Has the world gone completely mad?

[grahamhobbs]

MKG, perhaps you are right in this case, but where volunteers are replacing paid workers, I think there should be 'open book' accounts, so that if the work makes a profit (beyond covering deprecation/investment, etc) that profit should go back in some way to the community.

The problem is that many services are facing cut backs, volunteers are taking over libraries, meals on wheels, etc, etc and the newspapers are full of ads for voluntary work, it is clearly expanding as paid work is declining. I am fully in favour of people doing things for their community, but of course, people cannot live on voluntary work.

I read today that 8 of the biggest construction firms are looking for up to 35% wage cuts for some skilled trades. Fortunately the bankers still seem to be rolling in money and providing us with lots of work.

[MKG]

Are all these volunteer PSV owners that are available redundant bus drivers?

No - they're big boys, for goodness sake!!

They either already held a PSV or they've since qualified. What they have in common is that they just like the idea of driving a bus. Like trains, really. Or helicopter pilots.

Mike

[RuthG]

I thought green aura was being cynical about the loss of jobs because the bus company has withdrawn the service!

[MKG]

MKG, perhaps you are right in this case, but where volunteers are replacing paid workers, I think there should be 'open book' accounts, so that if the work makes a profit (beyond covering deprecation/investment, etc) that profit should go back in some way to the community.

The problem is that many services are facing cut backs, volunteers are taking over libraries, meals on wheels, etc, etc and the newspapers are full of ads for voluntary work, it is clearly expanding as paid work is declining. I am fully in favour of people doing things for their community, but of course, people cannot live on voluntary work.

I read today that 8 of the biggest construction firms are looking for up to 35% wage cuts for some skilled trades. Fortunately the bankers still seem to be rolling in money and providing us with lots of work.

Under any other circumstances I would agree with your sentiments, Graham. But this is a case of being faced with a fait accompli - the service was about to be cut, stone dead. The bus company cannot possibly be taking in the same amount of money they did before, otherwise there wouldn't be this caffuffle - the council would have simply carried on paying. But I have no doubt that the presence of the volunteers makes it still worth that company's while - it's that, or nothing, as far as the money's concerned. But it's also a "that, or nothing" situation for the service users, and this, as far as I can see, is the only solution to the problem which could work. There were a lot of non-car pensioners eager to line up to tell the world how much the service meant to them and, at least as far as I'm concerned, a single pensioner being able to use such a service is worth far more than any amount of politicking.

Mike

[Green Aura]

Is there HRT for men?

[MKG]

Deary me- I did type some drivel last night after Mum's birthday party. So I deleted it all this morning.

Note to self ... mucho red wine, mucho rubbish spouted.

Mike

[greenorelse]

Deary me- I did type some drivel last night after Mum's birthday party. So I deleted it all this morning.

Note to self ... mucho red wine, mucho rubbish spouted.

Mike

Really? In vino veritas and all that?

[Green Aura]

I prefer my mother's version - wine's in, wit's out!

[pelmetman]

Deary me- I did type some drivel last night after Mum's birthday party. So I deleted it all this morning.

Note to self ... mucho red wine, mucho rubbish spouted.

Mike

Spoil sport .............note to self...... get up earlier to check MKG posts

[boboff]

I saw them.... just lots of random posts about loving everyone........

[MKG]

Nah - that goes without saying. Everyone on here knows I love 'em without me writing it.

Mike

[grahamhobbs]

..............................
Under any other circumstances I would agree with your sentiments, Graham. But this is a case of being faced with a fait accompli - the service was about to be cut, stone dead. ............................. at least as far as I'm concerned, a single pensioner being able to use such a service is worth far more than any amount of politicking.

Mike

I am not in disagreement with you, I just like to put things into their context and encourage people to think about the economic and historical background to these things. The Big Society is a nice idea, people helping each other, working for and involved in the community, etc. But let's face that is not why the Tories are promoting it. Unemployment is growing, wages are under attack, services are being cut and if they can get people to work for nothing..........meanwhile the rich get richer, top Americans saw their incomes rise by 12% last year, whilst the queues for the soup kitchens get longer and longer.

[boboff]

Well they shouldn't keep running out of soup then!

[grahamhobbs]

You ask has the world gone mad ? Check this BBC video out

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/poll ... sfeed=true

[gregorach]

You ask has the world gone mad ? Check this out

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/poll ... sfeed=true

Loving the options on that poll!