I think Sunder was just fishing around for a statistic, any statistic, that made his case.

The whole point of Gini is that it compares *all* percentiles, not just two.

By your favoured crierion, if 1% of the population had everything and the other 99% had nothing, Britain would be a completely equal society.

I submit that this is nonsense.

I doubt that many in the electorate will be moved by arcane debates about Gini coefficients and the politically correct definition of poverty. For a start, many are sceptical about both the government and statistics. Combine the two and the result is apt to be even less credible than either separately.

For all the space given to Cameron’s speech in parts of the media, I wasn’t impressed. IMO the text doesn’t survive even the most basic academic tests for substance over vacuous rhetoric spun to make cuts in income support programmes and the public services seem more palatable.

Has any country achieved Cameron’s vision of “the Big Society”, if so where and if not why not?

Cameron thinks government and the state have become too big but is it possible for “society” – whatever that is – to become “too big” and how could we tell? Can a country have more than one Big Society or isn’t that allowed?

Was there ever a time in Britain’s history when “society” was bigger, if so when?

Anyway, thanks for your good wishes and apologies for my distrust.

I doubt whether my motives are any different to the other people here – but I can understand your reservations.

One way to avoid impersonators is for the host to give everyone a number and to display it along with the persons name. But, apart from being a bore and treating people like kiddies, it could change the nature of the site and require too much monitoring to make it viable.

Wishing you well with your shows.

Kojak

It’s a little odd because I’ve not been mentioning it for a couple of months at all but a while back I did suggest people come and see it and you’ll have to forgive me in the current climate but I am rather suspicious of your motives.

As for the question you ask, the Internet and the written word upon is a pretty base and flat form, rather easy to impersonate anyone actually, including you.

And putting on shows is what I do.

Also, I don’t live in Notts anymore and haven’t done for some 5 years so haven’t seen the new space.

“although why you’re going and looking such things up I’m not so sure.”

Why?
Because you’ve been mentioning it for a number of months now and a while back you suggested people here come and see the show.

The question you should really ask is, how come someone gave such a good impersonation of you merely by being so abusive?

Apart from that – good luck to you for having the enthusiasm to put on a show.

(By the way are you going to see the Nottingham Contemporary? A few months ago, when up visiting friends, I had a peek and was quite intrigued. It was far from open but looked intersting)

Kojak

I like Nesbitt’s moustache. Worthy of Jason King.

Second, the quote isn’t in relation to Poles Apart, it was from the BBC in relation to another show of ours, although why you’re going and looking such things up I’m not so sure. Each to their own but don’t make me suspicious that the impersonator is you, as I’ll ask Sunny for the IP details.

Best just to calm down Kojak for now.

I’m staggered that you think it acceptable to comment like that. I’d also be staggered if this site leaves your comments to stand.

And you would have to wonder Tonga Tim why you’d be snarking, as you so delightfully put it, in a thread about your mighty leader in the first place?

Any chance you were taking part in a bit of LOOK OVER THERE action?

Of course not…

At least that’s all cleared up.

You’re a bit sensitive duck, wasn’t talking to you.