you must have forgot the war chest. the country is in no state to go fighting americas wars (they'd be slaughtered without us its true).
Would you rather the government reformed the service their way, so the country has less fire fighters doing longer hours?
That statement was said without any thought. It's not America's war. Saddam was given orders to follow. He pissed on the U.N. Somebody needs to make sure that monster follows the rules. America has the balls to follow through with what the U.N. started. England and the other countries are joining in with us because they are part of the U.N. and don't want to look like cowards by doing nothing. Once again, its not America's war. I seem to remember terrorist strikes within your own country...just nothing on the scale of the twin towers. Slaughtered without you? Saddams forces are a joke. They give up and hand over their weapons at the first sign of an opposing soldier, much less an M1. I'm not going to go into comparing your military to ours... I served. I spent my time in the God forsaken sand. Have you? I'm sorry, moderators, for posting so far off topic. I just felt that comment was not justified and could not ignore it. I have alot of respect for my military brothers, both here, there, and in other peace loving countries. BACK ON TOPIC: Could someone explain why the military is being forced to use this older equipment? Why can't they use the good fire fighting equipment? I'm pretty sure, that, over here, if our firemen did this, they would be told "sure, go ahead, but leave the equipment in place for your replacements."
I promise I'll behave this time Anyway, I just took it as a joke (although, with my trackrecord it was probably the one comment out of all the ones I have taken seriously that were meant as jokes, that was serious ) Did that make sense?
To take the modern fire equipment in the possesion of the fire brigade would require anyone doing so to cross the fire fighters picket line. A little asside for our American friends, because I'm not sure of how many parallels lie between the laws concerning our workforce and their's. When a union decides it's workers are on strike, the workers form a picket line outside the premises of work. Basically, the place is shut down. Anyone crossing said line is in breach of union rules. Anyone doing so for the purpose of working is given the name of 'scab'. (I mention it because the government has actually discussed the use of scab labour in these instances) The military has said in no uncertain terms, they will not cross a picket line. The police has said in no uncertain terms, they will not cross a picket line.
Oh, ok. That makes sense then. The same thing happens here as well. Just didn't realize they are picketing the actual stations, where the equipment is being kept. I don't want a UK v US thing...it doesn't merit it. Just don't like seeing stabs like that taken. Being former active duty, and being a full supporter of Bush (Sr. and Jr.), I can get defensive. Besides...I enjoy Bit-Tech to much to start a war.
speaking of war, in the extremly unlikly event that there is ever a war between the US and UK, will the forums be proclaimes 'neutral'? Just wondering
I thourght it was an independent study that said that the firefighters need a 40% increase to bring them in line with all the other services. I don't think they have had any change in pay for many many years.
All I have to say about the matter is this. No-one takes a job without knowing what the pay is. Also if you or I didn't like the amount we were getting paid for our jobs we would find other employment. Same goes for police, fireman, docters etc.
Nope the yanks would wipe the floor with us. They might blow a few of there own soldiers up in the process though , so there would be no bit-tech. The UK is a little p*ss-ant country that lives on pass glories, i.e 1966 world cup omg that is nearly 40 years ago. In reference to the post about the reform to the firefighters, do they not already work 48 hrs a week? If so working longer hours would not only risks their lifes but also the ppl they are going to help. This is the governments idea of reform . How many times have you heard of a tired doctor working 100 hrs a week give the wrong dosage or type of medicine that later kills the patient?
the thing i dont like is that may of the people who died in the fire strke may have died if the fire brigade was in attendance anyway & in things like car crashes where cutting gear is needed fireman evne tho there on strike & not getting paid are going out & helping i say give them a pay rise now (not 40% but something like 18% & then in the next budget when they can sit down & sort where the money is coming from you give them the remaining 22% or less if a decision can be reached)
& the amoutn of people in the uk has what to do with who would win a war between the UK & the usa leave our past glories alone we have done a lot in the uk!!!!!!!!!!!
The statement about how many ppl in the uk that have even fired a gun is that the basic training required by the uk citizens would be longer as a larger portion of americans are at least used to a gun. Its all irrelavant anyway. Yes they are past glories which I don't have a problem with, but people have to move on from them which seems to difficult for majority off people.
One proposal of reform is to cut staff on the night shift. So in other words, during the time period when the number of lives lost through house fires is highest, the government wants to cut coverage. This is the desired action of the government, and yet there are still people who think it's the fire fighters they should be raggin on.