Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

NewShadow wrote: »

I think you might find this interesting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jun/25/mps-pay-underpaid-corporate

From the comments - I don't completely disagree.

There should also be a wealth cap. It is because we have had so many millionaires in government that we have a economy skewed towards benefiting the rich. As for retired rich folk wanting to be in government if salaries are capped, what about the millions of pensioners struggling to get by on a couple of hundred a week who might also find a £52 000 salary appealing. Just look around at the people you know and think who is brightest and would they be actually be better off working as an MP. Many scientists earn far less than £52 000 and I suspect that they would leap at the chance to represent their constituency.

If a junior doctor is on £60 000 plus they are still earning more than 95% of the population. While I do not begrudge them that, especially as they are now loaded up with student debts which I would also get rid off. The problem with leaving it as it is, is that the system does not work for the vast majority of people and it is only a matter of time before we have our own Donald Trump rise up and swept to power and a bloody purge thereafter.

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

As for retired rich folk wanting to be in government if salaries are capped, what about the millions of pensioners struggling to get by on a couple of hundred a week who might also find a £52 000 salary appealing.

There's nothing preventing them, from standing for parliament.

GreyQueen

45 spuds are nestled in soil enriched with spent barley grains (organic barley) from the micro brewery. I felt a bit of a louse for taking them from a centrally-heated flat and putting them into cold wet soil on a cold wet day, but they'll just have to live with it.:p

Have another 42 spuds left indoors, most of which are the net of Desiree, with some leftovers from the Maris Peers. They were transported in 3 x 15 egg cartons, hence me knowing exactly how many I'd planted. I had to do it that way as was carrying them on the bike and needed to be careful not to knock the shoots off.

Yes, the political classes are playing a very dangerous game with both the working class and the middle class, here and in other developed countries. As the super-rich become increasingly divorced from the rest of us, and don't hestitate to use their economic muscle to buy the best-for-them politicians, social unrest and galloping crime is the inevitable end-game.

Pineapple, why are you shopping for your kecks at the garden centre? I don't have any truck with those places, far to expensive and lifestyley. I got my seed spuds from a Wilko.

NewShadow

Frugalsod wrote: »

As for retired rich folk wanting to be in government if salaries are capped, what about the millions of pensioners struggling to get by on a couple of hundred a week who might also find a £52 000 salary appealing.

You're suggesting leaping at the chance for £128.22 a day (£52000 minus tax, NI and 13% pension costs)?

Requiring back to back (often hostile) meetings and events for an average of 13 hours a day.

Having to study the briefing for the event during the 45 min car ride to the event because there's no time in the schedule to do it earlier.

Eating whatever your aide can find (often crisps and bread heavy) while sat at your desk reviewing advice and papers.

Having to smile and respond without warning to public questioning and attacks.

Having every element of what you do and say (even sometimes to friends and family) being criticised in the public domain.

Not being funny, but I wouldn't do it for less than £10 an hour...

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

Not being funny, but I wouldn't do it for less than £10 an hour...

So, you would do it for an extra 14p an hour?

NewShadow

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

So, you would do it for an extra 14p an hour?

Not a chance - but then, that's the question - do we want people who want to do the job for the money, for the power, or for the public good?

Capping the salary limits the 'talent pool' - given London salaries there are much easier ways to earn £50k a year, so we end up with people that either don't need the cash or aren't good enough to get a 'proper job'.

Frugalsod

NewShadow wrote: »

Not a chance - but then, that's the question - do we want people who want to do the job for the money, for the power, or for the public good?

Capping the salary limits the 'talent pool' - given London salaries there are much easier ways to earn £50k a year, so we end up with people that either don't need the cash or aren't good enough to get a 'proper job'.

Try telling all those working in these careers that they need to get a proper job. Not one of them was anywhere near £52000 p.a.

http://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Location=London-England%3a-London/Salary

NewShadow

Frugalsod wrote: »

Try telling all those working in these careers that they need to get a proper job. Not one of them was anywhere near £52000 p.a.

http://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Location=London-England%3a-London/Salary

Sorry - you just linked to:

Account Manager - £29,685
Software Developer - £38,167
Software Engineer - £42,322
Personal Assistant - £29,440
Executive Assistant - £35,308
Operations Manager - £38,506
Marketing Manager - £36,329

Aside from the fact that some of those are actually quite high salaries, you've just taken a selection of jobs (without comparable hours or levels of responsibility) and posted them.

I'm not sure if it's relevant, but on the same page there's a list for hourly wage - indicating a bus driver in London would get a higher per hour renumeration (£10.56 an hour) than you're suggesting the PM of the country should get.

I'm sure the people in the jobs work hard, but I'm not sure any of them would jump at the t&c's I outlined above? (Plus, everyone you just linked to actually gets paid more than me - you can tell I'm not in it for the money...)

ETA - The living wage foundation set the London living wage at 9.40 p/h - basically what you're suggesting the PM gets paid... just sayin'.

http://www.livingwage.org.uk

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

Not a chance

But you said you wouldn't do it for less than £10 an hour.

£128.22, for a 13 hour day, is £9-87 per hour, a difference of 13p an hour.

NewShadow

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

But you said you wouldn't do it for less than £10 an hour.

£128.22, for a 13 hour day, is £9-87 per hour, a difference of 13p an hour.

Just to check - You are aware that if someone won't do something for less than a certain amount, it doesn't mean they'd do it for that amount...?

All it actually means is they wouldn't do it for less than that amount - as stated.