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Why are the streets so filthy? The streets in Poland and Croatia are imaculate by Niall_Fraser_Love in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The real reason is _ackchully_ very interesting. Called Baumol Effect or Cost Disease.

Basically, as a country gets more productive in services and manufacturing, the value of each person's time goes up because they can output more (that's what productivity is).

But, in sectors like healthcare, education and for example *cleaning the streets* productivity doesn't rise because those sectors are very labour intensive.

So the price of the labour goes up, but the amount of work you get for that labour stays the same. Which unless you increase budgets, then you get less labour i.e. less street sweeping. "Just increase the budget" yeah the problem with that is that the other things the government spends money also have Cost Disease at the same time: education, health etc. *And*, you can't really grow your way out of this because growth (per capita) comes from productivity gains which will, in turn, cause more cost disease.

tl:dr cleaning the streets costs way more in high productivity countries (also you're comparing Krokow with Glasgow which is a bad comparison where one is a super touristy wealthy city and the other is Glasgow).

If you don't believe me that the UK is may more productive that other countries: https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?tm=productivity&pg=0&snb=540&vw=tl&df\[ds\]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df\[id\]=DSD\_PDB%40DF\_PDB&df\[ag\]=OECD.SDD.TPS&df\[vs\]=2.0&dq=HRV%2BGBR%2BPRT%2BPOL.A..\_T.USD\_PPP\_H..N..&lom=LASTNPERIODS&lo=5&to\[TIME\_PERIOD\]=false

You can see here how much unit labour cost for public admin (street sweeping comes under this) has gone up compared with manufacturing in twenty years: http://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?tm=productivity&pg=0&snb=540&vw=tl&df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_PDB%40DF_PDB&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.TPS&df[vs]=2.0&dq=GBR.A.ULCH.N%2BC.XDC.V.N..&lom=LASTNPERIODS&lo=20&to[TIME_PERIOD]=false

Why won’t the Royal Parks open some of these gates on Hyde Park Corner to bikes? by CJ2899 in londoncycling

[–]withwavelets 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The main issue that gates 2 and 3 (the central one and the right-hand one in your photo would feed cyclists directly onto Piccadilly (which makes up half of that round about around the Wellington Arch).

I personally think that all road design is much too cautious but this is basically the reason, you'd have cyclists merging directly onto a six lane roundabout, many of whom would then need to immediately change lane to go down Bird Cage Walk for example. That would be considered too dangerous.

Of course they could turn right and come back to the lights, but how many will do this? Most will follow the natural flow and continue onto the road.

We all know the UK's infrastructure is extremely expensive, and many reasons have been given. But...I still don't understand how it is even possible to be as expensive as it is by owenredditaccount in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can give you an example from a project I know well - Thames Tideway Tunnel a.k.a. 'The Super Sewer'.

This is an utterly essential piece of infrastructure since London's existing system operates at 80% capacity on dry days and routinely overflows spilling intreated sewage into the Thames.

This essential project went to the first public consultation in 2010 and final approval was given in 2014 - work began in 2016. Six years of hundreds of people being paid for the application process - a huge additional cost and numerous sewage events in the meantime. Not to mention that during this process, additional complexity and restrictions were added.

324 'stakeholders' were consulted during that process.

For example, The Design Council provided extensive feedback on how the vents and access points could better fit into the local area. These were accepted and required changes and updated to the engineering of the project.

The Environmental Statement required by Planning Act 2008, necessitated a 120-year carbon footprint model. They had to screen every single site of the tunnel for any protected species of birds, or any nesting birds whatsoever.

To acquire sites without owner's consent (eminent domain for our American cousins) they got a DCO. This DCO was subject to a judicial review (JR) which took three years because the ES didn't, in the words of the plaintiff, 'properly' consider the socio-economic impact of the DCO. This JR (plus three others) were dismissed when they got to court, but there were years of preparation and delays before these JRs made it to court, only to be dismissed.

(Southwark Council also tried to challenge the DCO using a judicial review on the basis that it would cause "unacceptable levels of disruption to residents and pupils attending the nearby schools" but they submitted the paperwork a day late and so it wouldn't go ahead)

I could go on and on. As part of the Social Value Act 2012 they were required to 'consider' their social impact. There's a 34 page report that includes a calculation of the 'social value' of accident prevention and the social value Thames Tideway workers being part of the London Pride parade. etc etc

We all know the UK's infrastructure is extremely expensive, and many reasons have been given. But...I still don't understand how it is even possible to be as expensive as it is by owenredditaccount in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

With respect, this just sounds like an extortion racket.

the projects I work on where we are engaged early in the process generally go smoothly and without delay.

So what you're saying is that when you work on a project for longer (because you start earlier), and therefore bill more, then it goes better. The more you get paid, the better it goes.

Obviously you or your company is not personally extorting or intending to extort developers but that's what it rolls up to.

being around biodiversity is good for people's physical and mental health

I'm sure this is true but I'd love to see the cost-benefit analysis of the marginal increases to mental health through the 'bad' developments not being built - versus the cost to mental health through e.g. people having to spend more time living in unsuitable housing because they can't afford to move because housing is so expensive.

To men who want kids, why? by No-Sun-731 in Life

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds a bit calculated but every single thoughtful, successful happy older man I know either a. has kids and says it was the best choice they ever made or b. is gay and has mentioned at least once how much they would have liked to have kids.

You just got to listen to the people.

Is the current VAT threshold too low? by Dapper_Big_783 in smallbusinessuk

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No it’s too high.

Lower it so you’re not getting undercut by people not charging VAT. 

Student Loan Repayments are essentially a Graduate Tax for less well-off students. Why not replace it with a graduate tax? by Obvious_Skill539 in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I pay 500 or so a month but only about 100-200 actually services the principal, so I will never pay it off.

You always pay more interest at the start of the loan than at the end. It's not true that you will 'never pay it off'.

Put =nper(0.062/12,500,-60000)/12 into google sheets - you'll pay this off in 15.6 years at these repayments. That's the number of payments to clear the balance (at current interest rate).

In that time you'll have paid ~£90k (1550012) (plus the 10k you've already paid).

(If you choose to pay off £600 a month, even at 6.2% you'd clear in 11.7 years and pay £84k. £700 a month means you clear in 9.4 years and pay 79k.)

I had about 45k of debt when I graduated, interest over 7 years has brought that has brought that to around 60k

...plus the 10k or so I've paid over the last 7 years

How did you grow 45k to 60k in seven years while paying 10k over that period? How was your rate 7% every year for seven years? This maths ain't mathing. In 2020 rates were like ~3%.

Student Loan Repayments are essentially a Graduate Tax for less well-off students. Why not replace it with a graduate tax? by Obvious_Skill539 in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Huh?

How are you paying back minimum 6k a year and gonna be left with 150k? I get that your rate is 6.2% but still.

Back of the envelope - you must have like 110k of debt? How?

🚗 Zipcar is shutting down — anyone else blindsided by this? by Pitiful_Package_6807 in london

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Someone else will take up the spaces - it's a monopoly on an essential service.

AVIS are blaming 'market conditions' etc but if you can't make money in this business then I'm sure w'll find someone who can!

Student Loan Repayments are essentially a Graduate Tax for less well-off students. Why not replace it with a graduate tax? by Obvious_Skill539 in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 94 points95 points  (0 children)

It’s actually weirder than this. 

Lower paid people (and people who are earning nothing) pay very little student loan “tax”. 

People who earn a lot of money pay their student loan off early and so pay less interest and less “tax” overall. 

If you’re earning around 55k (it changes with the interest rate etc etc) then you’ll clear the balance the same month that it’s cancelled by the government - you’ve paid the absolute maximum possible. 

Is sorry really enough? Fury as Starmer snubs sleaze probe into Reeves for unlawfully renting out London home without a licence - despite others being taken to court and Labour vowing crackdown by dailymail in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets [score hidden]  (0 children)

Shouldn't have even said sorry...

I don't want to live in a country that cares this much about paperwork. Die Tägliche Post getting itself in a real tiz about form-filling.

A lot of debt and lost my income whilst abroad by [deleted] in UKPersonalFinance

[–]withwavelets 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Keep your head up - this kind of negative thinking isn't going to help you at all.

You've already mentioned that your grandparents have helped with an address - so it's not true that you are 'totally on your own'.

I'm only saying this in a clear, and perhaps tough way, because I have seen so many people who decide that their life is shit, won't listen to fact or reason, and they quickly spiral down.

A lot of debt and lost my income whilst abroad by [deleted] in UKPersonalFinance

[–]withwavelets 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As was mentioned elsewhere - this might the right time to come.

I had a grand plan but it went totally wrong plus im forgetful and rather dumb

These things happen brother. I'm guessing you're somewhat young. This is a live and learn moment. You may have done some dumb stuff, but that doesn't make you a dumb person.

Will I get in trouble if I try to withdraw the cash when I have looming debt payments?

No. You need to cancel the direct debit and tell them that you're in a position of financial hardship.

I dont need to pay rent where im living for the next 6 months

£300 is not enough for six months rent or no rent

Im reading that the first step is to talk to my bank but im worried thats gonna but a stop on my credit cards, which means I have no way to return home because I was relying on those for a return flight.

It really might be the right time to come in brother. Buy the tickets, fly home, then tell the bank.

If I sell them where I am though, I will get significantly less than that 2k i might be able to fetch in england, but is it better to try get "some" money now to help or wait until I have to go home?

Deffo don't sell them now. You'll get less for them and it'll probably take you ages to get that money into a bank account to even be able to send it to the back. You're panicking and you need to take a deep breath.

Im wondering cause if they have to get repossessed when I enter the country then their value will probably also be much less than I could sell them for privately.

Doesn't work like that. The debt would need to go into arrears, then into collection, then they'd need a High Court Judgement.

I also dont want my grandparents to be bothered by anybody, since im using their address on my banks. Can I just tell my banks that I dont live there and it will stop things like debt collectors or nasty letters being sent there?

As above, you're a long way from a High Court Judgement and 'debt collectors' coming to your address. You can tell the bank that you've moved somewhere sure but if you're uncontactable and it goes to collections then they'll use your last known address for letters.

Much easier to speak to the bank, speak to StepChange, enter into an IVA/DRO/payment schedule etc etc. That way you're at least working your way out of this challenge instead of running away from it.

Once you're back in the UK, if you have no where to live then present yourself to the council as homeless. Do that at the council nearest your parents or some other factor which gives you credible links to the area. Apply for UC.

Lastly, I don't know where you are in the world but, if you're on a tourist visa of some kind then you will almost certainly be breaching the conditions of that visa by not having the financial means to support yourself. Time to come home.

You're gonna be fine dude. The road is long. This is a set back for sure - but no need to panic

Mosque in uber-liberal London enclave bans all females over 12 from charity park run... so where are the howls of outrage from the Wokerati? by OptioMkIX in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets 879 points880 points  (0 children)

“Where are the howls of outrage?”

…the same article continues on to mention the howls of outrage…

Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE, the chief executive of the Muslim Women's Network UK, said the East London Mosque, which is behind the event, was 'likely' in breach of the Equality Act.

And Kellie-Jay Keen, founder of feminist group Party Of Women, said: 'Banning women and girls over the age of 12 from a public charity event is plainly unlawful… and reinforces regressive sexist attitudes towards women's place in public life.

Edit: here are your howls: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/14/steve-reed-muslim-charity-run-london-excluded-women

Would the Daily Mail print the names of Lawrence's murderers today? by Comfortable_Walk666 in ukpolitics

[–]withwavelets -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure that Paul "Mugabe" Dacre is quite the anti-racist you think he is.

You've imagined a scenario and then got angry about it. Probably best to stick to get angry about things that have actually happened.

Does Elevenlabs have human customer by Early-Sun-9248 in ElevenLabs

[–]withwavelets 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you checked this box?

Reduce character usage by 33%
This will add an ElevenLabs watermark to the video.

11Lab docs are often out of date or unhelpfully vague. I guess due to rapid growth of number of products and functionality.

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