Austerity; purely dogma?

[Brigadier]

Growth in a Time of Debt - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote in 2013:[23]

What the Reinhart-Rogoff affair shows is the extent to which austerity has been sold on false pretenses. For three years, the turn to austerity has been presented not as a choice but as a necessity. Economic research, austerity advocates insisted, showed that terrible things happen once debt exceeds 90 percent of G.D.P. But "economic research" showed no such thing; a couple of economists made that assertion, while many others disagreed. Policy makers abandoned the unemployed and turned to austerity because they wanted to, not because they had to.

 

[JohnD]

It's mentally attractive to some, to believe that a financial crisis caused by slack regulation can be cured by closing a library in Peckham.

 

[Brigadier]

It's mentally attractive to some, to believe that a financial crisis caused by slack regulation can be cured by closing a library in Peckham.

I don't disagree with your point John, but the paper goes beyond financial crises, and sets a benchmark for all times.

A benchmark clung to by the likes of Osborne (in the 2008-9 crash, yes), but also by the typical Tory voter at any other time to suit: "We can't afford it!"

In short, a convenient excuse to do what they wanted to do anyway.

 

[JohnD]

(in the 2008-9 crash, yes)

The culprits and their supporters clamour for the rules that were put in place to prevent a recurrence should now be slackened (so they can do it again)

 

[Brigadier]

(Un)surprisingly too, while we were skint - for anything and everything, from processing asylum seekers to stopping our schools collapsing - for years, we're suddenly in clover to the degree that Rishi is promising tax cuts.............

 

[Odds]

A promise of cutting income tax for a forthcoming election year - that'll keep ''em happy in the 'burbs.

 

[JohnD]

... Rishi is promising tax cuts.............

Expected to bring greatest benefit to the prosperous

And may be funded by tightening the screws on the poor

 

[Brigadier]

Expected to bring greatest benefit to the prosperous

And may be funded by tightening the screws on the poor

At its most basic, expected to bring the greatest benefit to themselves (another term).

Not all Tory voters are prosperous (yet they still keep voting for them).

 

[JohnD]

They'll be throwing a bone to pensioners.

Hospital waiting lists will cut the numbers of Tory voters.

 

[motorbiking]

It is not government policy that is closing Libraries it is lack of use. Who wants to fund services that people no longer use?

 

[Odds]

People can access the internet at their local library, when they're properly funded and updated there's no reason to close them because you think it's just for dusty tomes on the voyages of Capn' Bligh.

 

[motorbiking]

I'm all for rethinking and modernising Libraries. Turn them in to things that people want. Add cafes or toddler play zones, council help centres, cash machines, job centres, citizens advice, charity shops, markets, planning drop ins etc.. No need for them to be a burden to the tax payer, offering things people no longer want.

 

[Brigadier]

It is not government policy that is closing Libraries it is lack of use. Who wants to fund services that people no longer use?

Lack of funding makes them unattractive to use, so they become...........unused.

Works for any public service you care to cull name

 

[Brigadier]

I'm all for rethinking and modernising Libraries. Turn them in to things that people want. Add cafes or toddler play zones, council help centres, cash machines, job centres, citizens advice, charity shops, markets, planning drop ins etc.. No need for them to be a burden to the tax payer, offering things people no longer want.

Internet access (with GD as the default homescreen )

 

[Notch7]

(Un)surprisingly too, while we were skint - for anything and everything, from processing asylum seekers to stopping our schools collapsing - for years, we're suddenly in clover to the degree that Rishi is promising tax cuts.............

Sunak is claiming his govt has been financially prudent and as a result have managed to halve inflation.

The question journalists aren't asking the govt is this: "If you claim to take the credit for halving inflation, what measures have you put in place that have led to lower inflation."

The reality is they've done nothing, CPI rate went up due to energy rises mostly and its obvious it would lower when energy prices stabilised (diesel, petrol, electricity, gas)