Best line of the day !

[qbman1]

Just thought I would share this little gem with you.

I caught the end of an interview about overseas aid on BBC radio news this morning when the interviewee said:

"...we give 240 million quid to India - they have a Formula One Grand Prix and a space programme - wake up and smell the coffee."

Priceless !

[HK phooey]

Why was a British person using an Americanism? I'd have them shot.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Maybe smell the Earl Grey doesn't have quite the impact! But a good point nonetheless. I think it's about time someone started sending us aid!!!

[Kendhni]

...we give 240 million quid to India - they have a Formula One Grand Prix and a space programme - wake up and smell the coffee."

A similar quote was made several years ago but basically when you take a couple of things out of context and put a bit of spin on them then you can turn them into anything. An alternative spin is that if India gets itself into the forefront of technology (e.g. space program) then they can get far better return on revenue than many of the more mundane jobs that can be done anywhere .. similarly they have seen the revenues that an F1 track can bring into the country ... maybe they are just investments that, in the short term, look silly, but in the long term will offer much better returns.

Should we be giving them so much aid ... I wonder about that sometimes ... but since most believe that we should be supporting the (so called) vulnerable and those in poverty, then India has more of its fair share of those in genuine poverty ... but overall it has started a journey and is generating a lot of wealth for those in its population ... but it has a long way still to go ... so maybe the answer is that we should still be supporting them until everybody there has a similar lifestyle to the less well off in this country.

It's an argument that does not have a correct answer.

[haveabeer]

When i see the cuts to social services in this country care homes being shut care facilities being cut
the very people that gave us the freedom and life style most enjoy
When those that ask for help in the last years are told sorry because of the cuts we no longer can offer you
somewhere that will keep you safe and care for you.
My Mum lives in sheltered accommodation and recently diagnosed with Vascular Dementia her current home has no warden that was taken
away to cut cost we are trying to find her a care home that will look after her social services have no places available because of cuts to its budget
so sorry if i upset people by saying stop all overseas aid until we can look after our own.
I care whats happening to our elderly not whats happening in other countries

[paultheeagle]

HaB

Great post...but you try telling a Tory and all you get is a load of crop.

[oldbluefox]

HAB, I have every sympathy with your plight and to some extent agree with what you say. It annoys me immensely when I see and hear tales such as yours and then I hear Mr Cameron proudly repeating his commitment to overseas aid which other countries show little commitment to. We cannot feed the world and we cannot take on all of their problems although I feel we have a moral duty to share someof our wealth with those less fortunate than ourselves. However the government's first commitment should be towards the more vulnerable in our society (not feckless layabouts who have no intention of contributing to society).

When I look at the amount of money which has been poured into Third World countries over the years I wonder how much better off they are. Why is it they still have water and sanitation problems when so much money has been invested? Why is it their despot leaders live in luxury whilst their people starve?

Let us sort out our own problems first and then we can increase our commitment to others. And that applies to Tory and Labour governments since neither seems to have grasped that particular nettle.

[Silver_Shiney]

I agree, HAB, by all means help other countries and give aid where needed - WHEN we've put our own problems to rest and are in a better position to help outside.

I do hope your problems are resolved quickly and beneficially to your dear mother.

[barney]

Ever so slightly off topic but I heard yesterday that we've spent (so far) £40 BILLION on the war in Afganistan

Plus the 400+ lives and the 2 1/2 thousand casualties

How come we can find £40 billion for a war but not keep old folks homes etc open.
The money is obviously there, it's just where it is spent that is the issue.

Last time I looked, the forces where run by the Mod. That's the Ministry of Defence
I suggest that the decision makers get a dictionary and look up the word 'defence'

[haveabeer]

Just as the post above popped up I was going to email social services yet again to see if they had made a decision yet.
There are a number of decisions taken by government that I believe are a waste of taxpayers money
But I heard today that they are looking to have a wage increase up to £10k and Cameron said there's nothing he can do about it albeit that it will be after the election
I could say what I really think but I won't