Charles Drake..........casual labourer of Weybridge.......skip the intro...... Charlie Drake The Worker Series 2 ep1 pt1/5 - YouTube
This is the "Golden Age" theory. There was a time some years ago where things were great and everything worked better than now; if only we could recapture the Golden Age, everything would be hunky-dory. So how long ago was the mythical Golden Age? I suggested 1910 to demonstrate the point that a century ago is too long - nobody really wants to go back 100 years. No, old men think the Golden Age was when they were young men, 40 or 50 years ago. And you have just demonstrated my point neatly, so thanks for that Lightning. In truth, in 1970 Britain's economic position was a good deal worse than today, with a far lower standard of living all round, persistent high inflation, weak currency, and economic decline compared to our main competitors. Please don't wish to go back there - your wish might come true.
Before anyone forgets it or was too young to remember it, the 70s were one of the naffest periods Britain has ever had. The cars were frequently brown and shit. Food was generally appalling. Fashion was abysmal. Even at the time, it was clear that switching the miniskirt for the maxi, and wearing baggies with 5 buttons in the waistband was just horrifically naff. Hairstyles were also awful. Architecture was terrible. Nothing beautiful was built at all, in any idiom. Economically, the country was down the pan with no end in sight - "The Sick Man of Europe". The only good things about the 70s were the music (probably the best decade ever) and the sort of social conscience that people still had. Even young people were interested in ideas instead of just me me me and products.
in my part of the world the veiled mother of 6 is a very rare sight indeed.however you see the same faces every day walking down the the street quite often carry out on shoulder. if you cant get some kind of work seasonal or not you aint been looking. fuckd up system so it is. by the way looking for a car/bike mechanic anyone out there looking for the good life drop me a p.m.
Still no suggestions on how to improve things then? Oh dear,I had such high hopes too... As usual,I'll point out that whether or not things are good or bad depends on your own personal perspective. For instance,in the Seventies,there was very little youth unemployment,as least among my peers.If you didn't like a job,there was any number available you could choose from,and Companies were falling over themselves to get you through their door. Note that these were PROPER jobs,making things that often got exported/sold worldwide If you bailed out of school without qualifications,there were Government Training centres to teach a labourer to become a bricklayer,a plumbers mate how to be a plumber,or a housewife to be a hairdresser etc. And the standard of living was much higher than it was in the Fifties,(even many working class homes had central heating),and by that time almost everyone could afford a car....(oh yeah,and because most only had one car,the roads were still relatively empty too).. There were plenty of opportunities to better yourself if thats what you wanted,and unskilled work if you preferred the pub every night. And as for your other,"facts": Weak currency didn't mean so much if you bought British The countrys economic position is all bollocks if you've got bugger all work and no money Inflation was partly fuelled by the introduction of Decimal currency,and partly by massive hikes in average wages ,(completely undeserved for the most part),and that assisted the economic decline Statistics can be massaged to suit what you want to say,Pete old bean,I'm surprised that you've been so easily led by those who govern. I stand by what I say as I experienced it personally,not looking down from some lofty middle class perch. I don't claim it was great for everyone,and I'm sure it wasn't So if it wasn't perfect then,and it's not perfect now,do us a favour and put your mind to something that might work.
As an aside on the employment and unemployment stats and please correct any mistakes I inadvertently make. More older people are continuing longer in employment now than ever before, partly because the law changed regarding retirement, partly because some may wish to continue working for the financial and other benefits of working, some because they have to. Bearing this in mind is it any surprise that youth unemployment is so stubbornly high ? If the politicians stopped taking the over 60 s off one end of the chain didn't they realise this would have an impact on vacancies at the other end ? Surely politicians have heard of the law of unintended consequences ? An easy way to reduce the youth unemployment levels is to bring in a lower compulsory retirement age and bingo, all the yoofs can work. Shame about the pension implications of course.....
Erm you employe few of those on benefits to supervise that. Pay them salary instead of benefits and off we go. It will only cost money in short term to setup as running it well they will create more job spaces to run it so less unemployed. And if we ever run out of unemployed well there are prisons.....
The short-term is actually the long-term as far as politics is concerned. Anything that costs money in the short term is quite likely to get canned by an elected government.
You seem to be confusing me with a political party. Parties publish manifestoes before each election setting out all the policies they will try to implement, if they get into government (or at least, all the policies they are prepared to reveal). They try to convince voters that they both intend to and will be able to keep to their public commitments, and that their policies are good things. I'm not a party, I don't have a manifesto, and I'm not standing for election. But it's fun to debate various policies and political personalities, isn't it?
I do so agree about unintended consequences. If over-60s were obliged to retire without option it would indeed help with the youth unemployment problem, but it would also entail another lot of unintended consequences which might be even worse than the previous lot.
they should tax the blind too for their guide dogs, or set up a provision to deduct a fair rent for the dog from their benefits. its unfair to expect the taxpayer to support these 'people' through charity.... also, making the blind work, or at least taxing their dogs will give them a sense of purpose and allow them to function in society like a normal person instead of feeling worthless by living off charity and state handouts.
Yes it is fun But it would be really interesting to find out what you would do to change things,if you had the chance
