George Osborne - Briton of the year... Discuss

[exdos]

I find myself on the cusp of agreeing with this - a mandatory career path through local government, junior central government positions then on to being an MP and cabinet minister when you actually know something about what you're doing.

No way would I want only civil servants as politicians. I'd prefer people who have used their own money and ingenuity to make a success of their lives and built businesses from which many other people have enjoyed employment and from which the country has benefitted from the taxes paid from the profitable business.

 

[Bing]

Yup. Thought there was a flaw in my thinking

The only problem is attracting those successful people to do the job of running a country for the profit of that country, not themselves, in an environment where 'profit' is not defined wholly by the bottom line, and for a lot less money than they are used to making. That would require some serious altruism that is not necessarily common at the top of big business.

 

[Number5]

How about looking on the bright side, your lucky to be living in this country, I wouldn't fancy living in North Korea, Syria, Philippines to name a few, so I can put up with a few drongo Politicians

Tim.

You're absolutely right... But that doesnt mean that we can allow the whole world to come and live here. We are a small island and until the Politicians realise that and stop always trying to be be 'Politically correct' in allowing everybody in to dilute our culture, it wont get any better.

We comply to political correctness, the Court of Human rights, donate to any World disaster, etc, dish out benefits to those who've never paid in, whilst the rest of Europe just laugh at us !

Thats my rant for today !

 

[exdos]

Yup. Thought there was a flaw in my thinking

The only problem is attracting those successful people to do the job of running a country for the profit of that country, not themselves, in an environment where 'profit' is not defined wholly by the bottom line, and for a lot less money than they are used to making. That would require some serious altruism that is not necessarily common at the top of big business.

The problem with politics is that it attracts those who can "talk the talk" (gobshites) and not those who can "walk the walk" because the latter type are too busy doing things. Instead of giving titles to people to fill the House of Lords full of gobshites on expenses, we should give accolades to people who we can acknowledge for their successes in life and ask them to offer and use their talents without payment to make our country a better place. I'm thinking that people like Richard Branson, Richard Dyson, Alan Sugar and others from a wide range of different avenues of expertise could be recruited to do their altruistic "duty" for nothing other the acknowlegement that they are good at what they do, and I'm sure that this would be sufficient to stroke the egos of very wealthy individuals and would give them a level of kudos. In the Victorian age, many of the richest disposed of their wealth with philanthropy, and since we seem to be going backwards, perhaps it's also time for the rich to return to philanthropism?

 

[gov]

May not have the experience but so what - seems to have done better than previous chancellors - despite all the gloom predictions made by Balls and his cronies that the strategy would never work are we not beginning to recover ? - the Pound is stronger and confidence is growing ! Proof of the pudding !


Bloody good bloke

 

[ronk]

Then of course there are local councillors to rub salt in the wounds!

Politicians at all level have their snouts in the trough. :x

 

[TitanTim]

How about looking on the bright side, your lucky to be living in this country, I wouldn't fancy living in North Korea, Syria, Philippines to name a few, so I can put up with a few drongo Politicians

Tim.

You're absolutely right... But that doesnt mean that we can allow the whole world to come and live here. We are a small island and the sooner Politicians realise that and stop always trying to be be 'Politically correct' in allowing everybody in to dilute our culture, it wont get any better.

We comply to political correctness, the Court of Human rights, donate to any World disaster, etc, dish out benefits to those who've never paid in, whilst the rest of Europe just laugh at us !

Thats my rant for today !

True but there is nothing to stop you moving to any other country if you don't like it here.

Tim.

 

[ronk]

How about looking on the bright side, your lucky to be living in this country, I wouldn't fancy living in North Korea, Syria, Philippines to name a few, so I can put up with a few drongo Politicians

Tim.

You're absolutely right... But that doesnt mean that we can allow the whole world to come and live here. We are a small island and the sooner Politicians realise that and stop always trying to be be 'Politically correct' in allowing everybody in to dilute our culture, it wont get any better.

We comply to political correctness, the Court of Human rights, donate to any World disaster, etc, dish out benefits to those who've never paid in, whilst the rest of Europe just laugh at us !

Thats my rant for today !

True but there is nothing to stop you moving to any other country if you don't like it here.

That's akin to ask for a salary increase because you feel you deserve it to be told "No and If you don't like it here etc."
Number 5 made a balanced logical observation in my opinion.

 

[TitanTim]

That's akin to ask for a salary increase because you feel you deserve it to be told "No and If you don't like it here etc."
Number 5 made a balanced logical observation in my opinion.

I completely agree, but like I said this country isn't really all that bad and if you don't like it there can be better opportunities elsewhere, life is what you make it. Its a little late now to go on about immigration etc, its been with us since the 50s.

Tim.

 

[Number5]

That's akin to ask for a salary increase because you feel you deserve it to be told "No and If you don't like it here etc."
Number 5 made a balanced logical observation in my opinion.

I completely agree, but like I said this country isn't really all that bad and if you don't like it there can be better opportunities elsewhere, life is what you make it. Its a little late now to go on about immigration etc, its been with us since the 50s.

Tim.

I've got no problem with immigration, if they've got something to offer the Country.
You have to score sufficient points to get into Australia, yet we let almost anyone in and then pay them benefits.

You wouldn't take on an employee to do nothing but still pay them....

 

[ronk]

You wouldn't take on an employee to do nothing but still pay them....

Even on a personal level, you wouldn't pay your window cleaner if he didn't show up!

 

[mad4slalom]

richard branston is one of the only people imo qualified to get us out of this pickle !!

 

[sars]

Yup. Thought there was a flaw in my thinking

The only problem is attracting those successful people to do the job of running a country for the profit of that country, not themselves, in an environment where 'profit' is not defined wholly by the bottom line, and for a lot less money than they are used to making. That would require some serious altruism that is not necessarily common at the top of big business.

I have no objections in paying large salaries to attract leaders or industry, education, doctors, financial services and etcetera, we just don't need 650 of them. This is my biggest problem with the current political arena, in the 1801 there were 658 of them, why because the only way to get around was by horse or by foot, so you needed local members of parliament, in this day and age we could have much less, I would say 70 ish. They should also be unable to hold any board positions, consult nor allowed to invest money for the term that they are elected.

 

[ronk]

I have no objections in paying large salaries to attract leaders or industry, education, doctors, financial services and etcetera, we just don't need 650 of them. This is my biggest problem with the current political arena, in the 1801 there were 658 of them, why because the only way to get around was by horse or by foot, so you needed local members of parliament, in this day and age we could have much less, I would say 70 ish. They should also be unable to hold any board positions, consult nor allowed to invest money for the term that they are elected.

In other words only pay them for what they are supposed to do!

 

[ronk]

Re the above, I think this is appropriate here.

A question on BBC Mastermind tonight.

What is known a show business for ugly people - Politics ! :lol:

 

[Z4MO]

The problem is not politicians, it is human greed, the want of something more shiny, however for our stage in development, with this level of intolerance this is about as best it's going to get. We could easily make a boiler last 50 years, however where would be the profit in that and that's what it's all about, profit

Yes it could be better, you should not be allowed to be a politician until the age of 40, and you should not be allowed to be a minister without the relevant experience in that field.

Yup. Thought there was a flaw in my thinking

The only problem is attracting those successful people to do the job of running a country for the profit of that country, not themselves, in an environment where 'profit' is not defined wholly by the bottom line, and for a lot less money than they are used to making. That would require some serious altruism that is not necessarily common at the top of big business.

Governance has little to do with the greater good of the people

 

[Number5]

How about looking on the bright side, your lucky to be living in this country, I wouldn't fancy living in North Korea, Syria, Philippines to name a few, so I can put up with a few drongo Politicians

Tim.

You're absolutely right... But that doesnt mean that we can allow the whole world to come and live here. We are a small island and the sooner Politicians realise that and stop always trying to be be 'Politically correct' in allowing everybody in to dilute our culture, it wont get any better.

We comply to political correctness, the Court of Human rights, donate to any World disaster, etc, dish out benefits to those who've never paid in, whilst the rest of Europe just laugh at us !

Thats my rant for today !

True but there is nothing to stop you moving to any other country if you don't like it here.

Tim.

Yes Tim, Nothing personal at all, but I earn a good salary and pay a decent amount of tax on it. I've created and run a company which created employment for others who also pay taxes. I've never been out of work in 30 years, since leaving school and never had a criminal record. Other than occasional visits to A&E (for sports injuries!!) I'm not a burden on society. Am I really the type of person you want to leave the UK, to make room for others who contribute less (or nothing) to come in ???

 

[TitanTim]

Yes Tim, Nothing personal at all, but I earn a good salary and pay a decent amount of tax on it. I've created and run a company which created employment for others who also pay taxes. I've never been out of work in 30 years, since leaving school and never had a criminal record. Other than occasional visits to A&E (for sports injuries!!) I'm not a burden on society. Am I really the type of person you want to leave the UK, to make room for others who contribute less (or nothing) to come in ???

Same, but all I worry about these days is my pension which I've been paying into for the past 32 years, if I worried about the leeches in our society I'll probably drop down dead before I see it :?

Tim.

 

[Finisterre]

I wonder how well Alaister Darling would do?

He would be my choice.

 

[sars]

Lets not get started on pensions