THE GLUTTONS OF OUR AGE - THE GREED SOCIETY 2015

THEY ARE ALL GUILTY - The Government, The Shareholders, The Headhunters, The Human Resource Departments, The Remuneration Committees, The Management Institutions - and Members of Parliament. How can so many people get it so wrong ? What ?

The outrageous gluttony of massive inflated salaries and annual bonuses of Senior Executives in Corporate and Government, Civil Service positions in the United Kingdom is a Self Interest Perpetuating Conspiracy 

In December 2014 there was widespread disruption for thousands of rail passengers from London because Network Rail had not completed engineering projects in North London. The Chief Executive accepted responsibility and declared that he was going to decline his £135,000 Annual Bonus - but he still kept his £675,000 salary and gold plated pension contributions - and his expenses account. What a gesture !

Another example of sheer Gluttony is at the BBC - a Public financed body. The £800,000 plus salary of the Director General is outrageous  and the Government is to blame for allowing this to happen.
Payoff levels, pension schemes and expense accounts are all part of this thirst for financial gluttony.
Many of the so called Stars earn £Millions. What a National Disgrace ! They are not worth this kind of taxpayers money. 

The role of Senior Bankers in the Grab all you can stakes is well documented in the United Kingdom. Salaries in their Millions and Annual Bonuses in the £Millions were and still are commonplace. Shame on the Shareholders and Remuneration Committees.  It still goes on and on in spite of some recent curbs.
The Civil Service Unions will argue that in order to maintain quality staff Executives must have salaries that match the Private Corporate Sector. What rubbish !
Of course the European Union does not provide any good examples. There are many cases of Officials earning over £250,000 annually plus costly pension contributions.
Of course it is all a gluttonous circle of self interest - a case of You scratch my back and I will scratch yours.

However you will hear the exclaim - If we do not pay the market rate we will not attract good people. This argument has prevailed for decades. We might lose good people to Dubai, Singapore, Frankfurt, New York.is another argument to justify the gluttonous , outrageous salaries and Top Management packages.
All this is nonsense.

Most Chief Executives need a Team of Good people to support them - usually Marketing, Finance, Production, Sales and Human Resources - that do the leg work.
If some selfish Chief Executives decide to leave the United Kingdom then let them go , The British Government should introduce a new law that states - If you hold a British Passport - you pay UK taxes  That might make them think twice about abandoning their country and British heritage.

In any case, there will be plenty of replacement candidates from the ranks who will be pleased to accept a lower salary that that vacated by the Chief Executive.

Our taxation rates need a revision away from the GREED SOCIETY.
For salaries over £150,00 the Higher Rate of Tax should be - 70%
For salaries over £250,000 the Higher Rate of Tax should be  - 80%
For salaries over £350,000 the Higher Rate of Tax should be  - 90%

Should the reward for work and effort be only grossly Gluttonous levels of Income ?
Should we be motivated by other ideals ?
If you already have £Millions of assets - do you need to earn salaries of £500,000 and sometimes Millions per annum ?

For an Executive earning say £50,000 per annum and paying 40% tax with no tax avoidance scheme and no hidden assets, these outrageous levels of reward for the Chief Executive can act as a disincentive, frustration and loss of good quality staff. Often, high earning CEOs lack the Personal Qualities to motivate and retain good executives.

Our Business Schools need to pay more attention to the study of Chief Executive Profiling and Behaviour Patterns and in addition to their Corporate Objective to Increase Shareholder Value, how they can Increase Employee Value - meaning, Improvement in Employee Standards of Living and Return on their Labour .This is an area that needs further development.

We are not a Just Society in the UK at the dawn of 2015.

We need bold new thinking in 2015. Whatever the new Government will be in May 2015, we DO need to review -
What kind of Society do we want for our children and grandchildren ?
Should we not share the wealth of the country in a fairer way ?
How can we allow older people and younger people to have low standards of living whilst others own £50 Millions and more in assets, live in sheer luxury with tax avoided wealth distributed across the World ?

The  Political parties say they are trying to create a fairer Society but in my view they have not gone far enough. We need some Hawkes to swallow up the Fat Cat Gannets,

When will a Leader emerge who will lead us to a better fairer Britain ?

I hope that it will be in my lifetime.

REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

In 1955 a typical question in the London University Degree Examinations was -

Should there be a Reform of the House of Lords?  Discuss.

60 years later Politicians are still discussing this question.

We live in a Democracy - or do we ?  How much longer can we go on with a non - elected undemocratic House of Lords ?  Yes , there has been some cosmetic changes in the structure and composition of the Second Chamber but this is only the tip of the Iceberg.
On and on we go with Members of the Upper Chamber with not one Member supported by a vote from the people of the United kingdom.
So do we want a Democracy or do we continue with this archaic Institution ?
The truth is - ordinary people will not have the slightest chance of doing anything about Reform.
The House of Commons is also not likely to do anything radical about the situation.

What do I - a simple ordinary citizen think about Reform ?

Yes - there should be a complete Reform of the House of Lords. How ?

• The House of Lords should be renamed - The Upper House.It should comprise 100 Members.
• No Member should be elected by any Political Party.
• The United Kingdom should be divided into 50 Regions.
• Each Region should elect by Popular Vote - 2 Upper House Representatives.
• The Election should coincide with the General Election.
• Members should be elected on a Proportional Representation basis.
• Members should remain in post for the duration of a Parliament.
• Bills from the House of Commons should only be delayed for a second reading on a 70% vote majority.
• Members should be paid a reasonable amount of remuneration but this can be varied based on the level of attendance - ie if a Member does not attend regularly, he / she will not receive the normal level of payments.
• Expenses must be vigorously monitored by an independent committee.
• The Church of England should not have special treatment - they should stand for election in the normal way.

To coincide with this Reform of the House of Lords, the House of Commons should be reduced to 400 Members of Parliament
Timing - No later  than 2020. Preceded by a Referendum - with Multiple Choice Options. in 2018.
Any other ideas ?  Examination Question 2015 - Discuss these Proposals for the Reform of the House of Lords.

RIA CONCHITA - THE FULL SCORE SOUNDBITES

Soundbites from the Musical Score of Ria Conchita -The Full Score can be heard on YouTube.
Each Soundbite lasts about 10 seconds.

RIA CONCHITA – THE MUSICAL

Music & Lyrics

By

Ray Williams

1. Eastern Breeze – Intrumental - OZ Theme suitable for Film & TV

2. Melissa – Ray Williams

3. Ria Conchita - Coffergates

4. Everytime - Coffergates

5. Much Too Soon - Abbey Global Pop Charts

6. Cry Over You - OZ Global Pop Charts USA Award Winner

7. Cry Over You – Dance - OZ

8. Back Where We Belong - Coffergates

9  Tout Le Monde – Ray Williams

10. In Your Hands –Coffergates Choir

11 Now & Forever - OZ Global Pop Charts

12 Now & Forever – Dance - OZ2

13 Everytime - Jay Global Pop Charts

EUREKYS MUSIC – Ray Williams Copyright 

Ray.Williams@btinternet.com

RIA CONCHITA - THE MUSICAL - STORYLINE

Music & Lyrics

RAY WILLIAMS

Synopsis of the Musical

This is a 21^st Century contemporary musical set in Cuba, Miami & Paris at the turn of the Millennium 1999 – 2004. The theme is the love story of Ria Conchita and Harry Delaware. The opening scene is at Porto de Lobos, a small fishing village in Cuba where Ria – birth name Melissa Brown grew up with her father Nick Brown, born in the USA and her Cuban mother, Carlotta. At 22, Ria leaves home to seek fame in Miami. She lives within the Cuban community in South Miami and gets a job as a Singer / Dancer at the La Mamba Club at Miami Beach.

Harry Delaware is a young 29 year old businessman from England working in the City of London as a stockbroker. He visits Miami on business, goes down South Shore Drive, Miami and sees Ria perform at the La Mamba Club. He is electrified by Ria , her beauty and her pulsating Cuban dancing. He meets her after the show and starts to fall in love with her. They drive down the Florida Keys the next day and their love starts to blossom.

Unfortunately, Harry has to return to England and for various reasons, he loses contact with Ria. Some 2 years go by and Ria has moved to Paris where she becomes famous. She is the star at La Bourgainville Club in Paris. Meanwhile. Harry has suffered some big losses on the London Sock Market but he recovers his good fortune and becomes a millionaire.

Harry goes to Paris for a business conference and he stays at Le Saint George Hotel in Paris. By chance, Ria is also staying at the hotel but they do not meet. Ria gets a telephone call from Cuba to tell her that her that her beloved father had died. She returns to Cuba to comfort her mother whilst Harry returns to his office in London.

A year later, Harry goes to Paris, now a successful businessman. Ria is an even bigger international star at La Bourgainville Club. One evening, Harry visits Zara’s Jazz Club in Paris where he meets by chance, Ria Conchita.

They renew their love affair.

Some months later, they marry in Cuba. A very lavish affair. The musical ends on a feel good note – lots of dancing – like The Lido Club follies in Paris.

Duration of Musical – 2 hours.

IN REMEMBRANCE

THE NEW FLAG

For all our destinies

The New Flag atop the tower of Saint Mary and All Saints Church

at Beaconsfield

Is not just a new flag that flutters anew each year.

The New Flag is a symbol of encouragement for everyone to see

all year round –

A symbol of renewal of Faith, Hope and Life itself.

The New Flag is in memory of everyone who has passed

to life eternal.

Thank you Lord for your Spirit of Renewal entwined in the New Flag

For all our destinies.

Ray Williams

The Flagman

Written by Ray Williams (1998) as an inspiration and Beacon of Hope for the future to those who mourn in the Community.

Ray Williams EUREKYS has donated a New Saint George's Flag to Saint Mary's Church Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire for the past 
17 Years and has made a commitment to donate a Flag each year on Remembrance Day in November for the rest of his life and 5 years thereafter.  

MORE THAN 1000 COMPANIES GIVEN BUSINESS ADVICE - A VERY PROUD RECORD

RAY WILLIAMS  MA MPhil MBA DIPM Chief Executive

EUREKYS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

has provided Business Advisory Services to more than 1,000 Companies over a ten years period in -

• BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
• BERKSHIRE
• OXFORDSHIRE
• LONDON BOROUGHS

Ray Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM was awarded The Government Certificate of Achievement 

for his Business Advisory work

 He was also a Finalist in Business Advisor of the Year sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc in the South of England - Thames and Solent Regions.

He is a past Winner of The National Marketing Award  - for an outstanding achievement in British Marketing.

Ray Williams said -

The Company  has lived up to its motto - CREATING A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE and as a result many clients' companies are flourishing today. We are grateful to have won the confidence of so many Creative Entrepreneurs and Leading British Companies such as British Telecom, British Aerospace, Eurosat Communications, Cableship, London Borough of Hounslow, London Borough of Brent, Henley Town Council amongst many more.

TOP CONTRIBUTOR FOR TRIPADVISOR

Ray Williams EUREKYS is now a Top Contributor to TripAdvisor the website that provides people with information about Hotels, Cities, Travel, Holidays, Restaurants and Leisure Activities which he has had  personal experience of
.
In November 2014, his comments has had nearly 19,000 Viewers.

UK IMMIGRATION POLICY 2015

There is no doubt that Immigration Policy in the UK is one of the most contraversial subjects at present in the UK and the EU.

There is so much misleading debate between Politicians and Citizens that it is timely for one British Citizen to express an opinion - and a new Policy within the EU.
If the UK does not remain in the UK after 2017 Referendum, that is a different matter although I believe that my suggestions will still apply.
When discussing Immigration, it is important to qualify what we mean by the word Immigration.
From the British viewpoint I think that it means -

• Immigrants from the European Union countries
• From The British Commonwealth Countries such as India, Pakistan,, West Indies amongst others.
• Immigrants wanting to become British Citizens
• Benefit and Healthcare Tourists, 
• Asylum Seekers
• One Immigrant recorded means eventually 4, 5 or more family members with high birth rates.

So, when we talk about Immigration we had better define who we are talking about .Otherwise, we enter the world of fantasy. misinterpretation, false conclusions, double talk, racialism and sheer Political points scoring - all to the detriment of Democracy and the decent British Citizens. 

It is a fact that there are nearly 30.000 Asylum seekers still awaiting a decision after many years in free living quarters and about £36 per week social benefits.
There is a continuous flow of migrants striving to enter the UK via Calais France. The Mayor of Calais recently blamed the UK Government for this turmoil in Calais Because Migrants from Yemen, Egypt, Somalia and other countries see the Benefits in Britain as El Dorado.

So what should the UK do about Immigration ?

• Most British Citizens are not against Immigration. We need an influx of trained, decent people to staff many of our job vacancies in the NHS, Education and Government Departments to give just a few examples.
• So, just like in Australia, there must be a Points System which can be used according to the Job Vacancies in the UK.
• Many thousands of Immigrants are serving the UK well already and they are welcome to continue to do so., 
• However, these Immigrants remain citizens of their country of birth.
• The UK will not strive to stop Immigration but will seek to control Immigration in the interests of The UK taxpayer.

One of the Foundation Stones of The Treaty of Rome and following Treaties is The Free Movement of Labour across National Boundaries.

The UK can comply with this rule but on an equal playing field basis.

Foreign Nationals should be supported by their own  Country of Origin and not by the UK Government for any financial benefits or by the EU as proposed below.

This means that if they need Social Subsidies, their country of origin and as holders of a Foreign Passport - they should claim from their country's' Government.
They do not get British Social Security payouts.
They are not entitled to free housing or Welfare payments.

• The UK must end the current practice of paying Child Allowances to Immigrants such as from Poland who get payments for their children living back in Poland or any other EU country.
• The practice of the UK allowing 1 adult immigrant into the country - who then qualifies to bring his 4 children and wife with him - and then his Mother, Father, Uncles, Nephews,in fact his whole family should be ended.This is crazy and extremely costly to the British Taxpayer.

This covers the EU and the British Commonwealth countries.
Workers Yes - dependants - NO  - unless they bring sufficient monetary resources with them so that they are not a burden on the British Taxpayer.

For EU Immigrants, a fund should be established in Brussels - The EU Welfare Fund ( EUWF ).
Healthcare and Social Costs should be charged by the UK - and all the other EU States directly to this fund for repayment.
This will avoid the current practice of certain member states from not repaying their citizens bills.
The EU would then be responsible for retrieving theses monies from the member state. Failure to repay would be mean penalties which would hurt.

• Regional needs must be another qualification for a Work Permit.
• Immigrants from the EU or Commonwealth should not be able to enter the UK and just disappear from the system. They must qualify on the Points / Regional basic needs.

A Job Vacancy must be advertised for 3 months before an Application from an Immigrant can be considered.

• A big loophole in the current Policy is twofold -

1. The Applicant is an Asylum Seeker or he/she wants to study in the UK.

There are so much conflicts in the World that if there is not a cap on Asylum Seekers, the UK will be overrun with these people.This is where the United Nations should come in. They should identify Emerging Nations who need Labour and seek to get these Governments to take these Asylum seekers.
Since this is a Global Problem we need Global solutions.

2 -Students seeking entry to study here can be a good thing. However, they must have sufficient funds available and if they need Healthcare If they need help, costs must be re-funded by the proposed
EUWF.
If they come from Commonwealth countries or elsewhere. their Governments must deposit funds into  a OSRF - Overseas Students Refund Fund - so that the costs to the UK Taxpayer are not abused.
If these Government fail to set up a Fund and there are Student Extra Costs, an appropriate amount of money must be deducted  the UK Overseas Development Fund. That will make them think twice about being a Debtor or non Payer.

• Finally, criminals from the EU or Commonwealth must be re-patriated and the expense of prison paid for by the Foreign Government. The UK does not want Foreign Criminals. This must be applied to UK Criminals who commit crimes in Foreign Countries.

Is these ideas sensible for the UK or not ?

They are for debate and challenge but maybe - just maybe - most of the ideas make sense in 21st Century Britain. They are not Racialist Policies. They are sensible suggestions fro the British Taxpayer and Citizens.

BUT -  A Warning. EU Commission President, Barroso has said - New restrictions could breach the fundamental principle of free movement  of labour 
.
My response could be - Does the Treaty of Rome 1957 Articles 83 and 84  and subsequent Treaties define that the free movement of labour means that EU citizens must have the right to enjoy all the existing levels of Welfare payments at the same  rates and conditions in every country in the EU ?
If not because they cannot afford on par rates - is this not an EU problem to deal with and solve- with subsidies paid out of the EU Budget or EUWF as suggested earlier?
The UK is already a net contributor to the EU Budget. Why should the UK pay more by subsiding workers from other EU states such as - Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and others ?
Why should not the EU subsidies these poorer states for Welfare payments ?

When the founding fathers of the EEC drew up the Rome Treaty 1957 - Holland, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy - they were advanced economies. Even after the 1973 Treaty , the EU did not envisage admitting many poorer countries who would need vast subsidies and whose economies were weak. There was a failure in 1973 and subsequently to deal effectively with these issues. This was a failure of the collective  EU Members and not the UK Governnment who were reluctant to use their Veto.. Perhaps in hindsight they should have used the Veto.

You must decide. After all - it is your Country - is it not ? Or, are we at the mercy of the EU 
Commissioners and the EU Parliament ?

EUREKYS

EUREKYS is the REGISTERED  TRADE MARK of 

RAY WILLIAMS MA MPhil MBA DIPM
Business Adviser, Composer, Songwriter, Author

CREATING A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

ANOTHER LANDMARK FOR EUREKYS MUSIC

A World Class successful singer is interested in recording some of my songs. I have given her first option. A very exciting new development.

NEW LANDMARK FOR EUREKYS MUSIC

As at the 1st September 2014 more than 40.000 people have listened to my music compositions across the World on Digital Radio Stations and on YouTube - in one year.
Thank you everyone.

My Slideshow

THE VISION OF 1961

SCHOLARSHIP TO THE USA 1961
A Study of American Marketing Developments

I can look back for more than 50 years on my first visit to the USA as a Travelling Scholar of what is now called The Chartered Institute of Marketing. I had won this award by obtaining the highest marks in the UK in the Diploma examinations in the subjects Marketing and Market Research.as well as writing a winning article on The Future of Marketing.
As a result of my 3 months stay in the USA during which I spent 4 weeks with Remington Univac   and Doyle Dane and Bernbach a leading Advertising Agency in New York, Johnson and Johnson in New Jersey, North American Philips in the USA and Canada - I completed a Report entitles -
Trends in American Marketing.

Here is s summary of the visionary trends that I noted from my research and as stated in my article.

SUPERSONIC TRAVEL
I suggested in my essay to the Scholarship selection committee that in the future British Airways would have flights to New York that would take only 3 hours.
This was many years before Concorde took to the skies.

DEVELOPMENT OF COLOUR TELEVISION
My study involved work with NBC - National Broadcasting Corporation and RCA -  Radio Corporation of America in New York and some of the leading TV channels in the USA. Colour Television was still in its infancy and it was unknown in the UK. I outlined in my Report some of the technological problems as well as the scope for Marketing in colour.

NOCTURNAL SHOPPING
Another trend that I studied - unknown in the UK at the time, was Nocturnal Shopping.
Today, Shopping Centres like ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons are open sometimes all night.

MARKETING SPECIALISM
In the UK in 1961, Advertising Agencies did not have separate Marketing Departments. In the USA, agencies such as Doyle Dane and Bernbach had well developed specialist Marketing Departments. They had also developed a stronger appreciation of Consumer Research and Customer Profiling.

MARKETING AS A PROFESSION
In 1961 in the UK the emphasis in Business was on Production and Selling in that order. Marketing as a prime driving force was not developed. In the USA Marketing as a professional tool was well developed.
I attended New York University classes on Marketing which made me realise the full potential of Marketing being a very important concept which the UK should embrace.

SIX YEARS ON 1967
I was fortunate in 1967 to be selected with some 40 other Senior British and American Executives to study at Harvard Business School. I remember listening to Professor Theodore Levitt talk about Marketing in depth - he wrote the famous book Marketing Myopia.  I also studied under Professor Ladendorf and Professor Ed Burske ( Editor of the Harvard Business Revue ). In 1967 thanks to the work of The Institute
of Marketing in the UK, the role of Marketing was becoming accepted by the business community It took a few more years before Marketing was recognised a s a profession.. I also remember the Professors predicting the Information Age - when computers would dominate communications and the spread of the Knowledge Society. How right they were.
As Chief Executive of Ofrex Limited, we had already installed an IBM 360 series computer - mainly for payroll work

THE NEXT 50 YEARS
What will be the trends over the next 50 years to 2064 ?
Perhaps you have the vision to predict the future just like my studies in the USA a long time ago.