Some common sense from UKIP:

“UKIP energy spokesman Roger Helmer warned that “all the financial benefits [of fracking] could be swallowed up by bureaucracy” and urged the government to create a sovereign wealth fund so that fracking profits “would ensure financial security for future generations”.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25705550

Maybe Thatcher didn’t physically close down manufacturing, but she was certainly behind the switch from a producing economy to a banking economy, she advocated buying in the cheapest option from wherever, with no concern for the results of that. Yet we know that buying in the cheapest option may well save short term, but will definitely cost long term,

That’s the nature of Free Market Economics I’m afraid, which our country has advocated long before Thatcher was even born. She recognized that we could no longer rely on manufacturing as a nation, as we were becoming uncompetitive. She was a visionary, and as sad as I am about the decline of manufacturing here, she was largely right.

Efficiency and productivity are keys in much of manufacturing, sadly for too many employers this translates as sack a few workers, cut wages and expect the same or more output, yet I have seen, in fact was part of the transformation of one company in a particular industry, investment and training, improvements in equipment and working practises, co-operation between management and unions, result massive increase in both quality and productivity, increases in numbers of shop floor workers and earnings, amazingly during the 9 years I worked there (late 60s early 70s) not one hour lost to industrial action, can’t imagine why.

That is an exceptional company. All too often, wages are seen as something that are static, or can even be driven down. On the other hand, Unions are all too often too greedy with their demands. A company where there is harmony between the two is a rare thing indeed. These days, there are often unrealistic wage expectations for basic jobs.

Minimum wage should be a living wage, but that would also entail very harsh migration controls, as otherwise you’re dangling a large carrot for immigrant workers and criminals.

In many ways, immigration is what is preventing our prosperity.

What you’re suggesting is increasing wages by reducing profit. Which in turn, would reduce investment, giving the company less money to pay wages. Or, you could reduce salaries higher up in the company, which would probably result in a decrease in performance, and again, fewer jobs.

Capitalism is a cruel mistress, but the alternatives are worse.

I’m sure the union members will be overjoyed to see what their hard earned union contributions are being spent on!!!

Unaccountable, corrupt bureaucrats. One of a few reasons why I despise trade unions.

I was told on Monday night that I’m to become an uncle in September, so you certainly have my deepest sympathies.

Life can be so cruel sometimes. 🙁

Those laws need fixing.

This system is being abused, and being abused at our expense.

And do you realise how much Brit companies own overseas? The market is truly global now. It doesn’t bother me – if people are gainfully employed and it all increases our GDP it’s better than having no inward investment and a stagnating economy, surely?

I agree, to an extent, though I believe all critical utilities should be owned by the state.

I think we should also look at most murders with a degree of pity. Though there are some that are just unspeakably terrible individuals, I’d wager that a high proportion of them are mentally ill, as are many prisoners for all crimes. This doesn’t excuse their crimes or mean we have to forgive them, but executing the mentally ill? That’s the best solution?

You can’t use mental health as an excuse, and then say it isn’t an excuse.

Someone who is such a danger to society, that they kill people, is beyond help. Justice is about balance, and once someone is dead, that is permanent. How can you justify giving that person another shot at life, when they’ve permanently taken that away from someone else? And imprisoning someone who is mentally ill is crueler than putting them out of their misery.

I agree with your sentiment about not giving the state the power to condemn people to die, but there are ways around that. For example, you could have a sentencing jury, made up of random members of the public that decide the punishment for such crimes.

How many innocent people could we help in this country with the money we’re spending keeping murderers and pedophiles alive?