Divide & conquer

ninky_2

marklv wrote: »

Interesting, but an exception to the rule. I would say the overwhelming majority of British Jews are pro-Israel and hardly unbiased when looking at middle eastern issues. I'm not saying that this is wrong in itself, but it's worth pointing out nevertheless.

facts and stats dear marklv. a survey of british jews is just a quick google away.http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/anshel-pfeffer-poll-u-k-jews-support-israel-but-want-hamas-talks-1.306292

Ninety-five percent of the survey's participants have visited Israel; 90 percent of them see Israel as the Jewish people's ancestral homeland; and 72 percent describe themselves as Zionists. These are not just lofty sentiments; over three quarters of them feel this has personal relevance to them. Eighty-two percent say Israel plays a central or important role in their Jewish identity. Seventy-seven percent feel that the Jews of the world have a special responsibility to support Israel, and 86 percent feel responsible for Israel's survival.

but...and it is an all important but....

Seventy-eight percent are in favor of achieving peace through a two-state solution; 74 percent are against expanding the settlements in the West Bank; and 67 percent are in favor of trading land for peace. Perhaps the most surprising result is that 52 percent have not bought into the Israeli line that Hamas is a terror movement implacably dedicated to the destruction of Israel - and they support negotiating with Hamas for peace.

and let's not forget that the minority opinions are important ones.

Butterfly_Brain

How did this thread get to anti semetics?
Can we get back on track please.

Butterfly_Brain

I agree wholeheartedly with lemonjelly.

This is how the Tories always have ruled by stealth and backhanders.
Heath tried and failed by trying to use power cuts that were not necessary, Thatcher broke the unions and flooded the mines.

Interesting that they are all millionaires in the cabinet.

It just goes to show that the Lib-Dems have no balls and only sided with the Tories to get a sniff of power (which hopefully will be short lived) and I would like to know what happened when they stabbed GB in the back (et tu Brute)

Thrugelmir

ninky wrote: »

it's not imposed on the economy though. it's imposed on employers. you could equally say imposing too low taxes (if we are going to use your loaded verb) could damage the economy.

Employers recover wage costs in the cost of product or service they provide. If those costs are too high to be competitive then the business will close. Being in business is a risk.

Around 90% of the private sector employees in this country work for SME's. These are organisations employing less than 50 people. The cost of labour is critical to many.

Thrugelmir

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Thatcher broke the unions and flooded the mines.

.......and the RMT are a reminder of what there were. I was a Union Representative (in my younger days) but found the motives in the main poltically motivated ed as opposed to being interested in their members at grass root level.

Unions have less importance now as employment law most moved on leaps and bounds. In the main due to EU regulation. Certainly protects the employee and makes it difficult for employers to sack employees.

ninky_2

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Around 90% of the private sector employees in this country work for SME's. These are organisations employing less than 50 people. The cost of labour is critical to many.

58 percent according to this. unless you have more up to date figures. obviously that is still significant. but if the sme's go under, won't bigger businesses take up the slack? why support small business over big business if bigger business is more able to sustain higher salaries?

http://www.m2h.co.uk/10.html

carolt

Gosh, am shocked (a) at some of the pond life that apparently hang out at my favourite forum (yes, that's you Mark), and (b) that this thread has not been edited somewhat given that the original comments were reported.

Great shame, as started out with a very astutely observed OP from lemonjelly.

bendix

talking of being edited, are you back from your forced sabbatical carolt?

what was it like in the slammer?

Thrugelmir

ninky wrote: »

why support small business over big business if bigger business is more able to sustain higher salaries?

On what basis, are bigger businessess able to?

Connaught for example.

carolt

bendix wrote: »

talking of being edited, are you back from your forced sabbatical carolt?

what was it like in the slammer?

No, you've lost me.

Can you rephrase that in English, please?