tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post116194969108723739..comments2023-10-28T12:01:47.929+00:00Comments on Edward Lucas: CommiesEdward Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1164148585997819692006-11-21T22:36:00.000+00:002006-11-21T22:36:00.000+00:00in response to MackoI would point out that your fr...in response to Macko<BR/><BR/>I would point out that your friend didn't have to work in the private sector which offers more risk and more rewards. You can also have dull safe job in local govt or central civil service or NHS where things are calmer and a bit less interesting.<BR/><BR/>I agree that there is a problem that globalisation is proving good for poor people in poor countries and good for rich people everywhere, but bad for poor people in rich countries (stagnant median real wage in America, etc). It is somethat that even the ultra-freemarket Economist is worried about (see our world economy survey). The danger is that voter discontent leads to a protectionist backlash.Edward Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1162046052758156042006-10-28T14:34:00.000+00:002006-10-28T14:34:00.000+00:00I 'll stick to europe because that is what i know,...I 'll stick to europe because that is what i know,: The reason for the resurgence of commies is the behaviour of the other hues of the beneficiaries of most current policy. Many of center right politicians like Tony Blair even proved to be in the wrong political party.<BR/><BR/>Increasingly i feel that the only way for capitalism to work sustainably is if there is a danger of communism spreading. Social justice and growth combined pretty well in the past because of that fear. <BR/><BR/>The example below i think is indicative of the hubris which is inviting the ensuing nemesis the markets will receive for their behaviour to people that in the end are the electorate..<BR/><BR/>work in flexible britain<BR/><BR/>A friend was working in a very rich profitable company (hedge fund) for 8 months, he was subjected to an 8month probationary period<BR/><BR/>this means:<BR/><BR/> 1. no holiday,<BR/> 2. no overtime pay,<BR/> 3. no paternity maternity leave-not sure about this one but i think so-,<BR/> 4. no compensation if fired<BR/> 5. in practice no proper lunches (overpriced sandwich over computer)<BR/> 6. as much as 50% of the salary was in the form of a discretionary bonus, i.e. they can withdraw it for no reason.<BR/><BR/>The guy put furious work, hardly had a life for 8 months pressured to work 12-13 hours a day and think about work problems at home at the rest of the time...<BR/><BR/>The day before his probationary period ended, he had a "review". His boss told him he was not getting the bonus. My friend said he thought this is unfair because they made him believe throughout that his bonus was secure since he was an enthusiastic worker, and the boss fired him on the spot. This is in a high finance firm and my friend is well educated, reasonable, and calm computer database expert.<BR/><BR/>Essentially the whole job was crafted in such a way to evade the weak protection employment laws in the UK give. Just like with insurance policies employers now systematically mislead the employee at the time of the interview about the job compensation, rights, and conditions. Outright crookery.. its not even because the employer had difficulties, they do it either for fun, racistically, or ideologically victimising others...<BR/><BR/>"Fair play..."<BR/>The bastards need to be taxed out of their wits... flexible workforce, yes very flexible workforce, very inflexibly greedy bastardly employers. GREED IS NOT GOOD, IT CREATES AGGRESSIVE UNSTABLE AND LOW QUALITY SEMI-DEMOCRACIES (USA).<BR/><BR/>There are no unions in IT btw...<BR/><BR/>I ve also heard of a reverse auction for salaries, where the recruitment agent will tell you to go on a website and put the minimum money you will accept to take the position, and then bid against other candidates in their books...<BR/><BR/>If this is not a race to the bottom, i don't know what is...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-1161984888984361852006-10-27T21:34:00.000+00:002006-10-27T21:34:00.000+00:00EDWARD,It seems Russians haven't learned either th...EDWARD,<BR/><BR/>It seems Russians haven't learned either the lesson of 1917 or the lesson of 1991. In fact, it almost appears as if they've decided to combined the worst features of the monarchy with the worst features of the Soviet dictatorship so as to attain a new, truly epic low.<BR/><BR/>How is the Russian government of today different from that of twenty years ago? It's run by a clan of KGB spies! The only difference is that they don't espouse communist ideology, at least not openly.<BR/><BR/>And how is the Russian economy of today different from that of a hundred years ago? There is a small group of princes gliding through the streets in golden carriages and a vast unwashed underclass struggling to surivive.<BR/><BR/>It seems perfectly logical, then, that communism would reappear in Russia. After all, the Russian people never rose to bring it down, and they never ended institutions such as universal conscription and the propiska. It seems that once again Russia will grind down its underclass until once again the communsit maniacs use their grievances to seize power, filling the ideological void in the Kremlin quite neatly.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile the question remains: What's to be done about it? Chto delat?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com