Films you've seen lately

[teamsaint]

The country is richer than ever. But the people who are enabling that to continue, the 20 to 50 age group, face falling or stagnant wages, exorbitant housing costs, with home ownership no longer a realistic possibility for many in their 20s and 30s, an effective 10% surtax on the graduate status that is the minimum for most jobs on average pay, desperately poor and expensive pension provision, ( much worse than that of 20 years ago, ) and a state pension age inexorably rising.

Bad working conditions are just the start point for the generational shambles that has been created......

[Serial_Apologist]

The country is richer than ever. But the people who are enabling that to continue, the 20 to 50 age group, face falling or stagnant wages, exorbitant housing costs, with home ownership no longer a realistic possibility for many in their 20s and 30s, an effective 10% surtax on the graduate status that is the minimum for most jobs on average pay, desperately poor and expensive pension provision, ( much worse than that of 20 years ago, ) and a state pension age inexorably rising.

Bad working conditions are just the start point for the generational shambles that has been created......

Very well said.

The first half of today's studio discussion on The Big Questions, on BBC1 and broadcast from locally, dealt with the very issue, asking whether London was affordable to live in for anyone below the category of very rich, and Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol came up for mention likewise, though it wouldn't surprise me if Southampton was close. The one-parent mum in the film booted out from her London lodgings and "redeployed" to Newcastle was a plausible representation of many such people.

[Cockney Sparrow]

The country is richer than ever. But the people who are enabling that to continue, the 20 to 50 age group, face falling or stagnant wages, exorbitant housing costs, with home ownership no longer a realistic possibility for many in their 20s and 30s, an effective 10% surtax on the graduate status that is the minimum for most jobs on average pay, desperately poor and expensive pension provision, ( much worse than that of 20 years ago, ) and a state pension age inexorably rising.

Bad working conditions are just the start point for the generational shambles that has been created......

Exactly my own thoughts. I have been aghast that the political class have been allowed to get away with housing costs that pre-empt so much of that generation's income. And the other costs you list.
From the other side if the world, Mrs CS and I listen to news programs (Today as we prepare our evening meal, etc - we're on holiday in N Zealand) and note that Universal credit introduction is to be limited to 10,000 "trial" with another vote in Parliament before any further transitions go forward. We are related to someone with learning difficulties and they were disapplied from benefits. Thank goodness they have a wider family for support - and it's necessary to apply for Universal Credit online.
I wonder how long the younger, and other, generations are going to stand for it. (Perhaps the same thought occurred to the present SOS for pensions and benefits.

[Serial_Apologist]

Exactly my own thoughts. I have been aghast that the political class have been allowed to get away with housing costs that pre-empt so much of that generation's income. And the other costs you list.
From the other side if the world, Mrs CS and I listen to news programs (Today as we prepare our evening meal, etc - we're on holiday in N Zealand) and note that Universal credit introduction is to be limited to 10,000 "trial" with another vote in Parliament before any further transitions go forward. We are related to someone with learning difficulties and they were disapplied from benefits. Thank goodness they have a wider family for support - and it's necessary to apply for Universal Credit online.
I wonder how long the younger, and other, generations are going to stand for it. (Perhaps the same thought occurred to the present SOS for pensions and benefits.

Dealing with the human representatives of the faceless computerised bureaucracy has become akin to the Sorcerer's Apprentice tale, in which the hapless individual wishing to hold onto his or her job takes action to increase productivity by applying an automated procedure which them sets off an exponential process which demotivates anyone from either caring or taking the blame, because at their level they're not culpable. We saw the despair etched into the faces of the Job Centre staff on I Daniel Blake. This is the problem - I've been thinking of starting a separate thread asking if we've all become overdependent on hi-tech, especially automated "solutions" to problems that are purely endemic to this system of going about daily affairs and wouldn't be needed if it were replaced by something arrived at cross-communally rather than at various inaccessible government levels; so far I just haven't had the nerve to do so, however, it being so political!

[Constantbee]

I Daniel Blake, the acclaimed Ken Loach film, is showing on BBC2 tonight at 9.45.

Seen it. A good film rather than a great one imv. Made 30 years too late, that's all

[Pegleg]

I simply cannot watch “I, Daniel Blake”, the rage would send my BP sky high. As someone with first hand experience of assessment for DLA and more recently PIP, I have nothing but contempt for all Governments and contractors who knowingly preside over this rotten corrupt system.

Forumistas, should hardly need reminding of the old proverb: “There but for the grace of God go I”. But, sadly just how many chairs would we need to tie down all those who need to re-learn their humanity.

[ardcarp]

I wonder how long the younger, and other, generations are going to stand for it.

While I certainly don't condone violence of any sort (e.g. by some of the gilets jaunes), I am actually very cross about the apathy of a younger generation. Does anyone suppose French students would have tolerated for one second the increase in university tuition fee from £3000 to £9000+ per annum?* It really is up to a younger generation to come off their Costa-Netflix-Facebook fix and DO something!

* Annual fees of L'Universite du Maine at Le Mans are 1500 Euros. And there is MUCH more contact time with lecturers.

[Constantbee]

.

... yes : we saw The Favourite yesterday and loved every moment of it. Certainly the best film of the year so far...

Colman, Weisz, and Stone all at the top of their game, stonking performances. Every shot a beautiful photograph in its own right. Gorgeous costumes and settings. Funny, filthy, witty, moving.

.

Looking forward to this one A part just made for Olivia Colman, a worthy Golden Globe winner. Liked her a lot in The Night Manager (Feb 2016, based on the Le Carré novel).

[Pegleg]

Dealing with the human representatives of the faceless computerised bureaucracy has become akin to the Sorcerer's Apprentice tale, in which the hapless individual wishing to hold onto his or her job takes action to increase productivity by applying an automated procedure which them sets off an exponential process which demotivates anyone from either caring or taking the blame, because at their level they're not culpable. We saw the despair etched into the faces of the Job Centre staff on I Daniel Blake. This is the problem - I've been thinking of starting a separate thread asking if we've all become overdependent on hi-tech, especially automated "solutions" to problems that are purely endemic to this system of going about daily affairs and wouldn't be needed if it were replaced by something arrived at cross-communally rather than at various inaccessible government levels; so far I just haven't had the nerve to do so, however, it being so political!

Bureaucracy doesn't have to be computerised to be faceless, but in the modern era you wonder just how often Governments have turned to IT as if it was a solution in itself. Over the last couple of decades all Governments have shown themselves to be inept as far as the development of large scale IT projects are concerned. How anyone could imagine a Universal Credit system that depends on internet access and real-time assessment of a claimants on-going financial situation would work without understanding the lives/skill/etc of claimants is beyond me.

In the case of DLA and PIP, my understanding is it largely based on the purchase of an off-the-self IT system originally designed for Occupational Therapy assessments. The automated procedure the so-called health professional assessor follows is wholly inadequate for the task, add the various corrupt practices and the "system" taken as a while is a disaster for the genuinely sick and diasble attempting to access benefits they are entitled to.

[MrGongGong]

Bureaucracy doesn't have to be computerised to be faceless, but in the modern era you wonder just how often Governments have turned to IT as if it was a solution in itself. Over the last couple of decades all Governments have shown themselves to be inept as far as the development of large scale IT projects are concerned. How anyone could imagine a Universal Credit system that depends on internet access and real-time assessment of a claimants on-going financial situation would work without understanding the lives/skill/etc of claimants is beyond me.

In the case of DLA and PIP, my understanding is it largely based on the purchase of an off-the-self IT system originally designed for Occupational Therapy assessments. The automated procedure the so-called health professional assessor follows is wholly inadequate for the task, add the various corrupt practices and the "system" taken as a while is a disaster for the genuinely sick and diasble attempting to access benefits they are entitled to.

Of course with PIP you aren't allowed to use technology
so the "personalised form" has to be sent to you to fill in by hand (so that excludes anyone who is blind using a screen reader for a start)
you aren't allowed to use digital means to record the "interview" and so on and so on

Much of which is deliberately designed to make the whole process completely inaccessible to anyone with a disability

It is fraudulent and dishonest as those who have ended up in courtrooms for appeals will testify

[Serial_Apologist]

Bureaucracy doesn't have to be computerised to be faceless, but in the modern era you wonder just how often Governments have turned to IT as if it was a solution in itself. Over the last couple of decades all Governments have shown themselves to be inept as far as the development of large scale IT projects are concerned. How anyone could imagine a Universal Credit system that depends on internet access and real-time assessment of a claimants on-going financial situation would work without understanding the lives/skill/etc of claimants is beyond me.

In the case of DLA and PIP, my understanding is it largely based on the purchase of an off-the-self IT system originally designed for Occupational Therapy assessments. The automated procedure the so-called health professional assessor follows is wholly inadequate for the task, add the various corrupt practices and the "system" taken as a while is a disaster for the genuinely sick and diasble attempting to access benefits they are entitled to.

Leaving aside the inadequacy and corruptibliity issues that are, it's true, germane to this particular change, I would argue that the ubiquitous turn to IT, in all sorts of areas, probably flowing in the first place from manufacturing, is dictated by productivity desiderata. The latter are intrinsic to the capitalist system, operating as it does on a firm's "efficiency" being dictated by its competitivity, all other considerations including social and environmental consequences becoming subordinated to the main economic driving force. While it may seem inconsistent to deploy IT into areas which to all intents and purposes are not in competition, there are political motives for keeping those forced to turn to welfare institutions as an example both to themselves, for supposedly getting themselves into this situation, when we know the situation itself is governed by how fluctiations in market demand caused by the anarchic way it operates, and as an example to those in work not to cause trouble or "price themselves out of the jobs market" by demanding incomes commensurate with the constant demand to consume the unsustainable products of its means of distribution and at the same time provide vital cover to insure against its also inbuilt insecurities. That probably pretty much sums up my views on the subject of IT, which serves as well as it can when it comes to the Internet, and would be great under a different system as it would liberate people from lengthy working hours and the ever-growing need to take more than one job - with all the cost escalating effects on raising the next generation that are there in the crime and mental disorder stastics for all to know about.

[ardcarp]

...adopting IT systems avoids the need for companies and government to employ real people to talk to other real people about their applications/claims/bookings/problems. (That's probably part of what you wrote above, SA.)

[teamsaint]

While I certainly don't condone violence of any sort (e.g. by some of the gilets jaunes), I am actually very cross about the apathy of a younger generation. Does anyone suppose French students would have tolerated for one second the increase in university tuition fee from £3000 to £9000+ per annum?* It really is up to a younger generation to come off their Costa-Netflix-Facebook fix and DO something!

* Annual fees of L'Universite du Maine at Le Mans are 1500 Euros. And there is MUCH more contact time with lecturers.

Which begs the question of why the generation(s) you are talking about are so apathetic, if indeed that is the case.

£9k tuition fees are now just part of the furniture, a done deal, and incidentally, one that reinforced ( IMO) the class bias within university entrance to the more prestigious universities, IMO.

Maybe they are so busy earning money on the side to top up inadequate maintenance loans that they don't have time to riot. Or maybe the liberal press, that they might naturally lean towards ,are so obsessed with gender and identity politics that their minds are focused elsewhere. Or maybe the "natural" leaders of the generation have their eyes on the very juicy rewards that a small number now get if they behave in their careers.....no apple cart upsetting ?#


Just another variation on bread and circuses , perhaps ? One might think that as long as cheap(ish) travel to exotic locations is available to enough of them, that the critical mass of opinion to require something be done about economic and social fundamentals will never be there.

Who knows?

[Serial_Apologist]

...adopting IT systems avoids the need for companies and government to employ real people to talk to other real people about their applications/claims/bookings/problems. (That's probably part of what you wrote above, SA.)

It was, ardy, except that even when the real person is there, he or she is as tied to the computer as the operant of old on the Fordian production line was to his or her machine; at least he or she was required to have some sort of skill, albeit on a level of relative de-skillment as compared to workers of earlier ages when things made would either have to last or be home-repairable. "The computer says no" has become a byword. There was a programme on call centres on TV a number of years ago, which showed a supervisor, sat at a computer screen, permanently charged with monitoring the productivity and success rate in pulling new customers of an entire workshop full of call centre staff. She has no doubt now been replaced by an automated monitor, and that in turn by another that can algorhythmically analyse and review customer purchase patterns, so as to engoad hapless consumers with more stuff to make them happy and feeling they belong that will end up being dumped, to become food for seagulls and a living for poor urchins in some third world hell hole!

[Serial_Apologist]

Which begs the question of why the generation(s) you are talking about are so apathetic, if indeed that is the case.

£9k tuition fees are now just part of the furniture, a done deal, and incidentally, one that reinforced ( IMO) the class bias within university entrance to the more prestigious universities, IMO.

Maybe they are so busy earning money on the side to top up inadequate maintenance loans that they don't have time to riot. Or maybe the liberal press, that they might naturally lean towards ,are so obsessed with gender and identity politics that their minds are focused elsewhere. Or maybe the "natural" leaders of the generation have their eyes on the very juicy rewards that a small number now get if they behave in their careers.....no apple cart upsetting ?#


Just another variation on bread and circuses , perhaps ? One might think that as long as cheap(ish) travel to exotic locations is available to enough of them, that the critical mass of opinion to require something be done about economic and social fundamentals will never be there.

Who knows?

All of that, I'd say.

There's a bit in me that's something of a Luddite, believing that unalienated undehumanising work could quite easily and yes cheaply provide fulfilment and a decent sustainable way of life, like William Morris believed. Then another bit of me that says, all this IT could under a grass-roots up planned system be put to use in liberating people from needless sometimes dangerous drudgery to do other things, like caring for their nearest and dearest, the natural world on which we all depend, and those afflicted by the inescapables of later life. "Oh that would slow things down too much, like nothing will get done!" comes the cry when these ideas are raised. To which I say, bring it on! Sure there are things that will need catching up on, like building fine ecofriendly homes and community energy generators. Everything that is rushed, apart from breaking the record for running a mile, is done under physical and psychological stress, which precludes it from being a product of love - nothing to do with Protestant Work Ethic, which was just a way of convincing people they are intrinsically lazy, rather than demotivated by alienation, but something we thought we'd started learning from those eastern spiritual practices that see self realisation as a function of full engagement with the act of doing.