Re: British goods
 

LOL ... that is as perfect a 'get-out' you will ever come across.

I might be guilty of a small wind up but there is a lot of sense in buying British. My argument was very simplistic but there is truth in it.

It didn't take long for people to start insulting me but hey do what

Margaret and Cashy can spot wind ups from miles away. Cashy you should move to Clayton

Re: British goods
 

You're right but the thread starter was picking out public sector workers which is unfair.

Re: British goods
 

True, Sue, but they do appear to be the Aunt Sally in any controversy (which is unfair).

Re: British goods
 

I wouldn't concern meself too much, yeh aint been really insulted as i can see, Have a root back at some owd threads n yeh will see what insulting really is.;):D

Re: British goods
 

Until a few years ago I was still referred to as 'that girl from Accrington'...even though I haven't been a 'girl' for many a long year.

Clayton and Accrington are much the same in reality, there are some good bits in both places, and some not so good bits...there are some very pleasant people, and some that aren't quite so pleasant. It depends on your perspective.

Re: British goods
 

I haven't moved out...so that must say something!

Re: British goods
 

While what you say has some point to it....the buying British. It isn't always possible to buy what you want from a British company.
The manufacturing base has shrunk so much over the years.
Tell me, do you know of any british company that makes cotton sheets?

Lancashire was once the biggest producer of woven cotton goods......but during the years when we were exhorted to export(Do you remember the Queen's award for Export ?- given to companies who exported most of their goods abroad) we exported the machinery that was used to spin cotton, to card cotton, to weave cotton. We exported skills abroad too.

I don't know whether the powers of the time, realised that by exporting such machinery, we were, in fact exporting jobs to countries with lower manufacturing costs......slitting the throats of the British worker, the British manufacturer....making it impossible for them to be competitive in the world market. That is a reality that you cannot get away from.
You cannot buy British made, if Britain doesn't make it.

And I know you started this thread to provoke a reaction........you got a reaction.
I have not commented much until now because I felt it was a contentious thread with not much substance....posted as a poke in the ribs to public sector workers.
However, on the plus side, some good points have been raised as a result of what you said.

As an aside, I was an NHS worker for most of my working life....and would like to say.....all would have nurses, doctors, ambulance personnel, police officers there when they need them, but many would still poke them with the stick...most of them do a brilliant job, a job that is thankless and unpleasant at times....it would be good for us to give them our thanks for the work that they do.(yes....I know they get paid, but they go above and beyond the call of duty).
That's me DONE!

Re: British goods
 

Well said Margaret.. I could give a local example of our manufacturing in good old Emerson & Renwick. This local engineering firm export their machinery to China, Russia, Italy, France, Poland, to name a few places. They make wallpaper making machinery such as embossers and winders.

Their machinery is then installed in foreign factories, keeping local lads at Emersons in a job. These factories then go on to produce wallpaper and other paper products which are then sold worldwide. If we didn't buy some foreign goods, such as some of the lovely wallpaper that comes out of Italy (made on British machinery), our lads at Emersons would be out of a job.:D

Of course, if Claytoner40 disagrees with this then that's his/her choice, but for those of us who can be bothered to think of a reasonable argument, we are not so short sighted as to believe that simply buying British will solve our economic woes.

As for insults, you chose to single out a certain faction of society. Did you really expect to do that on an open forum and not get a bit of flack??

Maybe, in order to avoid future insults, you should do a bit more research, apply a bit more thought to your subject and learn to acknowledge other people's opinions. That way, you will decrease your chances of looking like a complete moron.....:D

Re: British goods
 

Thanks Lettie. I worked in the cotton industry until 1967......and I loved that job. It was noisy, it was dusty.....but I liked creating something that was going to be used.
I would have stayed in that job probably for life.....but David Whitehead, the company that I worked for, were forced to move lock stock and barrel to South Africa........some of the single young fellas who had no family ties went with them. I was just married and couldn't think of doing that.
I had to look at what was going to be best for me and my family...chose nursing and the rest is history....but I haven't forgotten how towns like Accrington were devastated when the mills closed. Whole families depended on manufacturing for their livelihoods.

When I retired I spent a good deal of time in Australia......there you could buy Autralian made goods very easily....and most people felt unpatriotic if they didn't do so......but if you tried to buy a souvenir that was Made in Australia, you would be very hard pressed to find one...unless you bought aboriginal artefacts of art(and even these were being replicated in China).

Re: British goods
 

I suppose what brings Public Sector workers to the fore, is that they are making the biggest noise about cuts, because they can and are a large body.

Lots of Private Sector workers are being subject to the same cuts, but cannot voice their frustrations so readily, for fear of reprisals.

Re: British goods
 

Well said Marg was of the same mind myself and was just coming on to do a post but you beat me to it. Maybe the question should be "why did successive goverments (of all persuasions) not fight to keep more manufacturing jobs in Britian?" Perhaps if they had tried to stop jobs being taken abroad we would now have more jobs on offer for the populace with the added bonus of Btitish goods at reasonable prices.

Re: British goods
 

Seems one area of British manufacturing is set to do well...

UK car-makers to break manufacturing record by 2015 | This is Money

Re: British goods
 

Didn't take long for you to start insulting Jaysay either. You know his circumstances; perhaps you'd care to apologise...or are you just too pig ignorant?

Re: British goods
 

You know your getting there Margaret when they call you that Lass from Accy:D