The age-old British labour problem, and the stifling Matthew effect

Albina 2022-04-22 07:01:48

"Sorry, We Missed You". A tribute to realist master Ken Locke. The rickshaw of "Camel Xiangzi", the bicycle of "The Bicycle Stealer", to the truck of this film, the master Xinghuo inheritance, full of humanistic care, pays attention to the people at the bottom. Labour problems in the UK have a long history. From the difficult situation of British workers for a long time after the start of the Industrial Revolution, to the severe unemployment experienced by an entire generation in the 1920s and into World War II, to the new type of exploitation in the new platform economy. Coincidence and not just coincidence, but the underlying reality. Even in my hometown, the most prosperous rural area in the South, one unfortunate event that falls on one family often leads to other bad events, and the family goes bankrupt in an instant. The Matthew effect is always particularly pronounced at both ends.

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Extended Reading

Sorry We Missed You quotes

  • Abbie Turner: This is my family, and I'm telling you now, nobody messes with my family.

  • Ricky: I don't know what's got into you, I really don't. You're a smart kid just like Liza. You used to be in all the top sets. What is going on? Just give yourself some choices mate.

    Abbie Turner: Seb?

    Seb: Hmm-mm?

    Abbie Turner: We've talked about this. You could go to uni.

    Seb: Go to uni? What, and be like Harpoon's brother? £57 grand in debt and what? Working in a call centre now, getting smashed every weekend just to forget his problems. Of course.

    Ricky: Yeah, but it doesn't have to be like that does it? There's some good jobs out there.

    Seb: Good jobs? What good jobs?

    Ricky: Well there is if you just knuckle down. Give yourself some options. Otherwise you're just going to end up like...

    Seb: What, like you?

    Ricky: Oh fucking nice!

    Abbie Turner: Seb...

    Seb: Do you really think I want that? Really?

    Ricky: Yeah...

    Seb: Well yeah of course I do don't I? I want to be like you.

    Ricky: Yeah, going from shit job to shit job, working 14 hours a day, having to put up with everyone else's shit. Going from one shit job to another shit job. You're just going to end up a skivvy.

    Seb: A skivvy? It's your choice to be a skivvy isn't it? A skivvy doesn't come to, you, you go to it - right?

    Ricky: I'm doing my best Seb.

    Seb: Maybe your best isn't good enough, is it?