CD

Could you just clarify something for me ?

As I understand it UK debt is approx X1 Trillion.

I cannot remember the % of GDP which is of course the cruitial figure.

Are you saying we should not borrow any money at all or it should be limited and if so at what level.

It is an interesting question since the COST of UK borrowing is I believe at an all time low.

We are presently in a double dip recession, if we dont borrow and invest how do we create growth, since without growth UK PLC is bust ?

Thats not to say I dont think you have a point.

I think one of the current difficulties is the banking sector currently simply loading their balanace sheets and failing to lend. If they do lend they are doing so at crazy interest rates.

It is also interesting to note that many UK blue chip companies are sitting on large cash stocks. We need to get these companies to spend – invest – In order to get the country going.

We need as a country to stimulate demand. This is very difficult with very high unemployment. This is made still worse when all the employment is in the south east of the uk whilst the rest of the country is becomming a waste land.

By the way….what is “absolute democracy?”

Cannot stop too long my car has just decided to pack up and it looks like a dockyard job. Typical, just when my finances were looking rosy its all going pear shaped again. Still it could be worse……I could be Spain !

Sorry Moggy, I think I did answer…….in three parts. However If I could return to earning higher rate tax as i did prior to my redundancy 5 years ago than yes. I would be happy to pay an extra percentage towards the NHS.

These days I just try to concentrate on keeping a roof over my head, food on the table and bills paid. having to move north to south for work has imposed a huge financial burdon. I dont need much more as long as I have a good book, the occasional single malt and the odd trip to Coningsby and East Kirkby to see Gods wonderful aeroplane.

As I keep saying, greed is a major problem these days. You can only sleep in one bed, sit in one chair and drive one car.

Well Moggy

First of all I would like to see all the tax loop holes closed. Parties talk about it then along comes a party donor who buys a meeting with the top man etc…etc…Perhaps slighly ingenous because all parties do it in different ways. But it is still wrong.

Secondly, if everyone just paid what they should, we would all be better off.

Thirdly I think if you guaranteed “cradle to the grave” free health care in perpituity, people would happly pay more for it. Providing the Tax avoidence was really stopped at the top.

I suppose you could call it niave. But if more people insisted……things might get better?

Is it wrong to want a better and more fair society ?

I’d be happier with that if “they” were paying all the tax “they” should and not “avoiding” any tax payments. However “legal” that may be.

Indiaecho

A very interesting post indeed. You have encapsulated some major dilemas.

Your post leads me to believe you know far more about the subject than I.

However if the concept of “provision that is free at the point of delivery” were to be guaranteed absolutely then lets examine the possibilities.

CD……ummm
If we follow your argument or at least my interpritation of it. What would have happended to the US post 1931 and Europe post WWII. Does the Marshall Plan ring any bells ? Perhaps JM Keynes could assist…….his speciality I believe.

If we simply cut back and fail to find real long term growth, believe me, UK PLC is finnished…….for good. If we are to go down……..lets give it a good try eh ? After all what is the financial sector………other than another form of gambling.

Oh……I’d really like to buy you lot a beer this summer at a suitable airshow I hope!

Have a read of the leader column in todays Sunday Times. Imploring Cameron and the cabinet to spend money on capital programs and getting people back to work. I applaud this. We need to so spend more money getting growth back into the economy. If we fail to do this UK PLC is finnished.

As part of this the Government must step in and stop the banks simply shoring up there balance sheets and making them invest far more in small and large industry.

This country needs a replacement airport for Heathrow. Build it now. Build the new high speed rail link now. Lets invest further in green energy sources (tidal barriers etc)…..again do it now.

Thats how FDR did it. A man the UK owes a great deal to and in my opinion one of the greatest ever Americans.

You are correct CD lets try and keep it away from party politics if we can. Coilition Governments could well be they way to go which is why I favour changes in the electoral system and making more people accountable.

I remain pro EU, leaving it will only result in more pain…watch all those foreign businesses leave the UK immediately if we do so.

In my eyes the NHS must have complete protection. For me it is the sign of a civilised society. Without it I (and I suggest many others) would not be able to earn and contribute.

Oh and please, can we all find a way to end this pursuit of greed, which really is killing our society. Some of the current renumerations are totally obseen. As we have seen with Barclays Bank this week people appear to be waking up to this.

Oh and thanks to you all for not mentioning my awful spelling. A life-time affliction I’m afraid………

Seems like a excellent post CD……..

Could I therefore ask you to answer your own question?
Borrow, earn (or tax) or cut.

If you do cut, what do we cut.

In Satudays Times it was stated that a further £10 billion cut was being investigated to the welfare budget.

I believe that free healthcare to all is a pre requist. Money should not be allowed to buy privillage in the health system.

If the above caviat is in place I’m happy to examine change in the health system.

If the current polls are to be believed the coililition is now on very rocky ground. If they continue on their current course, will they survive or do a “Costa” ?

Without going into huge details, I recently moved from the north of England to the south. The only place I could get work. It has resulted in a huge financial burden.

There was no work what-so-ever from whence I came, nor in the surrounding area (true Norman Tebbit eh !).

Once you leave the south east of England things are desperate, really, really desperate.

See Moggy……we can agree on some things!!!!! (Dont tell my wife though!)