It seems the big news of the jobs summit in Prague today was not great strategies to get the predicted 8.5 million people who are going to lose their jobs by the end of next year back into the workplace but rather a crass comment by outgoing Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek – who still, even if only for a few more hours, represents the EU.
Asked by a journalist what advice he would give to people in Europe losing their job, as he will (he will step down tomorrow after being ousted by a no confidence vote in March), Topolanek replied:
“I am going to lose my post as prime minister, but I won’t be out of a job. If you look for work, you’ll find it. And I think the same applies to everybody.”
Such a thoughtful response. And such a comfort to the unemployed. If they would only stop moping around and find some some new work…
Is it any wonder that more social unrest is predicted because of this financial crisis when politicians are so out of touch with reality?
#1 by Anne Palmer on May 7th, 2009 - 9:03 pm
Cold comfort indeed. It makes me wonder whose fault it is there are so many out of work? So many people have not just lost their jobs, but they have lost their homes too. The once place here in the UK where no one has lost their jobs is in our Parliament. We still have two ‘Houses’ with a full compliment of people in each. WHY?
We understand, and many more people are now beginning to understand that about 70% of our laws are actually instigated in the EU (Brussels) that leaves about 30% for our own MP’s to do, BUT should Lisbon become active, will there be anything else left for National Parliaments or National Governments to do? Do we continue to vote for them or my goodness, should we continue to pay them their high “wages” and those vast expences that so many have taken advantage of?
Answer me that Honor please.
#2 by Julien on May 7th, 2009 - 9:16 pm
Anne, just axe the upper house and keep the lower house as a tourist atraction. EP is more than enough
#3 by Julien on May 7th, 2009 - 9:20 pm
.. just teasing you.. It was too tempting, couldn’t resist.
#4 by Kazimierz on May 7th, 2009 - 9:51 pm
Off topic a bit.
Employment x productivity = production i.e. supply.
But supply = demand.
So, employment x productivity = demand.
So, to raise employment we need to raise demand (or to lower productivity, but we don’t want to do that).
So, shop shop shop till you drop.
#5 by Julien on May 7th, 2009 - 10:26 pm
LOL Kazimierz!
I’m afraid I don’t have more money. But if we agree with the chinese and the americans we can lower the productivity.
So, work less, live more! (hey, with the same money OK?)
#6 by cherry bear on May 7th, 2009 - 10:49 pm
Well, what do you expect from ex russian-style army officer working as a politician? If he can at least repair shoes, he might be useful. Political scene is full of public parasites and termites as Topolanek. Finally he knows better that PhD will surely find any work he needs. Please pack and send a brick to Tupolanek.
#7 by Jan Miller on May 8th, 2009 - 5:16 pm
Anne,
I believe it is 80% (not 70%) of your laws that are instigated in Brussels (EU) that leaves about 20% remaining. But you also now have assemblies in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London – presumably they are doing some work? What percentage does that leave for the two chambers in Westminster doing? Perhaps they only a few years left.