Well it isn't capitalism when the state takes over any company. Its fairly simple; if us taxpayers hadn't rescued these banks the workers would all be on the dole. They don't desrve bonuses just becuase Gordon thinks we can't live without them. We didn't rescue the poor woolies staff, I reckon they would be happy just have have kept their jobs. Its just plain greed that the bankers award themselves bonuses in the current climate, its their attitude that annoys me, they still don't seem to realise what an appalling mess of things they have made.
I think they realise, they just don't care. Hence bleating on about their contracts and their right to bonuses. Yep, its absurd that they still expect them, as everyone is saying if we hadn't bailed them out the banks would have gone belly up and there'd be no redundancy, let alone a bonus. Unfortunately thicko Brown couldn't let the banks collapse-it would mean too much catastrophe for everyone, including man on the street with his mortgage. The bankers know this.
Too true Aaron, the bankers realise they work in an industry that is vital. Apparently the americans let banks collapse in the 30s which really did hit the ordinary folk as well - it would be a disaster if they were left to collapse I suppose. Its a pity that the same support isn't given to the UKs proper industries, manufacturing companies are much more important to our economy than the service industry.
Well the whole thing is a farce anyway. On the news this morning more details were reported about the government imposed limitations on the bonuses. Apparently it is only 2009's bonus fund that is being capped, BUT the bank is free to pay 2010's bonus early. ie this year. To me that means they can just pay as much as usual this year, then award double next year, but then half it again so it works out the same. I.e. so that the actual amount of money paid out is the same as if the government hadn't imposed a limit. Our ministers must seriously think the electorate is made up of incredibly stupid people. Trouble is we keep voting them, thus proving them right.
The lack of alternatives is depressing. But yes, the government do think we're thick-unfortunately for them with the internet more and more of us are becoming informed and exchanging information. For example, complaining can be done on a grand scale via the WWW now-before if you had a problem finding someone else with the same issue was difficult, now all you need to do is log on and there'll be a site dealing with it! The government may need to sit up and take notice.
They don`t care whether we are stupid or not-but they know we are apathetic, that we give in if enough force is applied-a kind of grinding down. If we accept the situation then they have won. What to do though is the question, being a compulsive writer or letters of complaint my letter to my MP-Ruth Kelly ( groan) went a while back.
I'm not suggesting we do this, I say this kind of tongue in cheek, but there is a serious point in there somewhere. Just after the Madrid bombing when the Spanish folks found out that their prime minister had lied when he said that ETA was to blame, there was hell on. I saw the news footage. In every town and city they showed, the streets were packed solid with protesters, then a few weeks later when they had their election, the party in power at the time lost by loads. I'm not suggesting we all start a nationwide protest, because too many people will simply go home if it rains, but if we did, then I reckon the government would have to listen.
I do wonder how far the population have to be pushed before it starts protesting? Remember the Poll Tax Riots-they worked and poll tax was abolished. Why isn't this happening now-there have been plenty of valid reasons for a good protest; fuel price rises, energy rises, "infringement of civil liberties", public transport price rises, interest rates crashing to the detriment of savers and now the banking fiasco. Although this government seems to treat us as a teacher would to a class of infants "Yes children, but you are young and immature and we know better, so hush now"
Like little stones that eventually become the avalanche is how it starts. But on the whole, despite a very few exceptions, the British are apathetic, we are seen as a soft touch because it takes a great deal to ignite our fury.
I think the problem is more than we have gone soft. The coalminers managed to arrange a good protest back in the early 80s. And what about the lads and lasses that camped outside Greenham Common airbase for about a year, in all weather, and then at one point breached the perimiter fence. When we had the fuel protests a few years ago, a handful of taxi drivers ground Sheffield to a halt for a few hours when they used one of the main junctions into/out of the city centre as a car park, but that only lasted hours, then last time I saw a protest (not sure what it was about) there were about 10 people standing outside the town hall.
Unfortunately I'd agreed with you both, as a nation we have gone apathetic and soft. As individuals some of us still manage to achieve great things (look at how we did in the Olympics). Shall we blame H&S and the compensation culture for the former then?
I blame American sitcoms. There are two many of them, and all their 'humour' is based on someone being neurotic, someone being sued, or someone being ground down and out of luck no matter what they do. In fact I just blame the Americans. It must be their fault because it can't be ours.
That Leeson chap got several years in prison for gambling his banks money,What is different about this lot
Even thought the bank was British, he was in Singapore where they deal with criminals properly-presumably he broke their rather strict laws.
