Global ecoconomic collapse?

mr_fishbulb

chippy_250 wrote: »

4. Employment (aka imprisonment)
Is it just me or is full time work too long? Eight hours a day just isn't healthly. I've been unable to keep up an active lifestyle (which apparently 'they' encourage). I've had to quit sport and gym becuause there's not enough time left and by the time you come home and eat you have no further energy.

How do you get to work? I live 8 miles away from mine and I cycle in 2-3 times a week. That's at least 30 minutes of exercise each way. Doesn't take any longer than my commute (in fact it's quicker, but I have a shower when I get to work).

Also I don't think it's all down hill for good. It will be down hill for a while and then pick up again like it always does.

I blame the human characteristic to abuse debt and use it to obtain things they should not have due to their wealth constraints. I don't blame debt itself - it can be a good thing and can improve efficiency as long as it can be paid off.

IronWolf

wotsthat wrote: »

I have caught celebrity big brother a couple of times though. There's a short fat Aussie (he's a 'celebrity' but I don't know who he is - I only know Jedward and Kerry Katona). This chap has a really impressive 6-pack - given that he's rather stout you may wonder how he achieved this. Well he's had implants under his stomach skin but on top of his fat - I kid you not.

Wow I wondered how on earth he got a sixpack on top of THAT belly :rotfl:

Batchy

chippy_250 wrote: »

Has the world peaked and it's all down hill from now on?...I think so.

I blame capitalism.... (Here comes the rant).

1. The main problem why everything is falling apart is over population. As it stands we're consuming more than the earth has to offer. Yet we continue to grow in numbers. This is the reason why house prices have gone so high and food too. Why does everyone see having children as a good thing. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having one or two but any more than that is just irresponsible. I think we should do what China did and limit the amount of kids we're allowed to have. If you have more than 2 children then you will get fined and you will be entitlted to no further beneifts. African people are always dying from starvation. We send money out there to help but the truth is, why are they bringing babies into the world with no chance of feeding them? It doesn't make no sense.

2. Graduates unable to get jobs?
Well there's a few reasons for this. More people are going to university so there for - to have a degree is no longer anything special. Especially when they give out these stupid degrees like "Golf course management". Most of the degrees have no actual relevance to working life. So it's no wonder people can't find jobs with them.

3. House prices
Links in with over population once again, high demand, little supply. I saw something in the paper the other day which said that house prices could possibly go up again soon. Which they said was a good thing. How the hell is it a good thing? They are way over valued as it is! How are we supposed to get on the property ladder when it costs £100,000 to buy a counicl house. Unless they build thousands of homes soon it won't get any better. People refusing to sell there homes just because they don't want to make a loss are freezing the market. They have to realize that their homes have been over valuated since the start!

4. Employment (aka imprisonment)
Is it just me or is full time work too long? Eight hours a day just isn't healthly. I've been unable to keep up an active lifestyle (which apparently 'they' encourage). I've had to quit sport and gym becuause there's not enough time left and by the time you come home and eat you have no further energy. I think they should reduce the working time down 7 hours. It's unhealthy to sit around at a desk. No wonder people are obese. Your chained to a desk for god sake. I think every employer must give two free vouchers a week to undertake a physical exercise (tennis, swimming, gym etc). Plus as I said, finish at 4pm.

5. Petrol prices
Once again - over population. Everyone wants a car, but unfortunately people need to realize there's not enough oil to go around. There's not really much to say on this topic, it's going to run out so get on your bike (literally).

So overall, I think all these things are going to get much worse. I think we're totally screwed. There's no way back. But hey it's 2012 next year so we ain't go much time left on this planet anyway.

The problem with all this is Capitalism, the fact is ... if you have to have it and want it now, you have to earn it, not be given it.

Even in third world countries, they produce doctors, lawyers, and the like, your opportunities come, based on the upbringing, based on education. Everyone is this country has access to education and housing, just like everyone else, the fact millions have abused the system rather than taking advantage of it, SHAME ON YOU.

I went to UNI and got an education so I could WORK HARD, my step dad & mom, on benefits as a result of recession in the 90s, no one could have had it much harder than me... I never did some mickey mouse degree on media studies. So I could get an interest free student loan to !!!! up the wall.

Since going to uni, im now an above average earner, own a house, drive a brand new quality car, have a lovely missis and go on holiday regularly even in this day and age. and can still save plenty on top of that and have some healthy savings, even though i dont have a final salary pension scheme, my annual pension contributions are pretty good, the investments are doing pretty bad like most.

I sent off 30 job applications and only got one reply by my god did I make full use out of it!! Oh yes I did... Get off your high horse and look for opportunities, they wont come looking for you guys.

Petrol costs are just that, accept that it costs that much, otherwise, dont drive... walk... run... whatever... just appreciate, that this government cant / wont change it materially.

tuttifruiti20

chippy_250 wrote: »

Has the world peaked and it's all down hill from now on?...I think so.

I blame capitalism.... (Here comes the rant).

1. The main problem why everything is falling apart is over population. As it stands we're consuming more than the earth has to offer. Yet we continue to grow in numbers. This is the reason why house prices have gone so high and food too. Why does everyone see having children as a good thing. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having one or two but any more than that is just irresponsible. I think we should do what China did and limit the amount of kids we're allowed to have. If you have more than 2 children then you will get fined and you will be entitlted to no further beneifts. African people are always dying from starvation. We send money out there to help but the truth is, why are they bringing babies into the world with no chance of feeding them? It doesn't make no sense.

2. Graduates unable to get jobs?
Well there's a few reasons for this. More people are going to university so there for - to have a degree is no longer anything special. Especially when they give out these stupid degrees like "Golf course management". Most of the degrees have no actual relevance to working life. So it's no wonder people can't find jobs with them.

3. House prices
Links in with over population once again, high demand, little supply. I saw something in the paper the other day which said that house prices could possibly go up again soon. Which they said was a good thing. How the hell is it a good thing? They are way over valued as it is! How are we supposed to get on the property ladder when it costs £100,000 to buy a counicl house. Unless they build thousands of homes soon it won't get any better. People refusing to sell there homes just because they don't want to make a loss are freezing the market. They have to realize that their homes have been over valuated since the start!

4. Employment (aka imprisonment)
Is it just me or is full time work too long? Eight hours a day just isn't healthly. I've been unable to keep up an active lifestyle (which apparently 'they' encourage). I've had to quit sport and gym becuause there's not enough time left and by the time you come home and eat you have no further energy. I think they should reduce the working time down 7 hours. It's unhealthy to sit around at a desk. No wonder people are obese. Your chained to a desk for god sake. I think every employer must give two free vouchers a week to undertake a physical exercise (tennis, swimming, gym etc). Plus as I said, finish at 4pm.

5. Petrol prices
Once again - over population. Everyone wants a car, but unfortunately people need to realize there's not enough oil to go around. There's not really much to say on this topic, it's going to run out so get on your bike (literally).

So overall, I think all these things are going to get much worse. I think we're totally screwed. There's no way back. But hey it's 2012 next year so we ain't go much time left on this planet anyway.

I disagree, it's not over population or capitalism as such it's consumerism. We (in the first world) think we NEED things which we really just want. We need to learn the difference between needs and wants and then we can ajust a lot of this.

For example, if we realise that we need less things, then we'd need less money to pay for them and could work less hours. Simples!

Going4TheDream

tuttifruiti20 wrote: »

I disagree, it's not over population or capitalism as such it's consumerism. We (in the first world) think we NEED things which we really just want. We need to learn the difference between needs and wants and then we can ajust a lot of this.

For example, if we realise that we need less things, then we'd need less money to pay for them and could work less hours. Simples!

Historically Capitalists paid rising wages to enable rising working class consumption; rising profitability, and thus the even faster rise of profits. Many people today are now aware of wants and needs and as a result are buying only to their needs, as in many cases as they cannot afford to do little else. It doesn't seem that many people are working less hours as a result of that in fact we are seeing redundancies and price rises as companies struggle to make a profit, people is some cases taking wage cuts for the same hours in order to keep their jobs. Job creation is reduced. In order for capitalism to work properly people need to consume so Capitalism and Consumerism are intrinsically linked with one another.

Going4TheDream

bendix wrote: »

The saddest thing about this thread is that the OP has received 7 thanks. Now, one of those is from rewired whose sole contribution to MSE forums is to thank every single post he reads (despite never having written a post himself), so his doesnt count.

But DervProv? Seriously? Did you read this nonsense?

Perhaps Rewired chooses not to post but perhaps enjoys reading the threads and shows his thanks where he feels it appropriate as is his right to do so.

Mr_Mumble

1. Based on current net reproduction rates[1] there isn't going to be a human race by the year 5000, worrying about overpopulation seems bizarre. Food supply is a problem because of its artificial use as a fuel rather than food, 40% of US supply is now diverted away from the food chain due to government mandates[2]. House prices in most of the world have fallen sharply over the past few years, the UK is an outlier because of freedom of movement for the A8 countries.

The problem with African women having 'too many' children is based on economical imperative. A four year old can start picking up eggs, by seven they can walk a couple of miles to get water from the local river. Since there is no tapped water and no fences to keep chickens close by the substitution is child labour. The problem is a lack of capital and too much labour.

2. Students have been heavily subsidised into take degree courses - many with dubious advantages. Hopefully this'll change now a large part of this subsidy is being withdrawn. It should focus the student on the future value of their education rather than just seeing it as a cheap three year leisure activity.

3. US house prices have fallen 35% in the past five years. If you're worries about the UK in particular then there are simple solutions: build on greenbelt, have more four & five story buildings (and associated transport infrastructure) or remove free movement for EU citizens. The problem is intrinsic to England and their is net migration from Scotland.

4. So, six hour days (9-4 with 1 hour lunch) and employer mandated costly gym provision. Well, that's a novel way of increasing unemployment to 5m. Why would employers do this? Any attempt at compulsion and they'll just replace labour with more capital. Have you noticed the increasing preponderance of self-service tills at supermarkets? It's a sure sign labour is already too expensive.

5. 60% of the cost of petrol is direct taxation [3], you get to near 80% when you include taxation on producers sourcing from the North Sea. Petrol extraction and provision ex-taxation is still ridiculously cheap and there are plenty of feasible replacements (e.g. natural gas thanks to the recent horizontal drilling boom). Technological advancement means we can do more with less and petroleum and gas supplies are likely to last many more centuries. Considering tokamak nuclear fusion reactors may be ready to go mainstream in the next 30-40 years why worry?

[1]
http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/08/populations

[2]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-08/u-s-corn-supply-shrinking-as-meat-ethanol-demand-send-crop-price-higher.html

[3]
http://www.petrolprices.com/price-of-petrol.html

mr_fishbulb

Going4TheDream wrote: »

Perhaps Rewired chooses not to post but perhaps enjoys reading the threads and shows his thanks where he feels it appropriate as is his right to do so.

I think rewired does it to wind some people up.

I don't mind though as they have thanked some of mine

mr_fishbulb

The Following User Says Thank You to mr_fishbulb For This Useful Post: Show me >>

rewired (Today)

Haha thought you might Cheers

Going4TheDream

Mr_Mumble wrote: »

The problem with African women having 'too many' children is based on economical imperative. A four year old can start picking up eggs, by seven they can walk a couple of miles to get water from the local river. Since there is no tapped water and no fences to keep chickens close by the substitution is child labour. The problem is a lack of capital and too much labour.

And the high infant mortality rate, an Ethiopian child is 30 times more likely to die by his or her fifth birthday than a child in Western Europe.

http://www.unicef.org/mdg/childmortality.html