From John Lennon’s Working Class Hero
To: “letters@observer.co.uk”
Sent: Tuesday, 3 December 2013, 11:56
Subject: Fucking peasants?
How much can Amazon’s weary pickers afford to improve their pay and conditions before their bosses find it cheaper and easier to automate the process lock, stock and barrel? (Remember grab on the arcade slot machine, programmed NOT[…]
Author Archive
By December 5, 2013 Category: Economics WG, Working Groups No Comments 
How the Hedge “Vulture” Funds can Seize Control of the Co-op Bank
by Sean Boyle
The recapitalisation plan gives the “vultures” 45% of equity and the option to buy another 25% of equity for £125 million. Exercising this free generous option would give the “vultures” 45% + 25% = 70% ownership of the Co-op Banking[…]
By December 3, 2013 Category: Banking and Money, Cartels, Economics WG, Free Market and Globalisation, Working Groups No Comments
Bank of England Resolution to Stop Vultures Asset Stripping
by Sean Boyle of the Economics Working Group
Co-op Bank Policy Proposal
Previously both the Co-op Group board and Co-op Banking board are to be congratulated for their ethical and responsible action in ensuring that the Co-op’s leading brand insurance and asset management businesses were only[…]
By December 1, 2013 Category: Banking and Money, Economics WG, Working Groups No Comments
Dear Friends
I have been asked to speak again to my paper on Debt ‘Savage Money’ this Friday.
I’m very happy to discuss the issues raised in more detail. Will you please read the paper and come with questions and answers so that we can answer the problems posed by the paper together. None of[…]
By November 30, 2013 Category: Banking and Money, Economics WG, Working Groups No Comments
Housing Petition to No 10 Downing Street.
A Community Housing Policy Fit for Purpose
Housing is the third most fundamental of human needs after water and food and it is therefore a matter of grave concern in a supposedly civilised democracy that there has been nothing resembling a responsible policy on this front for more[…]
By November 29, 2013 Category: Economics WG, Housing, Land, Working Groups No Comments
Somali Pirates “Rescue” Oil Tanker
by Sean Boyle
Describing the Co-op Bank “recapitalisation” plan as a “rescue” is like saying Somali pirates have “rescued” an oil tanker from the Persian Gulf.
In many ways the UK’s Co-op Bank is neither fish nor fowl: not mutual yet owned by the mutually owned Co-op Group; the Co-op[…]
By November 28, 2013 Category: Banking and Money, Economics WG, Free Market and Globalisation, Working Groups No Comments
Swiss to Vote on Guaranteed $2800 Monthly Income for All Adults
http://gawker.com/swiss-to-vote-on-guaranteed-28-000-monthly-income-for-1441514881
http://news.msn.com/world/swiss-to-vote-on-dollar2800-monthly-income-for-all-adults?stay=1
From Diana – Some potentially useful links:
European initiative: http://basicincome2013.eu/
UK group: http://basicincome.org.uk/
Clues to why UBI is supported by very different groups, for very different reasons (including some neoliberals!):
http://basicincome.org.uk/article/2013/10/neoliberalism/
I still reckon the risks of it being turned on its[…]
By October 11, 2013 Category: Basic Income, Economics WG, Working Groups No Comments
Question: article from Forbes magazine.
This article was sent to me by a friend who is slightly sceptical about my activities. Can someone who is less economically challenged than myself help me unpack this one?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/11/another-silly-corporate-tax-story-this-time-its-thames-water/
Answer from Clive:
These tax avoidance stories are complex and lead to ambivalence among the audience. Unlike many within[…]
By June 20, 2013 Category: An Occupier's Perspective, Blog, Economics WG, Working Groups No Comments
A Polly Tikkle Production
The main stream press was eager to quote Andy Haldane, the Executive Director of Financial Stability for The Bank Of England, when he publicly announced that Occupy was right. However Andy Haldane’s proposed reform strands, which he memorably calls the 5C’s, do not go very far in addressing what Occupy[…]
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By December 20, 2012 Category: Blog, Economics WG 1 Comment
