The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Clint Planet]

Rich people have more money than poor people.

Cant really get exorcised by that if I am honest.

It's the ever-increasing inequality which is the ticking bomb, though. As the clip acknowledged, we all think some people should be wealthier than others. But the gap is now alarmingly wide and we're increasingly seeing a super-rich who not only seem to live above the law but who exploit the poor and suck wealth out of the economy rather than create it. Add to this an increasingly alienated underclass and it's a recipe for damaging social conflict (Toxteth in '81 and Tottenham in '11 bear testimony to how the disadvantaged react when they feel overly shat on).

 

[roydo]

It's the ever-increasing inequality which is the ticking bomb, though. As the clip acknowledged, we all think some people should be wealthier than others. But the gap is now alarmingly wide and we're increasingly seeing a super-rich who not only seem to live above the law but who exploit the poor and suck wealth out of the economy rather than create it. Add to this an increasingly alienated underclass and it's a recipe for damaging social conflict (Toxteth in '81 and Tottenham in '11 bear testimony to how the disadvantaged react when they feel overly shat on).

Well maybe mate.

I just do not see the correlation with a few getting mega rich meaning that others get poorer.

The richest 2 blokes in Bristol, probably, are both billionaires. They also employ about 400 people. In a business started from scratch about 20 years ago.

The "wealth" of a nation or the globe is not a finite amount of cash, so someone getting tons, (Putin?) does not mean that others get less. Might just mean the overall cake has increased.

There are plenty of issues in the UK and the world, (obviously) that are not great, but wealth inequality, imo, in the UK, is not really one of them.

Unless people want to make it one.

 

[Clint Planet]

There are plenty of issues in the UK and the world, (obviously) that are not great, but wealth inequality, imo, in the UK, is not really one of them.

I disagree. Our society is fragmenting before our eyes. Children are born into poverty every day, their cards marked - through no fault of their own - before they're in their mothers' arms. Surely, we should be doing all we can to give every child an equal opportunity in life. Surely, that is a fundamental right of any child (sorry, mate, I work with underprivileged kids every weekday. It's a pitiful situation at times - so much potential, so much hope, so little opportunity).

But if you're not that bothered about the social effects of wealth inequality, here's a Nobel prize winning economist on the economic costs:

 

[peteblue]

I disagree. Our society is fragmenting before our eyes. Children are born into poverty every day, their cards marked - through no fault of their own - before they're in their mothers' arms. Surely, we should be doing all we can to give every child an equal opportunity in life. Surely, that is a fundamental right of any child (sorry, mate, I work with underprivileged kids every weekday. It's a pitiful situation at times - so much potential, so much hope, so little opportunity).

But if you're not that bothered about the social effects of wealth inequality, here's a Nobel prize winning economist on the economic costs:

Children are born into poverty every day, you are right. But poverty today is not like the poverty of yesterday. As someone who was born into real poverty a few years after the war, I didn't feel disadvantaged it was just what we had. But then again there were ways to get out of poverty through education and the 11+, which no longer exist. The real problem is not from where you start, but the opportunities to develop and grow which is where certain parties and their 'let's make everyone the same' have screwed it up. I'm not having a go at you lad, because I think i know how much you care about this, but your own teaching profession have a lot to answer for in this regard........

 

[Seanjd]

Children are born into poverty every day, you are right. But poverty today is not like the poverty of yesterday. As someone who was born into real poverty a few years after the war, I didn't feel disadvantaged it was just what we had. But then again there were ways to get out of poverty through education and the 11+, which no longer exist. The real problem is not from where you start, but the opportunities to develop and grow which is where certain parties and their 'let's make everyone the same' have screwed it up. I'm not having a go at you lad, because I think i know how much you care about this, but your own teaching profession have a lot to answer for in this regard........

Firstly, everything is relative. I reject the argument that poverty isn't as bad as it was, or poverty isn't as bad as in other countries and so on. As Clint explained, people are still born in this country with no chances to succeed compared to those born into privilege.

In some respects, I agree with your point about 'let's make everyone the same'. There has been a massive drive towards making the public believe that we are all middle class. This is , if course, absolute drivel. The problem is that the working class are harder to identify because the 'working' part was stripped away.

The facts make things very clear. If you are born into poverty, you have more chance of being unemployed when you reach the working age. You are less likely to have the qualifications held by those who are born into privilege.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

Well maybe mate.

I just do not see the correlation with a few getting mega rich meaning that others get poorer.

The richest 2 blokes in Bristol, probably, are both billionaires. They also employ about 400 people. In a business started from scratch about 20 years ago.

The "wealth" of a nation or the globe is not a finite amount of cash, so someone getting tons, (Putin?) does not mean that others get less. Might just mean the overall cake has increased.

There are plenty of issues in the UK and the world, (obviously) that are not great, but wealth inequality, imo, in the UK, is not really one of them.

Unless people want to make it one.

But as the cake gets bigger, each part becomes worth less.

As the amount of money in the economy grows, the pound in your pocket gets weaker. This will affect the poor more than the rich.

 

[Toffeelover]

With all that talk earlier regarding immigration and DC failing to meet a target of 100,00 net, folk perhaps have allowed prejudice to bear over fact. A report released yesterday by Migration Watch revealed under Labour's tenure of 13 years the net immigration figure was 3.6 million, compared to that 100,000 is a drop in the ocean. The reason for all those immigrants has been pointed at Labour's open door policy of creating the UK as a muli cultural,multi religon and mutli racial society.

The current lot have failed a bit on this business but in fairness they inherited a huge backlog which was not of their creation.

 

[Seanjd]

With all that talk earlier regarding immigration and DC failing to meet a target of 100,00 net, folk perhaps have allowed prejudice to bear over fact. A report released yesterday by Migration Watch revealed under Labour's tenure of 13 years the net immigration figure was 3.6 million, compared to that 100,000 is a drop in the ocean. The reason for all those immigrants has been pointed at Labour's open door policy of creating the UK as a muli cultural,multi religon and mutli racial society.

The current lot have failed a bit on this business but in fairness they inherited a huge backlog which was not of their creation.

And so it should be.

 

[Seanjd]

With all that talk earlier regarding immigration and DC failing to meet a target of 100,00 net, folk perhaps have allowed prejudice to bear over fact. A report released yesterday by Migration Watch revealed under Labour's tenure of 13 years the net immigration figure was 3.6 million, compared to that 100,000 is a drop in the ocean. The reason for all those immigrants has been pointed at Labour's open door policy of creating the UK as a muli cultural,multi religon and mutli racial society.

The current lot have failed a bit on this business but in fairness they inherited a huge backlog which was not of their creation.

"However, figures published last week showed annual net migration to the UK had reached 298,000, close to record levels." - The Guardian in Cameron's pledge.

If the Tories continued with their immigration numbers for 13 years, roughly, the total number (298,000 x 13) would be 3.9 million. Yet the Tories, wrongly in my eyes, pledged to massively cut immigration numbers.

The problem is credibility. You cannot set governmental targets which will be dramatically missed and claim to be credible. The other parties, including Labour, have every right to challenge that. I understand that you despise Labour, but admit he made a huge mistake.

 

[Joey66]

So just leave the bankrupt EU!

 

[Toffeelover]

"However, figures published last week showed annual net migration to the UK had reached 298,000, close to record levels." - The Guardian in Cameron's pledge.

If the Tories continued with their immigration numbers for 13 years, roughly, the total number (298,000 x 13) would be 3.9 million. Yet the Tories, wrongly in my eyes, pledged to massively cut immigration numbers.

The problem is credibility. You cannot set governmental targets which will be dramatically missed and claim to be credible. The other parties, including Labour, have every right to challenge that. I understand that you despise Labour, but admit he made a huge mistake.

Steve, not despise Labour in that way but unforgiven of them over the mistakes they made during their time and have hardly acknowledged the cock ups that they did which cost the country hundreds of millions.I have not the time right now to go through a litany of them as I have to go out and meet some friends.

 

[Toffeelover]

And so it should be.

Steve it was before Blair opened the flood gates but the services of the country can only handle so much. You ought to look at the problems we are now seeing because of Labour's policies on that.

 

[Seanjd]

Steve it was before Blair opened the flood gates but the services of the country can only handle so much. You ought to look at the problems we are now seeing because of Labour's policies on that.

I don't think there are problems because of immigration, certainly not any which won't be stopped by cracking down on those who undercut by illegally employing immigrants and paying them very little.

It's Sean, by the way, not Steve.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

Stevejd sounds like a plumber who does mix tapes in his spare room of an evening.

 

[Seanjd]

Stevejd sounds like a plumber who does mix tapes in his spare room of an evening.

Who you been talkin' to??