Ukip! Ukip! Ukip!

[DodgyAgent]

I also think the "them and us" separation between the political classes and the rest of the population is partly responsible as people don't respect new laws because of it. This is IMO less prevalent in countries that violently overthrew their ruling class and have a government of the people by the people.

Such as?

[doodab]

Such as?

Fair point. People are naughty little ****ers everywhere. I blame it on the coffee and listening to the Rolling Stone's "streetfighting man" at 6am.

We are overdue a revolution though, even if it's non-violent. it's high time our political system was randomly reorganised in the hope of making a difference.

[DodgyAgent]

Fair point. People are naughty little ****ers everywhere. I blame it on the coffee and listening to the Rolling Stone's "streetfighting man" at 6am.

We are overdue a revolution though, even if it's non-violent. it's high time our political system was randomly reorganised in the hope of making a difference.

A lot of people say this and it is the easy way to stir up people and to look impressive. Look at the Occupy movement for example. the only problem is no one has any idea of what to replace the system with.

[MicrosoftBob]

Fair point. People are naughty little ****ers everywhere. I blame it on the coffee and listening to the Rolling Stone's "streetfighting man" at 6am.

We are overdue a revolution though, even if it's non-violent. it's high time our political system was randomly reorganised in the hope of making a difference.

Hello Russel Brand

[Zero Liability]

A lot of people say this and it is the easy way to stir up people and to look impressive. Look at the Occupy movement for example. the only problem is no one has any idea of what to replace the system with.

Something worse. They're just mad they're not the only ones on the government dole and that banksters and other connected groups also feed at the trough. 'Twas ever thus. They expect the same politicians who allow, encourage and benefit from this to bring change.

[doodab]

The only problem is no one has any idea of what to replace the system with.

I have been making exactly that point for a while. The problem is that capitalism as it stands ensures an optimal distribution of resources (which is why it tends to maximize overall output effectively) but not an efficient distribution of the results, and this latter point is what makes it ultimately unsustainable. The known alternatives seem to result in an inefficient distribution of resources to start with. Hence we need some sort of mixed strategy.

Greater redistribution of income via progressive taxation seems to be doomed to failure. That is an experiment that has had it's time IMO. Capping the maximum reward isn't going to fly either. The only other option I can see is a re-weighting of the initial income distribution. As a free market in labour works against this at the bottom end of the market the options would appear to be controls on wages and removing the low paid from the taxation system altogether (which is something this government has made some progress on).

While some people might be against increasing the minimum wage on principle (as it "distorts the market") you have to be blind not to realise that the alternative is continued government subsidy of low paid jobs which distorts the market just as much.

[minestrone]

Not everyone on the minimum wage works for a place that could afford an increase in the minimum wage.

[DodgyAgent]

Not everyone on the minimum wage works for a place that could afford an increase in the minimum wage.

Quite

I would have to sack 80% of my contractors or eat into my tiny 90% margins

[doodab]

Hello Russel Brand

It's not just him or the likes of occupy who are complaining about the status quo though is it? They just apportion the blame for a failing system differently (and equally wrongly IMO) to the likes of UKIP.

[d000hg]

Not everyone on the minimum wage works for a place that could afford an increase in the minimum wage.

Then those businesses are perilously close to collapse anyway.