Graham Williamson looks at the historic rhetoric against ‘idlers’ and ‘slackers’ and how it suggests a deep sense of futility in the Conservative philosophy of relentless ambition
Another incredible thought provoker. Bertrand had it right with the four hour work day. What’s fascinating from an American perspective is the biggest recipients of welfare are wealthy gops hoovering up government subsidies
At school in the 1950s in a citizenship class (do they still exist) our teacher, obviously a (Manchester) Guardian reading woke lefty, stated it's part of Tory policy to have a pool of unemployed as an incentive to others to work for fear of joining them.
Johnson and Hancock are fine examples of work shy scroungers, or don't they count.
Employees show the same loyalty to employers as they receive, none. They all know they can be sacked (made redundant) any day. Comments often heard are "we don't count, we're just a number on a pay slip".
I worked from after leaving school at 16 until I retired at 65, however from my mid twenties you could say I took early retirement, working as a countryside ranger. living and working in Cumbria, Scotland and Wales. I'm still involved in conservation, recording plants and wildlife, but now as a volunteer.
A businessman was standing at the end of the pier in a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied that it only took a little while. The businessman then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The businessman then asked: “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said: “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend time with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life”.
The businessman scoffed. “I am a Wharton MBA / Conservative politician and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small village and move to the nearest city and perhaps even our capital where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked: “But how long will this all take?”
To which the businessman replied: “Fifteen or twenty years”.
“But what then?”
The businessman laughed and said: “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions”.
“Millions? Then what?”
The businessman said: “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends”.
Another incredible thought provoker. Bertrand had it right with the four hour work day. What’s fascinating from an American perspective is the biggest recipients of welfare are wealthy gops hoovering up government subsidies
At school in the 1950s in a citizenship class (do they still exist) our teacher, obviously a (Manchester) Guardian reading woke lefty, stated it's part of Tory policy to have a pool of unemployed as an incentive to others to work for fear of joining them.
Johnson and Hancock are fine examples of work shy scroungers, or don't they count.
Employees show the same loyalty to employers as they receive, none. They all know they can be sacked (made redundant) any day. Comments often heard are "we don't count, we're just a number on a pay slip".
I worked from after leaving school at 16 until I retired at 65, however from my mid twenties you could say I took early retirement, working as a countryside ranger. living and working in Cumbria, Scotland and Wales. I'm still involved in conservation, recording plants and wildlife, but now as a volunteer.
A businessman was standing at the end of the pier in a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied that it only took a little while. The businessman then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The businessman then asked: “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said: “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend time with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life”.
The businessman scoffed. “I am a Wharton MBA / Conservative politician and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small village and move to the nearest city and perhaps even our capital where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked: “But how long will this all take?”
To which the businessman replied: “Fifteen or twenty years”.
“But what then?”
The businessman laughed and said: “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions”.
“Millions? Then what?”
The businessman said: “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends”.
HTH
Interesting article vague memory of One Ebenezer Scrooge tear into his nephew and employee asking What have you to be cheerful about
Question which former Tory minister,born in the same era or possibly earlier , does Scrooge bring to mind