Sadly few of us are winners!

I can't find an image for this, but here is a verbal explanation.

It's portrayed as being a commentary on attitudes to immigration, but it could equally well work as a commentary on a wealthy person and two poor people competing for scarce resources.

It's not, IMO, a joke...

metro.co.uk/2016/08/21/a-banker-a-worker-and-an-immigrant-cookie-joke-is-resonating-with-facebook-users-6081944/

Wow! Thanks MaizieD - what a powerful, informative and intelligent post.

LizzieDrip

Wow! Thanks MaizieD - what a powerful, informative and intelligent post.

I cribbed it from Adam Smith . Just updated it by a couple of hundred years...

He knew a thing or two about economics and human behaviour.

???

When Thatcher reduced the income tax rates, ostensibly to encourage people to stay in the country and work harder, William Rees Mogg, then editor of The Times wrote an editorial. In this he thanked her for her actions but said he and his friends wouldn't be working any harder but just sitting back and reaping the benefits.

That’s brilliant MaizieD A very powerful illustration.

I agree Coastpath.

I commend Dicken's post at 10.26. Putting to bed the 'capital flight' myth.

Actually, I'd commend a number of posts on this thread.

People can be so nice [grin}

MaizieD Thank you for your informative posts on this thread. Your Metro quote has been translated into a cartoon featuring Murdoch in front of the plate of 19 biscuits, a worker with just one being told by Murdoch that the third person, a refugee, is after his biscuits. Great example of the influence of Murdoch to those who sadly will listen! You can possible see here:https://twitter.com/developerangst/status/1459989596192882690?s=20&t=zAVMTZ92yRQMz8ofQREn2w

Coastpath posted-

"Perhaps a major reason is the richest people have power - power to own the media and power to donate millions of pounds to the Conservative party."

I agree that these factors are very important but the deciding factor is the UK's undemocratic first past the post voting system which favours the conservative party.

The present appalling government was comprehensively rejected by the majority of those who voted in 2019 and yet got a "landslide" eighty seat majority - meaning they could do whatever they liked, against the wishes of the people for up to five years.

varian

Coastpath posted-

"Perhaps a major reason is the richest people have power - power to own the media and power to donate millions of pounds to the Conservative party."

I agree that these factors are very important but the deciding factor is the UK's undemocratic first past the post voting system which favours the conservative party.

The present appalling government was comprehensively rejected by the majority of those who voted in 2019 and yet got a "landslide" eighty seat majority - meaning they could do whatever they liked, against the wishes of the people for up to five years.

Labour had a landslide election with Tony Blair was this not under TFTP system

I have just had a payrise, and even without the increases in NI, i have worked out i have just under £100 a month to buy food and any other items i will need during the month. nothing for big ticket items that may break and need replacing. i am lucky my son lives at home and pays me some money but with the rises we are expecting it wont last long - it currently pays for food and travel to work. the last thing i want to do is ask him for money even if he does earn more than me. I want him to be able to get on the housing ladder and he cant if he pays me more.

Blair’s landslide doesn’t count because it was (New) Labour rosie?

That’s very sad jetty. May I ask what work and hours you do?

CvD66

MaizieD Thank you for your informative posts on this thread. Your Metro quote has been translated into a cartoon featuring Murdoch in front of the plate of 19 biscuits, a worker with just one being told by Murdoch that the third person, a refugee, is after his biscuits. Great example of the influence of Murdoch to those who sadly will listen! You can possible see here:https://twitter.com/developerangst/status/1459989596192882690?s=20&t=zAVMTZ92yRQMz8ofQREn2w

That's the one I was looking for, Coastpath. My search skills are not very good

Thanks for the link. I'll save the image.

Germanshepherdsmum

That’s very sad jetty. May I ask what work and hours you do?

I work in accounts (so i have plenty of experience managing my money) and do a 40 hour week. i also had a second job as a barmaid but had to give it up due to health issues - that money helped a bit to relieve the pressure. now it looks like i need to find a second job, just to live, especially when my son leaves home.

That’s so little left to buy food when you work full time in accounts. I’m assuming it’s not possible for you to find a better paid job in your line?

Jetty, really sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, this government’s policies have moved many working people into poverty. The ‘poor’ in this country today are not just those on benefits (although those on benefits don’t deserve to be poor) - they are working people, many doing several jobs to make ends meet. They are also those on small pensions who have been careful with money for many years, accumulating small savings - all of which puts them just out of the range for extra help. Apparently, after April, millions of UK citizens will be in ‘energy poverty’ - meaning that more than 10% of household income goes on energy costs. Nevertheless, the posts on this thread actually give me hope. It’s clear that many of you care for others who are struggling - perhaps there really is such a thing as society! Will the GN movement be enough to elicit change at the next election???

Great posts MaisieD.

Jetty, that is just awful and so many like you.
Its very demoralising to work hard and not make ends meet.
Are you sure you're not entitled to top up with UC.

That sounds tough Jetty especially as you work full time in accounts which should provide a decent salary but often doesn’t . Some employers can be very mean with salary for a qualified position.
As your son lives with you and earns more than you perhaps he should be able to give you more just while things are particularly expensive

rosie1959

varian

Coastpath posted-

"Perhaps a major reason is the richest people have power - power to own the media and power to donate millions of pounds to the Conservative party."

I agree that these factors are very important but the deciding factor is the UK's undemocratic first past the post voting system which favours the conservative party.

The present appalling government was comprehensively rejected by the majority of those who voted in 2019 and yet got a "landslide" eighty seat majority - meaning they could do whatever they liked, against the wishes of the people for up to five years.

Labour had a landslide election with Tony Blair was this not under TFTP system

Yes indeed rosie. This was the result in 1997-

Popular vote Parliamentary seats
Labour 43.2% 63.4%
Conservative 30.7% 25.0%
Liberal Democrat 16.8% 7.0%

Labour's 1997 "landslide" was also based on a minority of votes because of the distortion of FPTP.

If we had a democratic PR voting system the 1997 election might well have resulted in a Labour/LibDem coalition and the UK might never have got involved in the Iraq war which the LibDems strongly opposed.

rosie1959

That sounds tough Jetty especially as you work full time in accounts which should provide a decent salary but often doesn’t . Some employers can be very mean with salary for a qualified position.
As your son lives with you and earns more than you perhaps he should be able to give you more just while things are particularly expensive

I am actually on a good rate for the job i do, as i am not qualified - ive just done the job for years. i don't have far to travel, and i do get some nice perks (such as using a co car when mine was out of action), I had a conversation with my son yesterday and he has offered to pay more to pay towards the fuel bills. to be fair to him, he probably would give me more if i asked but saving is the whole point of living at home isnt it? Plus he has enough on his plate at the moment as his grandad isnt well and he helps him a lot. My husband died when the kids were little and so there is no second income coming into the house and he was an only child so his dads care has fallen on the kids shoulders, as he wont accept much help from me. At least i dont have to choose between heating and eating like many do- yet, im quite good at yellow sticker and savvy food shopping, and i cook from scratch as much as i can which i started when the kids were little, so its not as much of a shock to me it may be to some, and i dont qualify for UC.

Isn't it ridiculous that those on a decent wage are struggling. My DD is in a government job and is the same.
Jetty your son sounds like a lovely caring person.

Glad your son is helping out Jetty although we like to help our children as much as possible sometimes they have to contribute more especially if they have a reasonable salary