He died, Jeremy. He tragically died. (obligatory DMil quote is obligatory)
Srs bsns seepage over at uk_lolitics... Budget, etc. (also threads discussing Clegg + Forgemasters in a way that makes it impossible for me not to want to respond with THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS POST IDEK WHERE TO BEGIN... even though it was all clearly far too srs).
So, it’s five weeks since my woefully optimistic post about why we should all learn to love our unwanted Tory bedfellows (NOT LITERALLY, NICK. NOT LITERALLY). What a fool I was, f’list, to fall for the guff about unity and progressive government. Honeymoon period, IT R OVER.
So yes, civil liberties = big ol’thumbs up (except control orders, Human Rights Act, er...). Most importantly, Labour’s record on civil liberties is also now firmly on the leadership debate agenda (helpfully sorting the wheat from the chaff even more decisively - even if Andy Burnham didn’t look like an anime character wasn’t so woefully inept, his steadfast defence of ID cards, etc. would have been a helpful indicator of his UNSUITABILITY FOR PARTY LEADER).
Now. Here’s the part where we all try to find something else positive to say... Umm, nope. I’m struggling too.
Clearly, CLEARLY, the Budget was always going to be the big sticking point for essentially left-leaning LDs. Clegg, Cable and DLaws have always been on the market liberal side of the Lib Dem bed. I’d be a fool to argue that the economic situation isn’t dire indeed (though if that sodding note gets brought up once more in the HoC I may be forced to stab someone), but REALLY. UK = not at all like Greece. I c what u r doin thar, Gids, by trying to scare sensible people into panicking and throwing themselves into your manly embrace crying “Take my jobseeker’s allowance, Gideon! Only you can save us now!” but SERIOUSLY. Stop it. It’s a cheap, cheap tactic and your use of it just adds conviction to the knowledge that these measures are all, you know, things you’d have done anyway, even without those pesky Lib Dems hanging on your coat tails.
In terms of fairness, seeing as it’s the coalition’s new favourite bff word, I’m failing to see how a hike in VAT not matched by a significant enough raise in Capital Gains Tax (or, you know, ANYTHING that goes some way to level the amount paid by the rich and the poor to something vaguely proportionate to their respective incomes) represents fairness. But perhaps I’m being too demanding. After all, the last thirteen years of Labour govt (DRINK! DRINK! Where’s the sodding Blue Nun?) resulted in a widening gap between richest and poorest.
Tbh, I know fuck all about srs bsns economics (clue: it was suggested very kindly that I shouldn’t do Economics A-level because, and I quote, with my maths I’d probably find it a struggle...). But in terms of the impact of spending cuts on areas with a high dependency on public sector jobs - particularly NE and Wales - I’m finding it difficult to listen to Osborne’s pledge to build the ‘strong private sector economy that this county needs’ (swiftly followed by “We’re all in this together” - FUCK OFF, GIDEON) without banging my head repeatedly against a wall and suffering an involuntary and violent nauseous reaction. Quite apart from the fact that I’d like Osborne to explain where he’s going to find jobs for all these feckless people he’d like to take off benefits (the Daily Fail just orgasmed), and that when push comes to shove I LIKE MY PUBLIC SECTOR JUST FINE THANK YOU, I’d also like to second the point raised by a nice young man on Radio 4 earlier today, representing a local NE news team: in areas where a significant portion of the private sector is supported through public sector contracts, how exactly is this going to work out for the best? Answers on a postcard please, to be forwarded to No. 11.
The most depressing thing about the coalition, though, is probably the fact that Nick Clegg leads an avowedly socially progressive party, yet is part of the team behind a programme of ideas designed to turn back the clock on the most progressive initiatives put in place by Labour over the past thirteen years (ffs now I can’t stop either). Also, Michael Gove can fuck off with his free schools, particularly given parents’ concerns over provision for SEN teaching... and the fact that cuts will threaten rather a lot of school breakfast clubs (is my Guardian showing?). I meant to rage up there ^ about abolishing free swimming for under 16s, you Tory fuckers. It’s the tip of a Thatcher-shaped iceberg, and it’s heading straight for a community near you!
Speaking of which, is anyone else getting that definite sinking feeling? You know, the one where you can see many of the positive things Labour managed to achieve (and there were many) being systematically deconstructed by this ‘individual responsibility’, trad. libertarian bullshit with NO dissenting voice from the left of the Lib Dems. Diane Abbott was completely right when she pointed out last week that yes, the state has arguably become overreaching, but that whereas those at the top of society champion and might benefit from decentralised government, those at the bottom need the state to protect and support them. We’re all in this together? Well, yes, all of us are in it, but some are in it deeper than others.
Perhaps, as an alternative to setting high rates for VAT while freezing child benefit, or instead of cutting corporation tax, a better strategy might have been to pursue the massive loss of tax revenue through tax avoidance perpetrated by the wealthiest individuals and the UK’s most lucrative companies. Act PROGRESSIVELY; recover c.£25bn by holding the rich to their tax obligations.
So, how am I feeling about the coalition right now? Tuition fees, 50% CGT, Trident (exclusion from the Strategic Defence Review wtf); yes, I am actually pissed off about all of those things, because getting a referendum on AV and the ok to abstain on matters that actually really fucking matter to people who voted LD is just so not worth this. So come on, Labour; be the party I know you can be. Give me something to vote for next time around.
TUC Touchstone Pamphlet #1, ‘The Missing Billions: The UK Tax Gap’ (2008):
http://www.tuc.org.uk/touchstone/Missingbillions/1missingbillions.pdf
*
So, it’s five weeks since my woefully optimistic post about why we should all learn to love our unwanted Tory bedfellows (NOT LITERALLY, NICK. NOT LITERALLY). What a fool I was, f’list, to fall for the guff about unity and progressive government. Honeymoon period, IT R OVER.
So yes, civil liberties = big ol’thumbs up (except control orders, Human Rights Act, er...). Most importantly, Labour’s record on civil liberties is also now firmly on the leadership debate agenda (helpfully sorting the wheat from the chaff even more decisively - even if Andy Burnham didn’t look like an anime character wasn’t so woefully inept, his steadfast defence of ID cards, etc. would have been a helpful indicator of his UNSUITABILITY FOR PARTY LEADER).
Now. Here’s the part where we all try to find something else positive to say... Umm, nope. I’m struggling too.
Clearly, CLEARLY, the Budget was always going to be the big sticking point for essentially left-leaning LDs. Clegg, Cable and DLaws have always been on the market liberal side of the Lib Dem bed. I’d be a fool to argue that the economic situation isn’t dire indeed (though if that sodding note gets brought up once more in the HoC I may be forced to stab someone), but REALLY. UK = not at all like Greece. I c what u r doin thar, Gids, by trying to scare sensible people into panicking and throwing themselves into your manly embrace crying “Take my jobseeker’s allowance, Gideon! Only you can save us now!” but SERIOUSLY. Stop it. It’s a cheap, cheap tactic and your use of it just adds conviction to the knowledge that these measures are all, you know, things you’d have done anyway, even without those pesky Lib Dems hanging on your coat tails.
In terms of fairness, seeing as it’s the coalition’s new favourite bff word, I’m failing to see how a hike in VAT not matched by a significant enough raise in Capital Gains Tax (or, you know, ANYTHING that goes some way to level the amount paid by the rich and the poor to something vaguely proportionate to their respective incomes) represents fairness. But perhaps I’m being too demanding. After all, the last thirteen years of Labour govt (DRINK! DRINK! Where’s the sodding Blue Nun?) resulted in a widening gap between richest and poorest.
Tbh, I know fuck all about srs bsns economics (clue: it was suggested very kindly that I shouldn’t do Economics A-level because, and I quote, with my maths I’d probably find it a struggle...). But in terms of the impact of spending cuts on areas with a high dependency on public sector jobs - particularly NE and Wales - I’m finding it difficult to listen to Osborne’s pledge to build the ‘strong private sector economy that this county needs’ (swiftly followed by “We’re all in this together” - FUCK OFF, GIDEON) without banging my head repeatedly against a wall and suffering an involuntary and violent nauseous reaction. Quite apart from the fact that I’d like Osborne to explain where he’s going to find jobs for all these feckless people he’d like to take off benefits (the Daily Fail just orgasmed), and that when push comes to shove I LIKE MY PUBLIC SECTOR JUST FINE THANK YOU, I’d also like to second the point raised by a nice young man on Radio 4 earlier today, representing a local NE news team: in areas where a significant portion of the private sector is supported through public sector contracts, how exactly is this going to work out for the best? Answers on a postcard please, to be forwarded to No. 11.
The most depressing thing about the coalition, though, is probably the fact that Nick Clegg leads an avowedly socially progressive party, yet is part of the team behind a programme of ideas designed to turn back the clock on the most progressive initiatives put in place by Labour over the past thirteen years (ffs now I can’t stop either). Also, Michael Gove can fuck off with his free schools, particularly given parents’ concerns over provision for SEN teaching... and the fact that cuts will threaten rather a lot of school breakfast clubs (is my Guardian showing?). I meant to rage up there ^ about abolishing free swimming for under 16s, you Tory fuckers. It’s the tip of a Thatcher-shaped iceberg, and it’s heading straight for a community near you!
Speaking of which, is anyone else getting that definite sinking feeling? You know, the one where you can see many of the positive things Labour managed to achieve (and there were many) being systematically deconstructed by this ‘individual responsibility’, trad. libertarian bullshit with NO dissenting voice from the left of the Lib Dems. Diane Abbott was completely right when she pointed out last week that yes, the state has arguably become overreaching, but that whereas those at the top of society champion and might benefit from decentralised government, those at the bottom need the state to protect and support them. We’re all in this together? Well, yes, all of us are in it, but some are in it deeper than others.
Perhaps, as an alternative to setting high rates for VAT while freezing child benefit, or instead of cutting corporation tax, a better strategy might have been to pursue the massive loss of tax revenue through tax avoidance perpetrated by the wealthiest individuals and the UK’s most lucrative companies. Act PROGRESSIVELY; recover c.£25bn by holding the rich to their tax obligations.
So, how am I feeling about the coalition right now? Tuition fees, 50% CGT, Trident (exclusion from the Strategic Defence Review wtf); yes, I am actually pissed off about all of those things, because getting a referendum on AV and the ok to abstain on matters that actually really fucking matter to people who voted LD is just so not worth this. So come on, Labour; be the party I know you can be. Give me something to vote for next time around.
TUC Touchstone Pamphlet #1, ‘The Missing Billions: The UK Tax Gap’ (2008):
http://www.tuc.org.uk/touchstone/Missingbillions/1missingbillions.pdf
*