Money- As A Social 'Essential' Not Mentioned.

Greetings, anyone. This another of those Things which, if I ever gained access to 'Social Media/Forums', I have wanted to ask to "The Public". Responses, Support, Counters, Serious or Light... I do not mind.

This is in two Parts:

Part 1 - Partaking of 'Society' nowadays, totally disregards Money. For example: We are all, Young and Old, forced to 'Do things Online'. But what is never mentioned is that to be 'Online' requires a Device and a Subscription. These things cost a LOT of money... but this is glossed over as "Just a Click Away!" and similar. Purchases, Devices, Accounts, Subscriptions, Apps... such Prerequisites are NEVER mentioned. Adverts may sell one or two of those mentioned things, but never the fact that they (the PRICE Of) are needed Altogether.

Part 2 - This second is a simple observation. How much is it TRUE that Those who work within the "National Infrastructure" - Essential Services - (Such as Doctor, Nurse, Police, Fire Rescue, CareWork, etc.) ... are paid Wayyy less, than Non-Essential Things, (Such as Politicians, Footballers, Actors, etc.)...?

(To simplify all of this, another example...: Who, why and what, would anyone take if forced to be stranded upon a very faraway Desert Island? A Mobile Phone and a Footballer, with no connections... Or a Toolkit and a Nurse, also with no connections...)

Thanks for Reading. I may not be able to Post so much lately, but I am still who I am, and I intend to stay seeking what - and whom - I seek.

:-)

  • From my background and age, Part 1 has always been like that and I look back to the 70's as a child and the commercialisation of Christmas.  Those unfortunate to no get the "in" toys were always left out by the haves.  I can only assume it was like that before my time as well as into the future after I have gone.  I know the struggle some of the pre-war and post-war generation faced with technology including using debit/credit cards therefore preferring cash.

    Part 2 - from my experience I fully agree that those performing the essential services are undervalued yet there remains the issue of too many chief's and bean counters and not enough braves especially in the NHS.

  • Before this fairly fickle Forum thoroughly forgets this Thread...(!) I did have one more thing which I wanted to ask, <> around the same subjects.
    This is about... well, when I see a "Beggar" upon the street or elsewhere.. sometimes I stand way off and watch them for a bit... and often they then take out a Mobile Phone and then check EMails or chat upon it...!
    This is another thing which I might like explained. If supposedly destitute, how come they can afford the Phone+Subscription+Electricity to do this? I know that some are "professional beggars" (...), but I do see this a lot anyway. Also "The Government", sort of, seems to have decided to count either Internet-Access and/or Mobile Phone Ownership, as a kind of indicator of Poverty or Wealth. Thus, when those sort of things happen, then "there is no poverty"...? People may use Food Banks, but as long as they have a TV/Mobile Phone... then, well "they are not Poor at all & everything is right with the World" as seen by the Government...

    Or something.

  • And thank you for continuing to be YOU,

    And look after yourself, just to add as Trainspotter has already said you and many others who frequent this forum would also be on my list of people that I would like on the island, A similar type of thread to an Island has been thought about before!

    I and several other amazing people in here were heading towards an island called AUTOPIA where everyone would be autistic and wouldn’t life be just wonderful.

    Take care now and thankyou for your kind words as always.

    x()x

  • Let me know the forwarding address and said poultry is yours 

  • Um... Why?

    (But Thanks anyway, certainly. No applause Please, just donate cooked and frozen Poultry. But others here are are more amazing, I think. And Yes, you were also one of those I was thinking of, Ma'am. And also... well... Why am I writing this?)

  • Thanks for this Answer, "Plastic"... You always Smile and are made of plastic, but write as if not like that at all. I know a lot of people who seem to be made of plastic and eat plastic and breathe and wear plastic and... um, sorry, waffling again...!

    "Market Forces"... Yes Indeed. I think this sums up the confirmation I was looking for. Also, if this Thread is on its way out (already!), then, to others here as well, if You are curious about Me.: Upon a desert Island, I would know a LOT about what to do and how to do it... but I am physically quite weak. However, after a couple of days upon a Desert Island, I would be healthy again, I know!

    No pollution! Sea Air and Breeze! No processed Food! Fish! Meat! Leafy Greens! Meat! Meeeeat! 

    (I better stop writing, now...!)   :-) 

  • .....!

    This is Me, trying to reply anything at all... Yes Sir, You were one of those I was thinking of. Thank You for the Posts. I always try to use Cash as well. I guess that was the main point of this Thread. If everything switched to "Cashless", a lot of people would cease to exist, but those who do "do exist" have no concept of that.  (...?!?!?)

    It never made sense to Me! But it makes sense to others? The Equation: Not Online = Go Online (+ Money   / Insufficient Money To Go Online.) ... + Square Root Of Technical Problems Amplified to the Power Of Viruses/Scams  x "Oh We were Hacked that will not happen ever again"...

    ...Or something...! I should End this Post due to perhaps waffling... But, Yes, Thank You Kindly for Support. Look after Yourself, first, though.

  • Everything comes down to market forces.   There are thousands of nurses and teachers so if one leaves, a replacement is immediately available.  They are also paid by the state so there is a need to cut costs. 

    You also have to cynically look at their job - they educate or 'fix' drones - and the drones are replaceable too - so why would a government really care?  Ministers and their families all get full private healthcare & education and live in houses that are less likely to burn (most fires are in 'poor' people's houses).  You only have to look at the crime is handled - murderers getting a couple of years but any crime against the state gets heavy sentences - like not paying your TV or council tax.

    If you can provide a unique service for something essential then you can write your own paycheque.   Niche jobs - like footballers - can make a difference to their company (the club) of hundreds of millions - so if they are good, they get good money.

    With that position, there is also zero job security - you will be dropped instantly someone better comes along.

    If I was on a desert island, all I'd want is a comprehensive tool kit with materials and I'll sort myself out - I have all the skills.

  • Just wanted to add as I am not very trusting of electronic ways when dealing with money or to me important things, I am considered a nuisance by most organisations, 

    I have an old style paper driving license, (still very valud’

    no Online banking.

     Only enforced direct debit payment for a couple of bills.

     Still paid in cash.

    thats me, struggling to just be normal in a society that is descending into an insular life bar doing so online.

     :).

  • All ok and happy to see your still here and being YOU :).

  • Hi DC so nice to see you still posting.

    I agree totally with your words, such a huge unbalance of what is important.

    Put two people on an island and no matter what they were earning or wealth they have it comes down to being a being the same.

     Society has lost it’s way for so long now.

    ”Thanks for reading. I may not be able to Post so much lately, but I am who I am, and I intend to stay seeking what-and whom - I seek.”

    wise and strong words and YOU will succeed. 

    Keep being YOU for it is a wonderful thing that should continue to BE and allowed to flourish.

    much kindness sent to you from me :)

    x()x

  • Sometimes when I get like this (!), people stop reading or Posting... Another thing I am saying in Public, while I have this chance, is...

    From places and/or Persons, with little or no Internet/Money-- are actually the places where the things used to MAKE Internet/Money -- come FROM. This is a Global matter. But this is obfuscated onto Politics, when actually it is nothing more than Chemistry and Industrialization. I reeeeealy ought to sign off, now. Thanks, Everyone...

  • ...I am taking the chance which I currently have, to Thank everyone for replies so far. In general, it seems that I was correct. But the "Desert Island" thing could have started a Thread all of its own...(!)

    My other reason for Posting was, Sorry, to complain, about a long-term thing, which is, that currently (actually since the Mid 1990s), having Money and/or going Online, is an enforced thing... Socially. Those who are Rich/Online, seem to have no concept of a World that is NOT. (A World where the Things that keep them Rich and Online comes from!) ...Bad, very bad. And We who are not Rich/Online (this includes myself, even though I am able to Post this just now!) are seen as "Well, why can't you just go out and do that?", with no concept of aquisition and prerequisites at all...

    For examples: I worry about "Food" or "Doctor's appointments" or "Taxes"... The gathered consensus is that: "There is no reason why people should not do these things Online."

    The thing is, reasons against it are not presented.... all these people who either lack Money or cannot go Online, are treated as if --- "If You are not Online, then Where are You? Please give us a Tweet to let us know!"

    I am writing this at a Quarter-to-Four in the Morning, and so am feeling a trifle doo-lally, and so I might best stop here, but am glad to have posted anything logical at all. Thanks again, those who replied. (Certain persons who did not - Best Wishes from myself that You are all okay!)

  • I would like to choose you, DC as my human on the desert island, but as I don't know your practical skills (your intellectual skills I think would be brilliant companionship) so I would have to have the nurse but a nurse who was previously a carpenter, lumberjack and architect.

    A mobile phone is useless enough anyway without having one which wouldn't work!  And my 8 gramophone records would have to provide my entertainment, but perhaps the nurse in addition to the other things could also be a musical instrument maker and instrumentalist and court jester to keep me entertained!

  • I think it's because the economy on a very faraway desert island is very different from that on a teeming mainland with societal structures that have developed over centuries.  

    I generally see my choices and purchases as mini votes.  Here on the mainland my basic necessities are usually covered first, often without great thought, and often provided by lots of staff locally.  Beyond that I might cast my votes on entertainment, often provided by much fewer workers at the top of their game but brought to me over various media.  If others make similar choices, that's a lot more votes for them per head.

    On the island, though, i'd probably find it so hard to cover my basic necessities that ALL of my votes (my preoccupations, time and money) would be used up on these.  I probably wouldn't have time to think about entertainment at all and, assuming there were a few others there, it would probably take us several hundred years to get to the point where actors and footballers would once again become that "important".    

       

  • The difficulty for any budding actor, though, would be getting into decent TV and film roles in the first place.   Many are called but few are chosen...   Whereas, with solid work and motivation, work in nursing or the police force becomes more easily accessible. 

    To me it's more of a reflection on market forces than actual utility value. 

  • I agree with what you say NAS50301, and there's another side to this as well. For example, how many people truly appreciate the work these people do? For example, I always engage the shop keeper or who ever it is, as I would my brother or mother and I let them know I am grateful to them. Even if they don't value the work they do, I do. For example, I love going to coffee shops so I'm naturally going to truly appreciate those who work in those places. 

    Another example, my whole world vision around doctors and other such services has changed beyond all recognition since I got my diagnosis. I never had a negative attitude to doctors as such, but because I don't go to them if I'm sick, I never truly appreciated their value, until I got my assessment and diagnosis, and it changed everything. It has even changed my attitude towards the government etc. Being on the other side of services (I used to work as a social worker and mental health nurse) has had a profound affect on my life. I have been looked after so well, even being given food from the food bank - I can tell you, for an aspie, getting your food from a food bank is a far nicer experience than going to a supermarket, and I love the atmosphere there so much that I am now on the rota to volunteer there. 

    And ditto, regarding being by yourself or taking someone with you and I'm copying the idea for a sleeping bag - definitely a priority! 

  • I've never needed my own device or a subscription to access the internet and have only had these luxuries when my finances have allowed.For example, as a child I'd walk to my local library and used their computers and internet access for free. 

    I work as a teacher in HE and although I find my salary frustrating, especially compared to my partner who works in engineering, what I find more annoying is how little work people actually do whilst complaining that they're overworked. For example, every time I go in the office people are gossiping rather than working and its common practice for my colleagues to take extended lunches where they disappear to the pub for 2+ hours at a time. My mum also works in a hospital and regularly sees nursing falling asleep in the office for an hour or so when they're actually being paid to work. 

    My personal experiences has led me to believe that there's a significant amount of disengagement with these jobs across the board , which is driving down productivity making it difficult to justify higher wages. Plus as Blue Ray mentioned although a lot of these employees moan they are accepting of these conditions and aren't actively trying to change them, other than the odd strike, which is ineffective, 

    If I was stranded on a desert island I'd prefer to take two things; a sleeping bag to keep me warm and a device for creating warm meals, such as a fire powered stove. I've gone from living on my own for two years, which was bliss, to now living with a partner. Although I enjoy his company, I find when he's not at home I miss him and feel unsettled, as such, I think it would be easier to be totally alone than with one person. 

  • Great post ~ it's so interesting it is stopping me from meditating, although it doesn't take much these days to distract me from meditation

    I don't think anybody is forced to do anything and there is always someone around to help. For example, if I ever go anywhere that requires a form to be filled in, I don't do it because I don't like filling in forms. Prior to diagnosis I just used to say I couldn't read or write very well and now I just say I'm autistic, and somebody will do for me the things that I don't like doing. Even if it's online stuff, someone will do it for me. The only thing I don't partake in, is if it is on Facebook as I don't really go on there but so what, I'm not going to die if I don't get to see the menu of a restaurant I was checking out because it's only available on Facebook or whatever. And if people haven't got a phone or some other access to the internet, for example, with a library card, then the chances of them being interested in any advertising is pretty low. Their lives are most likely far too interesting and engaging to be bothered with advertisements.

    Who cares how much money somebody else makes? It's none of my business and to me, it's pretty obvious why footballers and the like get more money than most jobs ~ it's because they're doing what they love and it's a proven scientific fact, that when we do what we love, we get more and more of what we love, so it stands to reason that they'll get more money as we usually require money to do more and more things.

    I've heard nurses, doctors, police etc complaining endlessly about their jobs and yet they still keep going back to them day in and day out!!! What do they expect? Do they think they can be miserable and moaning day in and day out and think that something good is going to come into their life from that? They ought to take a leaf out of a footballers book.

    But back to your question, lol, I would take a knife maybe, or the toolkit that you mentioned, but that would be all. If I'm getting a chance to be on a desert island, I don't want to be taking any people with me, although if they can cook and catch food etc and they're good at making dens, then that would be permissible and I think I'd prefer him (clearly I'm thinking I'd rather take a man as opposed to a woman) to be a footballer rather than a nurse, so long as he's good at getting food, making fires and dens etc ~ David Beckham, although he's getting on a bit now, would still do if he can do the job :) actually, scrap that, I'm sure I could think of a better footballer than him to take with me!