The value of nothing...

The old saw that some people know the cost of everything but the value of nothing is becoming true of our daily lives. Or at least the media that reflects our daily lives.
To start with we need to get an idea of what has happened to the buying power of money in the past 50 or so years. In 1960 average earnings are variously reported to be around £16 a week. House prices averaged around £2,500 and a Ford Popular (small car of the day) was £275. So the car took just over four months to earn while the house was worth three years hard work.
This week it is reported that that millionaires are being created by the hundreds by the lottery and other means. But is a million really so impressive?
Average earnings are around £500 a week now which is more than 30 times more. A small Ford Fiesta is about £8,000. It will take as long today to earn that as it did back then. And the house? Well the current slightly depressed average is about £200,000. An average earner today would need to work eight years for that.
So what about our modern millionaires? Back in 1960 the quick way to riches was the football pool and payouts there were more likely to be £50,000. In fact Christmas that year the top pay out was £150,000 but shared, like the usual lottery prize, between three winners. If they rushed out with their £50,000 to buy houses they could get a small estate of 20 average houses. Today's million pound winner could buy just FIVE! And if it was a garage full of Rollers that took their fancy back in 1960 they could have about 10 for their money. Our lottery millionaire can have just FOUR.
In fact I knew a millionaire back then. I doubt he realised he could buy 400 houses for his million, still less an entire fleet of 200 top of the range Rollers.
Surely it is time we upgraded our gauge of wealth? It appears millionaires are now ten a penny (old money). So maybe we need to apply some sort of correction. It looks as if we need to get excited only for those worth more than 25 MILLION today.

Coppers on the beat...

Now here's another thing. The last task I expected our shiny new Police Community Service Officers to be measured by was their ability to do the work of CID and solve crimes. But our frankly misguided media seem to think so.
The Press Association reported this week that after a Freedom of Information probe they could reveal that in some counties PCSOs were costing us £1.2million per crime solved. Pardon me but when did we last see such a comparison for detectives or even ordinary coppers?
This is another cost of everything, value of nothing moment. A short lesson in policing appears needed for the former occupants of 74 Fleet Street. Now, PA pay attention: A detective is paid to solve crimes; an ordinary beat bobby is paid to preserve order and possibly prevent crime by their presence; a PCSO is paid to give the public a feeling of security and comfort, tell people the time, help old ladies across the road, rescue stranded animals and return crying children to the parents. Oh, yes and provide info that can help the others.
Now, if that is clear can you go and do something truly worthwhile with your next Freedom of Information inquiry? I am told they are fiendishly expensive to fulfill and we cannot afford your mindless meddling in matters you clearly do not understand.

One u-turn deserves another

Have you noticed how many policies the coalition has announced which have either been dumped or significantly amended within weeks and even days? School sports and the book scheme are just the latest.
Well over one or other fine tables of food and wine this last couple of days SWMBO came up with an interesting theory. And it has the ring of probability since the suspicion is not only mine that in reality they haven't got a clue what to do.
The idea goes like this: Think of something that the blue rinse brigade, the county colonels and the Daily Mail will really like. Get a Lib Dem to announce the policy but stress the need for consultation and how this is a listening government blahdeblah. Then sit back a while and see what reaction there is. If it is nasty or seems to have set off some sensitive Tory souls then quickly announce that you have consulted, listened blahdeblah and the policy is dumped, amended or back in the melting pot. But if nothing much happens then w-hay! Get to it and make sure it now looks strongly Tory policy led. After all, when you remind them in a year or three what a radical, conservative AND dynamic government you have been all the u-turnS will be forgotten.
Hmm, I think the sherry may have made her even more cynical than I am....