Mailwatch(ed) Forum

And, from the other side, nationalizing water companies right now. The Government doesn't help itself by quoting bullshit figures for the cost, but hard to see how it's "virtually nothing" or whatever.

The Left right now remind me of the Right when John Major was Prime Minister. Nothing is good enough, because Jez/ Mrs Thatcher would have done it better. Major was unnecessarily grim on public investment, but some of it has aged pretty well (eg the public sector accountability stuff, like the derided Citizens' Charter).

Comments on the changes to driving rules are predictable...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y ... o#comments

Meanwhile, one from the gin and Jag set (assuming it's not sarcasm, of course);

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 9:01 am

The Weeping Angel wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:26 am Or it will be Labour is just tinkering around the edge instead of solving Britain's problems.

That one particularly bugs me. Why don’t the Government shell out a load of money on everything right now?

I suppose it comes about in part because of a strong sense of declineism among the online political types. The sense that only radical action is needed to reverse Britain's decline, and nothing less will do. A good example is someone on Bluesky saying Labour should abolish the Treasury, as Treasury brain is holding Britain back.

Journos and reporters have been really poor reporting this driving rule proposal. I don't think I've seen an article query or investigate what is meant by failing an eye test. In civilian life at least, there is no such thing as failing an eye test. The doctor or optometrist doesn't fail a person following an eye test. What are they failing them on? You obviously get recommendations following the result (maybe in an optometrists case not always fairly as you have money they want as much of as possible, but that's another matter).

Is the driver allowed to wear glasses when they take an eye test? If as I assume they are and they fail the test then are they allowed time to obtain glasses more suited to their current needs- perhaps the glasses they have are donkeys years old- and are they allowed to retake the test. This is what the reporters should be asking, instead of just shouting out a front page headline.

The Weeping Angel wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 2:03 pm

I suppose it comes about in part because of a strong sense of declineism among the online political types. The sense that only radical action is needed to reverse Britain's decline, and nothing less will do. A good example is someone on Bluesky saying Labour should abolish the Treasury, as Treasury brain is holding Britain back.

There's a reasonable amount of borrowing for investment considering how expensive it now is. What's non-Treasury Brain going to do different?

Everyone agrees radical action is needed, just not that radical action there. Like building houses.

Real wages have risen for two years, and housing affordability has been improving slightly. Not down to government policy necessarily- though the cuts Hunt scheduled may not have helped with wages- but aren't these positive? Some growth options there in terms of extra investment, better trade with the EU, easier planning. I really don't get the declinism. It does remind me of John Major- wages did well then too once the recovery kicked in.

AOB wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 2:06 pm Is the driver allowed to wear glasses when they take an eye test? If as I assume they are and they fail the test then are they allowed time to obtain glasses more suited to their current needs- perhaps the glasses they have are donkeys years old- and are they allowed to retake the test. This is what the reporters should be asking, instead of just shouting out a front page headline.

Here's your answer: https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’.

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.