[trevgo]

Originally Posted by BorderReiver

causes of the start of the Second World War reduced to the sort of analysis you'd be ashamed to put in a bathproof book.

Superb!

[HillmanImp]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

a very interesting and informative post. Not sure I agree with all of it, but certainly food for thought.

The most important thing for the UK to get control off in this modern world (where we are just a bit player) is our own streets.

I would cut the army down by 30,000 (as probably has happened) and increase the police size by 30,000.

I would like to be able, as an 18 year old middle class spotty boy or girl, with weedy body build, be able to walk down any UK high street at 11:30 pm at night without a care in the world.

There are only about 200 major UK towns. 10 extra-police in each high street is only 2,000 - we still have 28,000 extra to play around with until we get it right!



If it takes 30,000 more police or 40,000 then do it.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by HillmanImp

The most important thing for the UK to get control off in this modern world (where we are just a bit player) is our own streets.

I would cut the army down by 30,000 (as probably has happened) and increase the police size by 30,000.

I would like to be able, as an 18 year old middle class spotty boy or girl, with weedy body build, be able to walk down any UK high street at 11:30 pm at night without a care in the world.

There are only about 200 major UK towns. 10 extra-police in each high street is only 2,000 - we still have 28,000 extra to play around with until we get it right!



If it takes 30,000 more police or 40,000 then do it.

Interesting. However, I do worry about having such an enormous police presence. But I don't live in a town and I'm horrified to hear that you have problems. It's so wrong.

[HillmanImp]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

Interesting. However, I do worry about having such an enormous police presence. But I don't live in a town and I'm horrified to hear that you have problems. It's so wrong.

any market town in the UK (eg even guildford) will have murders of young people, attacks, random thuggery.... after 11pm..

Typical example of inner city behaviour now in leafy areas:

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/21...car_park_arson

or

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/21...d_with_crowbar

[C19th Fox]

Originally Posted by thenetworkbabe

Strategically at some point the US is also going to give up on protecting the interests of a lot of Europeans who spend less and less and rely on the US more and more - if you don't pay now you may find they are not there when they really are needed

Which of course points to a question whether an element of EU co-operation is appropriate on defence. Whilst the UK & France may not in the future be able to afford seperate nuclear deterrants, something at the EU level would be affordable. Its already happening with aircraft carriers.