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Major depression

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Should our western economy sink into a major period of depression in order to realize how harmful and unfair we are to the poor.
Or would it be more harmful to the poor?

[This message has been edited by Zenius (edited 22-06-2001).]

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    who cares. do u have a life? <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;

    ok, i think i'll post something more intelligent at about...erm...4AM this morning? <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;

    u pose interesting questios zenius, i wonder if there are any posters who are up to it.

    Look into these tired eyes. See something you might recognise.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Turtle

    Take a good sleep and think about my question again.

    I'd like to believe that we don't live in a stagnant society.

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Zenius:
    Turtle

    Take a good sleep and think about my question again.

    I'd like to believe that we don't live in a stagnant society.


    oh we dont, but the kind of people that think about the sort of things u do dont come here <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"&gt;



    Look into these tired eyes. See something you might recognise.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Turtle:
    oh we dont, but the kind of people that think about the sort of things u do dont come here <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"&gt;


    Are you saying that I don't belong here?
    Should I be somewhere else to express my opinions?

    I'm new here Mr. Überposter. Don't you like fresh winds in the mouldy rooms?

    <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif"&gt;

    [This message has been edited by Zenius (edited 22-06-2001).]

    [This message has been edited by Zenius (edited 22-06-2001).]

    [This message has been edited by Zenius (edited 22-06-2001).]
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The UK probably has the largest poverty gap in Europe, so maybe a depression would show those in high class society what it's like to be less well off.

    Maybe if we were more empathetic to others, then the world would be a better place.



    So with one hand on the wheel
    The other out the window
    With a smile on my face
    My middle finger up...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Zenius:

    Are you saying that I don't belong here?
    Should I be somewhere else to express my opinions?

    I'm new here Mr. Überposter. Don't you like fresh winds in the mouldy rooms?

    <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif"&gt;

    no, i'm not saying that, sorry if u read it like that.

    i was saying that very few users actually reply to ur threads, and that if u are looking for more, and different, views, u may want to try a board devoted to politics. i like u hear zenius, u have interesting views, that altho i do not agree with, i respect. the discussion u do provoke is extremely interesting, and in some ways it is unfortunate there is simply not enuff of it.

    dont get angry at me. everyone else seems to.


    Look into these tired eyes. See something you might recognise.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think it is a very good question Zenius, but Im afraid I dont have the answer everyone will like.
    If there is an economic depression in the UK it is likely that the rich and middle classes will do a little worse than they are now. However it is more likely that the poor will feel the brunt of it. If the government has to reduce taxation in order to cope with inflation it must reduce spenditure on public services and benefits. It is likely that due to the recent election there would be very few public service cuts, while welfare benefits will decrease significantly. It isnt a case however of the poor feeling the sting, even if they lose their jobs, by law they are still entitled to redundancy pay, which unless the recession is severe will tie them over for a while. The people who lose out most are the jobless, those on the dole or in permanent need of care who are unable/unwilling to work. In the case of those who are unable to work I think it is unfortunate, but I have no sympathy for those who are unwilling to work.

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I concur, Whowhere.

    I can't help but think of the Great Depression of the 1930's. Just about every city in the USA had a 'Hooverville', a slum area in which those brought down by the Depression ended up. Despite the terrible conditions there was surprisingly little sympathy for the downtrodden. Even after Roosevelt instituted the New Deal in 1933 there was considerable opposition to 'helping' the poor.

    And before anyone says "Bloody Americans!" I preemptively remind them that the record of the British government at the time was similarly poor.

    In a related vein, I remember reading recently that the mayor of Los Angeles floated a proposal to cordon off an area of the city for use as a 'sanctuary district' for the poor, homeless and unemployed. Thank goodness it wasn't passed.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A depressed economy is never good for the poor. These are the workers, and the first to get laid off, just to protect the profits and bank balances of the rich.

    I think that those who need to learn the lesson never will. They are too far removed from reality for it ever to strike them.

    Do you think tha Bill Gates, The Sultan of Brunei or Murdock have any concept or poor anymore?

    A bit like the Royal Family really, do you think that they believe the world smells of fresh paint?

    "He's just a pimp, with a limp and some vaseline""
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Turtle:
    no, i'm not saying that, sorry if u read it like that.

    i was saying that very few users actually reply to ur threads, and that if u are looking for more, and different, views, u may want to try a board devoted to politics. i like u hear zenius, u have interesting views, that altho i do not agree with, i respect. the discussion u do provoke is extremely interesting, and in some ways it is unfortunate there is simply not enuff of it.

    dont get angry at me. everyone else seems to.



    I don't. Turtle. this may be personal but I like you. I don't want anyone else to know why's that, but you like the unfortunate endings. I prefer the lucky ones.

    <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/wink.gif"&gt;

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