duffer
Well-Known Member
File this one under "they're making it up as they're going along".
(Below: Department head returning underspend...)
This seems extremely unlikely, there’s been billions in underspend in the education budget? Really?? And it’s consistent enough to cover running costs like pay?
File this one under "they're making it up as they're going along".
(Below: Department head returning underspend...)
Tax, spend, return to Keynesian.I mean, we joke, but there’s no plan for growth that involves cutting everything to the bone. We’ve had 13 years to “fix the roof” and we appear to have ended up with one of those DIY SOS homes that needs to be levelled.
Really not sure how you get out of this without it getting worse in some way. Either public services go even more to shit and we drive people into homelessness or we pile on more debt in an attempt to grow and provide basic services in the mean time.
Weirdly it’ll be the people who bang on about Gordon Brown selling the gold that won’t remember a lick of this come next election.
Tax, spend, return to Keynesian.
Oh I know. Somewhere though the conversation needs to begin. It's post Thatcher the concept of paying for things has gone out the window. The old way is people are better off even if they pay now as the serfs end up with cash to waste on things the elite can exploit them for.Gonna be politically hard to raise taxes in the middle of a cost of living crisis. We saw what even Corbyns “no one earning under £80k will pay more” turned out.
I’m sure I saw john redwood say it wasn’t about moneyOh I know. Somewhere though the conversation needs to begin. It's post Thatcher the concept of paying for things has gone out the window. The old way is people are better off even if they pay now as the serfs end up with cash to waste on things the elite can exploit them for.
And on a basic level, even my Mother in law recognises the NHS is on its knees, but somehow can't make the connection it needs more cash to not be. That's always the way - grew up in a quite respectable village, they were always complaining about a lack of a bus service... but couldn't grasp you can't just have things without a consequence somewhere.
I’m sure I saw john redwood say it wasn’t about money
Oh I know. Somewhere though the conversation needs to begin. It's post Thatcher the concept of paying for things has gone out the window. The old way is people are better off even if they pay now as the serfs end up with cash to waste on things the elite can exploit them for.
And on a basic level, even my Mother in law recognises the NHS is on its knees, but somehow can't make the connection it needs more cash to not be. That's always the way - grew up in a quite respectable village, they were always complaining about a lack of a bus service... but couldn't grasp you can't just have things without a consequence somewhere.
But churchillWe’ve got a media and political class that is desperate for us to be the US because the right has this weird US obsession since Regan. But at their heart British people aren’t Americans. We care too much about fairness and the NHS and animals and food and the environment to be them. So you have this ridiculous struggle where we claim to want to be low tax small government but can’t move to a U.S. style economy even if we wanted to because there would be a revolt in the Tory shires if we took their approach to regulation.
So we have the worst of both worlds: low productivity/growth and shit services and toothless regulation.
Brexit was a microcosm of this. Are we leaving to become Singapore on sea and get rid of silly EU red tape, or are we leaving because we’re proud Brits who want to do things better and have better public services? Turns out we are neither, we’re a bunch of idiots running around not knowing what we’re doing.
We’ve got a media and political class that is desperate for us to be the US because the right has this weird US obsession since Regan. But at their heart British people aren’t Americans. We care too much about fairness and the NHS and animals and food and the environment to be them. So you have this ridiculous struggle where we claim to want to be low tax small government but can’t move to a U.S. style economy even if we wanted to because there would be a revolt in the Tory shires if we took their approach to regulation.
So we have the worst of both worlds: low productivity/growth and shit services and toothless regulation.
Brexit was a microcosm of this. Are we leaving to become Singapore on sea and get rid of silly EU red tape, or are we leaving because we’re proud Brits who want to do things better and have better public services? Turns out we are neither, we’re a bunch of idiots running around not knowing what we’re doing.
Agree with a lot of that. I still have a confidence in the country as a whole (ever the optimist !), however, nobody appears to have a clear longer term vision for the country, let alone a strategy/plan to get there. With different factions of both major parties also having to be placated and/or watering down ideas/policies
Nobody wants to make the tough decisions and as NW alludes to, the country as a whole doesn’t appear to want to pay more into the pot…having said that after reading the Peston tweet and seeing how much cash is frittered away I can’t really blame people. I think most would pay more if they saw a direct correlation with an improvement in services and infrastructure…not sure we ever see that though
Strangely in the past, tough times were when people were keener to contribute - in it together and all that. It's slightly depressing if that isn't the case anymore as it's one of the things that was great about BritainPeople keep saying no one wants to pay into the pot, but there’s been public support for tax rises quite consistently since the GFC. Less so right now obviously.
I’m not going to pretend I want a U.S. Mad Max style economy, I’m very much team functioning society, but pick a damn lane.
Strangely in the past, tough times were when people were keener to contribute - in it together and all that. It's slightly depressing if that isn't the case anymore as it's one of the things that was great about Britain
Labour government post world war two the obvious example!Is that true? Most studies I’ve seen say people get meaner during hard times.
Labour government post world war two the obvious example!
Ditched the man who won the war for a sweet, sweet welfare state.
It’s a live discussion. Even though most people don’t pay inheritance tax it polls incredibly well. It would be a totemic offer.
There's no money, we're all in it together etc etc. Lets scrap inheritance tax
I was surprised by that, given the way house prices have gone up I'd have thought it was more. And if house prices over the long term continue to increase by more than inflation then you'd expect more people to get dragged into itIt surprises me the figure is as low as it’s claimed who fall into the trap
I was surprised by that, given the way house prices have gone up I'd have thought it was more. And if house prices over the long term continue to increase by more than inflation then you'd expect more people to get dragged into it
I can see why it would be popular but surely now is not the time
I was surprised by that, given the way house prices have gone up I'd have thought it was more. And if house prices over the long term continue to increase by more than inflation then you'd expect more people to get dragged into it
I can see why it would be popular but surely now is not the time
Interesting thread on IHT, this bit in particular but the whole thing is worth a read.
I don’t think some of those rates are correct - well it says maximum I suppose as a rate but it’s pretty misleading
Eco-protester who targeted George Osborne at his wedding revealed
Eco-protester who targeted George Osborne at his wedding revealed
I’m no tory but what a whopper she is….practise what you preach love!!!
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