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Newsnight still seems to be missing the important point. There will be no brain drain, as there will be no where to run.

The global G20 initiative will collapse planetary ecological systems in 43 months. That's everywhere.

/blogs/newsnight/fromthewebteam/2009/04/wednesday_22_april_2009.html

Newsnight needs to address the overall strategic challenge before looking at smaller details within the existing paradigm.

Celtic Lion

In reference to my point #1 may I draw the web team to Barrie Singleton's point yesterday.

/blogs/newsnight/fromthewebteam/2009/04/wednesday_22_april_2009.html

There is no purpose in discussing tax related brain drains, when global ecological systems collapse there will be no money to tax.

My thanks to Ecolizzy yesterday for her kind words. Politicians please let those of us who know what we are doing sort out the mess the planets in. Just for a few years then you can have control back again.

It is for your own benefit.

Celtic Lion

"Brain drain or millionaire drain?" There's a big difference.

Do you really think Jonathon Ross, Wayne Rooney and Jefferey Archer will be leaving us soon because of the budget?

On the other hand, will we be sad if the top bankers choose to leave and take their skills to another country?

There might be a few who choose to leave, but most entrepreneurs are motivated by the challenge - not their net takings. Money is a way measuring of their success - but it's not the purpose.

Likewise the academics - if thats what you mean by the brain-drain. The post and the opportunities will be their determining factor - not Alistair Darling's budget.

Interestingley, Eddie Mair interviewed two multi-millionaire businessmen on PM tonight. "Will it make you move - or invest elsewhere?" he asked. Both said they would continue to invest in businesses in Britain - and had no intentions of moving.

Richard_SM (#3) "Likewise the academics - if thats what you mean by the brain-drain."

The good ones have probably either packed up, or cracked up, given the deluge of dross sent their way over recent years.

While it is quiet can I indulge myself and ask a question to the Newsnight team and the blog contributors?

When I look at our beautiful planet I see many things. I see life, the biology and ecology. I see climate and meteorological processes.

I see evolution and genetics. I see heat and energy exchanges and processes. I see biodiversity and understand the underlying thermodynamic process involved that relate that to stability etc.

There is geology and geomorphology. There are production and respiration coefficients. There are so many things I know to the n th degree about this planet. If I don't know enough I know someone who does.

So please somebody tell me why this planet, our home, the reason why we exist is being run into oblivion by lawyers and economists who haven't a clue what to do?

If they wanted to run a planet why didn't they study science, ecology, thermodynamics etc. Tort law and the thing that male cows put on a field does not qualify you to have responsibility for an ecosystem of 60 million species of animal and plant and 6 billion people.

Please for your own and your family's sake, please do what you do. Get celebrities off speeding fines and do the paperwork for selling a house.

If you wanted to study law and economics remember what Clint Eastwood said, "A man has to know his limitations".

Let those of us who know how a planet works stop you from taking us all to a one way trip to annihilation.

Just gives us the keys of the planet for a couple of years and let us sort the mess out. We'll give them you back once we have done that. Please see sense. It is for your own good.

Celtic Lion

Why is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã going to be showing people how to AVOID paying tax?! The economy is in enough trouble without the public service broadcaster demonstrating to people who, let's face it, are already well off how to get out of paying their taxes.

Shouldn't the Chancellor focus on ensuring that corporate tax-avoidance, which in some cases borders on evasion, is attacked more aggresively to ensure that these tax revenues are what they should be?

Or is he concerned that any such investigation might bring to light the sort of arrangements where the Inland Revenue buildings were sold to a company registerd in a tax haven?

Surely, these companies need to pay what they should. Where is the clampdown on compliance rather than a headline-grabbing 50% tax rate that won't actually net much revenue?

Just to say, should the other bloggers didnt know, Jeremy Paxman received the Journalist of the Year Award from the Media Society last night. I had the pleasure of attending the event at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone where some brilliant speeches were made in his honour, including by Mr Michael Howard MP who referred to the famous 12/14 question interview as a shared experience.
Bravo Jeremy!
P.S. I thought the food was very good and the staff created a pleasant atmosphere.

IN THE INTEREST OF BALANCE (#8)

I prefer Jon Sopel's forensic probing to edgy showbiz from Paxo, but must bow to the inexorable arrow of Newsarama 'progress', that has no time for gravitas but points, relentlessly, to the darkness at the wrong end of the tunnel.

mimpromptu (#8) "some brilliant speeches were made in his honour, including by Mr Michael Howard MP who referred to the famous 12/14 question interview as a shared experience."

How many people watching then, and how many people now, fully appreciate that what that was all about was the pretence of Agency status for HM Prison Service? When people tried to make it run as it should be. Lewis was DG but not a career Civil Servant as had been the case in the past, he was parachuted in from the Private Sector/media, this aftre a series of restructuings and reorganisations so common in the Civil Service in those days. Now, why would the Conservatives and New Labour afterwards want one time pillars of the state to be not run very effectively?

Dare our intrepid Newsnight inquisitors ask that - ever?

Mr Singleton
I see light, you see darkness -
its an issue of relativity of perception, methinks

KCL #5

Just one point I'd like to argue with. Let's NOT give them the keys back. Let us instead give them to Barrie's new heros.

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT (#11)

So I see. . .

if the 50% tax rate is gordon's big idea then it really is a mad hatters tea party. a totally fatuous policy.

however the usual waffling about people leaving the country is just a frankenstien corpse brought out and given the 20,000 volts to stumble about for 5 mins to scare the kiddies. the vast majority of entrepreneurs don't earn 100k. most are self employed. beside i'm sure there are migrant entrepreneurs who will do it for less?

as for the city. the city is a net drain on the uk. it might be sexy and have flashing lights but at the end of the day is it worth it if twice a century it blows the country up?

all we have at the moment is election spin. 12 months of this is not in the interests of the economy. its just self indulgent politics. clinging on for no good end but their own self interest.

Mimpromptu #11

Tunnel, train, light, oncoming...

I am tired of hearing the claim that those who earn six figure salaries and Millionaires will beggar off to other countries. Well for me there is nothing to stop them and good riddence.
Furthermore we should do as America does that when they leave they forfeit their British passport and they can become the citizen of whatever country that will have them.
Any assets they have left in this country should either be taxed at 100% -no I am feeling generous-99% or be left for the benefit of those that remain.
Whilst I am on my soap-box why should these Millionaires claim child allowance and in the case of my sister, who is not short of a bob or two of a 6 or possibly 7 figure income, get the fuel allowance which incidently they get either free or cost price!

Am I becoming a Bolshevik?

mimpromptu (#11) "Mr Singleton
I see light, you see darkness -
its an issue of relativity of perception, methinks"



For the .

Billbradbury (#16) Big car dealer chap interviewed on ITV after the 50p tax hike, saying it was like 'Dick Turpin' - He worked hard for his 1.5 million a year he paid himself he said. The thing is, the car industry was, next to the liars' loans property predation debacle, the next great profiteer from securitzed loans, unless I'm very much mistaken. So where was his 'hard work'?

So no, in my view, you're not becoming a Bolshevik (even Stalin got rid of them!). Your just sensible Old Labour like Stalin and many others I'm not allowed to mention. But hush, or the spinmeisters will start accusing you of being an 'apologist' for all sorts of imagined heinous crimes - or even wanting to 'wipe New Labour off the map' etc. (so you go rushing to their kissing cousins the Conservative Party or Liberal-Democrats ;-)

IN THE INTERESTS OF BALANCE (#9)

I can't bear Jon Sopel. When he appeared about 5 minutes in to the Budget Coverage I turned over to Sky and never returned.

nortongriffiths (#19) Tell us why. I find him and Gavin (both Jewish?) fair and effective at probing their guests, even Israelis. Their styles are different, but I think they both do a good job. I wouldn't say that of Kirsty Wark sadly. I'm sure she's a competent journalist etc, but she seems to emotionally heckle and cut off ('run out of time' on) those she personally doesn't approve of =;-(.

This is of course just a personal view.

The Gurkha story sounds like a disgrace -
Joanna Lumley expresses dismay here:

5. At 9:52pm on 23 Apr 2009, KingCelticLion
.. can I indulge myself and ask a question to the Newsnight team and the blog contributors?

...So please somebody tell me why this planet, our home, the reason why we exist is being run into oblivion by lawyers and economists who haven't a clue what to do?

There are a few other professions one might think could be added to that list, but seeing as to out them would incur the 'troll!!!!' finger now being pointed, I'd best resist.

As Barrie will confirm, it is simply because those who make things are being even more overworked and called upon to provide funds, unique or otherwise, than usual, and hence are taking a bit longer on our spaceship, in which we feel honour bound to at least leave this doomed husk of a planet alongside that created for those with VIP places and press passes. Codenamed WVUI 1.

ps: If this is what you deem quiet, then I'd hate to be around when you find it noisy!

#21

Agreed !

I have a high respect for the Gurkha's (past and present) and have no problem with the gov offering them citizenship (when they are discharged from service as to comply with the agreement with the Government of Nepal ) , if they so wish it.

I hope Joanna Lumley keeps up the pressure !

Thought Experiment : Imagine we had a 20 year long Tulip Bulb style boom - All our problems would be over - there would be loads of money for loads of things. Well why can't we have loads of things without messing around with a bleep'n Tulip Bulb boom ? We have a financial system developed in 15th C Venice and quite frankly it's out of date and no longer fit for purpose. As a starter for 10 you could try NEFS - Net Export Financial Simulation

#12 New Fazer

Sssshhh. Have you not seen those negotiators talking a potential suicide out of doing something stupid?

Is my browser playing up or has this site changed? Oh Mr Ambassador you do spoil us.

Celtic Lion

Dear Kirsty i assiduously,frequently and regularly read your column.
Everytime, your article make an incursion on my e-mail, i am delighted to read you or read your way of think in different aspects of the daily living. Dear Kirsty, i have a question today i saw in your article about the H1N1, and you associate the same with the terrible swine flu but on other occassions especificaly the closest last year, the H1N1 was described or associated with the bird flu. It is the same kind of flu?