[IMG] 
[/IMG]
i blame the tories
no really!!
their last conference was so jammed with 'nazi lite' soundbites that godwin is smashed
Out]r economy has changed there has been a loss of high skilled manufacturing jobs
replaced with; low paid service industry, the 0 hrs uberfication, huge rise in 'self-employment'
-a low wage economy that belies the unemployment figures and do trap many people.
I see the usual tory supporting suspects are unable to engage in any meaningful debate once more.
Nazis? Here you go:
http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/james-amber-rudds-speech-echoes-mein-kampf/
Perhaps they are trying to match your level of debate - its hard to know where to pitch it at the moment?
replaced with; low paid service industry, the 0 hrs uberfication, huge rise in 'self-employment'
-a low wage economy that belies the unemployment figures and do trap many people.
This. However as long as the proles are occupied in low asperational employment the likes of ninfan and thm will happily accept any positive propoganda fed to them.
Coyote - before putting words into peoples' mouth perhaps you could check what they post. For starters try my quote from the JRF. It might help.
Work is merely a starting point - well that's not true, education is the starting point. The JRF sums it up wellKatie Schmuecker from JRF said: “Work is the best route to economic security and a better standard of living and we welcome record levels of employment. But, as well as more jobs, [b]we need better jobs[/b] so all families can benefit from economic growth. Despite working full time hours, more families are still falling short of what they need to make ends meet. We need the state and business to ensure people in work can achieve economy and security.
HTH
Wow, this really got out of hand, didn't it?
Look, lets go back to the OP. This demonisation of the poor and promotion of low skilled service jobs is not about nasty Tories. This has been a consensus since the early 80's. Yes, Labour threw a load of money at poor people to put a plaster over working poverty, but did nothing to tackle the root causes.
The zero hours contract thing. My wife is a regional manager for a large care provider. Without zero hours contracts half of her care services would not be able to operate. Believe it or not, some people like the flexibility of a zero hours contract. I agree, they are massively overused, have been used to manipulate unemployment figures and have allowed certain large organisations to "cheat" the employment system to some degree. But to ban them outright would do great damage to certain areas and is not going to solve the problem.
But as usual, people want to reduce everything down to simple explanations and find easy things to blame. Be that nasty Tories or spendy Labour.
This polarisation and entrenchment needs to stop, it is masking the fact that the people at the top never change no matter who we put in "power", why do you think that is?
Is is because our tribal identities are based on falsehoods? A deception by those in power to give us the illusion of participation while they keep all the money for themselves.
Yes, there is good news in the fact that more people have jobs than last month, but we also need to look deeper into those numbers and appreciate that there are millions of people not benefiting from being in work and that the success of a society should be measured by more than a simple set of figures manipulated to suit the needs of those in power, whoever they are.
I think we're a long way from Auschwitz, that is a ridiculous analogy, but it does make sure that your "enemies" are suitably dehumanised. Do you not see how your use of such imagery is quite ironic?
I think we're a long way from Auschwitz, that is a ridiculous analogy
I think that it is a tongue in cheek reference to the constant "work is the best way out of poverty" (which no one can disagree with) and "work sets you free".
Celebrating the creation of low aspirational jobs whilst doing nothing to create career opportunities for the masses is a little hollow.
Labour threw a load of money at poor people to put a plaster over working poverty, but did nothing to tackle the root causes
kinda true
Sure Start, whilst being very expensive actually had some positive results for families with often very poor chances
agreed that the low wage job expansion has been a feature of every government fr the last 30 odd years
Celebrating the creation of low aspirational jobs whilst doing nothing to create career opportunities for the masses is a little hollow.
who is doing that?
Don't get me wrong, Kimbers, things like sure start were a bloody great idea, but without wider reforms of the labour market, were unable to be anything more that a plaster. Rather than giving people the confidence, opportunity and optimism to build a better future as part of a comprehensive and holistic package of anti-poverty and labour measures, they just became one more thing to keep the poor artificially suspended above the worst poverty, creating a dependence at odds with people's wider needs, ultimately feeding the idea in government and wider society that the poor are an expense rather than a potential asset.
Coyote, there's nothing "tongue in cheek" about such imagery. If people are prepared to use such strong imagery to score points in a discussion then they should be prepared for the inevitable reaction of people to such strong imagery.
Clodhopper, to elucidate on 'Fred'
- sorry my bikesnob.nyc idea was a bit of a diversion/red herring (he uses the word Fred's to describe 'entryists' to road cycling with more money than 'grit' much like people in the U.K. derided for getting all competitive at sportives)
-when thm addresses you as Fred it is with reference to a former stw-er who has been banned many times and popped up again under various logins, and so it has become a bit of a sport on here spotting him, often with people simply addressing the suspect poster as Fred as freddibnah was one of his old old logins (which I think even predates thm's time here) He was controversial and argumentative in style often more for his own (and others'!) amusement and also mostly lefty in his views- in many way the opposite of ninfan who is also on his umpteenth )voluntary not banned) login and argues a point for fun but manages not to bother the moderators at all with this) I am sure I remember 'Fred' (well it would have been a different login by then) giving thm a hard time and perhaps that's why he in particular has addressed you in this way.
-so assuming it's not you as I am sure it isn't, take the 'fred' as an observation that your arguing style is creating a disturbance in The Force. 😀
😀
"who is doing that?"
The tories.
"But, as well as more jobs, we need better jobs so all families can benefit from economic growth. Despite working full time hours, more families are still falling short of what they need to make ends meet. We need the state and business to ensure people in work can achieve economy and security."
Please explain what the current government are doing in order to create better opportunities for all.
"take the 'fred' as an observation that your arguing style is creating a disturbance in The Force. "
Perhaps I should take this as a [i]compliment[/i], then? Thanks for the explanation. It was certainly perplexing me. The bikesnob thing really had me confused.
I only really joined this forum to get some 'advice' on buying a new bike. 😆
Did you miss the OP clod?
Step away from the twigs so that you can see the woods....it might help
But its companies not governments that are driving much of the improvement directly. Public sector employment is on a down trend.
I only really joined this forum to get some 'advice' on buying a new bike.
Well its opened a whole new world for you then! 🙂 Bet you've not been back to the Bike Forum since?
-when thm addresses you as Fred it is with reference to a former stw-er who has been banned many times and popped up again under various logins,
Such as the one you're currently using, as well you know. I really must get around to doing something about that.
Public sector employment is on a down trend.
Er... Don't you mean being slashed as part of the conservative ideology? "Down trend"! 😆
is there something in the name [b]ideal[/b]logy?
interesting choice of phrase - do you work for them?
Cougar: If that's the case it's like he is getting someone to ghost-write a whole new set of interests and indeed a whole new posting/writing style. Previous Freds were apparent from the first couple of threads by their way with words and 'style'- as were subsequent incarnations of GW, glupton and labrat for that matter. I am sure you have some IT skillz and IP address stuff to back up your suspicions, but for me the difference between old Freds and this one is quite remarkable.
Everytime I hear people talking about "work setting you free" etc.. I just keep wondering what are we going to do when we run out of work??
I know automation has been going on since, well, forever, but it's pace is increasing more and more quickly.
Workers in Amazon delivery centres etc are pretty much taking orders from a computer algorithm now, and they've only got jobs because they are cheaper than a robot and how many people's jobs will be replaced when with autonomous cars?
I think Ocado is aiming for an entirely autonomous distribution centre, where goods will then be loaded onto autonomous delivery vehicles.
It'll be like hitting "pause" on the current wealth distribution.
Everytime I hear people talking about "work setting you free" etc.. I just keep wondering what are we going to do when we run out of work??
Because of this very issue, more and more people from all sides of the political spectrum are starting to take the idea of a basic income guarantee rather seriously.
for me the difference between old Freds and this one is quite remarkable.
In so far as this one is unique in not being a weapons-grade pain in the ass, I agree.
Here's a random example. We have many more but I'm obviously not going to show my hand. Compare and contrast these two posts.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rip-howard-marks/page/2?view=all#post-7631881
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anyone-on-here-tried-heroine/page/4?view=all#post-2364091
all sides of the political spectrum are starting to take the idea of a basic income guarantee rather seriously.
I'd vote for that, but whatever government managed to implement it would **** it up somehow.
Cougar; I'm extremely flattered that you've waded through forum posts from five years ago, to find something that you believe 'proves' I'm someone I'm not. That person must have meant an awful lot to you, for you to dedicate so much time and energy on. I've no doubt they'd also be extremely flattered, were they aware of your efforts. I do hope you are being paid well for your time.
You could, had you wanted, chosen to email me directly, if you had any issue with my presence on this forum. Instead, you've effectively 'taken sides' in this debate, which as a moderator, I think most people would expect you to remain neutral.
But you know what? You've done me a favour. The thought of you spending so much time, looking for something to prove your 'point' (whatever that was, who knows?), made me realise just how much time I have personally wasted on this forum, arguing with people who are unlikely to move from their deeply entrenched positions, fed no doubt by their own insecurities. People such as the apologist for racism and xenophobia, Ninfan. The deluded, utterly closed-minded fools such as Jambalaya. Those, like THM, who cannot begin to comprehend anything that isn't presented as a list of numerical figures. And the rants of Binners; what on earth fuels those (I wonder if Binners has a 'sinus problem'. 😉 )? And for what? What's to be gained from such 'debates', other than to reinforce what you already knew, that some people are simply ****s. And that you should never get into an argument with an idiot; they will only drag you down to their level.
A wise man once said:
[b][i]"A lesson I learned far too late in life is, life is too short to spend in the company of arseholes."[/i][/b]
Quite.
Life is too short. And I simply don't have the time to waste, like some on here (seriously, how the **** can you spend your entire ****ing life on here?!?!). I need to get on with other things.
I came for the bike advice, and stayed for the nonsense. More fool me. 😆
Still, some of it's been fun. So, without further ado;
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
X
A flounce - how was that missed.
And that you should never get into an argument with an idiot; they will only drag you down to their level.
The 'accused' will remember that for your next new login. Until then, "au revoir, mais a bientot sans doute!"
Does a flounce still make a noise, even if no-one's around to hear it?
I'm gonna flounce Binners got a mention in the resignation speech.....
Does a flounce still make a noise, even if no-one's around to hear it?
😀
[img] 
[/img]
I did get an insult/accusation followed by a winky/smiley face.
Surely the ultimate act of passive aggression?
And therefore the perfect way to accessorise a flounce?
I'll take that up with him upon his return
Give it a week
wonder what that post delete was for?
not that I am asking, mind... 😉
I saw it, THM. The forum didn't need it.
is the thing that dare not be mentioned a danger to humankind?
it could have at least given a hint to the questions posed above?
[url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/25/huge-rise-in-hospital-beds-in-england-taken-up-by-people-with-malnutrition ]first world economy for some, the rest well.....[/url]
Life is good. Stop arguing as life is too short.
Even shorter when youre freezing and starving to death
[quote=hora ]Life is good. Stop arguing as life is too short.
try living of £70 per week and not having your rent or council tax covered and having to pay all bills and food from that and then get back to us
I mam sure life is good for most of us on here we have ikes and a disposable income of varying degrees but there is a world outside your bubble if you look
Yep been there thanks. I'm struggling with what benefit does continual political topics have on a bike forum.
Plus Junkyard, aren't you supposed to melloe. Stop being soo bloody angry and negative.
[quote=hora ]Yep been there thanks. I'm struggling with what benefit does continual political topics have on a bike forum.
then may i politely ask that you dont bother to read them nor contribute on them and i will melloe as a result?
The reality is we dont all have it good and the rise of food banks and homelessness are clear indicators of this
As for angry and negative I am not angry - though clearly i care about injustice and suffering more than some and it does disappoint me- and its really not my fault the facts are more negative than your optimism supports.
I'm struggling with what benefit does continual political topics have on a bike forum.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/forum/off-topic ]Chat Forum[/url]
Ohhh, i'm bloody angry, the naked unashamed inequality in this country, tax breaks for the rich at the expense of the low waged and unwaged.
The crass ignorance of the "i'm ok, pull the ladder up" set
The "been there, but it doesn't effect me now" complacency
The constant attacks and demonisation of the poor and unwaged by the UK mainstream media and political classes
The cronyism in politics
The wholesale destruction of rights, housing, welfare and healthcare hard won by our grand parents after the horrors of WW2.
I'm angry, but i dont let it consume my life 24/7 - until ignorance or complacency is displayed in regards to the state that this country is in, despite being the 5th or 6th strongest economy in the world
That tends to spark me up a bit
and the article refers to a period covering three main parties in power in one form or another - which one is to blame do you reckon?
