TUC National Demonstration Against Cuts

We have consensus?
Good. I agree .

More teachers teaching, more nurses nursing, more police policing.

Simples.

Yes-and do what needs to be done.
I know, I know.

I reckon if they cut out red tape and new "initiatives" I could probably double or triple my caseload.

Education - don't want to give too much away as i could probably be identified if someone really wanted to.

What do you do London?

If more people realised how much of public servants' time is tied up in matters that have no discernible connection with the work they are ostensibly paid to do, they'd have a fit.

There are people who use the same offices I do who actually don't seem to do anything at all!

I can well imagine............

Same here! In my area SALT has pretty much disappeared with no real discernible difference.

Do I include myself?
In terms of many of the hoops through which I am forced to jump as part of the larger 'system', then yes, very often I question my function and purpose.

We all like to believe the work we do is vital and that the world would stop spinning on its axis were we to lose our jobs.
I doubt it.

So do you include yourself when you damn public sector workers? I too work in the public sector and I see vast amounts of waste and lots of inadequate individuals but I have also seen many excellent commited staff.

NHS

moondog - what sector do you work in?

The response goes on -

"But let us be charitable, and imagine that Hari meant to refer to the deficit. Yet a historical overview of that conjures an even less heartening picture. Fact is that, as a proportion of GDP, the deficit is at its highest level on Treasury records......This is what worries the international markets: the constant borrowing on top of borrowing on top of borrowing. The very fact that last week's Budget contained higher borrowing forecasts was enough to provoke grim warnings from the credit rating agencies."

It also slates Osborne for talking about 'paying off the nations credit card' which is also very misleading.

I think we should all have a frenzied celebration of our worth every day!

It's not perceived, moondog. It's been hard earned over many years and certainly you and those of your persuasion are not going to take it away from me. I'm proud of the work I do, and I am well worth every penny of taxpayer's money, as are the vast majority of teachers. Have a go at it yourself sometime.

You need to learn to compromise a little, you'll feel better.

Steady on Wooka before you disappear up your own fundament in a frenzied celebration of your perceived self worth.

Hari states;

"As a proportion of GDP, Britain?s national debt has been higher than it is now for 200 of the past 250 years.... Cameron claims that, despite these facts, they need to cut our debt by slashing our spending because the bond markets demand it."

The response -

" .....spot the problem? Yep, it's the idea that the government is planning ? or even suggesting ? that we pay off our debt rapidly. The essential difference between the coalition's fiscal plans and Labour's is nothing to do with debt at all. It's to do with the deficit, aka borrowing. It is the deficit that one side hopes to reduce quicker than the other. As for the debt ? the sum total of all our borrowing that we have yet to pay off ? that would rise by most measures, whichever party was in power."

Hari must know this.

There's plenty more.....

moondog - i thought you worked in the public sector

moondog what's so funny? I'm excellent at my job and it's a vocation for me. Is that funny, really? Why? Is it so strange that someone would choose public service? Can you not be a hard working, dedicated, committed and excellent teacher, midwife, social worker, policeman/woman, firefighter, ambulance driver, housing officer, meals on wheels driver whatever..? Why would you laugh at the efforts of people who choose public service? How strange.
Does the private sector have the monopoly on these qualities? I think not.
What is worldless mirth? I don't find anything funny about your position at all. Why the contempt? What made you so bitter? How dare you mock the efforts of anyone who works in the public service. You resort to 'mirth' and hollow laughter when faced with the concept of a dedicated, committed, well educated, public servant? How dare you.

ttosca & Niceguy - you should both read this

Response to Hari's article on debt.

ttosca - I'd be particularly interested to see if you can constructively 'engage with the arguments presented' in the article or whether you have your mind set?

' I'm pleased to exemplify the traits of a public sector worker: hard working, committed, dedicated to playing a positive role in society, well educated, and excellent at my job. . You?'

Excuse me while I grip my sides in worldless mirth.

So how 'imperfect' do we let it get then, Wooka before we say 'Woooah, let's stop throwing money at this ting'?

What does your direct and extensive experience of schools consist of smallwhitecat
?