Reccession ..... Calm Down & Carry On

[Simster]

You seem to labouring under the misapprehension that; because Iam certain that the current bags of barry white are exactly that, I am a flag waving, card carrying, pant wetting member of the Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Ed Milliband fan clubs.

I am not.

It is possible to kick one lot whilst not having allegiences to any other.

Sadly, this is the lot of most sane left leaning people at the moment, as the Labour front bench are appalling. Their bleating over the house of Lords reform is making my blood boil, seeing as they gutlessly "reformed" a fraction of what is being proposed during the best of 15 years they were in power.

 

[Arkwright]

Wish people would stop moaning about doom and gloom, is life really that bad on an individual basis. For those who have existing loans / mortagages money is cheap to borrow and gives you more in your pocket, yes other items have gone up but it is swings and roundabouts.

Are people really that much worse off?

The whole thing is being talked up by the opposition and the doom and gloom merchants in the media.

Live life for today and spend it while you can!

 

[Dirk Gently]

Wish people would stop moaning about doom and gloom, is life really that bad on an individual basis. For those who have existing loans / mortagages money is cheap to borrow and gives you more in your pocket, yes other items have gone up but it is swings and roundabouts.

Are people really that much worse off?

The whole thing is being talked up by the opposition and the doom and gloom merchants in the media.

Live life for today and spend it while you can!

As long as you're not sick, disabled, elderly, unemployed, a single-parent family, a public-sector worker, etc, etc ........

If you're a "Have" you're fine under this government. If you're a "Have Not" - then you can go swing.....

 

[Arkwright]

As long as you're not sick, disabled, elderly, unemployed, a single-parent family, a public-sector worker, etc, etc ........

If you're a "Have" you're fine under this government. If you're a "Have Not" - then you can go swing.....

Things where just as good under the previous government with low interest rates. Sorry I don't buy this Public Sector Worker thing they have had it easy for years compared to the private sector, moaning about pensions, they can count themselves lucky to have a good scheme while it's a complete gamble for the private sector.

Are the elderly that much worse off, the eldery seem to do fine from where I am.

Single parent families, sorry but if you have children it is your own invetsment to the future and you should only have children if you can afford them, children are not a play thing and a drain on public monies. Invest in there education but the rest is down to the parents.

Unemployment, if you want to work there are jobs, they may not be the sort of jobs you want but there are stop gaps until the right one comes along.

Sorry but it is a dog eat dog world and you have to be in control of your own destiny, a bit of hard graft never hurt anyone.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

A question re the public sector workers issue...what do private sector workers pay into their pensions? It's been so long since I had one, I can't remember.

I pay 12.5% into my (public sector) pension now, so I'm interested to know how that compares to the private sector people who seem to be complaining about it.

 

[beorhthelm]

... Agreed the Tories didn't have an alternative plan but then again Labour don't currently. It seems that the practise of being in opposition now means providing no policies, keeping quiet and hoping the other side hang themselves.

ah, but they do have a policy - they would do exactly the same as the current government, but not cut as much and take longer to do it. considering many say that Osborne is not doing enough or quickly enough, considering the deficit still grows at well over £100bn a year, the policy choice currently is between do little and do less.

 

[beorhthelm]

A question re the public sector workers issue...what do private sector workers pay into their pensions? It's been so long since I had one, I can't remember.

I pay 12.5% into my (public sector) pension now, so I'm interested to know how that compares to the private sector people who seem to be complaining about it.

varies wildly from nothing to probably similar to yours. whats usually overlooked is the employers contribution, which is often the same range again or even higher on top - for example 24% for the police forces. this, along with final salary formula and longevity of the pensioner thats the problem in the public sector pensions. but thats rather another topic.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Unemployment, if you want to work there are jobs, they may not be the sort of jobs you want but there are stop gaps until the right one comes along.

I take issue with most of your post but this bit in particular. I've been unemployed as has my partner. To make such an idiotic statement as this is .... well .... unbelievable.

Currently most jobs have dozens of applicants for each one so your first hurdle is to actually get an interview. Even then you could be up against another 10 or so people.

When unemployed I applied for jobs in my industry for roughly the same salary that I was on ( no luck ), I applied for jobs in my industry on much lower salaries or at a lower grade ( standard answer was why would I do that and that the employer thought I would be off quickly ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd worked in previously ( employers generally not interested due to time gap since I last worked in it ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd never worked in, for things such as shelf stacking etc etc etc ( no experience was mentioned constantly ). This pattern was followed by my partner as well. I'm sure plenty of other people on here have been in the same situation.

Once you get to a certain age or experience you can't just walk into any crap job there is - employers prevent it.

So basically you're talking out of your arse and your lack of compassion or understanding for whole groups of people makes you look like a complete wanker to be frank.

 

[Albion Rob]

Single parent families, sorry but if you have children it is your own invetsment to the future and you should only have children if you can afford them, children are not a play thing and a drain on public monies. Invest in there education but the rest is down to the parents.

Would you be prepared to see any special dispensation for women who were happily married and their husbands just decided to bugger off with the secretary (or vice-versa)? Also, how about parents who are left on their own with young kids when their partner dies?

 

[Tubby Mondays]

Things where just as good under the previous government with low interest rates. Sorry I don't buy this Public Sector Worker thing they have had it easy for years compared to the private sector, moaning about pensions, they can count themselves lucky to have a good scheme while it's a complete gamble for the private sector.

Are the elderly that much worse off, the eldery seem to do fine from where I am.

Single parent families, sorry but if you have children it is your own invetsment to the future and you should only have children if you can afford them, children are not a play thing and a drain on public monies. Invest in there education but the rest is down to the parents.

Unemployment, if you want to work there are jobs, they may not be the sort of jobs you want but there are stop gaps until the right one comes along.

Sorry but it is a dog eat dog world and you have to be in control of your own destiny, a bit of hard graft never hurt anyone.

Was that the 1983 Tory manifesto or 1987?

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I take issue with most of your post but this bit in particular. I've been unemployed as has my partner. To make such an idiotic statement as this is .... well .... unbelievable.

Currently most jobs have dozens of applicants for each one so your first hurdle is to actually get an interview. Even then you could be up against another 10 or so people.

When unemployed I applied for jobs in my industry for roughly the same salary that I was on ( no luck ), I applied for jobs in my industry on much lower salaries or at a lower grade ( standard answer was why would I do that and that the employer thought I would be off quickly ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd worked in previously ( employers generally not interested due to time gap since I last worked in it ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd never worked in, for things such as shelf stacking etc etc etc ( no experience was mentioned constantly ). This pattern was followed by my partner as well. I'm sure plenty of other people on here have been in the same situation.

Once you get to a certain age or experience you can't just walk into any crap job there is - employers prevent it.

So basically you're talking out of your arse and your lack of compassion or understanding for whole groups of people makes you look like a complete wanker to be frank.

Spot on. I have applied for hundreds of jobs in the last 3 years and the only one I got was working on the tills at Tesco for 3 weeks one Xmas at £ 5 ph net. You ,99% of the time hear nothing and may 1 in 100 get a dear john e mail. The tour guide job at the Amex I applied for, got an interview and then was rejected, had an e mail saying " dear candidate ", they only got back as I asked for an answer and they had made appointments and not bothered to inform me, the e mail not even personalised. I have just applied for a job cleaning an office in shoreham from 6-8pm for £ 6.40 ph gross, still to hear ! To most employers you are a number , 1 of many, often dozens or hundreds applying for 1 position. Also when you get near 50 they are filtered out and shredded anyway as this country has a horrific " youth is all " attitude.

 

[Arkwright]

Would you be prepared to see any special dispensation for women who were happily married and their husbands just decided to bugger off with the secretary (or vice-versa)? Also, how about parents who are left on their own with young kids when their partner dies?

Of course I would I'm not heartless and there are always exceptions to the rule but I still stand by Family Values. By the way Tubby Mondays I'm not a Tory just a realist.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

A question re the public sector workers issue...what do private sector workers pay into their pensions? It's been so long since I had one, I can't remember.

I pay 12.5% into my (public sector) pension now, so I'm interested to know how that compares to the private sector people who seem to be complaining about it.

I'm just going through this today with my wife's pension arrangements as she's probably going to retire early (55) from GSK next month.

Annual contributions from her and GSK to the defined benefit (final salary) pension scheme over the last four years amount to an average of 22.8% of her gross salary pa of which she contributes either 5% or 7% - I'm not sure. In addition, she's been paying an average of 12.7%pa into her AVC fund.
Annual Pension is 1/55 pensionable salary* x years of service, AVC fund is taken as a tax-free lump sum.
*PS = Basic salary - state retirement pension

 

[Arkwright]

I take issue with most of your post but this bit in particular. I've been unemployed as has my partner. To make such an idiotic statement as this is .... well .... unbelievable.

Currently most jobs have dozens of applicants for each one so your first hurdle is to actually get an interview. Even then you could be up against another 10 or so people.

When unemployed I applied for jobs in my industry for roughly the same salary that I was on ( no luck ), I applied for jobs in my industry on much lower salaries or at a lower grade ( standard answer was why would I do that and that the employer thought I would be off quickly ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd worked in previously ( employers generally not interested due to time gap since I last worked in it ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd never worked in, for things such as shelf stacking etc etc etc ( no experience was mentioned constantly ). This pattern was followed by my partner as well. I'm sure plenty of other people on here have been in the same situation.

Once you get to a certain age or experience you can't just walk into any crap job there is - employers prevent it.

So basically you're talking out of your arse and your lack of compassion or understanding for whole groups of people makes you look like a complete wanker to be frank.

With an attitude like that maybe I can see why you can't get work.

I still stand by my point that work is there, like I said not ideal but it is there. I'm nearly 50 and worried about my career path but to earn a few bob I really would do anything. Yes I sympathise and I don't know the employment circumstances where you live but just in this corner of Hampshire there are new super markets opening and therefore jobs from junior to senior level. New business has gone into a local Industrial Park.

My little shop we have just employed someone for the first time in 5 years, so the growth is there.

I wish you every success in job hunting but no need to call me a wanker.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

Even after that little stunt with the petrol pumps? When a tory peer let something slip which caused billions to be spent that otherwise wouldn't have the weekend before GDP is calculated?

We are in trouble then.

Maybe Clegg and Cameron can come up with something more inventive than cutting jobs and cutting back to work schemes.

Even in the '80's under Thatcher we had YOP's, YTS and numerous policies to try to encourage long and short term unemployed back into work.

I haven't, and never have had, any confidence in Cameron. His background is in PR, he may well talk a good election campaign, but he's utterly useless at anything else. Heath or Thatcher knew that British Industry sometimes needs government support (Heath supported Rolls-Royce when their Trent engine development nearly bankrupted the company and Thatcher bailed out Rover on several occasions).

Cameron talks a good talk about hepling the Private sector but where are the policies ...........

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

I take issue with most of your post but this bit in particular. I've been unemployed as has my partner. To make such an idiotic statement as this is .... well .... unbelievable.

Currently most jobs have dozens of applicants for each one so your first hurdle is to actually get an interview. Even then you could be up against another 10 or so people.

When unemployed I applied for jobs in my industry for roughly the same salary that I was on ( no luck ), I applied for jobs in my industry on much lower salaries or at a lower grade ( standard answer was why would I do that and that the employer thought I would be off quickly ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd worked in previously ( employers generally not interested due to time gap since I last worked in it ), I applied for jobs in industries I'd never worked in, for things such as shelf stacking etc etc etc ( no experience was mentioned constantly ). This pattern was followed by my partner as well. I'm sure plenty of other people on here have been in the same situation.

Once you get to a certain age or experience you can't just walk into any crap job there is - employers prevent it.

So basically you're talking out of your arse and your lack of compassion or understanding for whole groups of people makes you look like a complete wanker to be frank.

As someone who was made redundant in the early 1990's recession I completely concur with you.

If you think it's possible to just walk into any job you're a complete delusionist.

In the end I took a job that actually meant I had a pay cut from £ 16 K to £ 12 K per year, but because it was a public sector role, had much better long term career development and security. I was lucky but I still had to spend 3 months unemployed.

 

[HH Brighton]

With an attitude like that maybe I can see why you can't get work.

I still stand by my point that work is there, like I said not ideal but it is there. I'm nearly 50 and worried about my career path but to earn a few bob I really would do anything. Yes I sympathise and I don't know the employment circumstances where you live but just in this corner of Hampshire there are new super markets opening and therefore jobs from junior to senior level. New business has gone into a local Industrial Park.

My little shop we have just employed someone for the first time in 5 years, so the growth is there.

I wish you every success in job hunting but no need to call me a wanker.

Mate, everyone can see what type of person you are, love the way you think there's nothing wrong in your little corner of Hampshire. This 'I'm alright Jack' posturing is whats wrong with so many people nowadays.

 

[Aadam]

Single parent families, sorry but if you have children it is your own invetsment to the future and you should only have children if you can afford them, children are not a play thing and a drain on public monies. Invest in there education but the rest is down to the parents.

Unemployment, if you want to work there are jobs, they may not be the sort of jobs you want but there are stop gaps until the right one comes along.

Sorry but it is a dog eat dog world and you have to be in control of your own destiny, a bit of hard graft never hurt anyone.

Yes because death to a significant other, or partner cheating is the fault of the single parent. Suck it up and deal with it

A question re the public sector workers issue...what do private sector workers pay into their pensions? It's been so long since I had one, I can't remember.

I pay 12.5% into my (public sector) pension now, so I'm interested to know how that compares to the private sector people who seem to be complaining about it.

Yes, I do. And as of October it will be phased in as compulsory for employers to set up and automatically enrol employees into a pension, and also compulsory for them to contribute.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

With an attitude like that maybe I can see why you can't get work.

I still stand by my point that work is there, like I said not ideal but it is there. I'm nearly 50 and worried about my career path but to earn a few bob I really would do anything. Yes I sympathise and I don't know the employment circumstances where you live but just in this corner of Hampshire there are new super markets opening and therefore jobs from junior to senior level. New business has gone into a local Industrial Park.

My little shop we have just employed someone for the first time in 5 years, so the growth is there.

I wish you every success in job hunting but no need to call me a wanker.

Yes, I'm sure any of us struggling to pay mortgages, put food on the table and raise a family would do anything for a few bob but you fail to understand that the opportunities to "earn that few bob" aren't actually there. Go and ask new supermarkets and businesses how many applicants they had for those new jobs - all would have been well into double figures with some possibly even hitting triple figures. How do you propose you would make your self the chosen one ?

I don't disagree there is growth in certain areas / industries but it's over simplifying the situation if you think people can walk from one job to another.

I called you a wanker because with a single swipe of your keyboard you disowned pensioners, single parents and the unemployed without any differentiation about different circumstances. You show me a well off pensioner and I'll show you 10 that are struggling to heat their homes and eat properly, you show me a blagging single parent and I'll show you 5 who work all the hours under the sun to provide for their kids and still go without, you show me one unemployed person who is milking the system and turning down jobs and I'll show you 20 who would do ANY job if they were given the opportunity.

I called you a wanker and I stand by that because I made that decision about you based on your posts - you passed judgement on thousands of people without any evidence at all.

 

[Arkwright]

Yes, I'm sure any of us struggling to pay mortgages, put food on the table and raise a family would do anything for a few bob but you fail to understand that the opportunities to "earn that few bob" aren't actually there. Go and ask new supermarkets and businesses how many applicants they had for those new jobs - all would have been well into double figures with some possibly even hitting triple figures. How do you propose you would make your self the chosen one ?

I don't disagree there is growth in certain areas / industries but it's over simplifying the situation if you think people can walk from one job to another.

I called you a wanker because with a single swipe of your keyboard you disowned pensioners, single parents and the unemployed without any differentiation about different circumstances. You show me a well off pensioner and I'll show you 10 that are struggling to heat their homes and eat properly, you show me a blagging single parent and I'll show you 5 who work all the hours under the sun to provide for their kids and still go without, you show me one unemployed person who is milking the system and turning down jobs and I'll show you 20 who would do ANY job if they were given the opportunity.

I called you a wanker and I stand by that because I made that decision about you based on your posts - you passed judgement on thousands of people without any evidence at all.

Sadly life isn't designed to be easy, just for the record I'm self employed and work 7 days a week, going to the Amex is a luxury item in my life. All I am saying is that there are opportunities, yes not fantastic but they are opportunities.
On pensioners, yes like every walk of life some do struggle but at the same stage millions are on final salary pension and own there own properties, why else is SAGA a doom industry, because billions of pounds are tied up in pensioners pockets. On single parents, I previouslly said that sadly there are many exceptions, however parents should be more accountable for there children both financially and socially.
We live in a society where we where encouraged to over spend and borrow and now are paying for it, I know times are tough but what choice does the government have but to cut if not we will be paying for our greed of the 80's, 90's and noughties for the next 100 years, what a legacy to pass on to a child and future of the country. Running a small shop it is hard and I've had to cut margins to increase turnover, maybe I'm wrong but sometimes less is more and we need to take any opportunties out there.
With reference to me being a wanker we are all entitled to an opinion however just because mine is not the same as yours I don't think you should express an opinion on my personal habits.