Ragged Trousered Philanthropist.

[Theland]

In the society described in the Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, what changes would you have recommended to improve the lot of the workers suffering such penury?

[david small]

Dependency, despondency, depression. All still with us.
Exploitation, inequality, inevitably.

[naomi24]

Theland, //The descriptions of the living and working conditions are truly raw and uncompromising.
A lot of parallels to society today.
Not much progress for some over the years, in spite of working.//

That’s an insult to those who have worked to improve the plight of the poor - and succeeded. No one in this country lives under those conditions now. This is yet another example of the politics of envy - a regular theme with you.

[Theland]

No Naomi, I am a realist.
Maybe I see things that you don't.
Yes numerous things have improved, I am not stupid.
But the plight of the poor is a reality today.
I assure you I am not envious, bit angry with the many who have lucrative unearned wealth results of the twisted economic system we have.

[naomi24]

Theland, //No Naomi, I am a realist. //

If you were a realist you would never compare today’s world with the world of 100 years ago.

//Maybe I see things that you don't.//

I doubt that very much.

[Theland]

You missed the point.
If you were around in 1910, what would you have done or recommended to improve the lot of the painters?

[johnny.5]

I believe it was even worse during the middle ages
but this is progress .
poverty is only a personal perspective

[Theland]

Poverty is no food.

[johnny.5]

from experience I have been there ,as a child and then as a teenager. But never did I consider myself third world poverty .

If somebody asked me for food today I would give them some because I can but if I didn't have any and neither did my neighbours then maybe !!!

[Theland]

How would you have improved the lot of the painters NAD you been around in 1910?

[Theland]

Had

[woofgang]

Theland, what answer are you looking for?

[Theland]

An interesting one.

[naomi24]

//How would you have improved the lot of the painters NAD you been around in 1910? //

This will be painters and decorators rather than artists, I take it? What was their problem?

[Tilly2]

Capitalism was the problem, Naomi.

[naomi24]

How so, tilly?

[Tilly2]

Are you being disingenuous, Naomi?

Basically, inadequate wages, squalid living conditions, greedy bosses and even more greedy politicians.

I am really surprised that you haven't read this book.

[naomi24]

Tilly, //Are you being disingenuous, Naomi?//

No, I am not. The perception that only in a capitalist society the poor suffer is wholly misguided - which is why I asked. People who think that need to look at countries (the few still left) governed by the alternative. They would very soon come back.

I don’t need to read it, Tilly. I was born and raised in the East End of London. I’m under no delusion about life for the poor 100 years ago.

[Tilly2]

Naomi with reference to your final paragraph above, I don't understand why you asked what problem the painters had. You are obviously aware of the problem they had.

[allenlondon]

Tilly. Indeed, capitalism was the problem, and didn’t the bosses twist and squirm at the idea of socialism. But we haven’t gone away - the pendulum will swing our way.

Keep the faith.

[woofgang]

"Theland, what answer are you looking for?"
Theland "An interesting one."

I thought time travel was an interesting answer....I mean ok maybe not practical but interesting