Sounds like the old Keynsian/Monetarist argument. It's interesting to see neo-Keynesism becoming faxhionable again. In NZ we are going back to a much simpler system. The government has taken over our regional and city council because they have disagreed with the govt. They have now announced plans to abolish the current University boards because they are not following government policy. Research based funding is to be abolished and to be relaced with funding connected to 'entrepreneurial' activity. If we can get students to pay fees then make them work in sweat shops challenging the Chinese, the govt will give us fundng. All we have to do in addition is hand out a degree at the end of three years. It doesn't matter if the degree is worthless. Sorry about the rant
The universities here do not generally go in for research or anything that will earn them money, they only have to teach. (Elite universities are a bit different.) It will cost a student about £250 pa in insurance and social security payments to go to one. All other fees are paid for by the state. The result is that at the end of the first year there is a 65%-70% drop-out when they find that they are expected to do some work. My young friend who is at the university in Poitiers studying law, has told me that there are an increasing number of English students there as they cannot afford the fees in England. He had to do a year of French before they would allow him onto his course and has said that the foreign students work harder to progress because they believe that they are lucky to have the chance, whereas the French ones take it for granted as it keeps them off the unemployment role.
What is the view on the "rural street" OFH? I just listened to a very good programme on 5 Live where they interviewed a lot of people in Paris celebrating the new Socialist president - obviously as they were celebrating they only had good things to say, but one comment caught my ear. Apparently François Hollande has promised to employ 60K new teachers, when the interviewer asked how they would be paid for the women interviewee replied "it doesn't matter!". I suspect that this type of spending spree may put some strain on the German - French alliance within the EU if France try to spend their way out of a recession. It seems that our Tory boy IDS is claiming that this will start a flood of rich French crossing the channel - but I thought they already just jumped in their cars and crossed into Belgium or Switzerland? But would be interested in hearing the view of Joseph public from outside of Paris - is it a matter of Burgundy now and Cote De Rhone tomorrow? NZ - that is scary stuff down there. I had always thought of NZ as being a very conservative (with a small c) country - that is bordering on state fascism!
As an outsider in some ways it is interesting to watch what has been going on. From my viewpoint Sarko comes over as an arrogant elitist person and Hollande someone who would say whatever he thought people wanted to hear with little idea of what he was committing to. As I live, just, in the Vienne there is a huge difference between us rural folks and the residents in Poitiers. In the first round Sarko was well ahead in these parts, but was hammered in the big city. Not that surprising as we yokels are somewhat out numbered, but there is a close correlation between what happens in rural England and rural France. The general feeling as I can make it out from TV and local press is that no matter what Hollande likes to think, nothing much will change as Germany will continue to dictate economic policy. A year ago Sarko was saying that he wanted more growth, yet he was pushed into a corner because of the level of debt in the country. Hollande wants to stimulate the economy, yet talks of imposing large tax burdens on industries which seems odd. They are already saying that they pay too much into the social fund. It will be interesting to see how the markets react to the French and Greek elections today, something that is close to my heart with exchange rates being quite important to me.
Jean-Marie Le Pen has retired now ak, and the party is led by his daughter. They did well in the first round of voting getting 20% of the votes, but apart from one or two places no one takes them seriously.
I just cannot see how France could go on a big spending spree to stimulate the economy without risking the wrath of the Germans as it will leave them as the lone country trying to whip the likes of Greece, Spain, Italy and Ireland into massive austerity programmes. Very interesting times and as OFH writes, it will be very interesting when the markets open in the morning (well not in the UK though)...
Góðan daginn til allra. Cappuccino, coffee, tea donuts and fruit are on the bar. Frothy cappuccinos for for al, HH, Leon and W_Y Coffees for COYH, Frenchie, Kev rob theo and vic-rijrode Strong coffee for Sandy Milky coffee for Yorkie Espresso for SuffolkHorn Strong black coffees for Bragi Norway and zen Black coffee half hot half cold and no sugar for Charlie Tea for BHD jsybarry jerzeypie Lloydinio NZ and BCFC Red Tea with skimmed milk and no sugar for GG hot chocolate with marshmallows for BBW Caramel latte for Hornette I hope you all enjoy your holiday.
Lovely morning here, real tee shirt and shorts weather. I will have my coffee then get on with some jobs. There always seems to be a lot to do before you go on holiday. Grass cutting first I think to prevent it getting out of hand, then get the haricot vert in as they are shooting now in my ice cream tub. Whatever you are doing, have a good day.
Similar story here - after a bright and sunny start & relatively mild 8C, the temp. has just plummeted to zero. Some ominously coloured clouds over the sea suggest more snow this afternoon. Time to switch on the percolator methinks.
I know Jen Marie Le Pen has gone and is now Marine Le Pen in his seat, but my point was that at least the choice was between two people who were appearing to be more honest or less extreme than the choice of 2002. The króna is nearly the same in value against the the euro since friday. ISK162.428 will change for EUR1.00 then and ISK163.427. Krónur were getting stronger but has fallen a small since last week.
Well a few jobs and a risk assessment done for work....what to do now? I might catch up on some reading listening to Adele... Come on Wrexham, smash those dirty tramps..
Love what was just said by the Sky commentator: "West Ham in the comfort zone, Cardiff in the twilight zone"
Maybe he should stick to playing rather than waffling. Time for us to venture into non-league again, and go a bit further down the pyramid than the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier too. As a regular pundit on The Football League Show, Steve Claridge would usually be a spectator at Upton Park today but instead he has dusted off those boots of his again at the ripe old age of 46. Claridge played today for Gosport Borough against Poole Town in the Southern League Division One South & West play-off final - Poole were 1-0 up at half-time but Claridge equalised in the 91st minute and scored again in extra time.
