Emperor Morphetine
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The G20 summitHas anyone else been keeping up with the developments in the G20 summit which was in London last week? From what I've seen, read and heard of it I can't help but leap to the conclusion that its all a bit of a joke. I really do hope I'm wrong and that world leaders can actually move forward with plans to help the global economy when it really does need all the assistance it can get but at the same time there's a real fear on my part that its all just a bunch of hollow promises to throw the critics off Gordon Brown's back.
Watching Brown and Barack Obama's shameless backslapping and chumminess on the news nearly turned my stomach- people seem to forget that he's not done much on the face of it since he took office yet there he was being hailed as some kind of hero by the president- I know we're supposed to have a 'special relationship' with the US but I hadn't realised quite how close they were on that evidence!
And all the coverage of the leaders wives seemed a bit odd- fair enough they do great work for good causes but all the talk over what they were wearing etc seemed to detract just slightly from what the real important stuff was, which is of course the politics and trying to solve a worldwide financial slump. I'm sorry, but who gives a damn what Michelle Obama's wearing when people and businesses worldwide are struggling to get jobs and by extension a stable income to feed themselves and their families?
Like I said I really hope they can get cracking on a solution to what is a massive problem and that all the oddly false-looking political mateyness won't distract these people from their real jobs. Apparently they're having another gathering in New York in September so here's to a vague hope they might be a step closer to solving the puzzle by then!
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Catnapper
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I didn't follow it all that closely...I'm cynical when it comes to politicians making promises! I had to laugh though at Obama and Brown being so chummy with each other, then fast forward a few days to the summit being held in France/Germany and Obama's cosying up to Sarkozy with Brown seemingly being left out 
It's scary how the G20 summit ended with world leaders pledging 1 trillion to get the world economy started.......we're getting deeper and deeper in debt in this country.
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Emperor Morphetine
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Well, you know what they say- desperate times call for desperate measures. And that's the way this world's headed, much as it pains most to admit it. 
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Catnapper
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Very true Morphy. The 1 trillion is to help eastern european countries and the like to stop them going bankrupt, but we could be holding out the begging bowl for more money too  ...it doesn't seem possible. But at least this recession is making governments take stock about handling finance and the economy better..... banks will be regulated....bankers bonuses will be cut (about time too!).
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Emperor Morphetine
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Its just a shame its taken a real crisis to force people's hands into tighter regulation! Honestly I do think people should have seen it coming.
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Catnapper
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Some did see it coming but they were ignored (I think the Governor of the Bank of England was one who warned about it). Let's hope governments and banks balance the books better in future and we pull out of this recession sooner, rather than later!
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Emperor Morphetine
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Its certainly taught people a few harsh lessons, thats for sure.....
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Lucifer_666
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I was sort of keeping up with it...normally i would have been much more keen but i found it turning more into a 'lets be seen with the superstar Obama' week and became quite annoying...i also don't think it solved much 
What is disturbing from it all now though was the police response outside with people...that poor guy heading home from work on his paperstand getting attacked from behind by an officer and then taking a heart attack and dying.. ..Apparently too the police were confiscating people's phones who were capturing certain incidents and citing the terrorism act as the reason....now that is not what that law is there for but again you cannot give a big responsibilty like that without properly regulating it...it was sticking out that like a sore thumb it was a law that would be abused
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Emperor Morphetine
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Oh yeh, police use it for all manner of things now- I was just shocked to find out the poor guy had died, apparently as a result of police action....
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Catnapper
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I know he'd had a run in with the police earlier on.....he wouldn't move out of the way of a riot van and he had to be moved on.....but the policeman attacked him for no reason in the second incident.
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Emperor Morphetine
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It does raise several questions, just when people's faith in law and order really didn't need to be tested any further.
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Catnapper
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Even more probs for the police going off the latest incident....I can't believe he slapped her across the face, then knocked her legs from under her
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Lucifer_666
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power corrupts...and give people too much power and it goes to their heads...even the police....
before video footage started appearing at all..Matthew Wright was saying on his show about the police using the terrorist act law to confiscate people's camera phones and he was giving out hell ...rightly so.....cause lets face it the police weren't confiscating phones because of a future terror threat but because they knew the footage they caught could be used against them
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Catnapper
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I believe both incidents involved some kind of Support Officers and not actual Police Officers...maybe they should have better training? I wonder if that's why the 2nd officer didn't have a number on his uniform...or had he taken it off?
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Emperor Morphetine
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It's certainly fishy alright, I have a feeling Sir Paul Stephenson may be forced into answering a few uncomfortable questions.....
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Catnapper
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Yet another incident..... a police officer hit a protestor in the face with a riot shield I know people have a democratic right to free speech but London's becoming a war zone lately with all these violent protests....some Sri Lankans were protesting today.
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Emperor Morphetine
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Its not good at all for the capital.....
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Lucifer_666
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democratic protest is a right as long as it is peaceful but what made this striking i thought was that the police seemed even more aggressive and much more up for a fight than the protestors instead of trying to calm the situation they were a big part of the cause
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Catnapper
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I know they're allowed to use reasonable force but perhaps that needs explaining to some of the more yobbish policemen!
But at least the police didn't use tear gas, water cannons, or charge the crowds with batons like they do in other countries.
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Lucifer_666
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yeah but in fairness babe apart from that isolated moment when a group started smashing windows it relatively went off peacefully enough....whats worse is that none of the police violence was dished out to those that were smashing but others who appeared to be doing very little
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Emperor Morphetine
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It's all going a bit 1984 ( the George Orwell book) I reckon.
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Catnapper
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Some of the police are supposed to be upset with all the negative publicity and are threatening to go "softly softly" at any further protests! They said they won't intervene if anyone ignores police orders!
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Lucifer_666
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if the police do that now they are just acting like big kids nobody is saying that they can't apply reasonable force to clear an area or to keep a crowd within a certain area...the problem they have to address is certain police who seemed to let power and the moment go to their heads that they thought they could just discriminately hit out at people ..many of whom where innocent
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Emperor Morphetine
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It does all smack of a playground spat doesn't it?
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Catnapper
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Some police officers come across as inept.....did you read about them losing riot gear from an unlocked police van?!
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Emperor Morphetine
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Doesn't inspire confidence.
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Lucifer_666
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no i didn't read that... unbelieveable
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Catnapper
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It's true Luc....expect to see rioters with riot gear at the next protest
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Lucifer_666
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 next time we won't know who are the rioters and who are the police
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Catnapper
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It should make for a strange protest
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Emperor Morphetine
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With luck the officers shan't be confused.
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Lucifer_666
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come to think of it would it make a difference? the police will still get it wrong
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Emperor Morphetine
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Well, perhaps as a quirky alternative we could get The Police (as in the band) to oversee law and order in Britain? I bet Sting's handy with a baton in secret.........
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Lucifer_666
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yeah if the crowd start getting in the police's faces they can start singing.... 'Don't stand so close to me' 
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Emperor Morphetine
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And at least if anyone gets rowdy they can be easily calmed through song...
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