence of dog vomit, it would destroy Tesla’s reputation.

The author should have taken full responsibility for their animal and should have covered the cost, whatever that may be, of bringing the vehicle back to its new condition.

Instead, the author writes a sensationalist article criticising Tesla vehicle design and staff (the same poor staff who would have had to deal with the disgusting dog vomit)

The sense of entitlement and irresponsibility coming from the author is absolutely nauseating.

Really poor form, CleanTechnica.

Re: Review: Polestar 2 Is A Solid Tesla Model 3 Alternative Without Elon Baggage

Chris Beach — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:03:38 -0000

Very click-baity article. The “cult of Elon” myth only seems to exist in the minds of Tesla detractors like the author of this article, and makes for lazy and unsubstantiated articles like this one.

Tesla owners, on the other hand, simply love our vehicles and love the fact that Tesla is leading the market and setting a high benchmark for the competition.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 11:39:30 -0000

Squandering public funds? Privatisation yields more funds to the Treasury.

Privatisation does work, time and time again. I can provide examples if you need them.

You made the mistake of confusing outsourcing and privatisation. Not the same thing.

Lloyds reprivatisation has been lucrative. RBS too early to judge as it hasn't finished yet.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 09:56:05 -0000

Well observed Mark

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 09:53:49 -0000

Your use of the word "family" is interesting. I don't think of the state as "family" - I think of it as a cold, inefficient, bureaucratic, monolithic, monopolistic machine that is TERRIBLE at running businesses of all kinds. And as a user of both state services and privately-run services, I can confidently say I prefer the latter.

I want some choice as a service user. I want good value for money. I get neither from the state and its "family silver" - but it DOES cost me a huge amount in tax and time and effort.

Osborne is indeed ideological. The Tories are ideological. Their ideology gets my vote.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 07:52:35 -0000

You think keeping RBS and Lloyds under state control would be better? Why is that?

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 07:50:59 -0000

I hear what you're saying and it was indeed John Major's Conservative Government that came up with the idea of PFI. But to implicate the Tories in the -use- of PFI is disingenuous.

All but one of the PFI hospital contracts were created between 97-2010 under Blair and Brown.

We should be watching with eagle eyes now - watching both Labour and the Tories - to ensure they don't screw our children's health and education with these ruinous debt contracts.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 13:46:16 -0000

"what will continually blaming the last Labour government achieve apart from scoring political points?"

I'm pointing out the gross hypocrisy of Labour MPs like Vicky Foxcroft as they join the Forest Hill School cause (whilst being conspicuously absent for the 2011 council scrutiny meeting which discussed Forest Hill Schools PFI crisis back then). And the hypocrisy and tribalism of Labour supporters who try to make out this current affair is the fault of the Tories.

"have you worked out how much the mass Thatcher/Major privatisation has cost the country?"

Do you understand what privatisation means? Privatisations -make money- for the Treasury. For example, when Lloyds is fully sold back to the private sector, the Treasury will gain funds. Not lose funds.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 13:04:05 -0000

"Not a fan of PFI's but at least under Labour schools were built and refurbished. Not too bad a way to spend money. And PFI was the only funding vehicle allowed, so the choice was PFI or falling down schools."

The fact that -only PFI- was allowed is a damning indictment on Labour. Cheaper finance was available using Govt borrowing, but Labour wanted its borrowing "off the books" - and it was willing to screw future governments (and schools and hospitals) in order to do so. PFI is entirely political.

http://www.david-morrison.o...

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 11:29:00 -0000

We need to focus on the root cause of the problem (PFI, both under Labour and the Tories) - and stop focussing on general leftwing activism around "cuts."

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 09:01:10 -0000

"The Tories have been in power for 7 years, you don't think the local MPs have the right to complain about a lack funding?"

If we find that Labour's PFI contract from 2008 is no longer affecting the Forest Hill School budget, then I'll concede defeat on this one. I have raised an FoI request to get the last five annual budgets from the school including any PFI liabilities - we shall see.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 07:03:45 -0000

On my forum I've criticised the Tories repeatedly for their faith school agenda, their snoopers charter, their failure to achieve EU reform, their choice of leader, and more. I assure you I am not simply a Tory shill.

The reason I'm pointing out Labour's involvement in this affair, is that local Labour MPs are currently out stirring up protests against the incumbent government (specifically regarding Forest Hill School "cuts") - and this is totally misleading the local electorate, as it was Labour, and Lewisham Council, that pushed FHS into using ruinous PFI back in 2008 - and it looks as though they're still feeling the effects today.

Another member of my forum noted that other local schools don't have the same problem - hence why FHS' £20M+ PFI contract is looking like the culprit.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 04:22:36 -0000

All but one of the NHS hospital contracts, for example, were created by Labour between '97 and 2010. To implicate the Tories in this mess is disingenuous.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/...

The Tories reformed the way it worked after Labour abused it so badly.

Re: Brockley Central: Fair Funding for Lewisham Schools | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 17:44:00 -0000

Are central govt cuts really the cause of Forest Hill School's current malaise? Or is the 2008 PFI contract still crippling their budget?

Re: The aspiration for housing associations should be to foster human happiness

Chris Beach — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:29:13 -0000

Thanks Jonathan,

This is a brilliant piece of writing and I have shared it on our local forum SE23.life for further discussion.

It's in a our "Politicos" section, which you can opt-in to here: https://se23.life/groups once logged into the forum.

Re: Brockley Central: Station approach | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:00:51 -0000

Hi Nick - did you know we're in the advanced stages of securing one of these for Forest Hill? We have the artist who did the Hither Green mural, the permissions and a quote - and a whole lot of volunteers ready to help. All the details are here:

https://se23.life/t/a-bette...

Re: How Silicon Valley Utopianism Brought You the Dystopian Trump Presidency

Chris Beach — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:15:34 -0000

So many weasel-word attacks and straw man arguments in one article.

What turns me off a political candidate? When the media employs half-truths, hearsay, identity politics and 11-year old private quips against their opposition.

Re: "Stop the Gagging Order – Save the Free Press"

Chris Beach — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:51:07 -0000

I massively support this campaign but am concerned about this Guido blog post --- I don't think the form is working properly within the iframe (nothing happens when trying to submit it on mobile, possibly desktop too) - please could you link to the campaign site to ensure our signatures go through

Re: "Khan Breaks Another Election Pledge"

Chris Beach — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:52:28 -0000

Khan has refused to defend the ancient trees of One Tree Hill in South London. Due to face the chainsaws in the coming days despite protests and massive public objection on a consultation:

https://se23.life/t/old-nur...

Re: Brockley Central: Andy Hughes: A lone crusader in a dangerous world | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:23:46 -0000

I'm with you Terrence. Max - you need to get out there and speak to everyday people outside the London metropolitan bubble. Stop writing them off as "xenophobes" and start listening to their concerns.

Re: Brockley Central: Andy Hughes: A lone crusader in a dangerous world | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 12:41:19 -0000

That's a pretty woeful straw man argument

Re: Brockley Central: Andy Hughes: A lone crusader in a dangerous world | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 18:19:02 -0000

Okay, let's take your comments apart piece by piece.

1. It's not xenophobic to want to reduce immigration numbers. It shows an appreciation for the millions of people up and down the country struggling to get school places, hospital beds, affordable homes and reasonable commutes, because of the pressure of 330K extra people coming every year. And 330K is a conservative net immigration figure from the ONS which looks to have massively underestimated actual figures, as it neglected to include EU migrants who'd said they'd only be here for a year or less.

"In our first year in office we will legislate for an immigration bill which has secure control of our borders, cracks down on exploitation of workers coming here undercutting workers already here." --Ed Miliband

2. You very much can have free movement of goods and services without freedom of movement of people. Plenty of countries do this. In fact some countries already have free trade agreements with the EU without requiring freedom of movement of people: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/p...

3. Zero hours contracts are massively overplayed (this is Miliband-era rhetoric). And you're not going to like this fact, but people are happier with their work life balance on zero hours contracts than that of permanent jobs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/u... - So the Left's attempt to denigrate these contracts (which are freely entered into) are nothing but snobbery and political point scoring dressed up as concern for workers' rights.

4. It is GOOD that graduates are finally paying for their own education. Because university is elective. And NOT FREE to provide. Prior to payable tuition fees, low income earners were forced to pay (via tax) for other people's Hugos and Matildas to go to uni and then go on to have lucrative careers. Now Hugo and Matilda pay. But with a very generous, highly competitive loan structure that means repayments only happen when the grad is earning a decent wage. It's a VERY FAIR system we have now.

5. Grammar schools are the ticket for youngsters from low-income backgrounds to enjoy an academic education (if they choose it), and to break the cycle of poverty. Those who jealously attack grammar schools are insanely counterproductive. You will lead us to a future of mediocre comprehensives and more private schools. Less social mobility. Bravo. The Tories plan to build grammar schools in low income areas, to open up entrance to ages 11, 14 and 16, and to ensure that grammar schools help other state schools to improve standards. This is a pragmatic solution that addresses all concerns except the deep-seated ideological ones from people that cannot accept that some kids are simply more academic than others.

Andy - more power to you.

Re: Brockley Central: Andy Hughes: A lone crusader in a dangerous world | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:34:03 -0000

"It speaks for itself that Mr Hughes couldn't find a genuine reason for criticising our brilliant Green councillor"

Failing to attend meetings is a valid criticism, regardless of the root cause. No disabled person should be exempt from criticism simply because they're disabled. Allow John Coughlin the decency of representing himself here, rather than you speaking for him with apologism.

Re: Brockley Central: Andy Hughes: A lone crusader in a dangerous world | The online home for all things Brockley, London SE4

Chris Beach — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:27:55 -0000

"Typical Tory Tactics" :-D

What context is required for the ONS-derived unemployment statistics, for which the sampling methodology -has not changed-?

There have been two and half million jobs created under the Tories, and the vast majority of them are full-time and self-employed.

The living wage is a massive hike to the minimum wage, and it's absolutely right that the same rules should be followed as with the previous min wage, and that young inexperienced staff should be able to take a job at lower pay. To outlaw such jobs would hurt their prospects.

Labour's huge structural deficit was established in both good times and bad, and once established, is very hard to unravel. Look at the protests and whataboutery that happens every time the government tries to trim welfare back to sensible levels. Tax Credits cost a couple of billion a year when Gordon Brown introduced them. Now they cost £30 billion. It's absolutely right to rein these in, because all they do is subsidise employers, allowing them to pay lower wages.