Duncan Smith: Shelf-stacking is more important than geology

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21490542

Duncan Smith: Shelf-stacking is more important than geology

The work and pensions secretary has criticised people "who think they're too good" to stack supermarket shelves on back-to-work government schemes.

On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Iain Duncan Smith suggested that many "smart people" overlooked the importance of effective shelf-stacking.

A geology graduate recently won a legal victory over the back-to-work scheme.

But Mr Duncan Smith warned against assuming that geology was more important than supermarket work.

Geology graduate Cait Reilly, 24, argued at the Appeal Court that her unpaid work placement at Poundland, which she had been required to undertake in return for continued benefits payments, breached laws on forced labour.

(continued, when you can't find petrol to put in your car who is more important ? the shelf stacker or the geologist ?)

[laklak]

Who cares about some old rocks anyway. I want my crisps where I can get to them.

[Tero]

And! The rocks do not have a "sell by" date.

[John_fi_Skye]

Speaking of supermarkets, I know a lovely old couple who've been married for over 50 years, and whenever they go out together, he holds her hand. It's really sweet! I was so touched by this continual public display of affection that one day I said to him how nice I thought it was.

He looked at me like I was daft, and said, "If I don't hold onto her, she always starts shopping."

[Audley Strange]

Well if it's that important, perhaps IDS can fuck off and work in Asda, since politicians are generally totally fucking useless.

[klr]

Somehow, I doubt IDS has ever stacked shelves, or ever found himself in any position where he felt forced into doing demeaning work for desultory pay.

... but maybe not:

Upon leaving the Scots Guards, Duncan Smith spent a period applying for jobs and claiming unemployment benefit,[12] during which he joined the Conservative Party.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Dunca ... Other_work

So he really ought to know better, which makes it worse.

[cronus]

This is very reminiscent of the Soviet wage system should it be fully realized. Grunts get paid more than engineers until the system collapses.