Mmmh... a strike... what a shame... when Palmerston was in charge, things like this didn't happen!
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Go Beaverbrook Go!
Crush those Unions...get them back down to a useful size.
:thumbsup:
Vann the Red - It's one of the facts of life, nobody ever works them self out of a job. I can think of dozens of regulators or commissions that have to keep finding problems to justify their existence and I think it's the same with unions.
Seriously though, Unions WERE of vital importance in helping enact fairer labor standards and work safety regulations. It's just when the crusaders are succeeded by grifters and opportunists that unions start becoming just another greedy set of hands prying at the public's wallet. (And with the government and big business already ripping everything off....)
KiMaSa - There is very little that should be reserved for government. Even Keynes, who got a bit over excited on the role of government occasionally, thought that government spending should be no more than 25% of it's economy. Should be fun when he bumps into the Labour Party's "The state is best for everything" Clause IV.
As for the evil of big business it's amazing how people can see it everywhere, but when questioned never actually produce an example of it. I don't remember big business paralysing the country or stealing my money against my will to spend on things I actively oppose. In contrast Unions and government seem to spend all their time doing one or both of those things.
Nathan Madien - Well the Deep Horizon disaster would not of happened on a North Sea rig that's for damned sure. So I wouldn't say the British system of regulation is that bad, though the rail safety guys are legendarily inept and fairly dangerous so it's not all good.
However the classical example of an over active regulator is the Health and Safety Executive who operate on a "Guilty until grudgingly acquitted" basis and as such have terrified half the country into banning things. The problem is if anything happens it is your duty to prove your innocence, not the HSE's job to prove guilt, and they seem willfully indifferent to this violation of the principle of law and the chilling effect it has on the country.
Duritz - And no Union would ever try the my way or the highway line... apart from the thousands of time they did and still do.
Actually here's a question, how do you lefties manage to sort out the different sorts of workers? Say the metro drivers go on strike, get themselves a big pay rise and so fares go up making everyone who uses the metro poorer. So the drivers win but every other worker loses? Is that a good or a bad thing for the 'workers' and how on earth do you lot tell?
RAFspeak - And that is one of the reasons the RAF has spent most of it's life fighting to exist and not be 'merged' out of existence; The other more sensible armed services just don't trust it.
And as ever, a fairly harmless (though very informative, as ever) update sparks major debate. But the sheer scope of this AAR is always impressive.
...The trick is in keeping the dogs hungry while they press the public interest. Identify the ones which have become the kept and fed house pets and replace them with dogs that are still lean.
Duritz - And no Union would ever try the my way or the highway line... apart from the thousands of time they did and still do.
Actually here's a question, how do you lefties manage to sort out the different sorts of workers? Say the metro drivers go on strike, get themselves a big pay rise and so fares go up making everyone who uses the metro poorer. So the drivers win but every other worker loses? Is that a good or a bad thing for the 'workers' and how on earth do you lot tell?