The Politics Thread

[boltonboris]

Right near the Woodside

[Lord Kangana]

Anyway, I love the Germans. Its an issue that needs sorting, so they go and sort it. Wish we could find some politicians with enough collective backbone to do the same:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61426820100205

[Hoboh]

Talking of politicians - I had a knock on my door this morning, opened it, and there was Hazel Blears. Very pleasant she is too, but she still won't be getting my vote.

Did you ask her if she had a decent telly for sale?


Bent bitch

[William the White]

Talking of politicians - I had a knock on my door this morning, opened it, and there was Hazel Blears. Very pleasant she is too, but she still won't be getting my vote.

Did you ask her if she had a decent telly for sale?


Bent bitch

Keep this up and you'll be spending your birthday on the naughty step...

[Relentless09]

two words

Northern Ireland

[Hoboh]

People in political circles should concentrate on the majority views whilst maintaining protection from persicution for the minority.

Mssss Harmen and some of her chums throw this out with the bath water and actively seek positive discrimination which is totally wrong, hence my intense dislike of her and her ilk!
How can we live in a sociaty based on merit when for some the goal posts are artifically moving?
The best people will always rise to the top, we cannot make everyone the same, how many students at Uni now will be the high flyers having been given an equal chance and how many will be serving big Macs or doleing it moanining they've been to Uni but cannot get work? The later seem like a waste of resources to me.

[BWFC_Insane]

People in political circles should concentrate on the majority views whilst maintaining protection from persicution for the minority.

Mssss Harmen and some of her chums throw this out with the bath water and actively seek positive discrimination which is totally wrong, hence my intense dislike of her and her ilk!
How can we live in a sociaty based on merit when for some the goal posts are artifically moving?
The best people will always rise to the top, we cannot make everyone the same, how many students at Uni now will be the high flyers having been given an equal chance and how many will be serving big Macs or doleing it moanining they've been to Uni but cannot get work? The later seem like a waste of resources to me.

Thing is hobinho its not about making everybody equal its about giving everybody an equal chance!

Would you want to return to a point where only those parents in the right social circles with the right size of bank account could send their kids to a decent university?

And as for the numbers going, and not getting jobs, somebody can correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the biggest unemployed group those without qualifications as opposed to graduates?

[Hoboh]

People in political circles should concentrate on the majority views whilst maintaining protection from persicution for the minority.

Mssss Harmen and some of her chums throw this out with the bath water and actively seek positive discrimination which is totally wrong, hence my intense dislike of her and her ilk!
How can we live in a sociaty based on merit when for some the goal posts are artifically moving?
The best people will always rise to the top, we cannot make everyone the same, how many students at Uni now will be the high flyers having been given an equal chance and how many will be serving big Macs or doleing it moanining they've been to Uni but cannot get work? The later seem like a waste of resources to me.

Thing is hobinho its not about making everybody equal its about giving everybody an equal chance!
Would you want to return to a point where only those parents in the right social circles with the right size of bank account could send their kids to a decent university?

And as for the numbers going, and not getting jobs, somebody can correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the biggest unemployed group those without qualifications as opposed to graduates?

Fair comment I'd suggest you pass that on to Harman then!
On the other hand what use is a degree in Lizard breeding to a dustman? Or media studies, or a whole host of spurious qualifications? Surely you can see my point here? This I think is the part of Uni's even the Labour party want to hit hard in their reforming of the system.
At the risk of provoking intense fury from some, litrature and the Arts do very little to fulfill the needs of today in terms of skills, as nice a subject as they maybe. If folk wish to pusue these it should be at their expense or by having suitable charity donations

[Lord Kangana]

After much pacing up and down, racking my brains and philosophising, I've come to the inevitable conclusion that a degree in lizard breeding may however be useful to a lizard breeder.

So on that score, whats your point re dustmen?

[bobo the clown]

Mssss Harmen and some of her chums throw this out with the bath water and actively seek positive discrimination which is totally wrong, hence my intense dislike of her and her ilk!

How can we live in a society based on merit when for some the goal posts are artifically moving?

The best people will always rise to the top, we cannot make everyone the same, how many students at Uni now will be the high flyers having been given an equal chance and how many will be serving big Macs or doleing it moanining they've been to Uni but cannot get work? The later seem like a waste of resources to me.

Yup.

The expansion of the provision of higher education has not been matched by maintainence of its quality. I despair at some of the numb-nuts who turn up with first-class degrees in Dolls-House Upholstery from the University of Cleckheaton having entered it with a grade D 'A' Level in media studies and a 100m breaststroke badge. Nearly always 1st Class, by the way, as the Spar's which have converted into 'Universities' self assess and self-mark.

The kids been conned and good money's been thrown after bad. They are then amazed and disheartened when employers don't recruit them into "graduate level jobs".

Universities should be about proper people studying proper subjects and gaining proper qualifications. They should be elite, as they should be setting out the best.

The most positive middle stream social climbing opportunity was offered by the Grammar Schools. They were got rid of but replaced by a process of levelling off at the LOWEST common denominator. If they'd been replaced by something which improved matters fair enough, but they weren't. Now it's harder than ever for a kid from the 'hood to come through.

So, as this fails, what's the option ??? ... easy, let's start social engineering.
When that fails >> reduce options for escape.
When that happens >> create yet more restictive rules.
When that fails >> go for positive discrimination.

We're a football forum, so we all have an interest in sport. Compare these efforts into the sporting arena. So, now you HAVE to select into your team so many kids who are of one or other race, so many who are gay, so many of certain religions, so many from certain social backgrounds. etc,. etc. 50/50 females/males. It's horseshit. So why should business be different ?

[BWFC_Insane]

People in political circles should concentrate on the majority views whilst maintaining protection from persicution for the minority.

Mssss Harmen and some of her chums throw this out with the bath water and actively seek positive discrimination which is totally wrong, hence my intense dislike of her and her ilk!
How can we live in a sociaty based on merit when for some the goal posts are artifically moving?
The best people will always rise to the top, we cannot make everyone the same, how many students at Uni now will be the high flyers having been given an equal chance and how many will be serving big Macs or doleing it moanining they've been to Uni but cannot get work? The later seem like a waste of resources to me.

Thing is hobinho its not about making everybody equal its about giving everybody an equal chance!
Would you want to return to a point where only those parents in the right social circles with the right size of bank account could send their kids to a decent university?

And as for the numbers going, and not getting jobs, somebody can correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the biggest unemployed group those without qualifications as opposed to graduates?

Fair comment I'd suggest you pass that on to Harman then!
On the other hand what use is a degree in Lizard breeding to a dustman? Or media studies, or a whole host of spurious qualifications? Surely you can see my point here? This I think is the part of Uni's even the Labour party want to hit hard in their reforming of the system.
At the risk of provoking intense fury from some, litrature and the Arts do very little to fulfill the needs of today in terms of skills, as nice a subject as they maybe. If folk wish to pusue these it should be at their expense or by having suitable charity donations

You have a point of course. But its not so much the direct knowledge passed on through a degree but the skills learned. For example how to debate, how to construct a written argument, how to interact with a variety of people, how to present work both on paper and orally etc etc.

I think you need a mix really.

One thing I would do is make degrees shorter. Most could fit into two years if truth be told with less holidays and time wasted for students. Cut down the massive summer and easter holidays and make the degree schedules more intensive.

[InsaneApache]

You're out of touch Bobo, the university of Cleckheaton has moved just down the road to Heckmondwyke.

[Athers]

Anyone else see the Labour Party political broadcast on ITV last night with that c*nt Piers Morgan?

No questions about his actual work as PM but we did learn that he shagged a few girls at university.

He's always been a better bloke than the figure of fun/hate that he is, mind.

[bobo the clown]

You're out of touch Bobo, the university of Cleckheaton has moved just down the road to Heckmondwyke.

Are you sure that's not just for the Departments of Cake-Icing and Napkin Folding ?

[as]

If you've got a degree, any degree, even one in Media Studies (everyone mentions this one, but it's not alone in the pointless stakes), then you can spend ONE year studying to be a teacher.......

Now, I know someone who's doing this, they're thick as s***e and only took the course after getting a real job and realising that their degree is worth sod all.

So, your kids will soon be taught by many of the graduates you mock

[William the White]

Just to say again, as i have before - any university in this society, increasingly dominated by media, and being transformed by it, that didn't offer degree level courses in media studies would be failing the students and our society.

And - media studies degrees are demanding courses.

That is how it is... but don't let the facts get in the way of the sneers... do carry on with the mythology...

[William the White]

If you've got a degree, any degree, even one in Media Studies (everyone mentions this one, but it's not alone in the pointless stakes), then you can spend ONE year studying to be a teacher.......

Now, I know someone who's doing this, they're thick as s***e and only took the course after getting a real job and realising that their degree is worth sod all.

So, your kids will soon be taught by many of the graduates you mock

You think teaching isn't a real job?????????????????????

[Lord Kangana]

Anyone else see the Labour Party political broadcast on ITV last night with that c*nt Piers Morgan?

No questions about his actual work as PM but we did learn that he shagged a few girls at university.

He's always been a better bloke than the figure of fun/hate that he is, mind.

Morgan or Brown?

I'll give you Brown, but Morgan....??

[Lord Kangana]

If you've got a degree, any degree, even one in Media Studies (everyone mentions this one, but it's not alone in the pointless stakes), then you can spend ONE year studying to be a teacher.......

Now, I know someone who's doing this, they're thick as s***e and only took the course after getting a real job and realising that their degree is worth sod all.

So, your kids will soon be taught by many of the graduates you mock

You think teaching isn't a real job?????????????????????

We get the society we want William. Next, the usual suspects will be complaining about lack of standards in our young people. They will not get the irony. Ever.

[Hoboh]

Just to say again, as i have before - any university in this society, increasingly dominated by media, and being transformed by it, that didn't offer degree level courses in media studies would be failing the students and our society.

And - media studies degrees are demanding courses.

That is how it is... but don't let the facts get in the way of the sneers... do carry on with the mythology...

Create a million jobs with ITV or the Sun and you might have a point!

The growth in "Media" is slowing down as rapidly if not more so than other sectors of the economy and it won't be long before the bubble bursts, media in the main is driven by capital from advertising and there is only so much of that to go round the papers, TV, magazines etc. What the hell use is a degree like that outside of a very specific narrow band?
Apprenticeships or something on those lines is really what we are missing, proper training, not the spell your name right tick 50% of the boxes correctly and hey ho your trained!