What is Digg?114 Comments
- MCA2142, on 04/24/2009, -1/+35British Economy Shrinks At Fastest Rate ****IN**** 30 Years
Fixed. - amabaie, on 04/24/2009, -2/+20Honey, I shrank the economy.
- yerdaddy, on 04/24/2009, -1/+13That's what happens when too many people take too much off the top for too long.
- jivatmanx, on 04/24/2009, -0/+11Patents have poisoned innovation in almost every technology industry, not just the ***** we call proprietary software.
In the meantime, countries that do not comply with our draconian, corporate-sponsored IP laws, are surging ahead unencumbered. As they very well should.
I wonder how long it will take for people to realize that "capitalism" without competition, and 3 or fewer companies dominant in every industry, is a not capitalism, but an neocon ideology circle jerk. - inactive, on 04/24/2009, -6/+16Wait, how did Bush ***** up Britain's economy? I'm sure I'll find out tonight on The Daily Show...
- Runew0lf, on 04/24/2009, -0/+8Definitely feeling it.
I lost my job about 2 months ago, and for the first time in 20 years had to goto the dole office and sign on. Those places are awfull, they make you feel worthless just like the usual chavs that hang around in those places.
However luckily there are jobs around, unluckily there are over 100+ people applying for every single vacancy that is comin up in the area.
The country is screwed. I was one of the 13 in our area that lost our jobs because the company wasnt making enough money.
Hard times ahead. - itsthemechanic, on 04/24/2009, -0/+7Good luck, the whole world is ***** right now.
- UK31337, on 04/24/2009, -3/+10Anyone who votes Labour next year has to seriously look at themselves and ask themselves why.
Labour have had us in this mess too many times before, if you care to think back to 1976 when the Pound collapsed and the IMF had to come and rescue us (I wasn't born until the 1980s but my parents remember it, and I read somewhere that at that point the UK was literally minutes from total bankruptcy), also Jim Callaghan's Fantastic Festival of Financial FAIL back in 1979.
New Labour are even more of a disaster. I read in the paper about 10 days ago that they've just right now poured another £1bn into the identity card scheme that nobody wants, nobody needs and this country can't afford, especially not at the moment. Also the London Olympics is bleeding the country dry, so much so that the Edinburgh tram scheme has had to halt construction and cancel the installation of one of the lines because there's no money to fund it. Factor in Police brutality and whitewashing, the Big Brother surveillance state, immigrants getting preferential treatment to our own poor and unemployed, the skewed benefits system, tax breaks for the rich (up until Wednesday, that is), the rise of the chav and our streets now being dangerous to walk in (some say you're safer in some parts of Baghdad than you are in some parts of London), the horrendous gratingly horrible nanny state, the price of everything going up and tax tax tax tax tax tax tax. Speaking of which, it was the rich fatcats that supported New Labour and helped them into power, but now the government have gone back on a manifesto pledge and are now taxing their last support base to the hilt. Good plan for winning an election (/sarcasm)
All of what I've mentioned was happening before the recession started. Crash Gordon was warned years ago when he was still Chancellor that this was going to happen and he did nothing about it except flog the gold reserves. It now seems to me that the Labour government know they're screwed and won't win the next election so they're just dragging it out as long as possible to deliberately make the next government's job harder.
Back on topic... my mother is a redundant property solicitor and she says that the media are hyping the situation up worse than it is. The housing market actually has some good deals on just now and mortgages aren't as hard to get as you think. Also, if the bank gives you less in a loan you pay back less in the long run, plus house prices have dropped even though the deposits have gone up quite a bit. Sure, the situation isn't great but there is an upside which the media are completely ignoring, which is scaring people off and costing other people their jobs as a result. Truly appalling. - inactive, on 04/24/2009, -1/+8The Bank of England, causing booms then busts in the economy since 1694.
- WombleSlayer, on 04/24/2009, -2/+8***** recessions.
- billricardi, on 04/24/2009, -0/+6I have to admit, this is a massive windfall for small businesses. If you've already started up, you have a shoestring budget, you're making use of the massive amount of free resources available to small business in the UK... you're golden. Even if you haven't started yet, if you have all cash and don't need a loan, go for it.
We started up on January 1st. Because everyone is looking for the best deals instead of just looking at the biggest names, we're already profitable. 4 months from startup to profitable would have been unheard of in a growing economy, even on our open source low maintenance model. If anyone wants to start a new business, join me in Belfast, or check out Liverpool or one of the other medium to large cities in England. Just stay away from London and Cambridge, way too expensive. - inactive, on 04/24/2009, -4/+9Yes, but the argument "the evil Republicans de-regluated so much that the housing bubble popped, and that was the main cause for our current predicament" doesn't really jump the pond too well.
- alexforcefive, on 04/24/2009, -0/+5I'll add it to the list...
- billricardi, on 04/24/2009, -0/+4Jigsale uses Linux, Apache, and PHP on the back end. A custom web interface allows me to run the affiliate model from Firefox. On the advertising and writing end, I have the pleasure of using FotoGrafix, OpenOffice, and Google Knol. :)
I've actually been approached by a major publisher about writing a book of tips for other small businesses, since I've done it twice in the US and now once in the UK. Wish me luck. :) - Balanced, on 04/24/2009, -1/+5Economies tend to be interlinked unless countries are isolationist.
- Krumm, on 04/24/2009, -1/+5Plus they have stopped lots of recycling schemes as it's not profitable anymore, and all that paper & plastic you sort from your usual rubbish is now going into landfill.
Oh, wait... - RackAddict, on 04/24/2009, -1/+4The sad thing is, it's going to get worse before it can get better. Manufacturing used to be the backbone of the UK, but that's moved abroad, China, Europe, and Morocco to say but a few. Service industry? Cornered by South Africa and the Indian Sub Continent.
The once "Great" Britain is no more. I'm actually ashamed to call myself a British Citizen. "New Labour" has completely ruined the country. We're stuck with a Prime Minister we didn't elect (in fairness though, we could have had Two-Jags as PM, that's scary), with a Chancellor who is to scared to do the right thing. It's time we did what we're entitled to, and demand the immediate resignation of the entire Cabinet. Our Queen should call for the Govt to be disbanded and we should have an immediate General Election. FFS, let's get the Lib Dems in, they have the right idea, give them a chance!! - borez, on 04/24/2009, -6/+9GDP is falling because business are failing, businesses as failing because banks are withdrawing credit lines, banks are withdrawing credit lines because bailouts are not being appropriated for the purpose they were intended, bailouts are not being appropriated for the purpose they were intended because nobody is overseeing the bailouts, nobody is overseeing the bailouts because nobody has a ***** clue how to.
The powers that be are burying their heads in the sand believing that this situation will right itself, it won't... and it hasn't even started yet.
We are truly *****.
/sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings and all that. - jivatmanx, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3Small Business.. Open Source...
You're my hero (In a hetero way) - iticu, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3Jesus, dugg up for the truth.
Every day, every news segment for the last year or so has been saying how the governemnts been screwing up, and how noone should buy anything, and how things are going to get bad, completely ***** over everyone in this country except themselves.
And now they ahve the nerve to launch shows about What the recession does to you and How to survive the recession.
*****.
So much venting to do. I hate this ***** island. - jivatmanx, on 04/24/2009, -3/+6Once you go lime, you'll never make a dime.
- Lazydriver, on 04/25/2009, -1/+4No, the idea is to have doctors get paid without people dying in the streets like we have in the states.
Clearly, corruption is a good point... Never thought of that, but on the other hand... - computershack, on 04/25/2009, -0/+3At least in the UK when you lose your job you can still afford healthcare.
- manx45, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3that's because we exploited all the resources of those former colonies ;-)
- jivatmanx, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3Every company must start small, and is almost universally a genuine innovator in it's early stages. Of course, nowadays it's extremely rare for a small company to become large - they just get bought out. Take a look at the ages of the world's largest TECH companies ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_g ... ) Out of the top 10, THREE companies are younger than 62. The average age of the remaining, is 97 years old.
Anyways, any small company eventually acquires a massive arsenal of vague patents and use their friends in the government to eliminate competition, because it's easier and less risky than innovating, and lets them refrain from implementing technologies they've already developed, until actual competition emerges (which is usually does not) - cybrguy, on 04/24/2009, -0/+3The GDP is a false metric that does not account for our real capacity to produce wealth. Just as the governments version of inflation doesn't count food and energy, two VERY important things.
GDP going down means that even the governments bunk figures can't make the picture look rosy anymore. - Rouis, on 09/30/2009, -5/+8The western worlds economies are going to shrink over the next 5 years while the BRIC economies rise. America needs to realize that if we don't come up with super energy producing magic that everyone in the world needs to buy or else face sanctions for producing 'dirty power', we won't be #1. We'll just be tied for #1 with a bunch of other currently expanding economies in 50 years.
- macdady843, on 04/24/2009, -4/+7Yea it's a good example of what happens to a country's economy when you have to support massive socialistic programs.
I mean our government has already bankrupted Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid but heyyy yeaaa lets give em control over health care too!! - Riccallo, on 04/24/2009, -1/+4Wow. Someone who actually knows some history. This is exactly what Labour did last time they were in power. They saved nothing and spent and spent. The fact is that Labour can brag to putting lots of extra money into schools, hospitals and public transport. It's also a fact that kids are more stupid and ignorant now than they've ever been, my Mum is a teacher and I personally work with a lot of kids. They cannot spell, speak proper english, God forbid you ask them to do some math or explain anything about the human body or physics. Hospitals and the health service has gotten NO better, I know this as someone who has a terminal condition and has been in and out of hospital for the last 25 years. And public transport... Well, there's a reason most people drive themselves around.
It took Thatcher years to pay back all the money that Labour had borrowed and wasted and for her trouble she;s now remembered as a tyrant by idiots who listen to Labour propoganda. I suspect in the next election the Tories will be voted in and when they are unable to fix the economy and country within a year people will start blaming them, Labour (Then the opposition) will jeer and tell them how they suck at running the country, all the while Cameron and his men will be hard at work paying back the even larger debt the UK now has thanks to Gordan 'the prick' Brown.
It really is a thankless job. This country is in for a rocky road for the next few years and it's because y'all voted in Tony and Gordan. Not to sound like a douche, but I said this would happen ;) - LokitheComplex, on 04/25/2009, -0/+2Its a global problem and cross party. We handed over too much power to the bankers and they abused it.
- UK31337, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2What happened in March 1979 was the Tories called a vote of no confidence in the Commons which effectively torpedoed Jim Callaghan's government.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/m ...
David Cameron should get his house in order and do the same thing now, or the Queen should sack Gordon Brown. Both of these would terminate the current government and let the people decide for once. - localzuk, on 04/25/2009, -0/+2Considering I am in a role that can't vanish, unless it is outsourced (which would mean I get transferred to that company), I have good job security...
Unless the school closes, of course. - jolshwar, on 04/26/2009, -0/+2http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2902443145_9da ...
- borez, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2Or the black market, which flourishes in times like these.
- inactive, on 04/24/2009, -1/+3Really? I thought the Europeans bought a bunch of our ***** repackaged CDOs.
- Dumbledorito, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2It was his poodle that was running the show, you know.
- snarkastic, on 04/25/2009, -0/+2I need her in her grave. I'm looking forward to dancing on it.
- Jlaugh, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2Ordo ab Chao.
I swear this ***** is by design, especially with all the police state measures governments have put into place in the last 10 years.
And Britain, Australia, Canada, and the United States are all passing the same sort of laws at the same time. That implies coordination and cooperation. - LokitheComplex, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2The people seem remarkably calm given the news. But I guess mass acts of desperation will come later.
If the media is guilty of anything it is of failing to report the insane reckless practices of the banks before it was too late.
I worry people will forget it was the bankers mistake. - cybrguy, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2Economies are coupled between the US and most of the rest of the world. But that is slowly changing. China will likely be the best example of this in the future.
- localzuk, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2I think I am one of the lucky few, at the moment, as I work in a school. So there is a degree of job security. For now. But the effects of the recession can be seen all over the place here. Closed retail units, businesses shutting down, people being laid off. Nightmare.
And at the same time a government who manages to ruin everything that still works. Joy. - nextTopModel, on 04/24/2009, -1/+3The media is is a part of the kind of capitalism we run our nations today.
Capitalism as we know it has failed, the only way to a recovery is coming with a technology which generates new jobs. It is 1 task to recover and another to regulate the capitalism to prevent future chaos like this. - borez, on 04/24/2009, -0/+2Ok in Layman's speak ( and relating to a 'not-so' fictitious business ):
I had a great manufacturing business and it was doing really well until the bank pulled my overdraught for no reason even though they've just been given a ***** load of money so that this wouldn't happen, this in turn killed my cash flow and sent me under. The government doesn't care, and I want to know why because nobody seems to give a ***** and they are all avoiding the subject like the plague.
/ a familiar situation that is happening up and down the UK, thus effecting GDP in a massive way. - matts0344, on 04/24/2009, -1/+3If you're referring to the U.S. you are mistaken. The UK is in much worse shape than the U.S. is.
- LokitheComplex, on 04/24/2009, -1/+3Funnily enough we ended up in this mess after investing in the US after we removed much of the government involvement in the banks.
- Jlaugh, on 04/24/2009, -3/+5I bet Britain's socialist healthcare is no where near as expensive as our fascist model HMO system. Also it's immoral to make a profit off human suffering.
- LokitheComplex, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1The unregulated Banks that told everyone that they were too clever and innovative to be limited by regulations gambled everything on US house prices going up forever. The gamble took place because the gamblers were paid win win bonuses to make the biggest gambles in history.
- Po0py, on 04/24/2009, -1/+2Ok, then. I'll vote Tory.
But, either way, I'm still *****.
Up the arse. - sanman, on 04/24/2009, -0/+1My country, 'tis of thee
Sweet land of bankruptcy -
Show 51 - 100 of 118 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is 