France running out of fuel

Davesnave

olly300 wrote: »

The French have strong unions and students who like to protest.

Are unions are generally weak, except in a few cases, and our students are too damn lazy.

Have you been in a university or known many students in recent years?

The political disinterest of students nowadays, compared with my own time on campus in the 1970s, seems largely due to the way student minds have been focused by the need to survive financially.

Put it another way, to pay for their time in the ivory towers, my kids and their friends have had to graft more in the 'real' world than anyone I remember from those heady days of demos and sit-ins.

antrobus

Davesnave wrote: »

Have you been in a university or known many students in recent years?

The political disinterest of students nowadays, compared with my own time on campus in the 1970s, seems largely due to the way student minds have been focused by the need to survive financially.

Put it another way, to pay for their time in the ivory towers, my kids and their friends have had to graft more in the 'real' world than anyone I remember from those heady days of demos and sit-ins.

I'd agree with that. Today's students are far more focused on the realities of getting a job and paying off their student loans than the previous generation of grant-fed layabouts who felt able to indulge in playing politics in preference to doing some actual work. (Of whom I was one, I might add. Mea culpa.)

gagahouse

antrobus wrote: »

I'd agree with that. Today's students are far more focused on the realities of getting a job and paying off their student loans than the previous generation of grant-fed layabouts who felt able to indulge in playing politics in preference to doing some actual work. (Of whom I was one, I might add. Mea culpa.)

Same here, late 80's early 90's, except I went raving instead of working. :dance:

FantomX

amcluesent wrote: »

FACT - Let's hope the same happens here as the Condems attack on the middle-class escalates.

How can something that you hope to happen be called a fact?

And what about Liebour's war against the middle class, the pubs, the motorists etc need I say more? And lets not forget Liebour's attack on Iraq and Afghanistan?

olly300

antrobus wrote: »

I'd agree with that. Today's students are far more focused on the realities of getting a job and paying off their student loans than the previous generation of grant-fed layabouts who felt able to indulge in playing politics in preference to doing some actual work. (Of whom I was one, I might add. Mea culpa.)

The students I actually know are actually more right leaning then they use to be. They also wouldn't be bothered to go on a demo even if it was in their free-time. (Free transport is always laid on to demos.)

The ones busy playing politics i.e. involved in the student union are doing it for their future careers even if they don't actually go into politics at the end.

Rochdale_Pioneers

FantomX wrote: »

And what about Liebour's war against the middle class, the pubs, the motorists etc need I say more?

No! With the cost of motoring cheaper than ever (did read 23% lower somewhere) its the kind of "war" that only exists in the heads of the deluded.

Take the M4 bus lane. Hammond is scrapping it to benefit the motorist - RHETORIC. Yet 3 lanes into 2 narrow ones means massive congestion so scrapping it just makes the traffic much worse again - FACT.

But at least drivers of a right-whinge persuasion will have plenty of time to survey the site of their victory as the M4 grinds to a halt......

leveller2911

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

No! With the cost of motoring cheaper than ever (did read 23% lower somewhere) its the kind of "war" that only exists in the heads of the deluded.


Love to see where the proof is for this one. All I know is, I now have Insurance Premium Tax added to my car insurance, fuel tax increase every year and sometime twice yearly and my van tax is now £200 per year so how is it cheaper Rochdale?


(PROUD TO BE NON POLITICALLY BIASED)

Rochdale_Pioneers

Well the RAC think that motoring is as cheap as it was 20 years ago.

bigheadxx

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298265

Even kids have got a union in France. What kind of country encourages school kids to strike?

lostinrates

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

Well the RAC think that motoring is as cheap as it was 20 years ago.

The only thing I can think is this bit:

Cars are now cheaper overall and are less expensive to maintain, said the RAC.

would make prices lower, but for people who buy older cars, and /or buy infrequently I think the feed through hasn't been that useful!