Comments for Storms Weblog

Comment on The moral high ground by Ben Warsop

Ben Warsop — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:34:16 +0000

Principles are dangerous things. Applying principles uncritically leads to fundamentalism and thence to murdering doctors who perform abortions or going onto a crowded tube train with a bomb in your rucksack.

On the other hand judgement without principles is bad too…

So I’d say a tenner when you are in need is different from £10k when you’re not in need. And as you say, you weren’t a public sector accountant at the time.

Comment on The moral high ground by storm23

storm23 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:19:11 +0000

Yes that is true. I haven’t advised her that its OK just that she can have some money.

Comment on The moral high ground by Anji

Anji — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:16:09 +0000

But she has money in the US, her grandmother left her enough to buy a house (for example). If she were to bring the money over here she would loose her benefits.

In fact, the fact that she has it anywhere is cause for her to lose her benefits. My partner and I can’t get means-tested benefits because he has money from the sale of his house, which is still in his bank account in Norway.

So it doesn’t matter whether she has the money in a British bank account or an American one, she still has the money and should be reported for benefit fraud.

Comment on The moral high ground by storm23

storm23 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:15:18 +0000

Thanks that makes me feel better! I’ve said no but given no explanation and I’ve given her some accountant style advice about what she is and isn’t allowed to have.

I wonder if its inconsistent to apply some kind of materiality limit to morality…another friend several years ago cheated her benefits, she worked in an ice cream van cash in hand for £10 one day. She didn’t declare it because her bub needed shoes…

By accepting that am I accepting a principle? Surely if one is OK the other is? It shouldn’t really make any difference if its £10 or £10,000. A big difference I guess is that I was in no way involved in the first I wasn’t even an accountant then….

Comment on The moral high ground by Ben Warsop

Ben Warsop — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:26:29 +0000

It sounds like you’ve made your mind up already.

One of my definitions of friendship is that you don’t ask friends to break the law or do something they have moral issues with.

Also, if you are going to break any laws, do it knowingly and in a good cause. Don’t risk losing your career, reputation and CRB check for something like this. You wouldn’t I know, but I’m here with the keyboard so I’m typing away saying it.

In the imortal words of Marge Simpson:

“But Homer, that’s so ilLEEEgal”

Comment on Lego rules by storm23

storm23 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:21:46 +0000

Free lego!! WH Smith are giving away lego star wars toys if you buy the Mirror. However they ran out of the Mirror so was saved from buying it. They gave me free lego anyway….should take a moral stand against corporate manipulation but Free Lego!!

Comment on A bad parent… by What is Postnatal depression

What is Postnatal depression — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:18:02 +0000

[...] A bad parent… [...]

Comment on Financial Reporting Standards and the Public Sector by Financial Reporting Standards and the Public Sector

Financial Reporting Standards and the Public Sector — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:47:30 +0000

[...] Original post by storm23 [...]

Comment on Education in the 1980s by storm23

storm23 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:34:04 +0000

You are of course correct but I’m writing a book on public policy for publication in sept so I’m missing some good old fashioned number bashing And of course it’d annoy my mum!

Comment on Education in the 1980s by Z

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:51:38 +0000

But surely if you’re as senior as you are in accountancy I’m sure you’ve taught yourself most of what you missed in maths A Level?

I know lots of doctors don’t have biology A level, but I don’t see anyone going back and taking it. The material is all covered in our first term at medical school. Well first six weeks actually.