2015 Election

[zag]

I should have known better to talk politics with a load of northerners on a Public Sector forum

 

I sound very right wing in this debate, but actually voted Labour all through the Tony Blair years. He(and specifically Gordon Brown.. when he was chancellor at least) understood that spending less money is path to a stable growing economy. I don't have so much confidence in Red Ed.

 

Anyway 7 days to go, make your votes count people Its still on a knife edge.

[sonofsanta]

Am I the only one whose weekly shop has gone up much more than the alleged rate of inflation? The only thing I've noticed getting cheaper is a loaf of bread.

 

The basket of shopping used to calculate inflation includes technology items, like big screen TVs, that inevitably fall thanks to technological progress. It is, in some respects, a relevant item: people do buy them, and it should be factored in.

 

But I don't buy one every week.

 

The inflation calculation should really factor in frequency of purchase; as best I can tell, at the moment it's a simple calculation of "this collection of goods cost £1000 this time last year, it now costs £1035, therefore inflation is 3.5%".

 

So yes, food spending almost inevitably goes up by more than inflation, because proportionally it's a smaller part of the inflation basket than it is of your own annual spending.

Edited April 30, 2015 by sonofsanta

[sparkeh]

I sound very right wing in this debate, but actually voted Labour all through the Tony Blair years.

You mean Tory-Lite

[StevieM]

I sound very right wing in this debate, but actually voted Labour all through the Tony Blair years. He(and specifically Gordon Brown.. when he was chancellor at least) understood that spending less money is path to a stable growing economy. I don't have so much confidence in Red Ed.

 

Only they didn't spend less money in real terms. Instead of borrowing and adding to the national debt, they kept spending off the record books by entering into long-term, over-priced PFI contracts. A bit like buying a hospital from Bright House.

 

As an aside, it's good to see starkly contrasting but strongly held opinions being discussed in a, generally, civilised manner. I think the government should take a leaf out of our book.

[E_G_R2]

Edugeek for government?

[sonofsanta]

Edugeek for government?

 

Which'd be fine, until we tried to fix the economy by turning the London Stock Exchange off and on again

[Garacesh]

Which'd be fine, until we tried to fix the economy by turning the London Stock Exchange off and on again

 

I don't see an issue with this. 90% of problems get fixed by simply hard-resetting the platform. It's worth a bash, no?

[tmcd35]

I don't see an issue with this. 90% of problems get fixed by simply hard-resetting the platform. It's worth a bash, no?

 

Dear China,

 

We have decided the responsible way of dealing with our debt - is to not have one. Sorry but as from May 8th 2015 we have unilaterally decided we do not owe any one, any thing. That said, we can't really raise taxes to pay for HS2. I don't suppose you'll lend as a fiver?

 

Thanks

 

Britain.

[StevieM]

We have decided the responsible way of dealing with our debt - is to not have one. Sorry but as from May 8th 2015 we have unilaterally decided we do not owe any one, any thing.

 

Isn't that what Iceland did a few years ago? How did that work out for them?

[localzuk]

Isn't that what Iceland did a few years ago? How did that work out for them?

 

They saw 3.5% growth in 2013, we had 1.7% (world bank figures). GDP growth (annual %) | Data | Table

[Andrew_C]

How did that work out for them?

Very well indeed; unless you were one of the bankers that trashed the system. Then you went to jail.

[Dos_Box]

Yup. Food costs have spiralled up.

 

Primarily this was due to several years of bad harvests not only here but around the globe too pushing prices up:

 

British food prices to rise after poor harvest - Telegraph

Land-grabbing and crop-hoarding: how speculation is keeping the world's poor hungry | Catch21

Beleaguered farmers' third poor harvest in a row means British shoppers will rely on imported food - and prices will rise - Home News - UK - The Independent

Agrimoney.com | Russia's 2015 wheat crop 'may fall more than 15%'

 

This also has the knock on effect in that it means less food for livestock so less livestock is bred pushing up meat prices too.

The problem with bad harvests is that not only do food prices go up almost immediately it often take a couple of years for the prices to normalise once crop yields are back to normal. IIRC we had a good crop last year and bread prices have been dropping once more:

 

UK shop price deflation deepens as food costs fall | Business | The Guardian

[localzuk]

Bad crops are only going to be more common note though, with climate change. farmers need to react to the changes and change what they plant.

[tmcd35]

farmers need to react to the changes and change what they plant.

 

Solar panels are proving popular

[sonofsanta]

Solar panels are proving popular

 

Bit crunchy, mind, no matter how long you boil 'em for.

[LiamH]

Do they really believe that spending money we don't have is healthy for our economy? In the long term, having less debt will surely be a huge benefit for the country. More money to spend on public services and infrastructure instead of the interest on our national debt. Seems like basic economics to me.

 

Not sure "public services and infrastructure" will be a thing in the long term if the torys keep selling everything off to their buddies.

[StevieM]

Not sure "public services and infrastructure" will be a thing in the long term if the torys keep selling everything off to their buddies.

 

As I mentioned earlier, Labour also have some serious form for putting public services in private hands.

[Gatt]

As I mentioned earlier, Labour also have some serious form for putting public services in private hands.

 

Indeed - PFI / BSF to name but two off the top of my head - we all know how well that worked out!

Let us not forget Gordo's Great Gold Sale too .. Sale of UK gold reserves, 1999–2002 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[tmcd35]

Labour also have some serious form for putting public services in private hands.

 

I suppose it's worth remembering, other than The Greens, we don't have any major left-wing political parties. All major parties are right of center to various degrees. I believe the current left-right line up (left being party closest to right of center!?!) is something like BNP -> Labour -> Lib Dem -> UKIP -> Tory.

 

I think the 2010 line up BNP -> Lib Dem -> Labour -> Tory -> UKIP, with Labour and Tory practically being the same party for all the distance between them.

 

It's interesting to see how the parties have moved in policy over the past 5 years.

 

(*source: political compass, economic left/right axis)

[Disease]

Picking at and opening an old wound...

 

...The 'Spare Bedroom Subsidy' (There I didn't call it a tax) is a direct assault on the poor! As LD voter last time I'm actually ashamed they went along and continue to defend this more than their more understandable (under the circumstances) u-turn on university tuition fees.

 

 

I agree with this subsidy, why should I pay as a tax payer (although technically I am not a tax generator as I work in the public sector) for someone on benefits to live in a 3 bedroom house when they do not need to and a 2 bedroom would suffice.

[StevieM]

I suppose it's worth remembering, other than The Greens, we don't have any major left-wing political parties.

 

That's why I've always spoiled my ballot paper in the past, as I've never had a Green candidate before. This time it's 2 Xs* for Green.

 

(*Parliamentary and Local Council as opposed to ballot rigging!)

[tmcd35]

I agree with this subsidy, why should I pay as a tax payer (although technically I am not a tax generator as I work in the public sector) for someone on benefits to live in a 3 bedroom house when they do not need to and a 2 bedroom would suffice.

 

Build more 2 bed houses to move them in to and charge someone not on benefits extra rent for bedrooms they don't use, then we can talk!

 

The problem: Not enough houses.

 

Tory Solution: Tax people for living in those house - create homelessness. Housing stock now freed up (to be sold as on the open market since its now surplus).

 

Crazy.

Edited April 30, 2015 by tmcd35

[Sagima]

I think it could have been implemented better. I don't think anyone I've spoken to is opposed to people having a spare room (just maybe not 2+) or in favour of people having a large house cheaply for life just bescuase they needed one at one point in their lives. I think that subsidy should only be paid if they refuse to move into smaller accommodations when they have some available in the same area. I'd probably put in an upper age limit of 55 or something as well as forcing old people out of their homes seems quite mean.

[StevieM]

I agree with this subsidy, why should I pay as a tax payer (although technically I am not a tax generator as I work in the public sector) for someone on benefits to live in a 3 bedroom house when they do not need to and a 2 bedroom would suffice.

 

Go back a few pages. We've done this one.

[localzuk]

I agree with this subsidy, why should I pay as a tax payer (although technically I am not a tax generator as I work in the public sector) for someone on benefits to live in a 3 bedroom house when they do not need to and a 2 bedroom would suffice.

 

Because there isn't a 2 bed house to move into?