Here.
The only way to get a torpid electorate really worked up is to propose things for which they would rather die than vote. To this end I have roughed out ... a list of unspeakable policies that would do a deal of good to the country, but scandalise pretty much everyone who lives there...
The NHS in its present form cannot survive. It is a Stalinist, command system, and look what happened to his. Heretics will be told “ah, so you want an American system, do you?”, to which the answer is: “No, something more like the French would suit us better.” This provides a far superior service, in which adults are obliged to play their part through an insurance system...
Equally certain is the parties’ determination not to puncture another national illusion — our right to unearned profits from our houses. Why invest in productive business, indeed why strive too hard at all to keep up with workaholic foreign persons, if these returns are guaranteed, as governments have a duty to ensure?
Like the NHS, house prices are a subject steeped in mythology and voodoo economics, best expressed in the Thatcherite slogan that upwardly mobile prices would produce “a cascade of wealth” from one generation to another. Instead, here as in the United States, they helped to trigger the recession.
Stable prices are crucial to the economy, but if even buyers do not want them, what do you do? The solution? The Lib Dems’ idea of mansion-bashing is a typical bit of phoney muscle-flexing, designed as a diversion from the issue. The problem is not just the rich, it’s the lot of us, in fact.
The solution? Pain undreamt of. If we treat our main homes as businesses, tax them as a business. Instead of making houses more expensive to buy by stamp duty, cream off a portion of the profits. Not today, of course — the listing ship of state would go under if you did –— but gradually, over time. Try this one in the election and the door will slam in your face even quicker than when you promise a brand new, efficient, non-British NHS.
Forbidden Bible Verses — Genesis 42:1-17
6 hours ago
10 comments:
Radical reform is the answer, of the welfare system, public sector, taxation and unroll the plethora of legislation that removes choice, intrudes and controls every ones daily lives. These are obvious things to do that if implemented would improve the economic and social well being of all. To not do so will mean further erosion of the economy and the fabric of society. Will any politician grasp the nettle and do it, of course not as maintenance of power is more important than the good of the country.
I have said before and I reiterate that the way things are progressing everything that people hold dear is going to be swept away in one awful spectacular crash. So procrastination and inactivity now is only going to postpone the inevitable and those radical changes nobody will face up to now will be forced upon them later with out the ameliorating benefits of being in charge of those changes.
Well, I would vote for that (assuming he means capital gains tax on the houses and not LVT) but he's right no-one else would. He might have added loosen up the planning system of course.
However, I do think opinion is moving at least on the NHS. When I was young, everyone thought the NHS was the envy of the world. I really do think people are just beginning to question it. Give it another 20 years...
Here? Where?
A, can you spell out your manifesto?
AC, capital gains tax encourages inefficient use of land and unless levied at 100% does not discourage speculation (you would just gear up and buy more to get the same gain) so would not necessarily make houses cheaper; LVT encourages efficient use of land, discourages speculation and makes houses cheaper.
EKTWP, here.
Adamcolley, "Give it another 20 years..."
The UK does not have another 20 years, I give it another 20 months at most.
MW, I wish I was up to the task of putting together a manifesto. I know my limitations I have neither the intellect, ability or training. However I observe that which is and that which is proposed and from my own life's experience and also the lessons that history has to offer in my very simplistic way try to balance that which is good from that which is harmful. Putting life's experience and information from history together it is fairly easy to draw certain conclusions and as I have managed to shed many of my prejudices of younger days generally objective as well. So what I see now is a situation that is far worse than most people realise and that the future looks even worse given the solutions that the main parties are proposing to implementing if given the chance to become the next government.
If I was to forced into writing a manifesto I have no hesitation in saying that I would steal or adapt from others and they would be from UKIP, LPUK and former Conservative ones.
Was just about to post this to you!
The missing quote is here.
I like Walden's suggestions too. Although I'm guessing he wasn't too loud about them when he was an active politician.
adamcollyer,
It will be the next Conservative PM after Cameron who breaks up the NHS. Cameron isn't going to do it, and Labour won't do it after him, but by then, the dewey-eyed romantic support for it will have withered as people realise that throwing money at it and management reorganisation won't solve it.
Politically, I think Cameron's right to leave it alone because the country isn't ready for it yet. Oddly, and despite the fact that it's far more important from a socialist perspective, the left will defend the NHS from market forces far more than schools. I was expecting quite serious opposition to the Swedish-style schools plan, yet it's barely been mentioned.
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