Why has no-one answered or commented on my question 77628?

Surely, it can't be too difficult? Or is it under-priced?

Or has the Government slapped a 'D' Notice on it.

Won't be able to sleep until I find out.

Hi probonopublico, and thanks for the question.

As a researcher, and a relatively new researcher at that, I know for
fact that there is a distinct art involved with designing and
articulating a question to get the best response.  Here are some
reasons why your question has not been asnwered, and some techniques
to improve your chances.

Is the UK Social Security system a Ponzi scheme? And can this be
quantified?
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=77628


1.  Google have established a pricing scheme for their questions, and
the price you have listed falls under the following category:

"Sample Questions at Various Price Points 
$2-$5
-  Can be answered with a single link or a single piece of
information. Sometimes, if a researcher is personally interested in
the question's subject, they may provide a longer answer.
-  Not appropriate for multipart questions.
-  Only 60% of the questions asked in this price range are answered."
"Google Answers:  How to price your question"
https://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html

Examples:
"Question about baseball player Ted Williams and his batting average.
"
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=37584

"How do I rid my apartment of ants? "
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=39726

Note that your question is multipart - you ask for the situation in
the UK AND whether or not it can be quantified.  Perhaps by increasing
your price you would have a better chance of obtaining an answer.

2.  Clarity (as mentioned in comments by journalist-ga).  Your
question is "what is the situation in the UK and can it be
quantified?".  The word "situation" is a vague one - it is unclear as
to what extent you want the "situation" to be described.

Also, you ask "can it be quantified".  I am always cautious, as a
researcher, to questions framed in this sense - is it a valid answer
to say "no - it cannot be quantified"?  Logically, yes it is, but this
does not justify payment for the research, and is not the answer you
intended to receive for your question.  (Maybe you would be happy with
that, but as a researcher, I would try to avoid the possibility of you
not being happy).  For example, "Can I find the watch from (movie
name) to order from the internet?".  Is "no, you cannot" a valid
answer?

3.  Subjectivity.  Your question could possibly be answered in two
different ways - the situation is the same in the UK, or the situation
is different.  Although one or the other should be correct, it is
possible to answer either way, with different sources, different
political and economical attitudes, and different interpretations.

4.  "Or has the Government slapped a 'D' Notice on it."

No.  I seriously doubt that the government would care about a question
such as this, placed rather obscurely on the internet.  I would be
very surprised if anyone of "them" had come across the question at
all, although I am Australian and who knows what the American
government could get up to.  I believe that enough freedom of speech
still exists in America to make a comment of this kind.  And if they
were to notice the comment, and go to measures to silence them,
wouldn't they remove the original website (htto://mark-knutson.com)
first?

5.  Time.  Your question has only been active for a few days.  BE
PATIENT.  Sometimes, with more difficult questions, or with questions
that require more analysis and evaluation rather than simply obtaining
a link or factual answer, it takes longer for the researchers to get
around to the question.

6.  Finally, try to put yourself in the shoes of a researcher.  If you
were a reseacher answering that question, do you think that enough
information has been supplied in the question, there is enough money
to justify the research, and the question is clear in its intent. 
With all the expectations set by google to perform with excellence as
a researcher, I personally avoid questions that, if I were to answer
them, I might not totally satisfy the asker.

With that said, I hope that you are satisfied with this answer.  Good
luck, and if you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.

Thanks again,

Bobby_D-ga

Hi, Bobby

You may be new but, for me, you are a 5 star performer!

I will be patient ... and wait & see ...

My thanks also to the other commentators.

Have you considered rephrasing your original question for clarity?  I
visited it and was not quite sure what you wanted in regards to an
answer: opinion or fact?

As for me, I didn't answer it because I'm so disillusioned with the UK
DSS system that I couldn't do it without turning into "Mr Angry" :)

Willie-ga

Probono --

I read the request for quantification of a Ponzi scheme as being
difficult:
1.  define a scale for rating Ponzi-ness
2.  rate Social Security
3.  find supporting testimony on the web

I'm not sure that I'd even take on #1 -- everything around me would
suddenly become suspicious. . .

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Hello,

For me the quantify part is difficult. 

... the government knows that the retirement system cannot provide for
all,
with the contract out option and persuasion of people to take out
private pensions in the late 80's early 90's.
Not 100% sure what happened to Equitable life and Standard Life, but
the "bubble bursting" phrases used to describe the state system could
be suitably applied to these commercial provisions. So Joe Public
doesn't win either way
.. oh remember Robert Maxwell's Mirror Group pension fund? Now that
*is* a suitable use for the terms "fraud" and "con artist"!

kind regards
lot-ga

Dear Bobby the researcher,
                            No problem with it at at all but as I was
reading through question and responses I noticed that you have
included one of my old questions as an example of what you are trying
to get across to questioner. I am just wondering what about my
question encapsulated(apparently)just what you were trying to say. I
am thinking my question or rather the answer that came back and
associated comments was an example of a relatively cheap price paid
for a high quality in depth return thatmore related to the researchers
interest in the subject, yes?? no?? ( no fee so just a quick yes or no
would do)

 John From Melbourne

Sorry Bobbby but the question I refer to above was " How do I rid my
apartment of ants".


  John From Melbourne

Hello John from Melbourne (a fellow Australian???),

Please read the follow page from google:
https://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html

Notice that your question (and your answer) is used here as an example
for your price range.  I simply withdrew the link from that page and
put it here to show my argument.

There was no intense analysis made on my behalf!

Thanks, and I hope this answers your question,

bobby_D

(Yes, your question did receive and extensive answer in accordance to
its price, and yes, coincidentally, it probably was an example of a
researcher interested in a question, and hence giving a more extended
answer.)