Expensive cars!

[Guy]

TBH, I am much to impatient to read the whole of all these essays...

But I will say that the data suggests that, apart from a brief period from about 1965 to 1980,wealth and income inequality (in most countries) is no higher now that it was from the start of human civilisation.

Think Dickensian workhouses, Medieval serfs, Roman slaves, etc vs Pharohs, Vanderbilts, Rhodes, etc.

I'm not saying that's a good thing, just that it has been commonplace for centuries.

I think you have a point when we look back through ancient history but more recent history (post war) suggests otherwise.

There was a fascinating piece written a few years ago by an American Billionaire, recognising his good fortune but also calling for change. It talks about the potential for revolution driven by the increased greed of the wealthy as the gap between the CEO and the shop floor grows significantly. It is worth a read if you have a few minutes;
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/the-pitchforks-are-coming-for-us-plutocrats-108014

A more recent report by the EPI in the US headlined CEO pay had increased 940% vs typical worker 12% taking into account inflation over the past 30 years.

CEO compensation has grown 940% since 1978: Typical worker compensation has risen only 12% during that time

The latest report in EPI’s annual series analyzing current and long-term trends in CEO compensation.

www.epi.org

 

[lifes2short]

I know extremely wealthy people who barter over the cost of a pint. I also know many who perceive their wealth as more than what is actually the case yet get themselves in debt to finance 6 figure cars.

spot on

 

[lifes2short]

Many very wealthy people drive old, not very valuable cars and may not have massive incomes (when compared to their wealth) but could be living in a huge country pile mortgage free.

prime example if i remember correctly

 

[lifes2short]

We are paying an enormous tax burden, but how much is being wasted. I heard one example from the NHS. Apparently the cleaners couldn’t clean the lights in the hospitals because it’s dangerous using step ladders, so a contract has been awarded to rent-o-kill. At least so I heard…
Could it be rent o kill are ripping off the NHS, and who came up with this and many other crazy decisions…
How many are being enriched by all this daft nonsense….

agreed, the same can be said about all the local authorities that are in big financial trouble now and some that have gone bankrupt such as Birmingham, some have the fraud squad involved no doubt due to brown envelopes in exchange for awarding contracts

 

[CatmanV2]

agreed, the same can be said about all the local authorities that are in big financial trouble now and some that have gone bankrupt such as Birmingham, some have the fraud squad involved no doubt due to brown envelopes in exchange for awarding contracts

Ahh yes, Birmingham:
Equal pay claims of up to £760m are among the bills it cannot afford.
Alongside equal pay, the authority is counting the cost of an £80m overspend on an IT project called Oracle.

No need for brown envelopes when elected officials think they are industry experts, I feel.

C

 

[zagatoes30]

Ahh yes, Birmingham:
Equal pay claims of up to £760m are among the bills it cannot afford.
Alongside equal pay, the authority is counting the cost of an £80m overspend on an IT project called Oracle.

No need for brown envelopes when elected officials think they are industry experts, I feel.

C

£80m overspend on Oracle, I think they got off lightly

 

[CatmanV2]

£80m overspend on Oracle, I think they got off lightly

Yeah, *called* Oracle. I don't think it was an Oracle deployment (Although I could well be wrong!) Still pales into insignificance at their HR issues.

C