Explaining inflation to a child
"I can normally buy a Snickers AND a Twix with my pocket money" said the eleven year old boy sat in front of me.

"...but today a Snickers AND a Twix is £1.10. I can't afford both. How did that happen?"

His inquisitive and moistening eyes met mine as he desperately searched for an answer to his conundrum. It didn't seem fair. The pound in his pocket was still the same, the sweets hadn't gotten any bigger or better to explain the cost.

Sensing the opportunity to explain a valuable lesson about life, economics and the importance of fiscal prudence I seized the moment.

"Well it's like this. People have got less money. Cadburys are selling less chocolate. Cadburys have to put their prices up to pay all their employees" I ventured.

"But... But why have people got less money?" he asked. I sensed that this discussion could last a long time.

"You know that Gordon Brown bloke on the telly?" I replied

"The Prime Minister?" he answered.

"Yes. Him, and his friends Peter Mandelson and Alistair Darling."

He nodded in recognition.

"They caused it"

I went back to my copy of the Times and left him to ponder.

I am a bad man.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 22 Jan 2009, 17:48, 5 replies)

you are growing a future Tory by doing that :-)
p.s. how did you hold your 11-year old kid down to £1 pocket money??? impressive!
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Thu 22 Jan 2009, 18:08, closed)

Because that's all *I* give them
PJM just hands out the economics and politics lessons.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 18:50, closed)

you
are both evil and a genius!
*applauds*
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 19:20, closed)

*sings*
"Gordon Brown,
Texture like sun...."
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 20:27, closed)

Horrible pedantry
Neither Snickers nor Twix are made by Cadburys...

Sorry
(Smaug rocked out with his cock out on:, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 21:40, closed)