London Riots

[mark smyth]

I know someone who doesnt work who has already been to Cancun this year and is going to Barbados in the autumn. How can that happen?

[Martin Baxendale]

I know someone who doesnt work who has already been to Cancun this year and is going to Barbados in the autumn. How can that happen?

Drug dealing?

[Martin Baxendale]

I know someone who doesnt work who has already been to Cancun this year and is going to Barbados in the autumn. How can that happen?

Selling snowdrops on ebay?

[Lesley Cox]

Won a lottery?

Good swimmer?

[johnw]

I know someone who doesnt work who has already been to Cancun this year and is going to Barbados in the autumn. How can that happen?

An MP?

johnw

[GoodGrief]

I ask again - why no rioting in Scotland or Wales?

The weather... it was raining (heavily). [Besides, there's Celtic v. Rangers matches four times a year if you want a bit of a kick about.]

After the Scotland football fans got over their rampaging behaviour (remember the Tartan Army's Wembley pitch invasion),
Scots fans, abroad, took a perverse pleasure in being seen as party animals in orange wigs whilst English supporters took part in the pitch battles.

Malcolm.

[arillady]

I believe that here in Australia MPs get a pension for the rest of their lives after they retire. I also thought, but I may be wrong, that they can go out and get another job after leaving their government jobs. Does that mean that they forfeit the pension or do they receive both? I am really bothered about how these pensions are going to increase with each MP that retires and that means that yearly we end up with more on the pension and more taxes being needed to pay for them.
IF the MPs decided to lessen their pay or pensions by at least 10% as a show of good faith it might go a long way to lessening the feeling of inequality. Plus fly economy class and stay at less than the top hotels etc.
While this concerns Australia it might be relevant in the UK too.

[Maggi Young]

It is relevant in the UK, Pat.... we have had a couple of Scottish politicians who were forced to resign as ministers because of scandals and they get to keep their pension even though they were disgraced.
 One of then had only been  in post for a matter of weeks and he's got a pension of £36K a year (from memory)... he continues in politics and is free to take directorships....... 
It beggars belief.

[Anthony Darby]

I know someone who doesnt work who has already been to Cancun this year and is going to Barbados in the autumn. How can that happen?

An MP?

johnw

A footballer's wife?

[Martin Baxendale]

I ask again - why no rioting in Scotland or Wales?

The weather... it was raining (heavily).

Malcolm.

Malcolm may well have hit the nail on the head if it was raining heavily (as it always seems to be this "Summer") in Wales and Scotland at the time of the rioting and looting. According to a story in my paper this morning comparing this event with the French youth riots in 05, what finally brought the French rioting to a stop were heavy rain and the start of the new school and college terms. Interestingly, the social scientist quoted in the story said the reason there was little looting during the French riots was because the low-income people involved tend in France to live in high-rise estates on the very outskirts of the cities where there are few shops. What was rife was people setting fire to cars in local streets, mainly newer and more expensive cars in what looked very much like arson motivated largely by envy and resentment.

[Anthony Darby]

My son (aged 14) came up with some interesting "facts" this morning: Bill Gates could pay off the American debt in 10 years; if he dropped a $100 note, by the time it hits the ground 1 second later had has earned nearly two and a half times that amount!

[Lesley Cox]

Sounds like a little Bill Gates in the making Anthony. You'll have a great retirement.

Pat and Maggi, the same system reigns here too. MsP who retire, in whatever (sometimes sleazy) circumstances are pensioned off to a high amount. Not only that, there is indignation that the wife of a long dead MP also gets this pension and like all MsP after retirement gets 90% of first class international as well as national air travel, accomodation etc, paid by the taxpayer. The system stinks badly.

I hate MsP on principle but having said that, they are reasonably paid here, compared with the corporate sector. Most get between $150K and $200K per annum whereas the CEO of Telecom (remembering what I pay for phone and mobile) gets something around $8million. Others get similar pay packages while someone on an unemployment benefit gets maybe $7K per annum, more if children are involved. A loaf of bread costs the same no matter who buys it.

[Lesley Cox]

I'm pleased that football rioting is just that and doesn't, as far as I know, extend to rugby fans. Although there will be tight security for the soon to be played here Rugby World Cup, I don't believe any stadium or venue will have wire fencing around the playing field. Some may call the game "Thugby" but by and large those who follow and enjoy it are more civilized than those who follow the so-called "Beautiful Game."

I see the Australian coach wants the NZ haka banned because it is intimidating. I'll adapt a culinary saying and answer that with "if you can't stand the haka, get off the playing field."

[johnw]

My son (aged 14) came up with some interesting "facts" this morning: Bill Gates could pay off the American debt in 10 years; if he dropped a $100 note, by the time it hits the ground 1 second later had has earned nearly two and a half times that amount!

Anthony - On the news last week something to the effect that Apple had $6 Billion more than the USA Federal Government. I assume before the ceiling was lifted later that week.

johnw

[Anthony Darby]

I'm pleased that football rioting is just that and doesn't, as far as I know, extend to rugby fans. Although there will be tight security for the soon to be played here Rugby World Cup, I don't believe any stadium or venue will have wire fencing around the playing field. Some may call the game "Thugby" but by and large those who follow and enjoy it are more civilized than those who follow the so-called "Beautiful Game."

I see the Australian coach wants the NZ haka banned because it is intimidating. I'll adapt a culinary saying and answer that with "if you can't stand the haka, get off the playing field."

It is interesting to note that in cricket and rugby fans are fully integrated and can buy and drink alcohol. In football, fans are segregated and alcohol is banned because opposing fans would rip each others' heads off! In 1975 I went to see Scotland vs Wales at Murrayfield in the last non-ticket match. 120,000 fans and no trouble whatsoever!