Minature motor bikes

Blah! to the parents who buy their little angels those minature motor bikes. 30mph inches off the ground, uninsured and without helmets and leathers. Can't blame the kids I would have loved one when I was their age but Blah! to the parents. Ban the things!!! Mark, Chesterfield.

Captain says: Sorry, can't agree... there's enough rules and stuff in this bloomin' country - you gotta take some risks in life without the State breathing down your neck. I dunno about the motorbikes but it's certainly about time kids started getting to school under their own steam without the streets around schools getting grid locked twice a day. Blah! to the SCHOOLRUN say I!

Careless dog owners

I want to Blah! the people who let their dogs run riot and poo everywhere. If they want a dog then have one and take it out for a walk and clean the mess up. Mark, Chesterfield.

Captain says: Quite right. It is absolutely disgusting isn't it. I reckon about 50% of dog owners have got the fact that not clearing up after one's pooch is pretty antisocial these days. Blah! to the offenders.... there is an eye disease children can catch from dog shit that causes blindness too. If we see a dog owner behaving badly let's let them know wot we think!

Unbalanced dangerous drug laws

Legalize cannabis, or ban the sale of cigarettes/tobacco and alcohol, more people die from alcohol and tobacco than have EVER died from cannabis use!!!! Jonathan, Bradford.

Captain says: I agree 100%, the REAL peddlers of death are not the drug dealers.... they are the tobacconists on the high street. 

Multi-culture day

Have a National Multi culture Day. Everyone gets the day off work, gets pissed and has a hug. Mick, Carterton.

Captain says: That's a great idea... especially in these times when people are getting whipped up into anti Muslim attitudes by Jack Straw and the like. It would have to be digressionary the getting pissed bit though wouldn't it!

Ship to ship oil transfers

Blah to ship to ship oil transfers in the Firth of forth in Scotland. Don't ruin our Beaches. Robbie.

Captain says: Lunacy... why are they doing this sort of thing at sea? A BIG Blah! to that for a start... and when the inevitable oil spills DO happen fine the stinking rich oil companies megabucks to teach them a lesson. And stop these vile oil execs getting huge golden handshakes for overseeing the destruction of our environment too.

University top-ups

We need to get rid of university top up fees. Although I'm not affected by this, I know dozens of students from my old college that are not going to uni because of the extra fees. This is discouraging those with less advantaged backgrounds, as the only way to pay for these extra fees is to get a bigger student loan. Its making higher education elitist again, which is a bloody disgrace if you ask me. Sort them out captain sensible! Danny.

Captain says: Indeed this IS a disgrace, and the sort of penny pinching anti poor people garbage the Labour party should be ashamed of. Education for ALL say I - and either abolish public schools... or make ALL schools provide the very best standard possible.

Not helping Tibet

We must give more support to the free tibet campaign,met the dalai lama in 95 and saw the dal in photos with major world leaders who have done jack shit apart from have their photos taken with the great man,since 1956 the chinese government have raped and pillaged this once hidden peaceful country turned the streets of Llahsa into a red light district and restricted the day to day comings and goings of the population we should force our government to help these people,lets tell em theirs oil in them they're hills,that would get em off. Andrew.

Captain says: Yup, just like the US / UK are doing in the Mid East. Big bully boy foreign policy stuff like this is disgusting whoever does it... people deserve a decent life wherever they live... it's a basic human right. Summat should be done to democratise the United Nations and scrap the stitch up that is the 'security council'. Never was anything more inappropriately named!

Out of touch MPs

Our MPs are supposed to represent the common man; i say pay them the national average wage and remove their allowances. (they can pay their own travel, if they want two houses then let it come from their money and not ours) lets see how many of them want to represent the people once the gravy train dries up. Craig, Hants.

Captain says: MP's should represent the people who elected them - nobody else. Political Parties are given huge sums of cash by big companies for a reason - to look after their interests. This is dead wrong... the people should come first, multinational corporations last. Alas it is the other way round presently.

Slippery politicians

Blah! To politicians who refuse to answer direct question. Any provable lie or refusal to answer a direct question should result in instant dismissal. Stuart, Leeds.

Captain says: I've heard it suggested that the only answer for this kind of behaviour is castration.... only joking folks! Then again...

More nurses, less managers

Healthcare - if one manager earns £40-60K, this could pay for 2-3 nurses. So having 3-4 managers in each department in however many hospitals there are could pay for tonnes more nurses, which would reduce the strain on healthcare workers. More nursing staff means less sickness, less stress, cleaner wards, more time to feed patients. Forget matrons, cos they're extra managers, just give the hospitals more nurses. At the moment hospitals are freezing posts so that they can save money. This means when a nurse resigns, she isn't replaced. This is really happening. So ... Blah! more nurses for the NHS and less managers. Richard.

Captain says: There are no workers in the country that deserve more respect than our doctors and nurses... and this should be reflected in their wages. The understaffing is creating stressful working conditions for these modern day heroes of Britain... forget the idiots who risk their lives crossing the Arctic or whatever for some daft ego trip - hospital staff are doing a really tough job day in, day out. Every time one of those incredibly expensive RAF fighter planes zooms overhead scaring the daylights out of everyone I think to myself - price wise... that's a hospital in the sky. If they can afford these daft things they can pay the nurses some more. And yes, boot out some of the managers too.

Foreigners taking our jobs

Stop the number of foreigners coming in to our country and taking our jobs, you can hardly tell you are in England any more because of the amount of foreigners in the country!! Becky, Warwickshire.

Captain says: Well, I've looked into this and without an input of new skilled workers this country would be buggered... and THAT snippet of information came from the CBI.... hardly a buncha loonie lefties I'm sure you'll agree. This country has a increasingly elderly population who the country will not be able to provide pensions for without an influx of foreign workers. Sorry for any Mail readers out there but that's the truth of the matter. And the truth is something I will always endeavour to tell, regardless of how unpopular it may be to some people.

Imperial measurements

PLEASE abolish all imperial measurements: gallons, pints, miles, yards, feet, inches, plus other anomalies like Fahrenheit temperatures. Sorry, but NO-ONE else, apart from the war-mongering tossers over the pond, uses them anymore. Let's forget about the Empire and move into the 21st Century. Luke.

Captain says: I just tried to convert seven shillings and ten pence into modern money and failed.... it was a nonsensical system and good riddance to it. And the same to all that other old imperial cobblers... everything in multiples of ten is the only Sensible way to go. So much easier for kids to learn... us old fogies will get over it.... and a litre's nearly a pint anyway. In binge drinking Britain a reduction in alcohol intake is not a bad idea anyway...

Reduced bin collections

Councils who insist on moving to fortnightly rubbish collections of household waste without consultation. We are heading for a 21st century plague of Rats. Dave, Hinckley.

Captain says: We all create too much rubbish... and supermarkets must take a lot of the blame. I purposely don't buy stuff that's over packaged... I mean, apples, waxed with a bar coded sticker in a polystyrene carton wrapped in plastic... what's THAT all about. Get down the greengrocer with ya shopping bag and sod the supermarkets! Less waste.... less rubbish... less collections. That'd make sense.

Seaside birds

Sea gulls. Will.

Captain says: Seagulls are taking over the UK... there's so much food to be had in the cities they're on a breeding splurge at present. Unfinished portions of junk food in the street, bin liners full of waste food, blah blah blah. And have you seen how aggressive they are getting? Councils will have to start leaving birth control implanted seagull snacks where they hangout to try and halt the rise of the seagull... before it all goes a bit Alfred Hitchcock.

Wars

No more f*****g wars! Dan.

Captain says: We say Blah! to all war. I'm sure if any of us met an Iraqi or a North Korean or an Iranian for a cup of tea and compared pics of our respective loved ones the last thing we would want to do is blow them to smithereens. But whole nations are demonised in times of conflict. I heard it said that when it comes to war - the 1st casualty is the truth. Let's try and bear that in mind when they tell us we gotta steam in to the NEXT place with all guns blazing in a frenzy of 'shock and awe'. Oh, and DID we ever apologise to the Iraqis for that?

Legalise non-addictive drugs

Legalise non physically addictive drugs ie psychedelics to promote inner and world evolution. Jim, Southampton.

Captain says: No joke intended but the drugs policies we are persuing have gone to pot. It all needs a rethink... I mean, waccy baccy's here to stay whether Parliament likes it or not. And what's wrong with the odd magic mushroom? I dunno.

Boy band reunions

It was bad enough the first time round having to put up with endless drivle in the charts. Please do not put us through it again. Take That have reformed. Five have just announced that they are back together (even though there is only four of them now). MTV have created a band from the leftovers of the others and even All Saints were on Radio One earlier this week - Sorry we must ban Girl Band reunions too - We will have the Spice Girls back if we are not careful!. Cliff, Bradford.

Captain says: The current generation of record company employees only understand manufactured acts.... they can't get their heads round the concept of working with a brilliant but maybe unpredictable talent who might have an amazing career lasting 20-30 years. And where's the next Lennon or Hendrix gonna come from I wonder.... I mean, can you imagine the odious Simon Cowell rejecting both of them at some X Factor audition cos they didn't have the right look somehow. A very definite YES to Blahing manufactured pop.... it's appalling and the BBC should know better than to plug this drivel non stop on radio and TV. We pay the licence so let's have some REAL music please!

Government Wasting our money

Halve the budget for the armed forces and use the money for health, education and social programs rather than invading other countries and killing their children. Brian.

Captain says: Nobody in the country knows how much we squander at the Ministry Of Defense.... which is so inappropriately named it'd be laughable if it wasn't so tragic. Orwell knew a thing or two about the corruption of power didn't he,  eh!

When the Berlin wall went down and the Soviet bloc ceased to be such a threat that we had to arm ourselves to the teeth to protect ourselves from it a little phrase was bandied about... the 'peace dividend', which was actually referring to the VAST amount of taxpayers money we were going to save because we didn't need to spend so much on the military any more. And then some bright spark invented a NEW enemy.... which must've made the fat cats in the arms manufacturing industry breath huge sighs of relief mustn't it. Anyone see a conspiracy theory forming here? Far far far too much money goes on guns and missiles - how much, we are never told.... but don't we hear all about it whenever a few quid are spent on the NHS or schools.

Blah! to war.... Blah! to the military machine and Blah! to successive governments forgetting to arrange a peace dividend.

Laws against 'soft' drugs

Decriminalise marijuana use. Brian.

Captain says: Yes Brian - for as we were saying earlier the truth is that the REAL killer drug is tobacco.

The House of Lords

Abolish the house of lords and replace it with a democratically elected representative body. Brian.

Captain says: Yes, if Parliament really needs a second chamber, and I've never really worked out why.... (can't the Commons make laws and stuff on their own?) then the only democratic method is to hold elections. Well, it's gotta be preferable to having a load of aristocrats and cash for peerages merchants making decisions that affect your lives eh?

Chavs and the work shy

I would like to Blah!... chavs and work shy people who claim from the state and just live off benefits and handouts.bring back national service for the work shy Kev, Carlisle.

Captain says: The truth is the schools are churning out so much unskilled uneducated cannon fodder these days. It's not the chav's faults they're dimwits, I blame the schools. Oh, and all that Eminem they listen to that they derive their daft 'attitude' from.

They need motivating for sure, but let's not train the lazy skiving gits in how to use guns etc via a spell in the army - we could possibly regret that when they return back to civvy street.

Reality shows

I would like to Blah!... reality shows like x factor and big brother. Five round.

Captain says: Yes indeed, there has to be more to life than sitting in front of a goggle box all day watching reality TV. Get a life Britain! Read a book.... take up a hobby.... walk to John O Groats with Ian Botham for charity.... do SOMETHING!!

Council Tax

Totally unfair on smaller households and those on limited income. Yes, there is some relief but not if you have been prudent and set something aside for retirement. Terry.

Captain says: Since Thatcher the tax system has taken more off the poor and less off the rich in terms of a slice of their income. At least she didn't get away with the Poll Tax, which was what did for her in the end. The people of Britain didn't stand for that and said NO.... very loudly if I recall. A good moment in democracy I think.

Illegal wars

Blah to our troops being killed in Iraq in an illegal war. Bring the troops home. Fight war not wars. Robbie.

Captain says: Quite right Robbie... I think we have worked out by now there are NO weapons of mass destruction anywhere in Iraq. So what the hell is our army doing out there still? We should also learn our lesson here when any future military action is suggested by our glorious liars... sorry, I meant LEADERS there.

Crispy politicians

People who pretend they care about politics and making the country a better place when it's really all an advert for crisps. Jennifer.

Captain says: Well, now you mention it Seabrook (who make the Blah! Party possible) DO make crisps... but it's preferable to being sponsored by Bernie Ecclestone or Esso I'd have thought.

Unnecessary exams

Key Skills from colleges for those who actually got their GCSE's. Why should they have to do these if they already have them - bizarre!! Andrea, Bradford.

Captain says: There's too many exams these days it seems.... and the curriculum seems designed to teach you bugger all about life in general. I mean, when you get a flat tyre the curriculum hasn't told you how to change the wheel has it? Or how to avoid getting ripped off by some unscrupulous loan company. And what's the point of all that Pythagoras and Shakespeare anyway.... it's a load of old padding that stops you learning anything you might actually need in my humble opinion.

You'd learn FAR more by listening to Radio 4 all day than going to school.... blah blah blah.

Voting systems

Voting made compulsory but put an option on the ballot paper for none of the above. Martin, Nottingham.

Captain says: The next election is going to be embarrassing for our political masters as the vote will be SO LOW as to be almost illegitimate. There is NO CHOICE between the major parties and it will just be a personality contest when what we need is some NEW IDEAS.

No, let people ignore the election... (or join the Blah! Party) as politicians deserve every bit of the contempt they are held in by the people of Britain. Especially after Iraq.

Minimum wage ignorance

Make all elected MPs have to live on the Minimum wage for at least 2 weeks every year. Martin, Nottingham.

Captain says: Not a bad idea... why SHOULD they be on a grand a week or whatever it is they get for lolling about in their swanky London apartments with their mistresses... sorry, secretaries. Put 'em on the minimum wage.... see how they like THAT for a while!

Tim Westwood & gangster rap

Radio 1's Tim Westwood for playing that horrible gangster (gun crime) rap din that is corrupting the minds of youngsters around the country. Jimmy, Daventry.

Captain says: Indeed.... it's creating a generation of pillocks who think they're 'players' in some gangsta scene down LA way... whereas this is Britain, the land of Joyce Grenfell and Norman Wisdom.... of the Beatles and Jimmy Hill.... of Alan Bennett and punk rock. Not gun crime and driving at 100mph in the city in some souped up hatchback.

Yes, Blah! to Tim Westwood and the ghastly lyrics in the 'songs' he plays on his programme.... corrupting the youth? I think so.

British Film Industry and Consumer Choice

The British Film Industry has been in demise for some years and something needs to be done by the Government. American Studio owned multiplex cinemas prioritise 'dross' American films that pump money back into their economy. To watch a British film, consumers have to hunt out art house cinemas, which in most towns don't exist or have been swallowed up by the multiplexes. Why can't the government make stipulations like the French government where at least one home grown film (not just made, but financed) has to be shown at the cinemas at all times? This not only gives consumer choice, but also helps pump money back into the industry, creating more jobs and wealth to the areas where films are shot. As British movie goers we should have more opportunity to support out home grown talent and once again create an industry of which we are proud. Sam.

Captain says: Yes, quota's against too much foreign produced material on UK screens. The French are spot on here as their film industry has indeed survived quite nicely while ours is pretty moribund currently.

Reducing the NHS

Job losses and budget cuts in the NHS. Richard, Leeds.

Captain says: The private health industry has a lot of friends in the media and Parliament... they never cease to tell us how many billions the NHS is costing to gain support for themselves and privatisation of hospitals. However, the NHS is a National Treasure... the envy of all in the USA and the all too numerous countries who don't have a system anything like it. There can be no room for PROFIT where someone's health is concerned surely.

And should that argument be extended to the Water Companies too as clean drinkable water is just TOO IMPORTANT to leave to some buncha bread heads out to max up the dividend for their greedy unscrupulous shareholders. Blah indeed!

Excessive packaging

Blah to excessive packaging on products. Companies should be taxed on the amount of material they use to package their products I understand that some packaging is to protect delicate products but do we really need a box and then another box and then a cellophane wrapper on a bottle of moisturiser? It is damaging to the environment and adds to the cost of your item. Caroline, Edinburgh.

Captain says: Yes, Blah! to excessive packaging. Very definitely..... fine them, tax them..... they'll soon stop.

Protecting offenders

Blah to police 'protecting' the offenders and not the victims - more monitoring of police behaviour and a better complaints procedure to ensure the victims are listened to and dealt with correctly! Sarah, Huddersfield.

Captain says: The Police investigating the Police in inquiries and complaints procedures is plainly daft. More accountability is needed.... and then you'd have the likes of the killers of the Brazilian guy on the tube platform out on their arses as they so richly deserve to be.

Nonsensical benefits

If the law says I need £57 quid a week to live on, why do you pay it in arrears and why don't you live on it? Margot, Bolton.

Captain says: The law is an ass.

Fuel tax for business

FUEL TAX FOR BUSINESS USERS. John,Batley.

Captain says: Put freight back on the railways, and make businessmen travel by train.... I'm sure this could be encouraged by some tweaking of the tax system - you're right John.

Regional Assemblies

Regional Assemblies replace them with an English Parliament. Patrick, Portsmouth.

Captain says: Oh no - there's enough elections surely for gawds sake...

British troops in Iraq & Afghanistan

British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taylor.

Captain says: Get the troops out, there's NO weapons of mass destruction out there after all so what's our excuse for staying? Oh that's right.... helping the people. Why doesn't someone ask the Iraqi people what THEY think we should do. And not some member of the puppet government.

Boy racers

Boy racers. Richard, Wimbledon.

Captain says: It's all they have in their lives... their pimped up hot hatches. Sad really. BUT seriously, anyone convicted of dangerous driving or killing someone while driving should be BANNED FOR LIFE. Why the f**k not?

Heavily-laden, low-loaders

I would like to Blah!... those stupidly massive loads on the back of low loaders which always seem to be on the roads in the middle of the day, hogging at least two lanes of the carriageway, when they could be transported in the middle of the night and cause no hold-ups to the hard working tax payers who are trying to get to/from their place of employment to pay for more taxes. Pete, Sheffield.

Captain says: Yes, another Blah! for heavy freight on UK roads. Apart from getting it back on the railways we should THINK GLOBAL / BUY LOCAL and then a lot of this transportation of goods wouldn't be occurring anyway.

4x4 cars

All gas guzzling 4x4 cars banned from the roads unless you own more than 4 pigs or sheep. Mike, Torquay.

Captain says: Tax gas guzzling cars to buggery.

Opium crops

I would like to Blah!... buy all the opium crop in afghanistan for use in medicines instead of ruining peoples only source of income and building support for the taleban. William.

Captain says: What an interesting and creative idea... I must say I am so impressed with the quality of Blahs coming through so far.

?

We should all read www.bonkersbritain.com daily. Andrew.

Captain says: OK, I'll take a look in a mo.

Self-aware behaviour

I would like to Blah! the right to self aware behaviour. Thomas, USA.

Captain says: Can you get back to us on this one... I'm not quite with you.

Child support agency

The CSA is DESTROYING hard working honest absent parents lifes and families! Colin, Bo'Ness.

Captain says: Yes, there's a lot of upset people regarding the CSA.... you don't stand on the top of the BT Tower dressed as Batman for fun do you. They gotta make it fairer.

Misguided wars

The war is about oil. They want it before the Russians and the Chinese get it, lets be honest. Chris.

Captain says: No, it was about WMD in 45 minutes... wasn't it??? Do you mean to tell me that nice Mr Blair has been telling porky pies all along with 600,000 people dying as a result. If true the b*****d should very definitely..... be facing a trial for war crimes at some point don't you think?

Wasting lottery money

All lottery top prizes to be max 1million pounds and all Lottery Profits to go to improve hospitals to sort out the mess that's been created. Mike, Torquay.

Captain says: Abolish the lottery... it's a stupidity tax. Kid's go unfed in some poor households 'cos desperate parents blow what remaining cash they have left on the vain hope of winning the lottery.

Lazy pop groups

Release a new Damned album, ya lazy swab! Burp! James, Knowsley.

Captain says: It's nice that there are real fans waiting for a new album but in the great scheme of things there doesn't seem to be a whole lotta need for a desperate rush to make one. The World will still rotate and Chelsea or Man Utd will still win the league, etc...

Confusing football league divisions

Stop bloody changing the names of the Football League Divisions. Revert to Divisions 1,2,3 & 4. Anything else is just BLAH! John, Essex.

Captain says: The further down the divisions you go the more exciting it is competition wise. I mean - in the Premiership (sounds like a Barretts housing estate don't it) there's only 4 clubs capable of winning. The money is very unevenly spread and the rich get richer, etc. Maybe there's something to be said for your idea John - and then maybe we'll see Crystal Palace regain their place in the top echelons of British football where they belong! Ahem..

Traffic pollution

We should lower the cost of public transport, or make them more frequent. Also, the use of bicycles should be promoted. This will lower the amount traffic pollution. Liam, Stockport.

Captain says: Ken Livingstone tried to drastically reduce the fares of public transport in London with his 'Fares Fair' scheme. It was disgracefully overturned by some Law Lords (whatever THEY are) who have probably never travelled by tube... they probably have chauffer driven Rolls Royces to skit about to and from the Old Bailey or whatever the plummy voiced sods.

Public transport is a thing of the past AND very much a thing of the future. Wake up you daft politicians.

Oh, and bikes are a jolly good thing too.... zero pollution and keeps you fit but not so good if you are cycling in the vicinity of that daft petrol head Jeremy Clarkson or one of his equally anti-bike viewers as they might run you off the road.

European Union

Blah to being ruled by the EU and their members who don't care about the UK. Gary, Preston.

Captain says: The EU does not want to straighten our bananas, water down our beer or outlaw our Eccles Cakes. This constant drip drip of anti EEC propaganda from certain 'newspapers' does it's job in turning people against a Euro Parliament which is doing a pretty good job at bringing together a bunch of nations who have in the not too distant past been at each others throats. Some see the EEC as a neccessary counterweight to the Neo Cons running the USA presently, and they are certainly trying to defuse the Iran situation from what I've heard.

Foreign call-centres

Blah to foreign call-centres, bring the jobs back home or boycott companies that sell out to cheap Labour!. Neil, Manchester.

Captain says: Yes, let's boycott firms that use foreign call centres... great idea... and can we ban these expensive phone numbers they make us use when we DO call to complain about something and the automated queing system has us on hold for 10 minutes or so running up a fair old bill.

No guidelines for the army

Knowing your anti-war views, how about putting them into words. Iraq, sure, but especially what an army is for and guide lines how and when it should be used. I have some views but as they are not far off yours…go on. Marek, Poland.

Captain says: I like the Swiss style of army... give the people a bicycle and a Swiss Army Knife and train them for a few weeks in the tactics of resistance to any potential invader. If you haven't got an aggressive foreign policy what do you possibly need a great big megabucks army for? There is no likelihood of any other nation sending an army to attack the UK so as I keep saying - does it not make sense to scale down the military?

And you can't use a 'nuke' to stop a terrorist with a rucksack bomb either so lets scrap that evil rubbish too.

Tobacco industry

Next is the tobacco industry....Next to war....Worst shit on the planet. Marek, Poland.

Captain says: What does the tobacco industry do for this planet except provide disease, addiction and premature death... at great expense to the hapless mug who uses these foul smelling products. Yes Marek - Blah! to the tobacco industry.

Footballer's wages

Footballers' wages! What a disgrace that they can earn in less than a day what a nurse will earn in a year! Stu, Cheltenham.

Captain says: Which is precisely why the pampered England megastars with their WAGS in tow will win buggerall. Ever.

Doing things you don't like

People should be happier in general and not forced to do things they don't like.

Captain says: We shouldn't be forced to pay a TV license that's for sure. The likes of Wogan and Eammon Holmes should be ashamed of themselves demanding millions a year in wages when some old dear who doesn't pay the increasingly inflated fee gets banged up in prison. I read about a case like this the other day. Hang your head in shame Wogan, you untalented square buffoon. And while you're at it you BBC types - can you PLEASE remove this vile old bigot from doing the commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest in the future... his snide remarks about the other countries is sounding increasingly racist these days, well... to my ears anyway.

Sorry - but was this the sort of thing you were on about?

Spending money on Trident

Blah! to Trident.  It's about time we spent the money on something useful like Education, the NHS and the Environment. James.

Captain says: I was pretty shaken after visiting the horrific memorial when we played Hiroshima a couple of years ago - how could anyone think that to do this to civilians at 8am while they are off to school /work is anything other than repulsive, disgraceful and completely evil. It must NEVER happen again - which is why ALL of these weapens should be negotiated away in a huge disarmament summit. Unfortunately some western governments are developing new tactical nuclear bombs that they ARE prepared to use. This is what I mean when I say we have no choice in politics currently.... Brown and Cameroon are BOTH in favour of beefing up Trident.

Politics

Blah! to politics. Paul, Brighton.

Captain says: Ignore politics at your peril... the decisions that MP's make affect all of us. Get involved, join a political party (there's lots), or maybe a pressure group.... there's plenty of them about too - like Critical Mass, the bicycle protest group who make their point in a fun and creative way.  http://www.critical-mass.org/

Taxing Damned fans

No tax for any damned fan with a damned tattoo. Steve, Whitley Bay.

Captain says: Ha ha.... and free beer for all punk rock musicians!

The Purple Party

Blah! to http://www.purpleparty.com/

Captain says: Eh, what's that then?

Pop Idol and X-Factor

Blah to music competitions like Pop idol, X Factor and the like. They do not encourage originality and song writing. It's basically a karaoke contest and a disgrace to the music industry. John, Lancashire.

Captain says: Yes, Blah! to the X Factor and the repulsive Simon Cowell. And did you notice as I did a while ago that his then PR man Max Clifford was placing a whole bunch of iffy stories in the press linking 100% hetrosexual Simon with all manor of assorted bimbo's and laptop dancers. I wonder what they could possibly have been up to there?

Axing the Penzance to Dundee rail route

I read in today’s Sunday papers that the Government plans to axe the Penzance to Dundee Rail route. Under Labour’s new franchise all journeys will end at Birmingham! The change will mean holidaymakers with children and luggage will have to cross a footbridge to wait for the connecting train. Never mind people with disabilities. More to the point what’s it got to do with the Government? The train companies are against it as are the rail users. This is another case of the Government saying one thing and then doing another. A Government should be involved in the running of the national rail network. It makes enough money in taxes from fuel and car tax, which should be ploughed back in the public transport system. Prices should be cut for rail travel. If the cost of traveling by train were substantially reduced travelers would be more inclined to use it. Philip, Kent.

Captain says: Well put Phillip. Do you recall a certain leader of the opposition a while ago who said that if the PM at the time (a Major mistake) privatised the railways he would take it back into public ownership if he was ever elected. Well... he WAS, and he DIDN'T! What a (B)Liar!

Expanding airport provision

Stopping the expansion in airport provision and putting the money into high-speed railways. Kay, Surrey.

Captain says: Are you ALL train enthusiasts out there or something? Not that I'm complaining - it's real nice to hear this sort of thing in this day and age. The railways WILL make a comeback for a whole bunch of reasons, but top of the list has got to be the fact that for miles travelled trains pollute FAR LESS than any other transport except for maybe bicycles!

Speading hate and mistrust

Blah! to the BNP and Nick Griffin who spread hate and mistrust, who brainwash our youth into violent means of action against innocents, who divide communities and are pissed off just because they can't get a job. I’m not sure if some who's job has been 'taken' by a person who doesn't even 'speak our language’ even has an argument…I mean, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THEM?! Chris, Lancashire.

Captain says: Blimey... racism's SO dumb... I mean, we are all the same... all of us human beings - and we've just got to get along. So some cultures dress different from us and maybe dig a style of music we can't understand... but that's great surely? Vive Le Difference baby! Which is why it's so much fun travelling abroad trying different food and meeting new people. And I must say that one of the greatest things about this country is that whenever facism has raised it's ugly head here the British people have always got out on the streets to show their disgust.

Tax

We are the most heavily taxed nation in europe - we pay tax upon tax in some intances eg fuel, there is a fuel tax which then has vat added to that. dick turpin at leat wore a mask when he robbed people. we pay tax on pensions which is money that we have earned and already paid tax on. we pay tax on nearly everything we buy tax,tax,tax,tax it does my head in. I say BLAH! to excessive taxes, lets get it sorted and make everyone a little richer, surely that would benefit the economy and create more jobs in the process. Julian, Sheffield.

Captain says: Yes, we are the most heavily taxed nation in Europe - but WHERE DOES IT ALL GO? Every household in the UK should get an audit on the figures so we can make up our own minds where some vast savings can be made. Defence (ie, War) is one department that has some explainimg to do.... and then there's the 40 million CCTV cameras we have in this tiny country of ours. Who do you think pays for all that?