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LR & Jag Struggling

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Manicminer:
Slightly off topic. Copied off the web somewhere.

We anticipate than the unfolding global systemic crisis will experience in March 2009 a new tipping point of similar magnitude to the September 2008 panic. "National governments and international institutions only have three months left to prepare themselves to the next blow, one that could go along severe risks of social chaos. The countries which are not properly equipped to cope with a surge in unemployment and major risks on pensions will be seriously destabilized by this new public awareness."

"Contrary to the dominant stance today (coming from those experts who denied the fact that a crisis was coming up three years ago, who denied that it was global two years ago, and who denied the fact that it was systemic six months ago), we anticipate that the minimum duration of the decanting phase of the crisis is 3 years. It shall be finished neither in spring 2009, nor in summer 2009, nor at the beginning of 2010. It is only towards the end of 2010 that the situation will start stabilizing again and improving a little in some regions of the world, i.e. Asia and the Eurozone, as well as in countries producing energy, mineral and food commodities. Elsewhere, it will continue; in particular in the US and UK, and in all the countries depending on their economy, were the duration could approximate a decade. In fact these countries should not expect any real return to growth before 2018."

"In March 2009, when pension fund managers, pensioners and governments will become simultaneously aware of the fact that the crisis is there to last, that it coincides with the baby-boomer generation’s age of retirement and that the markets will not resume their 2007 levels until many long years, chaos will flood this sector and governments will reach the moment when they will be compelled to nationalize all these funds. And Argentina, who took this decision a few months ago already, will appear a pioneer

carbore:
Its a shame that we have run down our manufacturing and thats why "the City" is so important to the UK. As we now buy most of our stuff from abroad we are sending all our money away, its only the city that brings money back in as Rich Forieghn industrialists "trust" the UK finance market more than their own, so all those city boys we love to hate are pulling back all the money and bringing it back. I don't like it, but I think its the truth.

I really wish we can have a buy British campaign but unfortunately most people will always buy cheapest (Made in China) and would rather buy 5 items of poor quality that last 2 months than something really well made that lasts for ever. Its always quantity over quality. Dont even think of the environmental cost of all that junk.

And another rant, we have hammered UK industry on H&S and constant letters to the paper about "Dirty Factories" and the UK Employment laws (e.g. Employer=Welfare state)  and so it all gets shipped of to China where the employees get abused, pollution is rampant and the CO2 still warms the plant, but as its miles away we don't care and ist is nice and cheap in Tesco.

Shops are full of rubbish "Gifts" designed for people who dont know what to buy and dont need anythign anyway. Once I asked for a torque wrench and axle stands for Christmas and was told that was "boring", fortunately I have educated members of my family not to buy anything gifty.

SteveGoodz:

--- Quote from: carbore on December 23, 2008, 21:05:07 ---Its a shame that we have run down our manufacturing and thats why "the City" is so important to the UK. As we now buy most of our stuff from abroad we are sending all our money away, its only the city that brings money back in as Rich Forieghn industrialists "trust" the UK finance market more than their own, so all those city boys we love to hate are pulling back all the money and bringing it back. I don't like it, but I think its the truth.

--- End quote ---

Unfortunately, the City doesn't create wealth .. it just shifts it around from place to place. As any economist (aside from those currently working for the Government) will tell you, wealth is only generated when you create something that is sold to someone else. You are right that foreign industrialists trust the City more than almost any other financial market but we're only holding their money while they find something else (and somewhere else) to spend it on.

The new(ish) Engineering Diplomas are a step in the right direction but there aretwo fundamental issues that no Government can oversome. Firstly, graduates won't ente the workforce until too late and secondly engineering isn't "cool" so the numbers enroling are insufficient. How many teenagers leaving school want to spend the next 50 years getting their hands dirty for not much more money than a bus driver gets?

Jeez! This subject makes me depressed  :(

Range Rover Blues:
Actually Steve, without realising it you have hit the biggest problem with engineering in the UK.  I worked as an engineer for the first half of my career, and very ralrey did I ever go to work not in a suite.  Engineering isn't about weilding spanners and getting greasy, it's about designing stuff.

On the continent and engineer has the same cudos as an architect, as a doctor even, in the Uk everyone thinks I'm a grease monkey.

I'm not putting anyone down here, but there is a genuine need for the brightest and the best to consider engineering as an alternative to medicine and finance.

Trouble is, ask a 13 year old to sign up to be an engineering student for a decade and they'll run a mile.  Maths and Physics will take you anywhere (see them adverts) so why tie yourself down at an early age?

As for the salary, well you can live on it ;)  Perhaps not the everyday but 10 years ago I knew a toolmaker who was paying £35/hour to his patternamkers and they were still being "poached" by F1 related businesses.  Chances are most pitcrew have a degree of some sort.  It's a proffesion and most engineers I know earn a proffesional wage.

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