New plan for airport

Just taking one point from that: "Separating so clearly at the age of eleven has always been too early in my mind."

Or too late.

By the time the kids are selected, or rejected, at 11 years old the path is pretty much set already.

If you think selection is the way forward 11 years of age is almost exactly the worst time to set such an exam. I guess that's why some places used to have middle schools but I've never had any need to figure out how or why they operated.

Rickler wrote:

Most of success in life is not down to education but a desire to succeed.

Having parents that are rich is probably the biggest arbiter.

Wealth certainly makes up for a lack of intellectual ability.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Most of success in life is not down to education but a desire to succeed.

Having parents that are rich is probably the biggest arbiter.

Or maybe it’s having parents that are prepared to make sacrifices to their own lifestyle.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Most of success in life is not down to education but a desire to succeed.

Having parents that are rich is probably the biggest arbiter.

You have to laugh at how many people really believe that "meritocracy" is the dominant force in society. Those bullingdon bheys must be bleddy clever, if that's the case, that's foreshore LOL. And quite clearly the Johnson brothers are genius beyond compare.
It's all a bit like saying we live in a full "democracy", one person, one vote, where "card carrying block votes" and "lobbying" of the corporations, landowners and barons don't count for diddly. LOL Do me a favour.

Rollo Tomasi wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Most of success in life is not down to education but a desire to succeed.

Having parents that are rich is probably the biggest arbiter.

Or maybe it’s having parents that are prepared to make sacrifices to their own lifestyle.

Not really. Average public school fees are around £13,000 a year, average salary in the UK is £27,500.

Parents make sacrifices for their kids, but there is no comparison to the rich who keep other rich people in office/ control and thus keep the rich on top.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Rollo Tomasi wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Most of success in life is not down to education but a desire to succeed.

Having parents that are rich is probably the biggest arbiter.

Or maybe it’s having parents that are prepared to make sacrifices to their own lifestyle.

Not really. Average public school fees are around £13,000 a year, average salary in the UK is £27,500.

Not sure why it’s relevant?

Just waiting for somebody to start talking about 'working hard' now. Most people work hard, but working hard on minimum wage doesn't leave much scope for 'sacrifices', let alone the public school fees that guarantee privilege and power.

The reality is that this remains a class ridden country. You don't have to look very far to find that going to Eton - even if you don't go to university afterwards - brings status and rewards most of us could only dream of. Regardless of how motivated or educated we are, or how hard our parents worked, or how many sacrifices they made for us.

Peggy wrote:

Just waiting for somebody to start talking about 'working hard' now. Most people work hard, but working hard on minimum wage doesn't leave much scope for 'sacrifices', let alone the public school fees that guarantee privilege and power.

The reality is that this remains a class ridden country. You don't have to look very far to find that going to Eton - even if you don't go to university afterwards - brings status and rewards most of us could only dream of. Regardless of how motivated or educated we are, or how hard our parents worked, or how many sacrifices they made for us.

Apparently you have to make sacrifices as well.

It’s ironic that you and others wish for more socialism just as China and Russia move away from it.

I suggest you get a dictionary look up the word ironic.

Amongst other meanings, IRONIC; paradoxical, incongruous, odd, peculiar, weird.

Take your pick. While you’re there, look up contrary.

Like Rain on your wedding day?. Well done though, you can use google at least. perhaps you might try it next before you try it before trying to use words and concepts you don't understand?

I'll tell you what is ironic though, someone slagging off socialism having grown up benefiting from a socialist society.

Nul points for confusing Communism and Socialism as well.

If anyone needed any more proof of the appalling ethics now eschewed throughout the multi national big business community, I reckon Tom Tom's latest offering takes some beating, even Brent's obfuscation would be hard pushed to beat Tom Tom's latest. These people will say absoloutely anything, as bold as brass.

Tom Tom Sat Navs on their lifetime guarantees wrote:

On its website, TomTom explains that "lifetime" guarantee of updates means the "useful life" of a device: "ie: the period of time TomTom supports your device with updates, services, content or accessories. A device will have reached the end of its life when none of these are available any more."

So, lifetime doesn't mean "lifetime" at all then, in fact it doesn't mean anything, it could actually mean one week from the day of purchase, and yet they think it's all fair game. They're even still selling the old stock products, that have had their "updates" terminated, under the same name as the newer models ! These people are out of control. Dear oh dear oh dear

Hugh Watt wrote:

[url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/isnt-it-ironic-probably-not/]Nul points for confusing Communism and
Socialism as well.

Ah, communism. Who remembers Wolfie Smith the young Marxist urban guerrilla from Tooting, south London? I can see him now, dressed like Che Guevara, clenched fist on high and shouting "Power to the people."

I guess Wolfie would be bursting with pride that the proletariat were finally given the power with the referendum vote.

Take a bow Wolfie m'lad.

I got news for you Hugh, Wolfie was made up by your heroes.
I see britain first were up in front of the beak again this morning, or should I say le beak, given the present barricades.