The Politics Thread

[mrkint]

What, putting up with you?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

What, putting up with you?

Yes - you see, she could be funny sometimes!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

What, putting up with you?

Yes - you see, she could be funny sometimes!

funny in a slightly dour miserable way - typically Polish.

[mrkint]

Also, are you in or out for Saturday?

[mrkint]

What, putting up with you?

Yes - you see, she could be funny sometimes!

funny in a slightly dour miserable way - typically Polish.

I always find the Finnish are good for dour, miserable humour. Sadly for them, they never seen to intend it to be humorous.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

What, putting up with you?

Yes - you see, she could be funny sometimes!

funny in a slightly dour miserable way - typically Polish.

I always find the Finnish are good for dour, miserable humour. Sadly for them, they never seen to intend it to be humorous.

Unfortunately I don't know any Finns. Which is a pity, I'm trying to collect the entire set. I knew Lapp friends would be difficult to acquire but Finns seem to be as equally as elusive.

[Bruce Rioja]

Strangely enough, I find the people of the Friesland area of Holland to be some of the most miserable sods that I've ever met. Totally contrasting from their countrymen.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

What, putting up with you?

Yes - you see, she could be funny sometimes!

funny in a slightly dour miserable way - typically Polish.

I always find the Finnish are good for dour, miserable humour. Sadly for them, they never seen to intend it to be humorous.

Unfortunately I don't know any Finns. Which is a pity, I'm trying to collect the entire set. I knew Lapp friends would be difficult to acquire but Finns seem to be as equally as elusive.

Used to work with a few Finns. A little dour on the outside, but quite a good laugh once you got through. 1 of them were quite bright and bubbly. Now, the French. They were a pain in the arse.

[Beefheart]

I met some Swedes in Berlin that were a good laugh.

[mrkint]

now that's a turnip for the books.

[thebish]

Apparently last time around we were the only ones to straight up open the gates. This time around others, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland are doing so, and so the thinking goes the Romanians in particular will go to Italy and Spain where the language and culture are similar, and both will pick the currently stronger economies of Holland and Germany. Apparently.

I knew about Germany as the immediate neighbours, but wasn't aware of the others.

German wages are low and unattractive anyway, though - that's one of the main reasons they still have a manufacturing base.

unattractive to Romanians or unattractive to Brits?

[thebish]

I went out with a Polish girl (perhaps not your usual case - very highly educated and had done a law degree, a Masters and the LPC all in the UK and had a training contract at a second tier City firm) for 18 months, some of which were spent living with her.

Lovely girl, but I was so henpecked near the end that I couldn't handle it anymore.

She always said that our relationship was a good example of the Poles coming over to do the jobs that the British just wouldn't do.

[Athers]

^ Quick work there, Athers! Two dates, live with her and then part company. As for our Polish friends I have always got on very well with them. Grew up within something of a post-war Polish community and my two best pals were from refugee families. More recently have had lots of contact with them and without exception have found them warm and friendly people.

Oops! Different ladies

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Apparently last time around we were the only ones to straight up open the gates. This time around others, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland are doing so, and so the thinking goes the Romanians in particular will go to Italy and Spain where the language and culture are similar, and both will pick the currently stronger economies of Holland and Germany. Apparently.

I knew about Germany as the immediate neighbours, but wasn't aware of the others.

German wages are low and unattractive anyway, though - that's one of the main reasons they still have a manufacturing base.

unattractive to Romanians or unattractive to Brits?

Unattractive to anyone choosing between Germany and a country that pays higher wages.

[thebish]

Apparently last time around we were the only ones to straight up open the gates. This time around others, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland are doing so, and so the thinking goes the Romanians in particular will go to Italy and Spain where the language and culture are similar, and both will pick the currently stronger economies of Holland and Germany. Apparently.

I knew about Germany as the immediate neighbours, but wasn't aware of the others.

German wages are low and unattractive anyway, though - that's one of the main reasons they still have a manufacturing base.

unattractive to Romanians or unattractive to Brits?

Unattractive to anyone choosing between Germany and a country that pays higher wages.

i have to admit i am taking your word for it, though.. what is the wage-difference between UK and Germany in the manufacturing sector?

this article suggests it is not as obviously the case as you seem to suggest:

http://www.channel4.com/news/why-did-gm ... er-germany

Pay for skilled manual workers is higher in Germany than in Britain. According to statistics from the Federation of European Employers, the median pay for skilled manual workers in Germany is 17.99 euros per hour. The equivalent pay for a UK skilled manual worker is 14.42 euros.

[Athers]

Check this out for a laugh

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Apparently last time around we were the only ones to straight up open the gates. This time around others, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland are doing so, and so the thinking goes the Romanians in particular will go to Italy and Spain where the language and culture are similar, and both will pick the currently stronger economies of Holland and Germany. Apparently.

I knew about Germany as the immediate neighbours, but wasn't aware of the others.

German wages are low and unattractive anyway, though - that's one of the main reasons they still have a manufacturing base.

unattractive to Romanians or unattractive to Brits?

Unattractive to anyone choosing between Germany and a country that pays higher wages.

i have to admit i am taking your word for it, though.. what is the wage-difference between UK and Germany in the manufacturing sector?

this article suggests it is not as obviously the case as you seem to suggest:

http://www.channel4.com/news/why-did-gm ... er-germany

Pay for skilled manual workers is higher in Germany than in Britain. According to statistics from the Federation of European Employers, the median pay for skilled manual workers in Germany is 17.99 euros per hour. The equivalent pay for a UK skilled manual worker is 14.42 euros.

Interesting. I don't have the figures we need here, but it does seem that it might to apply to manufacturing.

I think it's articles like this that have lodged in my memory: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oc ... ms-germany" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

Interesting. I don't have the figures we need here, but it does seem that it might to apply to manufacturing.

I think it's articles like this that have lodged in my memory: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oc ... ms-germany" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think Merkel is in favour of introducing a minimum wage, isn;t she - though I may have that wrong and I don't know if she has any timescale in hand - almost certainly not before the Romanians sweep across europe like a huge watery flood swamp tidal wave..

car production IS manufacturing isn't it?

[Prufrock]

Check this out for a laugh

That's brilliant!

[thebish]

I think it's articles like this that have lodged in my memory: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oc ... ms-germany" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

well - I didn't think you read the Guardian - or took it seriously!!