Quote: Godot Taxis @ 20th May 2014, 11:56 PM BST
The problem with a meritocracy is it is essentially tyranny. Modern society has no practical need for most of the things that make life pleasant. It values qualities that are widespread and anti-social such as acquisitiveness and self-importance.
Society has to be a box in which everything goes like socks in a drawer. Once you start to build society around people then it becomes undemocratic and exclusive and proscriptive.
I disagree, just about every aspect of our lives is controlled by a meritocracy of one form or another, from credit ratings to job promotions to car insurance. We like it because it is usually fair and just.
To a lesser extent, we have similar incentives for 'key workers', we as a society have said that these people are essential and good at their jobs, so deserve to be valued and given benefits. To those who activity go against the interests of society, we have labelled them 'criminals' and their status and conditions have been affected drastically when they are arrested and sentenced.
Choosing the best person for the job based solely on pragmatic and practical capabilities, skills and experience should be the way Britain operates.
It's free from tyranny due to the libertarian philosophy. If you think you can make a better widget then Apple, then off you go, nothing will stop you except your own incompetence. If however, you think you should be the head of British Gas because you went to the right school with other poshos, then too bad.
Imagine a society where everyone is good at their jobs and those who aspire to destroy it are duly punished? It may not be the society for everyone, but it would certainly be a lot better then what we have now.
Quote: Oldrocker @ 21st May 2014, 12:08 AM BST
Worth a peruse . .
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/20/ukip-manifesto-europe-immigration
When Farage was asked by the BBC presenter Andrew Neil about the party's myriad plans for tax cuts, he said: "I'm not talking about any of those things." Neil persisted by suggesting the party would cut fuel duty, and Farage replied: "No, I'm not talking about any of those things. I'm fighting a European election. That is the election we're fighting, that election's all about the European Union."
Pressed again, He later said: "Well, I'm sorry but that is not for now. You know, that is not for now. We have not agreed a manifesto for the general election. We will do over the course of the summer."
So, basically, the new domestic manifesto is coming soon. He won't publish it now because it will be a distraction from the European Elections. Sounds fair enough.
