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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 2:38:40 GMT -1
This is the result of a low-wage economy combined with zero-hours contracts and the continuing erosion of employment rights. Working people reduced to using foodbanks because they don't have enough money to feed their families, travel to their work, buy the daily necessities that everyone needs and heat their homes simultaneously. Many are also in multiple debt and struggling with repayments at ridiculous rates of interest. Add to that the unmanageable cost of childcare,and presto! it's a perfect storm. There is PLENTY OF MONEY to go around so that nobody need go without basic necessities. But it's concentrated, increasingly, in the hands of the already obscenely wealthy. Did you know that if the minimum UK wage had risen in line with the inflation seen in top FTSE companies CEO salaries, it would be......£18 an hour? Current minimum wage for an ADULT in the UKE is £6.20. For 18-21s it's about £5, FFS! Where in the name of the WEE MAN is the sense in allowing conglomerates to pay such a pittance while ordinary folks contribute to the top-up benefits for the poorest of working people they exploit?We can't allow this to go on. We can all bung a few tins of beans or whatever towards the foodbank collections but it's solving precisely NOTHING in the longer term. Meanwhile we all subsidise the many gourmet dining rooms and bars of Westminster. That's fecking FECKED-UP priorities if you ask me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30832524
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Post by notanimby on Jan 16, 2015 5:15:15 GMT -1
This is the result of a low-wage economy combined with zero-hours contracts and the continuing erosion of employment rights. Working people reduced to using foodbanks because they don't have enough money to feed their families, travel to their work, buy the daily necessities that everyone needs and heat their homes simultaneously. Many are also in multiple debt and struggling with repayments at ridiculous rates of interest. Add to that the unmanageable cost of childcare,and presto! it's a perfect storm. There is PLENTY OF MONEY to go around so that nobody need go without basic necessities. But it's concentrated, increasingly, in the hands of the already obscenely wealthy. Did you know that if the minimum UK wage had risen in line with the inflation seen in top FTSE companies CEO salaries, it would be......£18 an hour? Current minimum wage for an ADULT in the UKE is £6.20. For 18-21s it's about £5, FFS! Where in the name of the WEE MAN is the sense in allowing conglomerates to pay such a pittance while ordinary folks contribute to the top-up benefits for the poorest of working people they exploit?We can't allow this to go on. We can all bung a few tins of beans or whatever towards the foodbank collections but it's solving precisely NOTHING in the longer term. Meanwhile we all subsidise the many gourmet dining rooms and bars of Westminster. That's fecking FECKED-UP priorities if you ask me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30832524For an apprentice it's around £2.39 - even if you're 19
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Post by ozneil on Jan 16, 2015 20:33:26 GMT -1
Not good
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 22:13:48 GMT -1
This is the result of a low-wage economy combined with zero-hours contracts and the continuing erosion of employment rights. Working people reduced to using foodbanks because they don't have enough money to feed their families, travel to their work, buy the daily necessities that everyone needs and heat their homes simultaneously. Many are also in multiple debt and struggling with repayments at ridiculous rates of interest. Add to that the unmanageable cost of childcare,and presto! it's a perfect storm. There is PLENTY OF MONEY to go around so that nobody need go without basic necessities. But it's concentrated, increasingly, in the hands of the already obscenely wealthy. Did you know that if the minimum UK wage had risen in line with the inflation seen in top FTSE companies CEO salaries, it would be......£18 an hour? Current minimum wage for an ADULT in the UKE is £6.20. For 18-21s it's about £5, FFS! Where in the name of the WEE MAN is the sense in allowing conglomerates to pay such a pittance while ordinary folks contribute to the top-up benefits for the poorest of working people they exploit?We can't allow this to go on. We can all bung a few tins of beans or whatever towards the foodbank collections but it's solving precisely NOTHING in the longer term. Meanwhile we all subsidise the many gourmet dining rooms and bars of Westminster. That's fecking FECKED-UP priorities if you ask me. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30832524For an apprentice it's around £2.39 - even if you're 19 Indeed, Nota. And again, paying such a pathetic PITTANCE for those on vocational training lets employers off the hook--because the tax payers cough up for top-up benefits for the kids who're doing their bloody best to learn a trade. Of course there's the political element of wanting to manipulate employment stats. Get them off the unemployment records at any cost, even into the most extremely low-paid and exploitative 'jobs'.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 22:33:37 GMT -1
Understated as ever, Oz. Wages are static, have been for the best part of five years. Meanwhile the cost of living rises exponentially, food and energy prices particularly. We've all been bored to fucking DEATH by government warnings that due to the price of oil, all our commodities are necessarily more expensive and that 'We're All In It Together'. Yeah, right. So we are Well listen up! The price of Brent Crude has fallen from 100+ dollars a barrel to HALF THAT lately. But has the cost saving been passed on to consumers? Has it FECK.
This is what happens when you adopt free market policies. Of course it's dressed up by expensively commissioned PR companies as *consumer choice* but we all know the various CARTELS price-fix and take us all for fools. It is simply WRONG that working people are taking the pain while huge companies and individuals continue to get away with paying NO TAXES. If that makes me a dreaded Lefty in your book, Oz, so be it.
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Post by ozneil on Jan 17, 2015 0:17:31 GMT -1
Understated as ever, Oz. Wages are static, have been for the best part of five years. Meanwhile the cost of living rises exponentially, food and energy prices particularly. We've all been bored to fucking DEATH by government warnings that due to the price of oil, all our commodities are necessarily more expensive and that 'We're All In It Together'. Yeah, right. So we are Well listen up! The price of Brent Crude has fallen from 100+ dollars a barrel to HALF THAT lately. But has the cost saving been passed on to consumers? Has it FECK.
This is what happens when you adopt free market policies. Of course it's dressed up by expensively commissioned PR companies as *consumer choice* but we all know the various CARTELS price-fix and take us all for fools. It is simply WRONG that working people are taking the pain while huge companies and individuals continue to get away with paying NO TAXES. If that makes me a dreaded Lefty in your book, Oz, so be it. ) No it makes you look bloody stupid in believing what Wilson, Heath, Blair et al told you and voting for them. Dont blame the various CARTELS price-fix. Its Your democratically elected government that lets them get away with it! The one you voted in at every election since you got the vote, if you bothered to vote that is !!! Remind me the percentage of Scottish constituencies that voted labor. Maybe you have learned lesson after the Independence back lash. We will see in May. Our fuel prices are dropping too and so is cost of living as a result..... Petrol was a $1.50 a litre at its peak now its an even $1 at quite a few servos PS its youz PLURAL throughout referring to general populace of UK PPS Why do you think we have had 1,500,000 Brit migrant, 2.5% of your population, here since the start of the Atlee Government? Canada has had more! Didnt the penny drop?
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Post by bormes on Jan 17, 2015 9:45:07 GMT -1
I think that we often get the politicians who are BACKED by the elite/wealthy, as THEY own the media, therefore we have the likes of these private school boy Eton boys club, no matter whether they are Tory Labour or Lib, In Scotland in the recent times we have the SNP, who used to be called Tartan Tories and now the Tories call un Communist Scots, yet the TRUTH is we are the MOST DIVERSE party in EUROPE. When we have independance, then no doubt we will split into various party ideologies and some might be surprised just how close in numbers these parties will be?
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Post by ozneil on Jan 17, 2015 19:35:24 GMT -1
I think that we often get the politicians who are BACKED by the elite/wealthy, as THEY own the media, therefore we have the likes of these private school boy Eton boys club, no matter whether they are Tory Labour or Lib, In Scotland in the recent times we have the SNP, who used to be called Tartan Tories and now the Tories call un Communist Scots, yet the TRUTH is we are the MOST DIVERSE party in EUROPE. When we have independance, then no doubt we will split into various party ideologies and some might be surprised just how close in numbers these parties will be? I dont care whether they are called Tartan Tories or Communist Scots, I hope you vote enough of them in to form a sizeable political block which could break the dreadful 2 party system you have. When elected I hope they remember the wishes of the people to remain with UK and that they act as a centralist party to attract even more people and with a modicum of luck become part of a ruling coalition. This may end your dreadful ideological divides and work for the good of the UK. I think the future prosperity of Scotland is linked to that of the UK However I rather think pigs may fly Regarding the closeness of your perceived Scottish political parties our 3 main parties are all Centralist. The right wing of the labour party is to the right of the left wing of the Lib/Nats. It works ok in practice and usually we have sensible government though we do have some fringe loony parties On Different note I see Hague is making overtures to us after us being ignored for 40 years.... interesting... wonder what he wants
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 2:30:12 GMT -1
No it makes you look bloody stupid in believing what Wilson, Heath, Blair et al told you and voting for them. Dont blame the various CARTELS price-fix. Its Your democratically elected government that lets them get away with it! The one you voted in at every election since you got the vote, if you bothered to vote that is !!! Remind me the percentage of Scottish constituencies that voted labor. Maybe you have learned lesson after the Independence back lash. We will see in May. Our fuel prices are dropping too and so is cost of living as a result..... Petrol was a $1.50 a litre at its peak now its an even $1 at quite a few servos PS its youz PLURAL throughout referring to general populace of UK PPS Why do you think we have had 1,500,000 Brit migrant, 2.5% of your population, here since the start of the Atlee Government? Canada has had more! Didnt the penny drop? I don't believe I singled out any particular party in government, did I, Oz? That would be because I know that both Lab and Tory are now one and the same. All that matters to them is clinging on to *power*; they have no interest in the welfare of the populace. So don't take FOR ONE SECOND my left of centre views as being Labour-friendly, because they are NOT. Labour are history in Scotland, and rightly so. They will lose most of their WM seats to the SNP and Greens in May, no question. Re your stats on Scottish emigration: well, fair enough to those who sought 'better things' for themselves. Easier though, to run away than to be arsed to stand and fight for better things here at home? The grass is rarely that much greener. Emigres just like to believe it so.
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Post by ozneil on Jan 19, 2015 3:40:08 GMT -1
I don't believe I singled out any particular party in government, did I, Oz? That would be because I know that both Lab and Tory are now one and the same. All that matters to them is clinging on to *power*; they have no interest in the welfare of the populace. So don't take FOR ONE SECOND my left of centre views as being Labour-friendly, because they are NOT. Labour are history in Scotland, and rightly so. They will lose most of their WM seats to the SNP and Greens in May, no question. Re your stats on Scottish emigration: well, fair enough to those who sought 'better things' for themselves. Easier though, to run away than to be arsed to stand and fight for better things here at home? The grass is rarely that much greener. Emigres just like to believe it so. I only singled out one party because the voters were "rusted-on" and the party treated them with disdain to a disgusting extent and still they were voted in. So don't take FOR ONE SECOND my right of centre views as being Tory-friendly, because they are NOT The people did fight for it and won then threw it all away with apathy and inept governments which were not taken to account Emigration is one of the hardest things a family can do, saying farewell to all their friends, family and familiar surroundings and taking a leap into the unknown. People have to be desperate to do it. The reasons are many and varied but through it all no matter where they are from is the same thread "we did it for the kids". This should never have happened in a country like UK but it did. The people who do it are just as varied but with one thing in common they back themselves. Their home countries need people like that. I am extemely proud that Mrs Oz had enough faith in my judgement to leave Scotland.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 19:49:37 GMT -1
Touche, Oz I'd think we all try to do our very best for our kids . Sometimes it's right to go, sometimes it's right to stay, so many factors to consider in the decision, as you rightly say. But mate, it sticks in the craw a bit when expats give it 'Oh, life is SO much better here'. Scotland is a wonderful, warm and stunningly beautiful place to live: we have some problems, sure, can't deny that-- but what country doesn't? I look forward to the day (and it's coming yet) when fewer Scots feel they have to emigrate to achieve the best for their families. Working towards a more equal society here, an ambitious one but one that also takes proper care of those in need. The weather though. That's beyond anything we can do...
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Post by ozneil on Jan 20, 2015 22:02:10 GMT -1
luckily not everyone likes the same thing. Of course the ex=pats say that they have to to prove they are right When I first came back here I worked for a Pommy firm where 90% of staff were Brits (the whinging was beyond belief). A few were on a 3 year contract, fares paid both ways, but most had migrated. most loved it but a few hated it and couldnt get back to UK quick enough , main excuse was "the Wife/missus misses her family". One guy from Dundee said it was too hot and his wife thought the place was too dirty ,,, bear in mind he was from Dundee!!!! I saw him several years later walking up Miller Street in North Sydney but I couldnt stop and ask "what gives?" One guy, Bob, from Essex went to see boss and said he was so sad but wife couldnt stand it and wanted to go home . He said he loved the place and loved working here. Boss said the obvious thing if ever you change mind just let London Office know and we'll give you a job. A year or so later the bold Bob fronts up London Office told them he had made a terrible mistake in leaving Oz and he would like to go back if they could. Was duly arranged fare paid and back came Bob and family. Now here is the huge coincidence he actually went to live in the same house that he lived in before he left... Now isnt that the hell of a coincidence . I agree Scotland is a beautiful place lovely scenery and friendly people . The weather is ok if you like rain and cold. My main gripes apart from weather was petty restrictions, class/sectarian system, I just ignore that bit. I found the UK as a whole too crowded. Loved the history.. bloody fantastic some of your buildings.. I dont think you Weejies really appreciate what you got. I just hope you can sort out your government, putting the cleaners through the House of Lords would be a good start.. Make it an upper house like us and Canada. NZ doesnt have an Upper House
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 0:33:03 GMT -1
But of a sweeping statement, sure, but I do think we gals tend to weigh up family versus ambition a wee bit more than most guys do. Then again, guys are on the testosterone treadmill from tiny wee boys.... There's an expectation, is there not, that womenfolks are on the planet to selflessly take care of others and put themselves last, even if they're out working full-time and contributing tax as well as being carers for family/kids/elderly parents, whatever. I totally get why some expats want to come home. Always that wee bit missing in the soul? Re House of Lords, I'm for abolishing it completely. It's nothing to DO with merit or accomplishment, just a *reward* for those who fund the main political parties. Bribery. Oh Yes. Not democracy. We need less central government, not more. Devolve local issues to local communities to manage as they see fit. The two party status quo is dead in the water in the UK. Tories and Labour have morphed into one and the same. They think we've not noticed......they'll find out in May!
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Post by ozneil on Jan 21, 2015 2:14:19 GMT -1
What you say about the perception of women in the workplace is unfortunately true. In my case being brought up by a widow (ex legal secretary) I know its wrong. As a result of my acquired knowledge of watching women in action when I had a woman, a Kiwi of all things, apply for an Engineer's job I didnt raise my hands and say a woman couldnt do that But if I take her on I will be able to pay her less (scrooge syndrome). Most of my peers would have done that! I checked her credentials and got grudging "she seems to know her stuff" from her last employer who had retrenched her (silly bugger) I took her on at the full wages the job carried and in a short time, coupla years, realised she was more than competent so I took her on as a full partner, best business decision I ever made! It became obvious she was technically better than me. (As was my other partner a Chinese Malayan who could swear in 6 languages). Life can be unfair I did find out that men fell into 2 types. The ones that accepted her as an equal and accepted her opinion and the ones who were jealous of her success because she was a woman and couldnt be better than them. They tried to denigrate everything she did. The latter were usually pretty mediocre themselves. She was known on the sites as the "hatchet lady" if she hadnt been popular believe me the word lady would not have been used. I got this second hand from someone who was at the meeting. The meeting was about a big proposed hotel. The architect was laying forth to the owner (His company owned several Hotels) who would occasionally turn round to his PA and say "Get M***** to check that" . The architect was very curious to find out who M**** was and find out why she seemed to hold so much sway.
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Post by ozneil on Jan 21, 2015 2:19:57 GMT -1
I disagree about scrapping an Upper House you need something to control the wilder excesses of the likes of Blair but certainly not the way its formatted now.
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