Social housing in the US is not capable of housing the numbers who were classed as Sub Prime borrowers.

Considering bad credit issues in the US are down mainly to Health Insurance issues, hence Obama pushing a UK style Health Service and collage education funding.

The US govt could not fund the issue, lending rules were ignored and loans given to debtors who it was hoped would eventually pay along with high interest payments.

It was a punt that bought time, the US economy has and will start to recover, it was the UK who will suffer the worst, thanks to Blair and Brown.

Nicely put. The UK is completely supine about obeying the rules, no matter how mad they be.

One thing I particularly like about Spain is the more relaxed attitude to its laws by its people, and I hope the ‘little by little’ change takes a while. If I want a smoke-free bar or restaurant, I can find one, but if I want to smoke, there are plenty of places where I can, even though they should be smoke-free because of their size etc.

I suppose the segregated rubbish bins will be next, emptied every fortnight, instead of our bins, emptied daily, but full of anything under the sun, there was a moped in our one this morning. I lifted it out to have a look, but the wheels were buckled, so I left it at the side for the Gitanos.

George Orwell got the date wrong by 30 years.

And by its property developers

Damn right he did. I just hope to god I'm dead by the time the nasty creeping little jobsworths take over the world.

There is no way I can say anything in favour of property developers, nor the horrible agents, lawyers, bankers and all the others involved, but I was talking about the ordinary guy having a cigarette with his cortado and missing the ashtray.

Me too, but I think we'll have to slow them down a bit.

Got a plan? I'd say shoot them, but the environment can only cope with so much rotting meat at a time.

I doubt you`ll find all rules or lack of them suit all people.

Yes the Rules in the UK are many, but I`m all for protecting my rights and enforcing them.

I`d hate to be forced by the courts to pay for a building that is illegal, which has just happened in Spain.

Living without regulations is great when your not involved, people soon change there minds when they are.

Me too! I'm yet to see one!

Back to the smoking ban thing, I wonder how they'll deal with all the little old men in spain who've smoked since they were kids and go to their local bars everyday as they have done for probably over half a century for a drink, chat and a smoke?? That is unfair, cruel and an invasion of their human rights when you think about their history and suppression under Franco, how dare Europe come along and do that to them! - I suppose its quite a feat for these old chaps to still be alive after all that nicotine and smoke filling their lungs, but alive and well they are!


Jo xxxx

I thought it was the Tories who started deregulating the banks.....

Yep.

Not quite sure how you can compare Franco's acts of suppression with the minor inconvenience of smoking regulations....

The old guys still have the choice of going outside into the sunshine for a quick drag.
Also if the regulations significantly reduce their tobacco consumption,it could add years to some of their lives, in addition to the obvious financial benefit.

I dont think they'd agree with you, nor do I think they'd accept the smoking ban and quite honestly I dont blame em. They've lived thru hell in the Franco days, a minor inconvenience is exactly that, so why shouldnt they carry on as they always have, its a minor inconvenience for a any non smokers to allow them to continue - in the local bars near me, I've yet to see any non smokers, (including the bar owners and the guardia who hide out in them) or anyone who gives a damn whether there are smokers in them! Its only the big international type bars and restaurants where it matters cos thats where the rule makers hang out and thats fair enough, but leave the old Spanish guys alone!

Jo xxx