Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:37 pm  

John_D wrote:

Because it serves the government's agenda to create an atmophere where workers standing up for their rights are the bad guys and not the rapacious capitalists involved in a race to the bottom.

And because people are idiots.

In this case though the workers can expect little sympathy. Greed and an unwillingness to reflect the realities of the economic world applying to them are the causes of this.

The Government's reaction to it was utterly pathetic. Encouraging panic buying was just absolutely pathetic.

But then we get onto the people. Fecking idiots. What makes me laugh is that everyone in the queues is moaning about all the panic buyers and no one filling up admits to panic buying. They are closing petrol stations in many areas, not because there is no petrol, but because of the growing frustration in the queues and the impact traffic caused by the queues. Then you have the idiots who claim they are buying petrol now because other people will panic buy which means they will be left without petrol

We're at least a week away from strike action people. If the news companies (Who as ever just whip the issue up into a frenzy) were made to stop reporting the queues and the panic buying, people wouldn't bother queueing or panic buying.

[John_D]

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:53 pm  

Here's an interesting take on things, from an angle I wouldn't have thought to look at it from. Here's something nonsensical that I knocked up

Here's an interesting take on things, from an angle I wouldn't have thought to look at it from. Here's something nonsensical that I knocked up

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:55 pm  

John_D wrote:

Because it serves the government's agenda to create an atmophere where workers standing up for their rights are the bad guys and not the rapacious capitalists involved in a race to the bottom.

And because people are idiots.

Although I'd be inclined to add that so much of the media is utterly on side with this aim that it is perhaps not entirely easy for many people to see past the propaganda that they are being fed and have been fed for over 30 years.

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:00 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

In this case though the workers can expect little sympathy. Greed and an unwillingness to reflect the realities of the economic world applying to them are the causes of this ...

Indeed. Because the only people in the world who have a right to demand that their income does not decrease (in real terms) or even stay the same, but actually rise, are those in the top income percentile.

It's a pity that this does not also apply to private housing landlords in London, who have hiked rents by an average of 7% in the last year alone.

It always seems that 'economic realities' only have to apply to some people.

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:07 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

In this case though the workers can expect little sympathy. Greed and an unwillingness to reflect the realities of the economic world applying to them are the causes of this.

I can see that you've done much research into this dispute and haven't relied on the right-wing propaganda pervading the media.

No really, I can, honest

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:11 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

I can see that you've done much research into this dispute and haven't relied on the right-wing propaganda pervading the media.

No really, I can, honest

If you read the statements from the companies involved you can see how much the average driver is on and exactly what the proposed changed to their conditions are. It isn't worth striking about and they've got to accept that the economic climate has changed.

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:13 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

cod'ead wrote:

I can see that you've done much research into this dispute and haven't relied on the right-wing propaganda pervading the media.

No really, I can, honest

If you read the statements from the companies involved you can see how much the average driver is on and exactly what the proposed changed to their conditions are. It isn't worth striking about and they've got to accept that the economic climate has changed.

For some, it has. The rich don't seem to be getting any less rich though, do they?

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:15 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

If you read the statements from the companies involved you can see how much the average driver is on and exactly what the proposed changed to their conditions are. It isn't worth striking about and they've got to accept that the economic climate has changed.

But not if you already have a vast income – and not if you're a domestic landlord in London, eh?

So in your world, the cost of living is rising hugely – but people should "accept that the economic climate has changed".

And what? Be unable to afford that rent? Have to choose between rent or food?

Have no disposable income – which would be so sensible, given how much of the economy is actually dependant on people having exactly that in order to survive, never mind actually grow.

So how is our service-based economy going to grow, in your mind and given your understanding of the 'changed economic climate'?

[John_D]

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:18 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

In this case though the workers can expect little sympathy. Greed and an unwillingness to reflect the realities of the economic world applying to them are the causes of this.

Whether that is the case or not (not going to argue the point as other people on here are better able to do so), faced with an enormous cut in wages and changes to working practises that undermine the safety not just of those workers but of everyone who comes within a reasonably large distance of them, they have the right to withdraw their labour and the employer has the duty to at least sit down and listen.

Neither is it helpful to say "well workers in sector A get this, so workers in sector 7G shouldn't expect to get that". It's a complete non-sequitur. The worst sort of straw-man, sixth-form debating society bull honky. (general point, not aimed at you per se)

Re: The Great Fuel Crisis of 2012 : Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:19 pm  

Can someone tell me how the tax rates for the 'rich' or the cost of rent in London have got to do with this? This isn't about the budget, or any other aspect of Government, it's about the drivers and their pathetic union not being willing to compromise on a fair deal offered to them.