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.

Sorry, Arthur, but the support for the banks was the final nail in the coffin. The debt had been building solidly year on year from about 2001 when Brown released himself from his, up to then, highly responsible “prudent” approach to money supply, which had been the previous government’s policy.

I agree, scaremongering is irresponsible: giving people the facts is not.

I thought there was a fussing old woman on this thread, but I must have been mistaken……:D

Your first paragraph shows how last year’s labour spin has stuck fast, and I am sure you are not alone. Did you actually read the figures produced by the Treasury for the Budget and the Spending Review. If you really believe the figures have been overdone then, perhaps you, and many others are in for a ruder shock than those of us who have been doing a bit of reading in the last few months. Not political spin, not forecasts but simple numbers of what we earn and what we owe and how much we have borrowed over the last 10 years, and how much it is costing to pay it back – oh, that’s just the interest, not the loans! And people blame the bankers!!! Their irresponsibilities pale into insignificance beside those of our politicians.

Ouch – I’ve twisted me ankle! Where was that………?

The government has not done a good enough job of convincing us just how dire the situation is. So, for many people it is not yet a reality. As for delaying and putting off the inevitable we are already so far in hock that to go down Labour’s road would exacerbate the situation.

Life is unfair! We have to accept it. If people are fortunate enough to have money I don’t decry them it – what is the point? Our life at home will be measurably worse and our business is just about surviving. That’s the challenge – to get through 2011. Moaning about a few wealthy people who enjoy their money is just childish sour grapes, a fruit which is in plentiful supply in recent years in the UK!!

We will all become worse off courtesy of creeping and hidden inflation. The BoE hasn’t the balls to increase rates at the risk of increasing the value of sterling so this year we will probably see the real value of our money reduce by as much as 4%.

Oh, she’s an old fuss pot, isn’t she………?:D Great thread Blue because it’s produced a wealth of widely diverse pictures…the more the merrier I say!;)

I agree but examples are meaningless in isolation so it would be helpful to know how Oregon finances its budget.