Police & Crime Commissioner Election Update - 31/08/12

“Evening Gnome_Chomsky,

Trying to reply from a mobile and struggling to proof my posts before hitting 'submit' - it's a bit of a battle using this comments system on a small screen.

The @ symbol was a typo, although I sometimes use that approach to reply to a number of comments in one post - it is a style I have picked up on other websites.

Richard”

“Social anthropologists of the future will recognise 3 September, some time between 0911 and 2207, as the day RG_Davies started to add a slightly pretentious '@-' prefix to people's names.

I don't understand this trend. Is it an attempt to suggest the commenter is so ultra-hip they have a Twitter account?

It is the equivalent of saying 'Pass' on any quiz or game show other than Mastermind, or a fish on a bicycle.

"I'm always happy to answer questions but it serves no purpose for me to make comments on everyone else's comments."

But that's exactly what your first post on the message board was, not counting the vanity article that sparked it off. You responded to comments, not questions.

"..., in respect of what I may seek to impact on if elected."

Sorry, somebody who comes out with garble like that, thinks 'i'm' is grammatical, prefers 'focussed' to 'focused', and does not understand the difference between 'effect' and 'affect' is possibly in that group of people who would wriggle away from accepting responsibility for decision making on the basis of 'unreliable' information.

To give Mr Davies his due, however, other candidates are conspicuous by their absence. At least he has put his head above the parapet.”

“2 In my experience commentators on the Internet tend to be drawn to issues they disagree with. That's actually why I'm so keen to do this.”

“Good afternoon @InsideStory

I'm not walking away from anything, I'm always happy to answer questions but it serves no purpose for me to make comments on everyone else's comments. Nor does arguing semantic points seem to be useful exercise either.

I'm focussed on police and crime issues that effect the people of Lincolnshire, in respect of what I may seek to impact on if elected. While I enjoy wider political debate i'm not sure the comments page of internet websites is really the best place for them.

regards

Richard”

“Just like all politicians walk away when the conversation is not going their way . Gillian Merron did just the same when she was on walkabouts .”

“Mr RG_Davies as left the building.”

“Any person belonging to a secret society should not be eligible to stand for elections of any description and also barred from employment in any position financed by the tax payer it could conflict with the position they hold .”

“Mr Davies

You said, "Just for info PCCs aren't quangos as they are directly elected they replace Police Authorities which are quangos."

I suspect if the electorate were given a choice of whether or not they wanted PCCs the answer would be no. This is evidenced by the general lack of appetite the electorate have for elected mayors. Obviously this style of 'government' doesn't sit well with the public.

If it is about accountability, the Police Authority can be dissolved and the responsible for setting the budget and strategic priorities can be passed to the County Council. A body elected, accountable and with a financial expertise that could take this on without a problem (after all nine members of the Police Authority are county councillors). Money would be saved as the structure is already in place and additional elections will not have to be held.”

“snoddybag - Mr Cameron wanted rid of QANGOs because he had no control over them. One of the first acts of the Cameron QANGO-busting government was to create the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). It is a QANGO, designed to say the government is on course.

It has recently said the government is not on course and been criticised by Mr Cameron for doing so.

I lived through Mr Reagan's election in the mid-70s, then Mrs Thatcher in 1979. I remember the rhetoric of removing government steerage, and the disasters that followed. I also remember Mr Blair's promise to stick to Conservative plans for a time - why vote Labour for Tory policies? - before pursuing his own agenda.

There are entrenched interests in UK society. They have links that cause worries to voters. How can democracy work while there are secret societies, business interests, political interests and cross-cutting allegiances?”

“Good evening Mr Davis.
It is still a Quango which ever way you look at it. It is still paid for by the tax payer/rate payer/rent payer.
It is a level of garbage we can do without.
Unless of cause you are going to do the for free.”