economic situation is dire

[MakemineVanilla]

So despite the fluff that the gvmt and its most avid supporters would have you believe the most damning indication of the mess we are in is the news re the red cross providing food support for some of the poorest in the uk society (and we all know what the tory party view is on society). First time the red cross has done this for many many years shows the real picture of what is happening

 

My view is that benefit levels are set at a level which ensures a life of deprivation and misery which is supposed to incentivise people to seek work.

 

Disability benefit is set at a meagre but liveable level with most of the misery taken out, because it would seem unreasonable to persecute the long-term sick as well as the long-term unemployed.

 

Labour, as confirmed by the Tory accusation, seemed to have a policy which made it easier for the long-term unemployed, in areas created by Thatcher's final solution, to claim disability allowances because they thought the built-in misery was inappropriate for areas where there were no jobs.

 

This was complete anathema to the Tories because ideologically misery is an essential part of their economic vision, so they set about bullying people into declaring themselves fit in the aim to get 600k people back into the misery zone.

 

It is heartening that the Red Cross have seen fit to step in to try and alleviate the misery and defy the government's misery plans.

 

What is annoying is that the media seem to present the story as if there is something shameful about getting food from a food bank and it should just be seen as part of the survival system and should not be stigmatised.

 

As we heard at the Tory conference, stigmatisation of the unemployed is key to their ideology.

 

But it is not just in the UK that the food bank is becoming an increasing part of the support system for the poor - in Germany, the richest country in Europe, it was reported that in Berlin 100 000 folk are using food banks.

 

It offers a delectable indictment of the system and the politicians but hopefully the tenacious survivors which many of the unemployed are, will see it as an opportunity to defy their persecutors.

 

And then there is always the Langar.

Edited October 11, 2013 by MakemineVanilla

[peterms]

Great piece here by Martin Wolf on the "Help To Buy Votes" scheme.

 

Conclusion:

 

...The government claims it is helping first-time buyers. It is really helping those who wish to keep housing costly: today’s owners, banks and housebuilders. The government is strengthening a conspiracy to keep house prices exorbitant...

 

...A deregulated and dynamic housing supply could spell financial and political Armageddon. The victims of this vile system are the young and upwardly mobile, who are either unable to buy at all or are trapped in a lifetime of debt serfdom. The political genius of the scheme is that it appears to help these hapless victims, while in fact helping the usual suspects: banks, homeowners, Nimbys and, if it creates another housing boom, the government.

 

Ministers also pretends the guarantees are a purely temporary arrangement. Nothing is less likely: it is the temporary that endures. The government has increased its commitment to frighteningly expensive housing. It is a trap from which the UK may not now escape.

 

Which doesn't mean that property prices will only move smoothly and steadily upwards - there could be some upsets within the context of too-expensive housing.  Meanwhile, I see rumours that the Candy brothers and Branson are selling some of their top-end London property investments.  Expecting a bit of volatility in the market, perhaps?

 

[chrisp65]

It is the most bizarre 'fix' of a broken system.

 

Supply and demand is broken in the housing market, demand is massively outstripping supply so prices are high. The fix? Give people more access to more credit, thus boosting demand. But here's the clever bit as explained by the government, that additional demand will convince builders to build soooo many houses, the supply will be fixed and prices will 'normalise'.

 

Yeah, good luck with that plan.

[peterms]

Interesting that Wolf approves of a land tax to counteract speculation.  I've seen more favourable comment about land tax in the last couple of years than I remember in the last 20.  Not sure if support is growing or I just notice it more...

[Xann]

Meanwhile, in Ireland.

[Davkaus]

Makes you proud to be British.

 

[mockingbird_franklin]

won't be long before it's "why bother hiring? get a worker for free"

[chrisp65]

Perhaps it would help the economy if we all stood on street corners and employers could drive by and pick the ones that look most efficient and compliant on a daily basis.

I for one would be happy to also have a sign around my neck stating my personal hourly rate I'd work for.

[drat01]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24859486

 

Just goes to show that for all the silly rhetoric from political figures and their supporters the reality is that leaving the EU would certainly have a major negative impact on the UK economy

[Eames]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24859486

 

Just goes to show that for all the silly rhetoric from political figures and their supporters the reality is that leaving the EU would certainly have a major negative impact on the UK economy

 

Something else we can agree on Drat. The list is growing.

[drat01]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24859486

Just goes to show that for all the silly rhetoric from political figures and their supporters the reality is that leaving the EU would certainly have a major negative impact on the UK economy

Something else we can agree on Drat. The list is growing.

i know behind that tory exterior there is a sensible person trying to get out :-)

[tonyh29]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24859486

Just goes to show that for all the silly rhetoric from political figures and their supporters the reality is that leaving the EU would certainly have a major negative impact on the UK economy

How did I miss this comedy gem for so long

So a man who said back in 2002 he would have to reconsider Nissans future in the UK if we didn't adopt the euro ( that's 11 years btw) ... Now says he will reconsider if we pull out of the EU and suddenly he's the proof that we are doomed

Well that's me convinced , I'd best vote NO to any withdrawal

[tonyh29]

Britain is currently growing faster than any other major world economy.

[villaajax]

Wasn't the economy growing stronger under Labour by the time of the last general election before the tories strangled it off for a few years? It's only now gone back to square 1, mostly despite Osborne's 'plans'.

[snowychap]

Whilst I like the pic and captions as it gives little credit to either of the wankstains, how is this economy 'growing faster than any other major world economy'? (That discounts the Chinese, roite?)

That isn't a request for figures demonstrating GDP growth more than y but a question on how it is happening.

Didn't the 'independent' OBR suggest that it was as a result of increased consumer spending financed by a reduction in household saving?

Swap the parties and this is a 'Brown' type GDP recovery on the back of increased household debt and, as is the British wont, house price increases.

[thetrees]

Wasn't the economy growing stronger under Labour by the time of the last general election before the tories strangled it off for a few years? It's only now gone back to square 1, mostly despite Osborne's 'plans'.

I see that it's that time of Friday night when our resident socialists start hallucinating...

[chrisp65]

http://www.ipsos-mori.com/Assets/Docs/Polls/ipsos-mori-autumn-statement-charts.pdf

 

from those tripping lefties ipsos-mori

[snowychap]

I see that it's that time of Friday night when our resident socialists start hallucinating...

Indeed. GDP growth (quarter on quarter) in the three quarters at the end of the last administration (Q4 2009- Q2 2010) was about the same as the last three quarters (up to and including Q3 2013) - not 'stronger growth' just about 'the same'.

Edit: All of which bearing in mind my post above.

Edited December 6, 2013 by snowychap

[thetrees]

I see that it's that time of Friday night when our resident socialists start hallucinating...

Indeed. GDP growth (quarter on quarter) in the three quarters at the end of the last administration (Q4 2009- Q2 2010) was about the same as the last three quarters (up to and including Q3 2013) - not 'stronger growth' just about 'the same'.

Damned 'global' recession

[snowychap]

Damned 'global' recession

Sorry, you have me lost there - why would those figures have any relevance to the previous government's stock phrase for earlier periods?