Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Politics] Society
- Thread starter PILTDOWN MAN
- Start date
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 30,557
You miss my point. There's nothing wrong with sensible, long-term borrowing but to have 10 years of austerity and cut back services by X followed by a short-term borrowing blitz to restore 1/2 X is ridiculous.
And where's the sense in borrowing huge sums when we're on the cusp of an event that most economists predict will reduce our GDP by 3-8%?!
Last edited:
And some countries go balls deep on infrastructure building when there’s a recession. Money is cheap and it keeps some people in work as opposed to paying benefits for nothing. The UK cut back; madness.
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 30,557
What is striking across the political spectrum is the lack of imagination about policy.
If you look back 50 years at how society has changed, from a manufacturing economy to a service economy, we live longer, we don't smoke as much, technology and automation, the unions smashed, globalisation etc etc AND YET there's been hardly any change in approach re the health service, drug policy, crime, taxation.
Where are the bold initiatives? Why do we still have National Insurance and an ever more complex tax system? Why are drugs still criminalised? Why aren't we building social housing? Why is London still sucking the life out of the UK? Why do we throw ever bigger sums at the NHS? Why does every council have a completely different policy to waste collection than their neighbour? Why are we still paying billions for nuclear weapons?
If you look back 50 years at how society has changed, from a manufacturing economy to a service economy, we live longer, we don't smoke as much, technology and automation, the unions smashed, globalisation etc etc AND YET there's been hardly any change in approach re the health service, drug policy, crime, taxation.
Where are the bold initiatives? Why do we still have National Insurance and an ever more complex tax system? Why are drugs still criminalised? Why aren't we building social housing? Why is London still sucking the life out of the UK? Why do we throw ever bigger sums at the NHS? Why does every council have a completely different policy to waste collection than their neighbour? Why are we still paying billions for nuclear weapons?
A lot of sensible questions there, How do you propose funding the NHS though?
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 30,557
I think that better health education and sport in schools will produce kids that will push back against drugs and help improve mental health.
I'd scrap our independent nuclear deterrent in favour of a pooled NATO / E.U. nuclear option.
I'd raise income tax by 2%.
I'd drastically simplify the tax system and focus resources on reducing the size of the black economy and detecting tax evasion.
I'd charge people for missing NHS appointments.
I know this isn’t aimed at me, and I’ve said this many times before, but I’d do the same as Germany. Work out exactly how much a first-class fit-for-purpose service which pays for everything until you die costs and tax people directly with a ring fenced tax so they know x percent of their salary is for is their health. Here it’s 14% split 50/50 with your employer. It’s kind of capped though....as higher earners will opt out and take private insurance when it’s cheaper than 7% of your income.
It really is this simple.
Next week I’m solving poverty.
I'm not sure you'll find many people up for invading Poland at this time of year.
And the government pay the lot if you're unemployed?
edit: Is the 7% deducted automatically from your salary?
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 35,286
thats where the problem starts in the UK, we dont work out or plan much, instead think of a number and throw at the problem (healthcare or other policy area). is that too little or too much gets argued over without much question about what or how the service is delivered. we cant honestly say if its efficient or fit for purpose, or not.
Absolutely. I think we have the NHS completely about-face - there should be much more emphasis placed on preventative measures. For example, there are many cities that have far too high measures of NOX in the atmosphere, yet little or nothing is done to cut back - even though respiratory diseases cost the NHS £11 billion per year (NHS figures). We're also seeing a dizzying rise in diabetes - it was reported this week that the NHS is treating 5,000 diabetic patients a day - yet there are very little preventative measures in place.
Kids are growing more unhealthy and yet school PE and games lessons are being cut back, while schools are packed with sugar.
And there's short-sighted cost savings. There are far too many kids dropping out of education and left to fend for themselves. Brighton has closed three schools for kids with special educational needs in the past few years (one of them was my daughter's) but no alternative provision is put in place - there are staggering numbers of kids out of school in Brighton, vulnerable to exploitation by drug gangs, paedophiles and other criminal elements. They might have saved a few bob by closing a school but in the long term, it will cost society much more. And don't talk about the 'war on drugs' - a totally mindless approach to the problem (and one being scrapped by more and more countries).
Pav is right: everything is just tinkering at the edges and there's so much more to be done but let's start by making sensible long-term plans.
In the late 70s, when I was a nipper, I sometimes used to go to work, during the school holidays, with my dad. He worked at the old Municipal fruit market in Circus Street, Brighton. Here, for the first time, I noticed real poverty: old people picking up the discarded fruit and veg, kids from the nearby flats, trying to nick stuff etc. I mean we weren’t well off, just an ordinary working class family from Portslade, struggling to get by, but this was a whole new level.
Is it any worse now? (And The Clamp, that was under a Labour Government), or is it that there is undoubtedly more wealth on show these days, so there appears to be a bigger gulf in wealth distribution, and that is what you notice.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 35,286
the wealth gap is real enough, just so many other issues have been dealt with its become the focus of some.
deletebeepbeepbeep
Well-known member
- May 12, 2009
- 20,947
Vote Labour at this forthcoming General Election for change.
Will do
If you google Tory party cuts the results make for some eye watering reading.
Homeless figures are the highest they have been for over 80 years. So yes, things are worse than in the 70’s.
portslade seagull
Well-known member
We always talk about this at work and most would be willing to reverse the recent tax cuts to fund the frontline services. Tax cuts improve nothing
Baldseagull
Well-known member
If I recall correctly you work in recruitment, or have you changed career? If you are still in recruitment, then it is not surprising frequent career changes are not so negative.
Hastings gull
Well-known member
- Nov 23, 2013
- 4,635
With your first predictable and simplistic contribution, that was exactly what you were trying to do - in total contrast to the OP whose aims seem to be far more altruistic.