Originally posted by marinakatomb
I find them greatly improved. Im not happy about the increase in fare either but you can get an oyster card! I think you'll find there is no increase if you use one. The point behind it was to free the driver to drive rather than wait for people to find the correct change. As for more than one bus at a time, find me a place on earth where that doesn't happen!
Yes, agreed. Using an oyster card is just 80p per journey. I use it every day to get into work and cannot complain about the service.
As for the underground, you also have to take into account that London underground is the oldest subway system in the world. Maintenance of that infrastructure is not going to be easy. It does not have the advantages of two lines running in parallel to have 24 hour running like in New York (where you can have another line going while one is being serviced). Considering this there are not that many accidents on London underground even with the vast number of people that use it every day. Even most of those are caused by people jumping in front of the trains. In that case, they should do what is right across the Jubilee line extension, where there are large barriers between the trains and the platforms that open up when the train arrives.
Since Ken has become mayor, I have seen vast improvements. Admittedly I was not keen on the idea of the congestion charge when it arrived, thinking that it would make the underground even more congested, but that does not seem to be the case (in my experience).
Originally posted by VargMore to the point - Are members of the BNP party Nazis?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4262833.stm
I'm not sure when saying someone acts like a concentration camp guard became anti-semitic, even if the person is jewish it makes no difference?
Maybe it's because it reminds that person of the holocaust. But we are supposed to remember it aren't we?
We used to call the dinner-ladies at our school naz ...[text shortened]... ll the time because they were so authoritarian, but we weren't being anti-semitic in the least.
Yeah, the accusations of anti-semitism are completely ridiculous. He'd begun his rant before he was aware of the journalist's religion. If his comments were anti anyone it was the Germans - calling someone a 'German war criminal' probably isn't going to go down great with our European partners.
But the whole point of a politician like Ken is that - unlike almost every other politician in the world - he really does say exactly what he thinks. Even if it sounds really silly. Who else would respond to requests for an apology with: "Absolutely not. If he isn't happy he shouldn't be working for a paper like that. You can't expect to work for the Daily Mail group and have the rest of society treat with you respect as a useful member of society, because you are not."
Rich.
Welll Ken is saying that a journalist aking questions of a elected representitive is as bad as as a Nazi Concentration camp guard, ie Nazi genocide is no better or no worse than a free press
If this was simply off the cuff hyperbole, fair enough... he could just apologise for any offense caused... but he has explicitly ruled that out,... and he was leader of the GLC when it was considered racist to use black bin bags or to teach children the nursery rhyme baa baa black sheep ... he's made his bed .... let him lie in it
Originally posted by SiskinI don't think anyone's saying that elected representatives shouldn't be questioned by journalists.
Welll Ken is saying that a journalist aking questions of a elected representitive is as bad as as a Nazi Concentration camp guard, ie Nazi genocide is no better or no worse than a free press
If this was simply off the cuff hyperbole, fair enough... he could just apologise for any offense caused... but he has explicitly ruled that out,... and he was lea ...[text shortened]... ach children the nursery rhyme baa baa black sheep ... he's made his bed .... let him lie in it
However, as I understand it, the context of the remark was that Livingstone (who's been hounded by these people for decades) was less than co-operative when this guy was in his face after a party. He said something about working for such a scummy newspaper. The journalist responded by saying something along the lines of 'I'm only doing my job, mate', and Livingstone replied with his remark about that being what the concentration camp guards said.
So, it wasn't a normal politico-meets-journo kind of conversation. It was an aggressive joournalist, pursuing a compaign against an elected representative, in his face after a social event, who then tried to excuse his actions.
I don't agree with Ken on a number of issues, not least his decision to rejoin the new labour party, but he's right here.
Originally posted by RedmikeAgreed. The news keeps reporting that Ken "compared a jewish journalist to a nazi concentration camp guard". No he didn't. Firstly, he didn't know he was a jew, and it's irrelevant anyway. Secondly he didn't "compare", since careful camparison would show that he bore very little resemblance to a guard, except for the matter of using "only obeying orders" as an excuse.
I don't think anyone's saying that elected representatives shouldn't be questioned by journalists.
However, as I understand it, the context of the remark was that Livingstone (who's been hounded by these people for decades) was less than co-operative when this guy was in his face after a party. He said something about working for such a scummy newspaper ...[text shortened]... a number of issues, not least his decision to rejoin the new labour party, but he's right here.
It's not surprising, however, that other journalists have closed ranks behind this one to protect one of their own. Funny that. Journalists have too much power.
Originally posted by lauseyI'm afraid I haven't seen any improvements on the tube. The Hammersmith and City, District and Circle lines are still absolutely appalling. The once-reliable Piccadilly line and Central line are starting to creak, and even the once-mighty Bakerloo line is beginning to show signs of cracking.
Yes, agreed. Using an oyster card is just 80p per journey. I use it every day to get into work and cannot complain about the service.
As for the underground, you also have to take into account that London underground is the oldest subway system in the world. Maintenance of that infrastructure is not going to be easy. It does not have the advantages of tw ...[text shortened]... the underground even more congested, but that does not seem to be the case (in my experience).
I have a zone 1-4 travelcard, and for £112/month I expect better.