Don’t tell anyone, but I love Downton Abbey and with
the latest series ending last night, I am already experiencing the withdrawal symptoms
of the true fanatic. Oh Lord! I’ll be
buying the souvenir tea-towels next! I don’t know what snob-ridden substance
Julian Fellowes has been inhaling, but the past few Sundays - Series 3 - has
produced some cracking storylines, with the issue of Thomas’s homosexuality
handled with great sensitivity, and superb acting. And an unlikely ending that wouldn’t have
happened in real life, but who knows? It is hard to believe that it is only a
few decades since gays were shunned by family and friends, lost jobs, were blackmailed
or sent to prison for being “queer”. In some parts of the world bad things still happen.
While enjoying the whole “upstairs, downstairs” experience
of Downton, I can’t help but be reminded how awful the situation must have been back then
in the real world, with the "haves" eating cake while the "have-nots" struggled to
put a loaf of bread on their family table. It reminded me of reading somewhere that it
was never in the interest of the establishment to over-educate the
working-classes because, my God, who would empty the bins and work in the
factories?!
People still live in grand houses and are waited on
hand and foot by the lower-classes, but I don’t know, should we be resentful of
their privileged lives, or grateful for the jobs they provide?
Which brings me to the announcement today that over
five million people earn less than the living wage in the UK, a sum set at £8.30
for London and £7.20 elsewhere in the UK. The minimum wage demanded by the
government is £6.19. Workers in the hotel, bar and restaraunt trade
struggle the most, so no wonder the service in some establishments is so bad!
Presumably,
employers rely on staff tips to subsidise the low-wages and the argument is
that many establishments would close if overheads were higher. The same applies
to the USA where workers in the fast-food industry struggle to survive, as do
the likes of farm-workers, often transient labour, with no choice but to take any job on offer.
A far cry from the world of Downton, although there are people who still
live like that, proud of their heritage and with a strong belief that the
country, its land and its tradition is for them to uphold, with low-paid help
from the little people. Just look at our Royals.
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