Page 1 of Simple Question

I am watching a debate on TV. Why can`t a politician give a simple yes or no to a question. Is it so hard to tell the truth?

On another statement This bastard Salmond who runs the Scottish government wants independence  I feel that he wants to be Scottish King.. I myself born and bred a Scot want to be with my brothers in England. Reason I like the English.

because to give a yes or no answer imples that the questions asked aren`t biased or loaded. On many occasions, questions can`t be answered with yes or no, and in politics, that`s more than often the case.

I`d go for the Reverend Lovejoy answer. "Short answer; Yes, with an `if`. Long answer; no, with a `but`"

As for the devolution thing, I am of the opinion that Salmond hasn`t the slightest clue of what he`s letting himself in for. It also seems he knows he`s on a hiding to nothing, what with the lesser prospect of `Devo Max` being bandied about.

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Quote:
Pete-MK says...
because to give a yes or no answer imples that the questions asked aren`t biased or loaded. On many occasions, questions can`t be answered with yes or no, and in politics, that`s more than often the case.I used to think that, now I think that whilst a lot of questions can`t be answered with a straight yes or no, politicians spend a lot of time deliberately not answering them at all. If they just said, "I can`t answer that yes or no, no sensible person could" I`d maybe have some respect for them, but they don`t.

And it gets even worse when they are being blatantly asked about something we all know they disagree with because of some leak in the press about it, but they can`t repeat it because to do so contradicts the party line.

They created this game they all play, and now none of them feels they can`t play it, when really nobody wants them to play it at all.

What irks me the most, is the lies they all tell. Anybody else tells a lie, and they are a lier. But when a politician tells one, it`s not a lie because they didn`t know it was a lie. They fly around the distinction that if you say one thing that turns out to be completely wrong, it isn`t a lie if you can convince people you didn`t know it was one.

So you could for example invade a country resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people who would otherwise not have died, leave the whole thing in an entire mess and end up occupying it for years, all because you claimed there were weapons of mass destruction that you most likely didn`t care about if it was remotely true, and then still bang on about how it was the right thing to do even though all your basis for doing it turned out to based on a lie.


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Devo Max sounds like a cartoon series you`d find on Nickelodeon.  I honestly think it`s time to put-up-or-shut-up on the topic of regional independence.  There should be a simple yes/no to breaking up the Union.  Changes in political powers can be discussed at a later date, but pandering to Alex Salmond, the Man Who Would Be King is simply delaying the inevitable.

I don`t think most sensible people would vote for the dissolution of the United Kingdom.  As a Union we`re still one of the stronger economies in Europe.  As four separate states off the coast of Europe, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales would all be in the same boat as the other minor players in the EC, and England would probably drop into the hands of loons like Nigel Farage who`d pull us out of Europe and try and get us adopted as the 51st State by the US.

Politicians?  S*it on `em.

J Mark Oates

The less I say about the brother of my former Area Manager in Currys the better.... (my AM being a Mr Cliff Salmond ;) )

On Independance and splitting up I was given a comment not too long ago when all the banks started hitting the wall... and it simply was:
"Where would RBS be now if Scotland had been granted Independance?" 

I couldn`t answer and I think anyone being honest knows the result.
I`d love to think Scotland could stand on it`s own at the moment and I do think it might have done had it been during that referendum when I was a kid, but if I`m honest I don`t think it`s the right time for any country in the Union to go it alone.

What really irks me though is when you hear the anti-Scottish comments of being "supported" by England.

Oh, and I`m not for one second trying to say there isn`t anti-English sentiment of a similar nature coming from up here, I just wish the facts and figures were made clearer and not "spun" as the OP is discussing regarding any question asked of a Politician.

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

Politicians are advised never to give a yes or no response because it is absolute. Their answers are always based on their party`s policies, which can be changed at any time. Therefore to start answering yes or no would be political suicide. You are either committing your party to a policy and embarrassing them if they try and change it later or you are alienating yourself from the party. Either way, it could cost you your job.

They won`t risk it!

As for this man`s desire for Scottish devolution, you should be very wary. I heard he even wants to join the Euro!!!

If they gave a yes or no answer, they wouldn`t be able to backtrack and claim they never said that in the first place because it would have been clear in the first place ;)

I don`t think the union should break up at the moment, I think we all support each other financially and it would cause all parts problems if it splits up now.