Un-work ethic

We had a conversation last night with someone that I have known for eight or nine years, who was trying to convince me that there was no need to work. I have always known that she is a hard-core non-worker, and that she does lots of different things, some of which happen to earn her some money, and that as long as she has beer funds she seems happy. I have no problem with this at all.

However, when I tried to explain that part of the reason I work is that I can, and I have education and skills that are useful to others, she didn't get it at all. She just couldn't understand why people would want to work at all,and ascertained that you didn't need money. It was pointed out to her that apart from anything else, there was the mortgage on the house to pay. She conceded that this required dosh, but then said if we paid the house off that there would no longer be a need to work. Okay, what about holidays and stuff? She said is she wanted to go on holiday she would get some kind of a job and save up. She also gets her clothes from charity shops and her top price to pay for a jumper would be £4. Fine, we said, but for this economics to work, someone else had to have bought the jumper at full price in the first place and eventually donate it to the charity shop. This she conceded, and then she saw our point that some of us did have to work.
It's quite funny I think what strangeness people think, what little grasp they have of how the economy and the world work. What do they fill their days with? Or their heads?

Recycling fracas

Why oh why oh why don't the government have one strategy for recycling instead of letting each local authority decide how they will implement the recycling agenda? At the moment, there is a recycling service in our district. It is ran by a voluntary organisation who get paid by the council, but as they are paid on weight, it's not cost-effective to collect plastic. I have complained to the council about this in the past. I have now located another local project which does take old plastic for recycling, and it is a relatively easy matter for us to take our plastic there as it is within walking distance. Obviously though this isn't the case for other people who don't live so centrally.
Incidentally, since I started recycling our plastic rubbish, our dustbin is about one third as full as it was before. Just shows you how much packaging you get nowadays. Next challenge is to get less in the first place!
In one of the metropolitan districts adjacent to ours, there are two recycling systems in place depending on where you live. One system involves taking all recyclable rubbish from people's homes, the other doesn't. How on earth do they expect people to bother, when the systems are different, often confusing, and can involve a lot of extra work?
It's about time they just said that all councils had to take all recyclable materials and sort it out. End of.

TB or not TB...

Following the announcement by Tony Blair that he will announce his retirement as PM to the Queen on 27th June, we were speculating on what he might do for a job when he stands down.
The obvious would be public speaker/writer/commentator, possibly an ambassador (I love the thought of sending him to Afghanistan or Iraq for this job!). Some people think he might dedicate time to promoting inter-faith love, peace and understanding (I guess even the staunchest critic would admit success in this arena in Northern Ireland, although they would point out that the previous administration, particularly John Major, made major strides here first).
I think he should consider a more creative career for a laugh. What about stand up comedian or impersonator? He could put John Culshaw out of a job, and take the piss out of Gordon. Not that I think Gordie will last long... if the inevitable happens and he ends up as the next PM, I reckon the British electorate will vote Tory at the next election. Someone on telly said that you could sum up Blair's legacy in two words: “David Cameron”. Enough said.

No overall control

When will the powers that be learn that British people really don't care about politics in the proper sense, to a really deep and unprecedented level nowadays?

The local council elections for England, Wales and Scotland last week really show that there is no real party allegiance anymore. Voters will vote for another party on a whim now, like to teach them a lesson. So much so, that there are now 157 councils who have 'No overall control'. Expect some weird coalitions coming soon!

Then there's the loony single issue brigade. This has resulted in, for example, Boston council in Lincolshire being controlled by an independent group wanting a bypass. I ask you! Is that going to get the rubbish collected and keep the streets safe from crime?

Not that I care that much about the main parties maintaining power. I mean, I have known for decades that it's all a waste of time. Unfortunately the careerists in the Town Hall and Westminster continue to peddle the myth that we need them. Hmm!