And learning from it?
I suspect that we're heading for the same leveil of unrest when the average person realises just how severe the cuts are going to have to be and worse still, how unfairly these cuts will affect the people with little money or job security.
Will the party leaders dare to be honest with us at the next debate or will they just flannel?
5 comments:
My concern too.
But whoever gets in is going to have to wield the surgeon's knife in a drastic manner, which will make them so unpopular that they are unlikely to get in again for many years.
Pensioners should not think they are an exception. It was ridiculous to give us all bus passes. Reduced fare for the needy is one thing but many pensioners are much better off than those who work for below the average wage. Same for free TV licences etc. Many people get more in benefits than those who have to pay for them.
There is too much expectation that others will pay for child care too. There just is not enough money in the pot.
We are all responsible for our own actions and have a duty of care to ourselves and those we bring into the world.
We surely also need to be aware of what we can contribute, apart from money, for the good of the 'whole'.
It is also my opinion that the tax threshold be raised to bring the poorest workers out of the tax bracket but there should be a 'luxury' tax on non-essentials.
But these are minor things. The size of the national debt demands far more than fiddling with the figures!
You are right, Geoff — each party MUST say where cuts have to be made and where the money is coming from.
What comes to mind is something I read in a comic 70 years ago! Laurel and Hardy ate a huge meal in a restaurant (knowing they had no money). The waiter gave them the bill. Laurel and hardy argued who should pay.
'I'll pay,' said Hardy.
'No, I'll pay,' said Laurel.
And so it went on until Hardy said to the waiter, 'Does it matter who pays?'
'No, of course not,' said the waiter.
Both men stood up and, before racing outside, yelled at the waiter, 'Then YOU pay!'
Greece - another excellent reason for keeping out of the Eurozone.
You might be missing the point.
We are just as bad as Greece.
They are being made to sort themselves out by the other members of Europe.
We are not because we don't use the Euro and can devalue when necessary.
At the moment we are being bailed out by "skillful" borrowing.
As soon as we start to straighten ourselves out then the shit hits the fan when the public realises what that really means in real life terms.
With typical British hypocrisy we want to look down on others we are no worse than ourselves.
Our politicians avoid telling us how bad things are going to be so they don't lose our votes.
Those that are honest like the Greens get slated for being too draconian regarding conserving the Earth's resources.
Most people want their cake and eat it!
Despite all this the best result is happening.
The Conservatives will win, with the Liberals having an important role but no responsibilities.
Conservatives then get the flack from everyone when they start applying the cuts.
95% will end up hating their guts.
Liberals can keep their heads down as it gradually dawns on us all what a mess we're all in.
Proportional representation then occurs at the next election with the Greens (along with the BNP) getting a substantial number of seats and having their voices heard.
Also Liberals come in with a majority with a reconstituted Labour Party second.
A shattered public and new government can then attempt to work together to be really honest and shoulder responsibility at all levels of our social structure and bravely face a very daunting situation.
Will we have the backbone to cope?
Will the British fighting spirit and team work come to the fore?
Got it in one GD!! We are not in the euro and therefore will not be involved in chucking yet more cash at our "partners" in Europe. Though I'm sure whoever wins next week will find some way of extracting cash from us to help our "friends" out.
Geoff,
I remember you I spent 4 or 5 years in Ulverston as a teenager and I knew your son think his name was Dave this is over 25 years ago.
I came across your blog by mistake looking on knowhere.co.uk for somebody I knew as a teenager and the great unwashed seem to enjoy insulting you do not let them get to you mindless hicks.
You seem to care about the town and the world in general and in theory I would have thought that is a bon metier but you cannot win Ulverston is hick central and you Sir with all the good intention in the world cannot educate a cabal of insular hicks.
I would love to hear from Your Dave I hope life is treating him well?.
Kindest Regards
Chris
lostinfrance@hotmail.com
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