The Tories say..

[dandelion]

Canada does not have a defecit on a par with that of Greece. If it did then a hung parliament would be a problem.

The man just told you the canadian minority government is managing things fine and you reply it could not if it had inherited a deficit. Your saying that coalition governments, anywhere, automatically, cannot manage a deficit? How did we win those world war when we had a coalition and the Germans had a majority party?

 

[vince]

The man just told you the canadian minority government is managing things fine and you reply it could not if it had inherited a deficit.

They have managed this recession with a minority govt. They are running deficit this year though, because of some major stimulus spending. It is said that that is the way it is suppose to be. Save up in good times, so you have some credit for the rainy days. But the Canadian public is not happy to see the red ink again. If it goes on much longer, the govt could fall.

 

[TheDeTour]

I have no wish to get involved in an argument here concerning any political party because they are all a load of shite, there is no such thing as a decent politician because any half decent person would not get involved in politics.

However one thing always amazes me, it is this, how come the oposition always have the answer to all the problems and how come they were not that smart when they were in power?

 

[D_Andreas Sukov]

I have no wish to get involved in an argument here concerning any political party because they are all a load of shite, there is no such thing as a decent politician because any half decent person would not get involved in politics.

However one thing always amazes me, it is this, how come the oposition always have the answer to all the problems and how come they were not that smart when they were in power?

the same reason any man in the pub has the answer. We can say what we want without risk in opposition/pub.

 

[dandelion]

the Canadian public is not happy to see the red ink again. If it goes on much longer, the govt could fall.

Im not sure how this compares with the uk position. Here, the parties are all falling over themselves to not state any major cuts they might be planning, presumably on the assumption that they would not be aceptable to voters.

It crossed my mind to wonder whether next week someone may dare to come out with a fully funded list of how they plan to cut 160 bn in a years time. It is not obvious to me that this would be a vote loser. it would certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons.

 

[Jason]

It crossed my mind to wonder whether next week someone may dare to come out with a fully funded list of how they plan to cut 160 bn in a years time. It is not obvious to me that this would be a vote loser. it would certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons.

An excellent point.

No idea how it would run.

We've had in the last day or two the idea of 6% on income tax. It wouldn't be done like this - rather with a range of tax rises and spending cuts. VAT is the obvious tax rise.

We've also had politicians stating that health, education and anything else that sounds cuddly is ring fenced. This cannot be. These are some of the biggest budget areas and have to be cut, whoever is in power.

The problem with the mess Gordon Brown has got us into is that people are going to be badly hurt, especially the poorest. Canada (somewhere on this board this evening) tackled problems with early tax rises and cuts. Good on Canada!

The problem with a solution is that we are doing it at a time when the markets are so jittery. There is nothing rational about he markets right now. With defecits as big as ours you need a strong government (plan B is you go to war so that people unite behind you).

 

[dandelion]

An excellent point.

No idea how it would run.

which i suppose is why it wont happen. That and the fact it is complete nonsense to be reducing inheritance tax (etc, insert party pet project) while cutting hospital care (etc).

The problem with the mess Gordon Brown has got us into is that people are going to be badly hurt, especially the poorest. Canada (somewhere on this board this evening) tackled problems with early tax rises and cuts. Good on Canada!

I thought Brown made a very cogent defence of his actions, why it was not his fault and why spending right now must not be cut, when interviewd by Paxman, which was on some channel today. He did rather better than cameron or indeed clegg. I notice the post earlier said that Canada has done the same and is also facing opposition for not cutting spending now. It would seem consensus remains that it was the correct action. The figures on the tiny current growth compared to proposed governments bear this out. Government cuts like that would automatically have translated into recession.

The problem with a solution is that we are doing it at a time when the markets are so jittery. There is nothing rational about he markets right now. With defecits as big as ours you need a strong government

[Smiley of record player with record stuck in groove]

 

[Drifterwood]

Actually we're 34th per capita!
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html

And soon to slide to 9th on Total.

188th on growth!

And worse 2nd on External Debt. I.e $9Tn to pay back in foreign currency loans.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publica...ok/rankorder/2079rank.html?countryName=United Kingdom&countryCode=uk&regionCode=eu&rank=2#uk

The Ostriches need to have a good look at this.

I spend a lot of time outside the UK, our isolationist arrogance is going to have a heavy price tag. The UK is like the Emperor with his new suit, that was Blair. We are all soon going to have to realise that we are butt naked and we don't look that impressive.

 

[dandelion]

You mean you agree we should be running for cover within the EU and euro?

 

[Drifterwood]

You mean you agree we should be running for cover within the EU and euro?

Should have joined years ago.