The Underscore Archives

On 04/12/06, peter church <peter.church at church-consultancy.co.uk> wrote:
> Wasting some tax payers money to keep some people in jobs, because its
> probably slightly cheaper than having anohter industry wiped out like ship
> building or coal and steel mining...

That's the thing.. it's not cheaper - it's usually far far more expensive.

Worse, it only applies to labour heartland big industry..

When the mines closed in cornwall, there was no bailout package, no
enticements for foreign companies to invest, just some cheap courses
in how to use word and excel.

Fishermen seem to be getting an ok package to leave the industry,
until you look at how much they have to invest in a trawler (a hell of
a lot of money) and the fact they risk their lives every day at sea,
then it looks abysmal.

Now we have a company that's investing in getting the last working
mine in the UK (and probably the EU) back to work and the regional
development outfit (based up in bristol) wants to build new houses, a
handful of offices, and a little touristy place on it. So.. choosing
between using local skills - many of them graduate engineer level,
which would be some of the best skilled and paid jobs in the area, and
a call centre, another giant low-budget supermarket and a bunch of
luxury 4 bed houses that locals can't afford.

grrh!

A.

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