... the elephant in our room

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the most important finding from our research is the existence of a distinctive "elite" class. We are so used to turning the telescope on the poor and disadvantaged that sociologists have had little to say about those who are at the apex of British society. Sociological studies of class have no specific place for an elite category. What we have shown is that this very wealthy class is now clearly distinguished from all the other classes in Britain, and the economic differences are huge. That is a powerful and unsettling finding.

one of the sociologists responsible for the BBC Class Calculator says, amongst other things, they really use a much more subtle multi component blah blah etc


what is interesting is the degree of surprise in the quoted paragraph, the economic position of the elite and the gross inequality in the UK have been very apparent for some time now ...at least they illustrated just how status conscious British society can be ...

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

some things you just can not make up

miscellanea of gratuitous class insults

cancer

justice

[eighthobstruction]

Sometimes they don't care if you can see they elephant....http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...son-brother-jo

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

how the elephant grew

[teamsaint]

how the elephant grew

Excellent article that, I recommend it
Thanks Jazzer.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

wicki

original article by Alan B. Krueger
Chairman, Council of
Economic Advisers
January 12, 2012


i do feel that Comprehensive Education has failed to address social inequality, opportunity and social mobility except to exacerbate the problems ... painful as that is for a social democrat to assert ...

if you fail to attend one of the top 20 or so Universities you can anticipate a career as a barista if you are fortunate

"A majority of employees offering the best-paid graduate jobs target … only 19 universities. The students who attend those 19 universities disproportionately spent their childhoods in the south of England."

Milburn

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

where have we read this before ...

Britain's banking industry is still operating a toxic culture which showers riches on those who indulge in bad behaviour and where bullying is rife – according to its own staff.
indie

but not just the banks eh ... the sociopath gangster culture pervades the entire social system in this country ... secrecy lies bullying loot careerism wrongdoing .... all over innit ....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

and the elephant is sitting heavily on bright poor kids these days [1944 Act any one?]

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well he would say that wouldn't he?

[amateur51]

well he would say that wouldn't he?

Was G4S's final balance sheet after the near-debacle of the 2012 Olympics security ever published? The new miscalculation appears to be down to civil servants' and minsters' failure to communicate with each other as to G4S' greed. In a world of contracting out services what do we pay civil servants and minsters for if it is not to negotiate and to sign-off contracts and to ensure that the terms of contracts are adhered to and that the project comes in on budget. And to ensure that the paperwork is kept clear and up-to-date so that in-coming staff get a clear picture of the situation.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

a report of interest

..and a counter blast in the Graun

The data on kids' abilities on entering school isn't new, it's published by the Office for National Statistics and actuallyshows the vast majority of kids (over 90% of girls, between 80 and 90% of boys) meeting most targets (apart from writing, in which it's only 80% of girls and 63% of boys). Attainment has improved in every subject area, across both genders, since 2011. The targets aren't piffling, incidentally – they are significantly beyond "answering to your name".