Whitey Grandad

Reasonable debate is perfectly ok. I cannot understand why some people find it necessary to resort to pointless name-calling, the miserable little sh!ts. (only joking!)

I'm not wishing to get into a political slanging match because as far as I'm concerned they are al pretty much as bad as each other, but the gap between 'rich' and 'poor' has become wider since Tony Blair came to power.

This is a fair point, but there has to be a proper balance. What the previous lot did wrong was to pay subsidies and call it 'investment'. 'Investment' in Health, 'investment' in schools, 'investment' in the Police, do me a favour! If a fraction of the money that was poured down the gullets of the public services had been spent on our infrastructure and manufacturing base then at least we would have had something long-lasting and worthwhile for our money.

Not at all, this is fundamental. There is no point producing goods at a price that will not sell. The punters will merely buy those goods from a cheaper supplier. Forcing an employer to pay a higher wage will increase the price of the products and lead to a drop in sales, and in many cases it only takes a small price rise to lead to a complete loss of market.

My friend Keith and I used to receive funny looks in Toronto when we ate hamburgers with a knife and fork. I can't think why. We even left the knife and fork in the 12 o'clock position when we had finished eating.

But the employer does not receive the money, and if they had to pay more there would not be a job anyway. You are not subsidising the employer, you (we) are subsidising the individual person.

Not actually being french, but expressing a subconscious desire to be french.

The job does not belong to you. The employer offers work for which you will get paid at an agreed rate. The alternative is not to do the work. You are not subsidising the employer unless you are paying them for you to work there.

Photoshop mask?

Good point. Maybe all the other promotion candidates can get an advance on future PL payments? After all, it's their money, they just haven't received it yet.

One has to be careful with young ladies who may appear to be pregnant. There may be other explanations for their swelling.

That's very convoluted logic. Employers will only pay what they have to. If the cost of labour is too high then the product that they offer may be uncompetitive. You cannot force any enterprise to pay more than the operation will bear or there will be no jobs at all. Employers already pay a big wallop directly in NI contributions. Add to that sick pay, maternity pay and all the other job-related benefits and it is quite a considerable sum. It is not the job of an employer to provide jobs.

There's more than one colour in there. Do you mean 'in this pattern'?

The only way to tell is to look at the books. Incidentally, in the US many companies have found that they prefer working with smaller workforces, even if it's with a smaller turnover. But whoever you sre, if you've been stung badly you will be very slow to take people on again.

It's not an excuse. I know many small businesses who only kept going because the owners took no salary. Some even put in their life savings to keep going rather than lose staff but eventually the money runs out.

These have been very difficult times for most businesses. If you employ 30 people then a 3% pay rise equals one job and sometimes the decision is between paying more or losing some workers.

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

More a form of rodentism.

I always hold doors open for people but I can't resist a loud 'thank you' when they don't acknowledge. I have notice in France now that I've reached the age where they don't just say 'bonjour' any more, it's 'bonjour monsieur'. And we were very impressed in Bermuda in September when schoolchildren offered us their seats on a crowded bus.

Would that be an avatarse? I'll get me Horlicks.

In the last 20 years I have had my factory broken into twice, my little boat broken into, my house broken into and both my wife and my son have had their cars stolen. Catch the bastards and smash their knuckles with a hammer. Tattoo 'thief' on their foreheads and stop their benefits. This is a sh1thole of a country.

Over 100 British people have been killed by released murderer. Just a thought.

Watching the programme I would say that the fault was their own.

Don't forget that VAT goes up to 20% on 4th January.

Good point. So long as they're 'ours'. I include the former colonials in 'us' of sourse.