tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post4209462406044869772..comments2024-03-29T11:25:52.239+00:00Comments on The Thoughts of Chairman Bill: Wednesday 29/04/09Chairman Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02104786653126767184noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-45311462779646548232009-04-30T01:07:00.000+01:002009-04-30T01:07:00.000+01:00G'night all !G'night all !kapgafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472235272953469113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-46522408403947597812009-04-30T01:06:00.000+01:002009-04-30T01:06:00.000+01:00Oh, we're just arguing amongst ourselves here !Oh, we're just arguing amongst ourselves here !kapgafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472235272953469113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-23175120780248923872009-04-29T20:40:00.000+01:002009-04-29T20:40:00.000+01:00I don't have anything to say, as I'm knackered, b...I don't have anything to say, as I'm knackered, but I just wanted you both to know that I'm here and I'm listening - Not in a stalky kind of way, but definitely interested...A Woman Of No Importancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194976046531063422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-49250119937452482632009-04-29T17:55:00.000+01:002009-04-29T17:55:00.000+01:00The choice today usually lies between a capitalist...The choice today usually lies between a capitalist democracy (and I think the term "democracy" is a little misleading) and some form of dictatorship. If I could bend over far enough, I'd kiss my bum goodbye !kapgafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472235272953469113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-537245334391519122009-04-29T14:38:00.000+01:002009-04-29T14:38:00.000+01:00Kapgaf: You said: "Speculation on shares gets a fe...Kapgaf: You said: "Speculation on shares gets a few people richer but does nothing to help people trying to scrape a living."<br /><br />It's not meant to. Companies compete for investment, and if you can't give a decent rate of return - at least better than your competitor, then you don't get the investment.<br /><br />How else can companies attract inward investment if not by offering shares?<br /><br />The only way to ensure full employment is communism - and we all know where that leads. Shoddy goods that only those within the communist state will buy, as they won't have enough money to buy exotic imports.<br /><br />Is it fair? No - obviously not. But it's not meant to be fair. If you want a fairer society, then you mustn't live in a capitalist democracy.<br /><br />What we do have is the welfare state as a backstop, but it's pitifully inadequate for the real hardship cases. However, the welfare state is paid for in taxes, and the Catch 22 is that no-one will vote in a party that wants to increase taxes.Chairman Billhttp://ttocb.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2809146912677894496.post-6369111781760189072009-04-29T13:37:00.000+01:002009-04-29T13:37:00.000+01:00You’re right, people aren’t being asked to tighten...You’re right, people aren’t being asked to tighten their belts. The price increases over the last couple of years together with pretty small salary increases have ensured that the belt-tightening among lesser paid mortals has happened without anyone asking. And if you haven't got any money, you can't spend it!<br /><br />As far as pension funds are concerned, please tell that to a friend of mine whose pension money was invested by his company and whose pension has just lost more than 60% of its value (and what about all those people whose pensions Robert Maxwell buggered off with ?). And this is like your post a while back about lots of people not even having one month’s salary in savings – a lot of people can’t afford to have savings, in fact the majority can’t. Would I keep my money where it is to save jobs? Yes, actually, I would. But that’s not the point. What is the point is that speculation on shares gets a few people richer but does nothing to help people trying to scrape a living. <br /><br />“It’s business’ duty to operate efficiently”. Yes, as long as you accept that the definition of “efficient” is “at a profit” and that it’s better for people to be out of work than it is for less profit to be made. But I do like to think that “efficient” could mean “best for the population” because that would entail, for example, everyone being fed and people who are sick receiving the medication that they need. Did I hear you say “Utopist” ? Yes ? Why thank you, yes, I do believe the world could be a better place. <br /><br />I’d forgotten about the longbows but did you also know that, thanks to Oliver Cromwell, it’s illegal to eat Christmas pudding ?<br /><br />Has anyone in recent years pled not guilty to decapitating a Welshman on the grounds of that law ? And been acquitted ? Quite frankly, anyone from anywhere apart from Chester who is in Chester between sundown and sunrise is asking for it. <br /><br />The Brown unveiling thing, does it apply to Afghan women ?<br /><br />Hah. We’ve had Iggy Pop advertising music on mobile phones here in France (can’t find a link for it) but, even if he doesn’t have a contract with the phone company, I would imagine he has a mobile phone. Ah, but does he know how to use it ?kapgafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472235272953469113noreply@blogger.com