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ethicalblog

Listed below are comments made by ethicalblog between Tuesday, 3rd March 2009 and Tuesday, 17th November 2009.

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Tough times ahead 11:13am on 17 Nov 2009 stephanie,
for sometime business models and government policy has worked in tandem believing they can create wealth by introducing a minimum wage that employers must not pay below but allows big business a target to stay at or just above. the minimum wage ignores unsoialable hours and weekends.
this has allowed, for example, retailers to remove premiums for sunday working, to pay below inflation pay awards and to also stage wage rises over 18 months.
the result has been a collapse in disposalable income for the modest and low paid. however managers and executives have benefitted from larger pay rises and huge bonuses, its not just the banks and m.o.d you know.
ethicalblog believes that is why we are seeing a longer period of economic failure. if individuals are not paid money they cannot spend money.
the government can redistribute via the tax credit system because corporation tax is higher than that of income tax, but that will continue to benefit the few and the cost of the many.

ethicalblog believes that as what has occurred is the result of short term shock we need a short term shock to correct it.
for one year only no one should earn more than ten times what someone on the minimum wage earns.
for one year only no private pension should be above ten times that of the state pension.
if we are to restore a fair society we should look very closely and taxing some retrospectively, a few have benefitted from paying little or no tax and now benefit from financial independance.
Climate change - 'For many people the penny hasn't dropped' 10:03pm on 25 Oct 2009 sue,
the penny most certainly hasnt dropped. though ed and the pm are not the innocent parties they believe themselves to be.
the car scrappage incentive for example is a perfect example of how governmet policy is failing the envoironment.
a diesel car with an efficient engine can be up to 50% more expensive. if your milage is modest there is more incentive to purchase a car that produces more C02.
if the envoironment is now top priority then government policy must be "joined up"
the next incentive should be far more targeted. for example vat should be used to increase the price of higher emmitting cars but lower those of more efficient ones.
households could also be set a maximum unit level of electricity that can be used at 5% vat. once above that then it increases.
we just need to think a little deeper.
Bank reform: The radical way 9:29pm on 25 Oct 2009 hey robert,
is the governor suggesting that we return to building societies for long term lending?
does he believe the public is better served by both mutual and market driven competition?

l wish you and your family well!
Starting gun fired on leadership contest 9:49pm on 03 Jun 2009 nick,
hazel who. the PM got this absolutely right. hes concentrating on what and who is important. the economy and the british people.

ethicalblogs advise would be to bring back frank field, and listen more closely to tony benn.
Bosses' pay and WPP 9:40pm on 03 Jun 2009 hi robert,
on the 9th of february l posted a comment that the bonus culture "is rife" through the entire economy and needed investigating. your investigation comfirms that view.

why is it then that senior managers and executives support pay awards below the poverty line. leaving their people with little or no disposable income and why could they not see the effect the policy would have on the wider economy.
Quite simply they are out of touch, how can someone who earns millions be expected to understand the struggle involved in balancing the household budget as well as providing for retirement and future life chances for children.

what should be done?
the country operates a minimum wage yet it has no maximum!
should senior mgrs, exes pay be linked to the shopfloor so that all have a fair reward for their contribution to the business. for example bonuses could only be paid and share options awarded only if a board had agreed a reasonable cost of living pay award for their employees.

income distribution needs some urgent attention without it the economy will suffer further damage.

further l would urge you to investige the "woolworth effect". which businesses have benefitted the most from a 3 billion jackpot in additional sales. have those businesses employed more people increased take home pay or just used the opportunity to reward the people at the top.

ethicalblog has spotted a green shoot though. for sometime it has been clear that the "market" needs competition.
mutual, private and partnership businesses that have previously taken long term decisions are now seeing the fruits of their sustainable business models. is that what will ultimately save the economy from short term greed!
A question of when, not if 8:49pm on 18 May 2009 nick,
Mr Martin does appear to have been caught with his socks down but only because he failed to pull them up!
Fear not for Mr Cameron has charged to our rescue with an all new ethical approach.
Is the telegraph going to publish details of expence claims for the final four years of the last conservative government, maybe the independent will.
Mr Martin and all MPs who have acted improperly (if honourable) should step aside now in order that our democracy is preserved.
If they dont, but instead try and wait until the next general election in the hope the electorate will have forgot the country could be heading for an uncertain future.
Time to do our duty 8:27pm on 18 May 2009 mark,
l understand the way your thinking but believe you have the "flexible issue" wrong.
In my view and experience it is precisely the introduction of flexible working by the present government that has allowed working families the option of being able to "be there" for there children and each other plus commit to regular meetings and events.
Without "flexible working" big business would have their people working when they were most productive, with no regard for family commitments.

For example shelves in supermarkets could be filled between 9a.m until 5p.m paying the basic minimum wage. Those same people are paid the same hourly rate for working 6p.m until 10p.m because the low pay commission do not have a remit to investigate shift workers pay but the people are more productive.
The result social fallout, children are left at home alone, others miss out on events, clubs and groups. Families dont eat the evening meal together all in the interest of "profit" and of course the associated bonuses generated from cost savings for the few.
Action on the streets? 10:05pm on 03 Mar 2009 mark,
its not "action on the streets" that we need its "action by the government".

what has the couple that bought a house two years ago now have a young family and have lost their jobs done wrong?

the simple answer nothing!
they have worked hard to provide a sustainable future for their themselves and their family yet government policy is directed to secure huge payoffs and pension funds for failure.

if they need a loan its now 9.9% if they want to refinance their mortgage it is now more expensive than it was when they bought the house (yet base rates are only 1%).
banks are sitting on hundreds of billions of pounds of u.k savings paying no return to their depositors yet are profitering from people who need a loan or refinance their mortgage.

the prime minister wants banks to take a longer term view, well heres their chance.

why cant the northern rock or lloyds offer fixed savings rates of five or ten years securing a reasonable level of income for hard pressed pensioners.
the funds could then be directed to provide mortgages fixed for five or ten years and you move on from their.
the only problem: the model would not generate enough profit for huge salaries and bonuses but it would help to secure a sustainable recovery for the economy.
No Colgate moment 9:34pm on 03 Mar 2009 nick,
it is good to see the prime minister talking to the president. l hope he will adopt the president obama way of dealing with corporate greed.
has their been any instances in the u.s of senior executives walking away with large pension pots and if so how have they been dealt with?
Clawing back Sir Fred's pension 9:12pm on 03 Mar 2009 robert,
china hey, l trust you will be off setting your carbon footprint by cycling back to the u.k.

l recall david blanchflower is a fan of robin hood, never was such a man or woman more needed than now.
what is clear is to forget about any hope of any of these "sherriffs of nottingham" type figures to see the light even though they could possibly see the greater need for their huge pay offs and pension funds from their previous office windows.

we can only hope then that the chancellor and the revenue/treasury correct the situation (as they did with the 10pence tax band).

but would we be "robbing the rich to feed the poor", l think not, just taking back from the greedy to assist the recovery.

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