Why Do We Tolerate These Morons?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55796445
Just start pumping concrete in, they come out. We always seem to pussy foot about when the solution is simple and obvious.

[ynnafymmi]

@14.37.What a brass neck you have,allen.A blow-torch wouldnt touch it.Speak about pots and kettles.

[New Judge]

//....the history and politics of rail networks... are not something I have even the most passing interest in.//

If you had such an interest, trixie, you would learn that the railways shaped the history of the UK enormously. Almost every aspect of our lives today has ben influenced to a greater or lesser degree by the railways. They brought enormous changes to this country - almost all for the better - that improved many people's lives. Even the standardisation of time across the country was brought about by the railways. Before that the clocks would show different times depending on how far east or west you were.

The country needs infrastructure. If it is to survive economically it is vital. Much of the wealth created in the Victorian era was only possible because of the railways. There was a train (pardon the pun) of thought in the 1960s and 70s that suggested the railways had had their day. It was wrong. They are more necessary than ever because you can't send a box of fish over the internet.

[mushroom25]

there was a similar train of thought (hehe) in the 1960s that the freedom represented by the private car would be the future, but this gave no thought for the consequences once everybody had got one. the result is the congestion experienced pre-covid, and which is now approaching those levels again (notwithstanding lockdown), and an air quality problem that is now so bad that it is being mentioned on inquest reports.

[pixie374]

I know, nj... but it's the sheer destruction of woods, fields, animals and so on that can never be replaced. It's a densely populated country, with a lack of housing and space as it is. It'll obviously continue around the other EU (at least) countries eventually... but this is a small island and it's ploughing straight across the middle.

[allenlondon]

No, immyfa, my ‘misogyny’ has always only existed in the fevered minds of certain individuals who can’t think of any valid intellectual arguments to throw at me, so they hurl utterly unfounded insults instead.

Spicerack’s offensiveness is there for all to read,

[mushroom25]

I think you might be being a bit hard on Spicy, Allen.

The occupants of the Greenham camp were passionate for their cause, but they were also very aware of how they were projected and perceived. and there were plenty of them who very much played to the gallery.

I never went to the camp - it was not without its squalor, that wasn't for me. but I often met some camp dwellers at Membury Services on the M4, where they could escape from the mud, get cleaned off and have a good meal - and sit and chat to Joe Public. lovely people, but wouldn't have wanted to get on their wrong side. oh dear me no.

[allenlondon]

The Greenham Women (or their sisters) taught me well, and I’m proud to have been their pupil.

[andy-hughes]

allen - // The Greenham Women (or their sisters) taught me well, and I’m proud to have been their pupil. //

I'm fillin' up here .... !!!

[jobjockey]

Now that working from home ts increasing
is there a real need for H S 2, if you must get to
London so quickly catch the earlier train.

[Khandro]

//The Greenham Women (or their sisters) taught me well,//

but what?

[douglas9401]

(piano plays) Was a hot afternoon, the last day of June and the sun was a demon...

[Khandro]

.... and under a tree, I lay there dreamen

[rowanwitch]

Prior to the pandemic travelled to London from Birmingham quite often. I have up using the fast services as they were always do crowded with the look at me I am having a very loud business meeting brigade. The risk with taking the slower services was they were more often delayed or cancelled. It was obvious at least four years ago there was a capacity storm brewing. The increase in road traffic makes the coach services even worse. Although it didn't seem quite as bad when I had to go North it was still pretty dire at peak times. It seems to me we may not be bold enough in our plans for the railway network. Not only do we need a new West coast line we probably need to increase the network over and above pre Beeching levels.

Environmental issues need greater efforts to resolve, we may need to create new habitats to replace any we need to go through, but track sides can be wildlife corridors, especially if they were made far wider spaces than currently. The train should be first choice for medium to long distances, even the switch to hybrid and electric motor transport will still require more energy than bulk passenger transport systems.

I have always been pro train, even more so for freight, taking the huge trucks off the road must be better with the only downside being the loss of driving jobs

[allenlondon]

Khandro. Not to call them ladies. Who Ashoka was. It’s a start, isn’t it.