It's kicking off in London...

[Neil]

And when middle England got put in the firing line, first, did Mums take to the streets overturning cars and putting shop windows through because child benefit is getting yanked from any family with a higher rate taxpayer?

And just how effective was that as a tactic?

Oh come on... surely you saw the dry humour in my paragraph you quoted above?

Love em as I do, I don't think I will be taking any advice on political activism from some sort of UK version of Sarah Palin.

Do you, like the Government, support only protest that is ineffectual?

No - as one of the people negatively affected by the change in child benefit, I have to say, largely, fair-play. I guess my only real criticism of that policy is the lack of consideration of family income as opposed to simply a qualifying higher-rate tax payer. I accept that were it to be more complex to factor in these aspects, may make the scheme uneconomic - but that goes into the mix as to whether it was properly thought out.

And I also believe that it's misdirection in how it's presented as effectively "taking an unnecessary benefit from the rich" - I'd argue that the rich seem currently largely unaffected, and you have those earning slightly more than average losing out, whereas the truly rich hardly seem to be doing their bit.

That said, though, I accept that universality shouldn't be unassailable, and certain sacrifices have to be made.

But my subtlety that seems to be missed in what I'm saying is that whilst middle England may not have been seen to do that much, compared with, say, the students - politically, their anger or annoyance looked to command more respect, politically...

 

[dbmtb]

"fun" subjects like media studies, comparative religion, French literature, drama and sociology -- subjects that involved warm, fluffy concepts like 'critical analysis' and 'reasoned argument' but didn't involve difficult things like numbers, symbols, formulae or learning technical skills.

How condescending? How much time have you spent on any of these courses to have the faintest idea of what you are talking about?

From a scientist, I'd expect a scientific approach rather than generalisation and postulation.

 

[dbmtb]

The economies of the UK and France (who both happen to produce record numbers of psychology graduates every year) are both struggling to re-start, because in this "knowledge economy", our graduates don't have the knowledge to create and manufacture things that the rest of the world wants to buy.

Odd you pull this out of the bag with no reference to production costs.

Denmark has the knowledge to create things that the rest of the world wants to buy. I cite for example the recent cuts at Vestas Wind Generator company - production is being moved to the far east. So does France and the UK - look where production is going.

What we don't have, are cheap labourforces. But cheap labourforces require a lower standard of living. Are you prepared to give up yours to put Britain back on its feet?

This is all about globalisation, not the education system. It's the great levelling that was bound to come at some point.

 

[sgw]

whilst middle England may not have been seen to do that much, compared with, say, the students - politically, their anger or annoyance looked to command more respect, politically...

No amount of political respect will get the baby fed. Respect for political protest that totally fails? The government must be quaking in it's boots at their anger and annoyance.

Fair comments re the Child benefit fiasco Niel. My point was more about the relative effectiveness of the protests.

 

[cyfa2809]

yes theyre still spinning the 'you will get a great job' line
you genrally look to the more experienced to guide you but it leaves you a bit lost when theyre clearly lying
but maybe they believe it themselves

as for the students at uni, id say the majority are middle class
i came from a home that was well below the poverty line, now i dont use this as a tool or anything as such but it is quite upsetting to see the richer students go about doing what ever they want
yesterday was wednesday, a few of them went out. come in with a hangover, didnt do much learning, talked about what they did! out again tonight :roll: it feels quite intimidating as i dont fit in aswell a the others, although its not outwardly apparent.

my ideal job would be making bike frames, has been for a few years now. its as if its programmed into me now as i dont really consider it (subconcious). or some kind of tube forming job, that sort of thing. practical, sadly for me currently my course is all paperwork based. experience is king in the job world :?


silverclaws, i did some blacksmithing at flameworks in stonehouse. now im doing mechanical design and manufacture.

when is the next ice age coming?

 

[gibbleking]

its here i just looked outside....brrr

 

[Neil]

whilst middle England may not have been seen to do that much, compared with, say, the students - politically, their anger or annoyance looked to command more respect, politically...

No amount of political respect will get the baby fed. Respect for political protest that totally fails? The government must be quaking in it's boots at their anger and annoyance.

Fair comments re the Child benefit fiasco Niel. My point was more about the relative effectiveness of the protests.

And is mine - the disquiet of middle England had the tories running around rapidly inventing or changing policy, re: potential married couples tax allowance.

 

[Dr S]

Cyfa, you don't need a bloody degree to build bike frames you plonker. You just need passion, a keen eye and a few easily learnt skills mate.

I'm not saying its easy, but a bit of paper won't get you there. Go and do a frame building course somewhere. Let me know when you get started and i will order a frame

Go for it!

 

[silverclaws]

I think what it is we are all educated into the fact that no one will believe us if we dont have that bit of paper to waft around saying we are competant if not skilled.

But as with my own dreams, I know full well it can't happen all the time, market forces and such so other streams of income are required, although just being skilled as a specialist metals welder would be a good alternative to frame building when there is no work to be had. Just think specialist metals, oil, aerospace or medical industries, all paying the right wage for such skills.

But to be practical in an uncertain world it pays to be skilled in a more common practice than a specialist practice, an industry required practice as opposed to a minority desire, the latter maybe ending up as a part time or as a customer comes forward type of job, for not many of us can live our dream in the work enviroment.

 

[mikee]

cyfa
move to Taiwan there's lots of opportunities for bike frame manufacture there , tho i feel you may be a bit too old





were all doomed