The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Blue 1]

The reporter was saying what the majority of the world was thinking: "Brand, how can you talk about distributing wealth when are you living in a three million+ house and earning truckloads? Are you just trying to be controversial to sell copies of your new book?"

Brand had no response. Brand's wealth has everything to do with his views. You simply can't go off protesting about people living in extreme poverty while there are people wiping their backsides with twenties if you're one of those people.

Russell Brand gives away a significant proportion of his income and has supported the following charities:

Amnesty International
Comic Relief
David Lynch Foundation
Hillsborough Family Support Group
Mines Advisory Group
Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation
Noreen Fraser Foundation
PETA
Small Steps Project
The Art of Elysium

and plus many others who he won't name.

He also gives his time freely to some other charities, such as Focus 12, an addictions charity.

I don't really see why having a few quid somehow means you can't talk about poverty or try to do something to help level the field.

 

[daylightrobber]

The reporter was saying what the majority of the world was thinking: "Brand, how can you talk about distributing wealth when are you living in a three million+ house and earning truckloads? Are you just trying to be controversial to sell copies of your new book?"

Brand had no response. Brand's wealth has everything to do with his views. You simply can't go off protesting about people living in extreme poverty while there are people wiping their backsides with twenties if you're one of those people.

What nonsense. Relatively speaking, I'm well off compared to many people living in poverty. I do what I can but I guess I could find ways to give more. It's about trying to right a failed system. At what point does what you're doing become hypocrisy.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

No, I made it through uni on a standard student loan and a part-time job. Could I have made it through without the part-time job? It would've been tight, but it was also a part-time job anyone could get.

Fact is, I got through uni on the standard loan available to all (in fact, there is additional funding available to poorer folk) and a regulation part-time earner. The same as anyone.

No-one needs to resort to wonga to get through uni.

"A part-time job anyone could get"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/city-news/costa-coffee-job-applications-top-1718132

I think it's fair to say most people COULD work at costa coffee - provided there weren't an average 200+ people applying for each vacancy. I wonder how many of them went on to have their benefits stopped? Would've been their own fault anyways, I'm guessin' (Eh, Bruce?)

But I digress. You've used yourself as the only example once again. Circumstances are different for everyone. You've been fortunate so don't make out it's a doddle for everybody else. What is/was right for you isn't the template for an entire generation.

 

[The Cowboy]

"A part-time job anyone could get"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/city-news/costa-coffee-job-applications-top-1718132

I think it's fair to say most people COULD work at costa coffee - provided there weren't an average 200+ people applying for each vacancy. I wonder how many of them went on to have their benefits stopped? Would've been their own fault anyways, I'm guessin' (Eh, Bruce?)

But I digress. You've used yourself as the only example once again. Circumstances are different for everyone. You've been fortunate so don't make out it's a doddle for everybody else. What is/was right for you isn't the template for an entire generation.

Haven't said its a doddle. I've merely stated a fact, as has been grudgingly agreed with, that anyone can go to uni. I'm not denying that some many find that path easier than others, but the path is open to all. No-one is excluded from being able to go to uni.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Haven't said its a doddle. I've merely stated a fact, as has been grudgingly agreed with, that anyone can go to uni. I'm not denying that some many find that path easier than others, but the path is open to all. No-one is excluded from being able to go to uni.

Anyone can win the lottery..........Anyone can rob a bank.

They can't if they can't afford a ticket; likwise they'd get collared immediately if they didn't plan meticulously. The option is still there though.

 

[Pienaar's gloves]

Difficult to imagine that the national picture is a Tory lead.

I know it's true but all my mates are voting Green or Labour (one Sinn Fein in his home constituency).

Young people in the north seem to care little for the Tories.

 

[sd_1992]

Of course some poor kids go to university - I'm a working class lad who had the determination and school support to go to a good uni - but there is no denying that there are barriers in place, not least poverty. Nobody on here can seriously claim, for example, that the huge tuition fees we have today have not prevented some poorer students from even bothering. And that is a serious failure in talent development and a serious limiting of life chances.

More students from less privileged backgrounds are going to university now than when the fees were lower.

 

[Joey66]

I... I just don't...

well vote for them then I do get it ok!

 

[daylightrobber]

More students from less privileged backgrounds are going to university now than when the fees were lower.

Doesn't tell the whole story though. Applications are way lower than they were in 2011, the year the fee rise was announced. 2011 saw a massive spike in applications as students attempted to beat the fee hike. After the £9000 fee came into effect both applications and admissions went down. However, since 2012 Universities have started to open up more places. Applications are slowly staring to rise again, whilst a higher proportion of students are being accepted. Less people want to go to uni, more people are being accepted.

 

[davek]

That poll I mentioned last night has just been published :

CON moves to 5% lead amongst those certain to vote with Ipsos-MORI
CON 35 +2
LAB 30 -5
LD 8 +1
UKIP 10=
GRN 8 =

Along with the Ashcroft poll earlier this week, that looks an outlier. As far as I can make out, Ipsos Mori have gone from narrow Labour, leads using their usual methodology, to now (counting only people certain to vote) giving the Tories a 5% lead...a 7 point swing in 2 weeks!

Unlikely.

The Tories have definitely edged ahead though in the polls, although not enough to form a government without the LDs and the more crazier right wing parties like UKIP/DUP who's social conservatism will be a massive headache for them.

This is going to be a chimpanzees tea party after May 7th if the figures stay like this.

 

[glorydaze]

As I posted yesterday UCAS figures show a record 40% of 18/19 year olds entered in 2013, higher than 2011.

 

[glorydaze]

Along with the Ashcroft poll earlier this week, that looks an outlier. As far as I can make out, Ipsos Mori have gone from narrow Labour, leads using their usual methodology, to now (counting only people certain to vote) giving the Tories a 5% lead...a 7 point swing in 2 weeks!

Unlikely.

The Tories have definitely edged ahead though in the polls, although not enough to form a government without the LDs and the more crazier right wing parties like UKIP/DUP who's social conservatism will be a massive headache for them.

This is going to be a chimpanzees tea party after May 7th if the figures stay like this.

It's been a chimpanzees tea party for the last forty odd years.

 

[daylightrobber]

As I posted yesterday UCAS figures show a record 40% of 18/19 year olds entered in 2013, higher than 2011.

But there are less people applying. Why is that? Is it because they're worried about the debt?

 

[glorydaze]

But there are less people applying. Why is that? Is it because they're worried about the debt?

Could be that yes. Suppose some body should investigate all the reasons and address any of concern.

 

[Walken]

The reporter was saying what the majority of the world was thinking: "Brand, how can you talk about distributing wealth when are you living in a three million+ house and earning truckloads? Are you just trying to be controversial to sell copies of your new book?"

Brand had no response. Brand's wealth has everything to do with his views. You simply can't go off protesting about people living in extreme poverty while there are people wiping their backsides with twenties if you're one of those people.

I know exactly what the reporter was saying and it is completely irrelevant, it's some kind of strange reverse snobbery that you seem to think only the poor and hard done by can voice an opinion, those who have done well for themselves should keep quiet, unless they disturb the world order, well fortunately not everyone holds the same selfish values as the conservative party, in fact socialist movements where often started by the well off, believe it or not some people just want to see a fairer world, do you think the fabian society was a working class movement only, your argument makes no sense at all