Monbiot on tour - "come and have an argument"!
Discussion
Monbiot at monbiot.com says:
"I’ll be taking on all comers in a series of debates around the country, beginning next month. In the first half of each session, I’ll start by choosing a topic, lay out my case for a few minutes, then invite people to try to knock it down. In the second half, the floor will be thrown open for any subject you want to raise, and any argument you want to have. Come and test your wits at the following venues:
(Start date) FEBRUARY
16th COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre"
Plus another ten dates.
Surely the PH collective can come up with some good questions?
caziques said:
"I’ll be taking on all comers in a series of debates around the country, beginning next month. In the first half of each session, I’ll start by choosing a topic, lay out my case for a few minutes, then invite people to try to knock it down. In the second half, the floor will be thrown open for any subject you want to raise, and any argument you want to have. Come and test your wits at the following venues:
Intellectual w
king.
voyds9 said:
Far more fun if he was lecturing to an empty room.
Exactly. People like these are best ignored - argue and you'll only encourage him 
I do not deny that the man has some intelligence; one of the major difficulties seems to be a mypoic view of the world, and a failure to understand that some of his radical campaigns, if carried through, would have consequences elsewhere.
Just a quick example - I heard him on the radio last week pontificating that fuel taxes should rise to "save the planet" (considerable precis of what he was saying but that will do to be going on with) as a tax rise would reduce vehicle use.
Well, yes, perhaps it would, but it would also hit the poorer in society harder who may not then be able to afford to go to work.
It would also have an impact on food prices because that stuff is transported around the country in vehicles that are paying additional fuel tax.
So, higher fuel tax - higher travelling costs = higher food prices. So what will that little combination do to inflation, as peoplebegin to agitate for incresead wages to pay the increased taxes. And what will that do for lower paid workers whose jobs could perhaps more easily be exported to lower taxed economies? Probably increase unemployment which the government then picks up the bill for in benefits. And what will happen if those jobs go elsewhere? Our balance of payments will suffer.
So, we haven't gone very far down this road before we see that "saving the planet Mombiot style" would mean higher fuel bills, higher prices in the shops, increased unemployment, increased government expenditure, reduced government income and an even longer downturn that the one we're expecting.
And do you know the worst thing? He's earning a living out of publishing this drivel.
Keep quiet and ignore him and he might go away
Edited by rs1952 on Sunday 16th January 20:46
nelly1 said:
Didn't he recently suggest, nay demand that people who own big houses with spare rooms should be forced to vacate them for the poor, underprivileged, multi-offspringed masses?
Oh, except for him of course...
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Er, no, not exactly. Or, indeed, at all.Oh, except for him of course...
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He said that people who take in lodgers should be given tax breaks so to do, and that people who under-occupy their homes should be penalised via the tax system.
Funnily enough, he has two lodgers.
When dealing with tits like Monbiot, it behooves us to make sure we have our story, and his, straight.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Sunday 16th January 22:22
CommanderJameson said:
nelly1 said:
Didn't he recently suggest, nay demand that people who own big houses with spare rooms should be forced to vacate them for the poor, underprivileged, multi-offspringed masses?
Oh, except for him of course...
T
W
A
T
!
Er, no, not exactly. Or, indeed, at all.Oh, except for him of course...
T
W
A
T
!
He said that people who take in lodgers should be given tax breaks so to do
Got to hand it to these original thinkers like Monbiot....
CommanderJameson said:
nelly1 said:
Didn't he recently suggest, nay demand that people who own big houses with spare rooms should be forced to vacate them for the poor, underprivileged, multi-offspringed masses?
Oh, except for him of course...
T
W
A
T
!
Er, no, not exactly. Or, indeed, at all.Oh, except for him of course...
T
W
A
T
!
He said that people who take in lodgers should be given tax breaks so to do, and that people who under-occupy their homes should be penalised via the tax system.
Funnily enough, he has two lodgers.
When dealing with tits like Monbiot, it behooves us to make sure we have our story, and his, straight.
...he's still a Tw@t though...
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