Working for the King of Prussia
The above is a rendering of the French saying, "Travailler pour le roi de Prusse" which although sometimes seen in English is not wholly naturalised. Anyway, the meaning is to 'work for nothing, not be paid for one's efforts and participation'. It derives from a war in which France sided with Berlin but was not 'compensated' on the Rhine or wherever. Opinions differ as to which particular war gave rise to the expression.
So much for the exegesis, consider this:
"London's Child Poverty Ministers Stephen Timms, Beverley Hughes and Jane Kennedy are calling today for organisations across the Capital to recognise their role in tackling child poverty and to pledge to do more....The 'London Pledge', launched today, asks services that work with children and families, such as jobcentres, schools, childrens centres and other local groups to sign up to a set of specific actions to help London's families raise their incomes and lift themselves and their children out of poverty".
Now we are all well aware that this is relative poverty, and short of the Procrustean 'solution', it will never go away. That is scarcely worth considering at present, but always supposing Timms, Hughes, Kennedy and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh achieve their aim, just who do you suppose will claim the credit,eh?
So much for the exegesis, consider this:
"London's Child Poverty Ministers Stephen Timms, Beverley Hughes and Jane Kennedy are calling today for organisations across the Capital to recognise their role in tackling child poverty and to pledge to do more....The 'London Pledge', launched today, asks services that work with children and families, such as jobcentres, schools, childrens centres and other local groups to sign up to a set of specific actions to help London's families raise their incomes and lift themselves and their children out of poverty".
Now we are all well aware that this is relative poverty, and short of the Procrustean 'solution', it will never go away. That is scarcely worth considering at present, but always supposing Timms, Hughes, Kennedy and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh achieve their aim, just who do you suppose will claim the credit,eh?
Labels: Common sense? What's that?
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on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 7:27 am.
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Does London need so many "ministers" to help out? I can think of a way for them to enrich us all - although it would reduce the amount of material for this blog...
Some days it is like hunting sheep witha twelve bore.
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