The WWG Soapbox

It’s a while since anyone has written in the soapbox, so, i thought i would try and figure out how to do it. Now the thing, is if i can manage to actually get something written here then anyone can. Matt has given us the opportunity to post any rant or useful piece of information here, so come on guys give it a go.

As my information isn’t terribly useful, i will not go on too long, so from one computer phobe to all of my friends in the WWG, Have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008, and may we all get published and earn loads of money!!!!

From Marisha Porter, author of many unpublished works, still to be discovered!!

It is difficult to write about the subject of ‘wealth’ or ‘money’, without sounding as if you are jealous of those who have it. In UK, wealth was historically in the hands of the landed gentry or industrialists. However, compulsory schooling, coupled with the welfare state, created a level playing field so that the ‘have nots’ could compete with those who have. We all applaud individuals such as Allan Sugar who started with little but created their own business empire.

Wealth has always been a point of fascination. In 1906, Vilfredo Pareto an Italian economist, calculated that 80% of the wealth of Switzerland was owned by 20% of the population. Subsequent studies have shown that this 80/20 rule applies not only to the Swiss but to other nations as well. It is difficult to identify what percentages are true for U.K. today. Some commentators have stated that the rich have got richer with little improvement for the man at the bottom of the money pile. However, all has not been milk and honey for the landed gentry. Many have seen their wealth decline and many have been forced to diversify by opening their stately homes to the public in order to survive.

If it is not the landed gentry that now hold the wealth, then where has it gone? The answer to this is quite simple. We now have the emergence of the ‘nouveau rich’ or more correctly, the ‘super rich’. These terms broadly encompass film stars, singers, sports stars, and some writers. But with the creation of the new super rich, a further problem has emerged. This is highlighted by the fact that the new ‘super-rich’ have displaced saints and heroes, the people we used to look up to, admire and aspire to. Saints and heroes are no longer cool. Our values, society and our safety are being perniciously altered by the seduction of glitz and greed. Glory be to Saint Wayne (Rooney) and Saint Jonathan (Ross).

The imbalance in the wealth allocation in UK has also created a further anomaly, that of remuneration. High levels of remuneration were always associated with the professions such as law or medicine. This is no longer true. Take the case of the professional footballer. Many earn £130K a week, which equates to £6.76 million a year. On the other hand a GP earns a £100K a year. It is easy to calculate that a GP would have to work for about 67 years to earn what a footballer gets in a single year. Similarly, a nurse would have to work for something like 220 years. Who do the most for society? Who should we value the most?

Vilfredo Pareto would be turning in his grave if he were aware that his 80/20 rule was going berserk. Anyway, he can rest easy in the thought that at least in his era they knew what was really important and what should be valued. And it wasn’t money. If only we recognised that today then UK would be a better, safer place, for everyone.

Mike Gillingham

Yesterday, I became a fully fledged member of the world of driving.  Thirty stressful minutes of driving around Hearn Bay and a complete stranger deemed me good enough to gain the plastic pink license I have been lusting after…a ticket to freedom.  Before the test the examiner missed my numerous stalls, my dubious squeeze between 2 buses and my irritation at other road users.  Yet, because I managed to perform adequately for a mere 30 minutes, that PASS box was ticked.

 Put like this, it makes you realise why most people on the road drive like maniacs.  It’s not the other cars you have you watch out for, it’s the nuts behind the wheels. They too behaved for 30 minutes to gain the lifetime privelege of bumper bruising, driving so close I can see what the Chav behind me had for breakfast.  Penny the  Punto is sitting on the drive calling my name, but until that cover note appears and I get to the Post Office for my tax disc, I STILL can’t get on the road.   Generally, learning to drive SHOULD be a walk in the park, but it has driven…..me……insane…….

For a number of weeks we have had this brilliant facility that allows us humble WWG members to prepare and upload our own soapbox contributions. As a result, I have been visiting the site nearly everyday in the hope that one of our members has taken the plunge and posted something. But so far nothing. Zilch!

There are probably many reasons why nobody has taken the plunge. Matt has become a busy executive, as has Annaliese. They must both be too busy. Marisha can never get near her computer because of the grandchildren. Jo is too busy quilting. Pam is always in France and Pat, Derek and Mary are not hooked up yet. As for our other members, Sue and John, who knows! 

Being tardy to be first is a normal human frailty. Children are nearly always reluctant to be first. Adults are generally the same. The same can be said for most governments. The USA is of course a notable exception, particularly when it comes to armed conflict. Thankfully the British government is not so quick off the mark in such matters.

The Stern Report published yesterday, highlighted the need to heed the warnings on global warming and pollution and the need for urgent action if the world is not to be irrepairably damaged. It is something we have known about for quite a considerable time but no country has really taken the lead. No government has wanted to be first because unpopular actions do not bring in votes. Therefore, doing nothing is an easy option.

With the Stern report, the British government has now got the opportunity to take the plunge and adopt cutting edge measures to slow down global warming. It could build the path for others to follow. It is perhaps an irrelevant argument that the efforts of one country alone are useless in the overall battle to fight pollution. If we make the effort, others will follow. If we don’t set an example, who will?

In the end of the day, it’s all about daring to be first. Our world deserves it.

Mike Gillingham

Welcome to the Woodham Writers Soapbox……new posts coming soon!