h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This strike is entirely justified.

And it's not often you'll see me write that.

Ay Karamba.... Been away a few months and SWL posts this what has happened whilst I have been gone?!?!?!?!?!?!?



FB

Well written FB
although as a student nurse I can't say I'm completely neutral on the issue

So we FE and HE lecturers were supposed to be out today, but our union mucked up the ballot and it was declared illegal at the 11th hour, so we weren't.

>>>save billions in housing benefit payments (which go mostly to working families)<<<

Which always go to landlords

Chew on this.
"Even with record numbers of workers in employment and a strengthening recovery, the Government continues to borrow huge sums every month. From April to August 2014, the State spent £45.5 billion more than it earned, which is £2.6 billion more than the same period of 2013."
The only collective activity to get out of this downward spiral is for individuals within those collectives to take their fingers out.

Sorry, this will be a flyby posting - but i'd like to suggest you actually research what kind of work that is, the contract types and how much they get paid for those jobs.
And then research how many people in full time employment need working tax credits and housing benefit to get through the month.

The headline figures of "billions in employment" are misleading, to be charitable.

Rubbish AB, you clearly don't have even a rudimentary grasp of national economics... It isn't just like a credit card it is much more complicated.

To remove a deficit you need to decrease spending, but also increase receipts.

So actually people having more money in their pockets, doing more economic activity actually helps because as the economy grows there are more tax receipts, and fewer payments in welfare, tax credits, housing benefit etc....

Increasing economic activity is best acheived by money in the pockets of ordinary people, those at the lower end of the income spectrum spend a far greater percentage of their income and it directly stimulates economic growth, thus tax receipts, and thus reducing deficit.

If you really care about borrowing, then the thing you should be getting het up about is the scandalous tax cuts on the richest in society that the Tories have done, and are proposing to do more of. We are all in this together... execpt the rich chums of the Tory party.

And Ancient Brit, given you are all about austerity and people not taking, taking, taking let me ask you a question....

Do you support ending the exemption on means testing for pensioner benefits?

FB

Well well FB. I have gone through the B.S.B.B. stage myself. I do wonder how I have managed to exist for 86 years. Maybe it has something. to do with the Establishment and the way to live within it. It must be wonderful to be blessed with your understanding of economics and the ways of the world. 😊
Let's say that in economic terms I'm a non providing consumer living in relative comfort within the Establishment. Anyone worse off than me needs help anyone better off should pay more tax. 😊
PS - Throughout my working life I was an 'active' member of three Unions as my career progressed. Lived through the cause and effect of many strikes but have never been on strike myself.

An "I'm allright jack, screw the rest" kind of a cat then?

And logically from what you said a scab too.

Fair one, glad millions of less fortunate people than you weren't so selfish and were able to build a fairer world, even if the privileged few are trying to deconstruct all that now and take us back to Dickensian times.

FB

Cheers FB - In true B.S.B.B. style and as an ageing individual and political agnostic with conservative socialist views. "I cannot say that I do not disagree with you." so I rest my case. 😉
Just one more point. I can not put the world to rights. Family and friends first, personal help to those in need.