John Doe

I would, but I don't go "there" nowadays (not for many years ) Perhaps someone who still does could though?

Talking of parasites, theres a lovely thread on HPC started by FaFa (one of their best posters).... Here's part of a posted quotation... http://www.housepric...ost&p=909180032 The thread goes on with some great insights into some of the things we've been "discussing " here recently on several threads. PS the fonts all gone funny?

That's because big business has bought the governments.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20216031 Talk about austerity

http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=184527&view=findpost&p=909180143

Have you not been hearing about all the cuts in the UK? Oh, of course people say "but there haven't been any cuts blah blah blah..." Thing is, although they've been talked about for some time, they've only really just started, and over 80% of them are coming in the next year or two. The public sector has shed ~500,000 jobs already BTW. (About 500,000 to go, to get us back to when Labour swelled the ranks). That red line is seriously suspicious considering all the wage freezes. In addition to the inclusion of RBS and Lloyds workers on the public payroll statistics, I'm guessing they also include the 500,000 redundancy payments that have had to be paid out as well. It will be very interesting to see how that red line looks when those figures drop out in the next 6 to 12 months.

That's the point. Many have no understanding of how the public sector is today. We have had 3 rounds of redundancies in the last 5 years alone here. It might once have been a job for life, but not nowadays. I've worked in the public and private sector (public sector at present). I do more hours now (for a set wage BTW) then I remember ever doing in the private sector, where I actually got overtime pay for extra hours I did work, and bonuses too. That’s something else we don’t get here. So all in all, there are benefits and drawbacks in each. Indeed, I've never understood why those who keep falling for the government "them and us" propaganda and who continually bleat on about the public sector this, and the public sector that, why don't they just stop moaning, and go get a public sector job if they think it’s so great? Simple. Or are they only doing their private sector job for altruistic reasons, and for the good of their fellow citizens?

Again, this is the great divide and conquer trick being set up by the government and the trap many are falling into. They are trying, and succeeding in many cases it seems, to get everyone in the private sector to attack the public sector workers for having a pension that they can live on (which in reality for the vast vast majority of public sector workers is actually very low indeed). Instead, the private sector should be asking why the hell haven't we got a decent pension any more? That's the real point many miss. They used to have, but successive companies have reduced and reduced it to the point where it is now a fraction of what it once was, whilst at the same time the productivity of the companies rose and their managements pay and pensions have ballooned out of all proportion. Talk about race to the bottom. Besides, many public sector pensions are actually fully funded (for example, where I currently work the contribution is ~ 25% of our wage) and is part of their remuneration package. The unfunded sections of course need to be controlled, and massive changes are being brought in, including higher contributions, average salary instead of final salary, and working until older than they were originally going to when they signed up. So instead of attacking the workers who chose their jobs/careers knowing the benefits of public service, in many cases with wages far less than they’d get in the equivalent private sector, how about blaming the successive Politians who continually buried their heads in the sand while life expectancy rose and rose, and allowed this system to get in this state in the first place, and as wee jinky says.... Absolutley.

In real terms, it has fallen a good 10% or more. Also, don't forget additions to the public sector wage average from taking on RBS and LLoyds group, which are also now included in those figures. However, (although only a few sectors in the private sector actually took a nominal pay cut, banking and the massive wages/bonuses they had, (excluding RBS and LLoyds group, of course) is a large part of the private sector drop), I do agree. Indeed, I've stated (on here many times) many years back that I thought we should have done what Eire did, and immediately cut all public sector pay 10%, while raising the tax threshold to protect the lowest paid in the sector. Could have saved jobs and cut the pension bill (and future commitments) too. Never understood making the really lowest paid public sector workers redundant, when it costs practically the same to have them unemployed. But again, using language like villans? (unless of course you mean the government, in which case, yes, of course they are )

With pay freezes having been in effect for a few years now in the majority of the public sector, the figures might be partly to do with many of the lowest paid losing their jobs, shifting the average figure upwards. Besides, all this talk of parasites isn't actually real or helpful. The vast vast majority, including teachers, nurses and cleaners etc are not parasites. They are doing jobs that need doing. Sure there is waste, and some non-jobs too, but show me a multinational corporation where there isn't. The ultra efficient corporation is another myth pedalled by the right wing first year student books. I've worked in them and seen the shocking waste and non-jobs there too. RBS is a great example. They had people there that actually didn't know what they were meant to do, or even what their job titles meant FFS. The state is too large and needs reducing. Labour increased the state massively and have a lot to answer for. If the massive increase in spending was matched by a massive increase in services, it might not have been such a problem. However, this is now being addressed, but falling for the old divide and conquer mantra, “public sector bad, private sector good”, and the "them and us" mentality really doesn't end up helping anyone except the 1%. Indeed, the bailouts of Private companies (and the still ongoing fallout of this debacle) has cost us equally as much as an over-bloated public sector. A smaller public sector concentrating on the jobs we require them to do is coming, but when it arrives will people still call them parasites? If not, then it really makes no sense now.

The private sector (and general economy) for not keeping up? Besides, the number of public sector jobs is falling, while the number of private sector jobs is increasing (and more than making up for the number of public sector losses). So not all bad.

Ah, the joys of renting in the UK... http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=184295&st=15 Amazing

Wow, he looks a bit like our very own diehard "Red in the Bed" Tony Wedgewood Ben as well http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tony+benn&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADFA_enGB462&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xrqOULTmL8rU0QXq74HgAQ&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1234&bih=851 Well, on several pics.

Ah, but you're forgetting all the good news..... and whilst some think it's just a switch to part time work (of which no doubt some is)........ http://uk.finance.ya...-065448613.html Wonder how long it'll last

sorry, I was teasing. In some less salubrious parts of the UK, "herbs" is another name for cannabis. Garden variety "herbs" Like this? http://www.google.co...Q9QEwBQ&dur=815 After a quick bit of research, it seems Miller met some hippy bird many years back, they got stoned, they got married, dropped out and went off on the magical mystery tour. Fairplay to them. One of my old colleagues did similar. Very promising young scientist, decided to go and start a holistic retreat in France. Did very well too, last I heard.

Yep, tried that. Not a thing re wikipedia. I think that's the first time I've ever had a non-result for an MIT scientist Corrected

Just had a (admittedly quick) look for this guy on Wikipedia. Very strange, especially for an MIT (or ex MIT) scientist that writes books etc, but couldn't find him. Can you find me the link please?

Jees, just read this... http://uk.finance.ya...-083800610.html Makes sense. But now, just look at the comments! FFS! Just a few months back, they'd all be agreeing with him. Today they're hammering him! One day and a good GDP number and, for the first time in many years, the majority of the responses are negative towards him!! The tide certainly seems to have turned, we are now (in the absence of a major shock) at, or, at the very least, very, very near the (nominal) bottom.

Hmmm, I see the thread name has been changed. Is this a tacit admission, by some of the people who thought this house price crash would be much much worse than before (including the proponents of "crash cruise speed"), that they might just have been wrong? Strange thing is, that, in real terms, it is actually not that far off, for most parts of the country

UK GDP growth 1% Q-to-Q! Out of recession with a bang! (unless you use real inflation figures that is ) Still, as some have been saying, it's still better than the back to back recessions the 70's (so far). Anyone up for the treble dip?

Yeah sounds daft, but that was what they called it. Essentially we had to show that we were building up a savings pot to pay off the capital the end of the loan period. Not all IO motgages were lent out in a totally reckless manner (but many were).

Always thought it strange that some companies were giving out IO mortgages without requiring proof of a repayment vehicle. (Though not as bad as the liar loans). We had an IO mortgage once (2005 to 2007) and had to show actual statements of our ISA's etc, as evidence of our repayment vehicle each year (that was with Britannia).

Welcome gallivant Feel free to roam, I'm sure you'll enjoy it (There's also a physicist or two here too )

So has he done it? Really? http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/could-george-osborne-have-the-last-laugh-23102012.html Could be a little premature to be celebrating just yet methinks.

Indeed, and if you do you'll also see that the public sector shed 270,000 jobs during 2011 alone. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/14/osborne-austerity-270000-public-sector-jobs So considering these (and many more losses before and since), the employment figures start looking a touch better again, then add in those coming off DLA and the figures look better again. As I said, it ain't perfect, but it's a whole lot better than many (including me) would have thought, considering we are in the middle of the biggest economic crisis/downturn in generations, wouldn't you say?