………but you cut your cloth to suit and its easier to say we’ll not have so and so rather than being forced to pay a tax on your income.

I couldn’t agree more. We have all got to learn to do without some of the things we have previously enjoyed.

The dreaded Sprinkler Dance….mmmmmm…..

488 for 7 – looking good.:D

Misha – do you by any chance work in the public sector – NHS, for example?

I have been aware of this for years since a friend of mine was “done” for the offence, probably, more than 20 years ago now. It should hardly come as a surprise, like or not.

I would certainly agree that we have sort out what we have, we just disagree on how.

Where I would disagree is in your statement about the health service. My experience is that there has been a massive improvement in the last 10 years or so. Improvements can still be made though. I also have no complaints about the standard and quality of education my daughter is receiving. In this respect, I can only base my opinion on my experience.

I cannot, and would not dispute your own experience. The perceptions of better and worse are many and varied. My grandson is receiving a reasonably good education, by 2010 standards so far, but I am appalled at some of the other Primary Schools in our area. If higher educationalists are very dissatisfied with the results of our secondary education who are we to dispute their judgement?

And on that note……..:D

Yes, in fact the descent had been steady from 1994.

Your phrase “…from which we all benefit” is telling. If we had seen major improvements in public services as a result of the huge increase year on year from 2002 to 2008, there would be some excuse. As it was, the government spent more and more money, that it didn’t have, on services which have little or nothing to show for it. Maybe a bright new building here and there and of course 600,000 new jobs, but people are not cared for any better nor are they educated any better – in fact the decline in real education standards is appalling.

It goes without saying that our views on your last paragraph are diametrically opposed. But, as the man said, we are where we are. People will argue the merits of the case for years to come but it is crystal clear that we cannot afford to service the debt we have so it has to be reduced. On that, I presume we are agreed, so most of us will feel pain in the years to come. And that’s a point which is seldom made strongly – this ride is for the long term, not the quick fix.