Britain's Ruling Elite

[dronefromsector7g]

Virtually all new MPs tread the same weary, well known politcial path - PPE at Oxbridge, intern for a while and hey presto, you have your seat.

And there's the other issue you have. Unpaid internships are much easier to do when you have parents who are willing to cover your living costs while you do it. Another example of something that creates an unlevel playing field. None of these things are insurmountable, but when you put them all together, it's not surprising to find a disproportionate of people from a wealthy backgrounds in the top jobs. However, when large numbers of the government ministers (and those in the cabinet in particular) are not just from a private school background, but all from a particular school, there's something far worse going on. Government positions are the last thing that should be based on nepotism, and yet they obviously are.

Are there still elections in England? Do you vote? Do you perpetuate or innovate?

Voting? Democracy? Yes

What are our options though, in reality?

 

[Stoned Rose]

Re: Britains Ruling Elite

Talent and application then. That seems to cover off your points.

There's no doubt some make it to the top without an abundance of either but I never look to try and bring others down to my perceived level rather than strive to better my own lot with a helping of both.

Anyone with talent and application will make something of themselves in the Uk (so long as they have health I guess).

Talent, application, health definitely.

Then there's also 'opportunity' and 'connections' as very important parts of the jigsaw.

Many people with the first 3 don't have much going for them by way of the 2nd two.

That can definitely limit their chances to utilise the first 3 properly.

It's a complex melting pot of factors.

Regarding the latter two, I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections and my dad was bankrupted when I was 7.

I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections

Same here.

Has no relevance to the salience of my points though bud.

 

[TGR]

Re: Britains Ruling Elite

Talent, application, health definitely.

Then there's also 'opportunity' and 'connections' as very important parts of the jigsaw.

Many people with the first 3 don't have much going for them by way of the 2nd two.

That can definitely limit their chances to utilise the first 3 properly.

It's a complex melting pot of factors.

Regarding the latter two, I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections and my dad was bankrupted when I was 7.

I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections

Same here.

Has no relevance to the salience of my points though bud.

I usually equate the word 'complex' to equal 'bullshit' and in most cases I am correct.

 

[smudgedj]

A private education is no guarantee of intelligence. It does seem to help remove the disadvantages that other thick people face in life.

 

[Aphex]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/britons-still-relying-on-class-system-for-their-personalities-2013040364532" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/soci ... 3040364532</a>

 

[Blue Til Death]

I had a private education by default, kicked out of class most days and had to work on my own outside the Headmasters Office..!

 

[supercity88]

A private education is no guarantee of intelligence. It does seem to help remove the disadvantages that other thick people face in life.

Totally agree. It is who you know not what you know. I work with people from posh backgrounds who are thick as fuck but they make a hell of a lot more money than I do as they know the right people thanks to family links.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Re: Britains Ruling Elite

Regarding the latter two, I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections and my dad was bankrupted when I was 7.

I went to a bog standard primary and passed an exam to get into a decent school. We didn't have any family connections

Same here.

Has no relevance to the salience of my points though bud.

I usually equate the word 'complex' to equal 'bullshit' and in most cases I am correct.

A 'bullshit melting pot' you say?

Thanks for your 'input' mate.

 

[Balti]

And there's the other issue you have. Unpaid internships are much easier to do when you have parents who are willing to cover your living costs while you do it. Another example of something that creates an unlevel playing field. None of these things are insurmountable, but when you put them all together, it's not surprising to find a disproportionate of people from a wealthy backgrounds in the top jobs. However, when large numbers of the government ministers (and those in the cabinet in particular) are not just from a private school background, but all from a particular school, there's something far worse going on. Government positions are the last thing that should be based on nepotism, and yet they obviously are.

Are there still elections in England? Do you vote? Do you perpetuate or innovate?

Voting? Democracy? Yes

What are our options though, in reality?

vote labour

they'll change the system and boot out the toffs and close the private schools etc

[cough]

 

[Rascal]

[

Are there still elections in England? Do you vote? Do you perpetuate or innovate?

I could pontificate for hours on this

Yes we have elections, but our Democracy is fucked and that scares me