Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 52 posts

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#11

Post by adwhit »

s_kilk wrote: post #5
pnutjam wrote: post #2

That's a feature of capitalism, not a bug. Can't leave money on the table.

It really is remarkable how efficient capitalism is at ensuring that proles are born with nothing and die with nothing. Every tiny bit of surplus beyond maintenance of the body is siphoned away into the pockets of the capital class.

Indeed, 1 in 6 are most likely 'struggling' already. The UK ruling class have really done an excellent job of squeezing the life (physical, financial and social) out of the average citizen. I don't think they quite realise what they've done, and how angry people are. It doesn't feel like a happy country at the moment.

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#14

Post by betaby »

adekok wrote: post #7
s_kilk wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really is remarkable how efficient capitalism is at ensuring that proles are born with nothing and die with nothing. Every tiny bit of surplus beyond maintenance of the body is siphoned away into the pockets of the capital class.

Because in nature, organisms don't grow to the limits of their environment, right? They willingly limit their growth so that all enlightened organisms can share equally in a workers paradise, amidst songs of empowerment and fraternity, while marching collectively towards a bold new future! Yeah... no. Evolution shows us that organisms do grow to the limits of their environment. A "capitalist" system is no different.…

But we pretend we are smart and capitalism is the best system. We believe we are better than amoebas.

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#17

Post by [deleted] »

adekok wrote: post #7
s_kilk wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really is remarkable how efficient capitalism is at ensuring that proles are born with nothing and die with nothing. Every tiny bit of surplus beyond maintenance of the body is siphoned away into the pockets of the capital class.

Because in nature, organisms don't grow to the limits of their environment, right? They willingly limit their growth so that all enlightened organisms can share equally in a workers paradise, amidst songs of empowerment and fraternity, while marching collectively towards a bold new future! Yeah... no. Evolution shows us that organisms do grow to the limits of their environment. A "capitalist" system is no different.…

[deleted]

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#18

Post by Frye »

zimpenfish wrote: post #10
lotsofpulp wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, as long as you rent from small time owners who have day jobs, you can leverage being a good tenant into at least not raising rents for a few years. Sometimes even getting a discount, because that’s how much of a headache bad tenants are. If you rent from a big rental company, then they can absorb that risk so you lose out on those savings.

Can confirm - my rent has only gone up £150 in 19 years largely because I never bother my landlords.

Yes if you can make this work stick with it. 19 years is a long time you've probably paid off their mortgage by now!

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#19

Post by KekDemaga »

s_kilk wrote: post #5
pnutjam wrote: post #2

That's a feature of capitalism, not a bug. Can't leave money on the table.

It really is remarkable how efficient capitalism is at ensuring that proles are born with nothing and die with nothing. Every tiny bit of surplus beyond maintenance of the body is siphoned away into the pockets of the capital class.

>It really is remarkable how efficient capitalism is at ensuring that proles are born with nothing and die with nothing.

Compared to what?

Re: Half of UK adults are financially vulnerable, City watchdog finds

#20

Post by adekok »

betaby wrote: post #14
adekok wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because in nature, organisms don't grow to the limits of their environment, right? They willingly limit their growth so that all enlightened organisms can share equally in a workers paradise, amidst songs of empowerment and fraternity, while marching collectively towards a bold new future! Yeah... no. Evolution shows us that organisms do grow to the limits of their environment. A "capitalist" system is no different.…

But we pretend we are smart and capitalism is the best system. We believe we are better than amoebas.

For all my dislike of capitalism, there aren't many better systems. Perhaps capitalism leavened with some socialism (public roads, police, health care, etc.)

i.e. what most rich western societies have.

Post reply on HN