The people who have everything also run everything.

In my world, the person/profession I value most is the man I have on speed dial who can mend my "white goods"

But is he or she " clever"

Clever is as Clever does!!

I know people with doctorates who have no "common sense"

The people I know with learning disabilities are clever in all sorts of wonderful ways, some of them.

They can do things nobody else probably could.

GrannyGravy may I add the most important occupation of all:
Farmer.

Without farmers the world's population would starve.
Farmers can be those who left school and learned all they need to know on the job.
Or have degrees.

All are under-valued.

Indeed, *MissA. I've recently met a man who's art literally made me gasp. He earns nothing from it as he doesn't have the backing/intelligence to take it forward and with his disability someone might take advantage of him. He's surviving. Lovely, caring man who has £24 to live on once his bills are paid. That's not really living is it?

One of my GC is on the "autism spectrum", he is gifted and excels in certain subjects, in inter personal skills he is just not interested/able.

Everyone has a gift/craft/ability.

We cannot all be "movers and shakers" - but we all can/should be valued as members of society.

Tillybelle - that is an excellent analysis of the current situation, with some real insights.

Talk about stating the obvious on here... as in it’s unfair that one person is more intelligent than another!
Yes, and it’s unfair that some are goodlooking, talented at football,music, art,etc etc.
It’s also unfair that some have loving parents, and others have cruel spiteful ones, some are too tiny, while others are small.I could go on, but you get the drift.
It’s life and we all have to make the best of it. Most people do exactly that.

That's sad, ginny.
I bet he could earn a fortune with an agent to look after his finances.

That should read tall, not small.
Add to that, those who live long healthy lives, and those who
Die very young.
Imagine a life of poverty in Guinea or Madagascar or many other places in our world, and be relieved you are in the UK.

er no. I don't feel relieved. I feel sad for people.

GG13 yes, my DGS too, although he is intelligent, not especially gifted.

It’s how life just is though lessismore not all can be (as a poster has said) movers and shakers, wealthy or gifted or beautiful. We need all kinds of people to form a society, and the more lowly jobs are still necessary ones.

lemongrove, those on the "spectrum" are intelligent and when that is realised and channelled they can contribute to society in a multitude of ways.

The spectrum is very wide, and all are different GG13
The first hurdle for young autistic people is for employers to give them a chance, and their second hurdle is being able
To do that job successfully.I hope your DGS ( and mine) will be lucky in that respect.

We need all kinds of people to form a society.......this is the message of the original article.

Well, we can all agree on that, at least.

.....just realised! MissAdventure you have returned to GN
so welcome back.There was a thread a while ago wondering where you were.

Oh thank you.
I had lots of kind messages whilst I was away.
I did read them all, but I didn't feel up to much (see? I'm still a lazy sod!)
I've been sorting out the work situation too.

Nice to be back.

POGS You ask what is the difference between a rich and well educated Conservative MP and a rich and well educated Labour MP. The difference is in what they do when they are in office. The Labour Party has introduced policies that improve the lives of the average person, such as the state pension, the NHS, various employment rights, outlawing of discriminatory practices, etc, etc. The Conservative Party has almost always opposed such policies.

The Guardian’s USP as a leftwing organ of communication is divide and rule between the classes. Gary Young, in particular, has a chip the size of Rutland on his shoulder.

I should take plenty of no notice. Anyone with brains, nous and a work ethic can succeed in our country where education is free and open to all and nothing prevents anyone from attending university.

I was a very poor girl when young and married a lower middle class boy. On the strength of our hard work and continued efforts alone we made it to the top five per cent of earners for a while. We are poorer now we are retired and made redundant but we did not splurge cash on ephemerals when we were making it and have a safety net we now live on.

I don’t envy anyone. People in charge often work insanely hard and clever people marry other clever people so their children are smart and successful. Then they put their resources into education to maximise the effects of intelligence. Would anyone rather the fools, the lazy and the incompetent were running the country?

Interesting to read that the Guardian is in favour of divide and rule. Surely that's the prerogative of the Tory party?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/website-where-users-rate-mps-on-their-sexiness-was-the-most-viewed-banned-site-in-parliament-last-10356624.html

I'm glad we're being looked after by such conscientious, intelligent people.

Eloethan..... so that’s why Conservative MP’s improved the income tax situation for low earners then?!