ChezGiven

"This legislation will not fix everything that ails our healthcare system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction," added the President. His objective all along, as i always said. If Obama had tried to push through a more socialist reform measure, it would have failed. Now it is law, incremental changes can be added to improve the fairness of the system over time. Obama is win and the critics should hang their heads in shame, what they wanted would never have flown, Obama knew that so went for the best compromise possible. The minor changes needed to bring the correct financial incentives into the system and better access to care for the poor will occur as small amendments to this bill over the next 7 years.

Approved.

In comparison to last year, we've lost Beye and Bassong at the back of note and replaced with Williamson, Hall and Simpson, Enrique has developed, as has Kadar. In the midfield, here are a few random starting midfields from last year. Worth a comparison to this year as the engine room of the team and the factor most identified as the weakness at the club. Fulham Home in May (lost) - Guthrie Butt Nolan Gutierrez - 2010 is better Portsmouth Home (drew) - Smith Butt Duff with Owen in the hole - 2010 is better Man City Home (drew) - Geremi, Guthrie, Butt, Duff - 2010 is better (Ameobi started up front) Stoke City Home (drew) N'Zogbia, Geremi, Guthrie, Gutierrez (If Routledge is as good as Zog, 2010 has a better look and feel) Everton Away (drew) Geremi, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia - 2010 is better for me. That was just 5 games hit at random on nufc.com for games you'd be looking to take points in. Given the lack of intelligence of Martins, the lack of pace of Viduka and the lack of fitness from Owen, i only see the back line as significantly weakened from last season. We need to add one striker, at least 2 midfielders (one hard tackling with pace, the other with dainty feet) and a right back for next year. On this basis, I would sell Ameobi, Smith and Butt.

Reasoned debate on the future of the club

Duff was the only midfielder of note to leave so essentially last season he was playing with the same midfield that has been variously described this years as 'pedestrian, unfit, lacking technique, poor movement, no final ball, poor delivery and generally shit against the best teams in the championship'. No wonder he did fuck all.

Anyone who thinks a seller should do due diligence on buyer is just really really naive and misguided. If someone is prepared to invest £135m of personal wealth into something, that is usually enough to suggest good intentions. Criticising Hall for this is absurd.

I guess access to tabs will reduce his chances of expanding the reduced capability set in future and also ensures that it's size is more rapidly decreased by his accelerated removal, enriching opportunity for the few that remain. Not that I'd endorse eugenics of course. Its the individual capability set that matters, not society's. This is about interpersonal comparisons of welfare and you started it

It would also mean resources are funneled to Jonny on the basis of improving his capabilities, as tabs hinder these in terms of health, then a purist would deny him. I smoke and am generous so wouldnt deny him.

Well done. Remember to donate generously to those less well off once you're stinking rich. If everyone had access to the same 'capability set' (which they dont) then i would argue he should not donate anything. Inequalities are not inequitable. Does that mean you think he should give Jonny Decka a tab when asked or not? Yes because i doubt he had access to the same opportunities as most for one reason or another. The capability set approach to justice looks to ensure equality of access to opportunities. If you have the same access to 'capabilities' and end up with less resources, then thats a fair outcome.

Well done. Remember to donate generously to those less well off once you're stinking rich. If everyone had access to the same 'capability set' (which they dont) then i would argue he should not donate anything. Inequalities are not inequitable.

HF is quoting 'relative poverty' data, not absolute. Of the proportion considered in poverty in the UK, how many have access to heat, light, social security, health, education? Possibly all of them, which makes relative poverty data the realm of agenda drive social research, not a meaningful comparison of basic 'levels' of services. Rawls, Sen and those who have read and understood their work on poverty and social justice know that basic 'levels' of things like healthcare and education (freedom?) are the building blocks of justice, not relative comparisons across society.

Utter dribbling nonsense. The middle east was divided by religion. In 1921 as Secretary of State for the COlonies Churchill carved up the Middle East and chose members of Aristocratic Families to become the kings of the countries which made up Britains land Bridge to India. These included Iran, Iraq and Egypt. Part of the problems which led to the fall of the Shah and the ascension of the Islamic Republic was the simmering resentment of a ruler who did not belong. The same for the revolutions in Iraq and Egypt. Churchills actions have had serious repercussions since. No you've lost me. Britain (not Churchill, who was only a minister at the time) had been fucking about in the middle east since well before that. I also dont in any way see the connection between the installation of a leader who many nationalists consider the father of modern Iran and the issues in the middle east i.e. Jerusalem, Palestine, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, the crusades, the holy sites etc I'm very aware of Britain's role in the middle east but to blame 'many of the problems' in the region on Churchill is as i said. It was Churchills decision as Secretary of state for the Colonies to impose these people as rulers. What part of that do you not understand? The people of these countries were extremely unhappy as these rulers ran the countries for the benefit of themselves and Britain (later America who continued to prop up these unwanted governments) and so got pissed off and created revolutions which in Iran led to the Ayotollahs and in Iraq eventually led to the rule of Saddam Hussein. What part of that do you not understand? The bit where you blame the problems of the middle east on Churchill.

Utter dribbling nonsense. The middle east was divided by religion. In 1921 as Secretary of State for the COlonies Churchill carved up the Middle East and chose members of Aristocratic Families to become the kings of the countries which made up Britains land Bridge to India. These included Iran, Iraq and Egypt. Part of the problems which led to the fall of the Shah and the ascension of the Islamic Republic was the simmering resentment of a ruler who did not belong. The same for the revolutions in Iraq and Egypt. Churchills actions have had serious repercussions since. No you've lost me. Britain (not Churchill, who was only a minister at the time) had been fucking about in the middle east since well before that. I also dont in any way see the connection between the installation of a leader who many nationalists consider the father of modern Iran and the issues in the middle east i.e. Jerusalem, Palestine, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, the crusades, the holy sites etc I'm very aware of Britain's role in the middle east but to blame 'many of the problems' in the region on Churchill is as i said.

Who are The Sun supporting this time? The biggest danger of this election is not having an outright winner. The markets need to see leadership if they are going to allow us to service our debt at decent rates. The debt needs sorting and the various approaches that each party proposes need evaluating. Given the lack of ideological distinctions, its more like voting for alternative management committees.

Utter dribbling nonsense. The middle east was divided by religion.

Webster is an idiot. First of all if insurance companies are bankrupt it means that the payment mechanisms are too expensive, nothing in that case to do with profit. Secondly, there is vast evidence that the mechanims caus massive overuse of ineffective interventions, the evidence on pap smears being the most obvious. Denying more use of these reduces cost without affecting outcomes. Stopped reading after that.

Hope they get Jimmy Saville to promote it and revamp the age of the train song.

He has the best natural ability out of any attacking player in the club. His games for Man City are the evidence.

add range of passing to that list Covered by ability. I didn't want to go into too much detail as I like Guthrie. It was tongue-in-cheek anyway though because he could play a similar role, albeit not as well. Carrick's absolutely class though so it's not like there's any shame in being a lesser player. And I never said he could be as good as him And I never said you did. That's the trouble with the internet like, you have to explain things about three times then people still don't get it. And you're never allowed to change your mind because someone like Baggio will have bookmarked everything you ever wrote. True that. I think its right and proper us discussing this topic at this time anyway. With the current set-up/likely investment etc, the conclusion has to be he will play for us next season in a central role, he has experience there and there are recent signs of significant development.

add range of passing to that list Covered by ability. I didn't want to go into too much detail as I like Guthrie. It was tongue-in-cheek anyway though because he could play a similar role, albeit not as well. Carrick's absolutely class though so it's not like there's any shame in being a lesser player. And I never said he could be as good as him, just that he could play a similar role. I like to come out with these sort of statements, keeps my reputation up as a crazy kind of guy.

The comparison isnt that important, i was thinking about the fact that he is 22 and will mature and develop and will need to find more 'specialisation' within his game if he wants to be more than a utility player. If i was advising him, i'd be pointing at players other than Gerrard who he recently referred to himself as a role model. He doesnt have the pace or power to play like Gerrard, he should look to build on his passing game. He doesnt have to sit as deep as Carrick or be exactly like him, he just needs to build on his strengths to ensure he develops properly.

Carrick has an engine? He's taller than Guthrie, i'll give you that.

That's crazy talk. Carrick is to Guthrie what Winona Ryder is to Fizz off Corrie. Guthrie's passing is very erratic, I've seen him have games where 5 yard passes prove difficult. I think his passing is his best part of his game, he has good technique but he doesnt have the pace or strength of more robust midfielders. What else is making him man of the match recently? He is not playing as a ball winning midfielder presumably. I dont think its that crazy to say that someone is 'capable of playing a similar role' to someone else with similar attributes as an athlete.

Its just the incentive structure created by Credit Default Swaps. No one planned the impact on the Greek govt bonds but as demand for the Greek Bond CDS's has risen, this has created pressure on banks to demand higher rates on borrowing against govt issue bonds. There is no mystery other than why regulators dont step in regulate against CDS's on govt bonds. Too destabilising and benefits no-one.