This country’s economy still hasn’t recovered to the level it was pre-COVID and that’s down to one factor which the government and opposition is ignoring. No wonder we’re broke.
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
The money is there, it's just been concentrated into the hands of an obscenely wealthy minority
Brexit doesn't help obviously but it also doesn't have to be as bad as it is
What isn't getting enough attention is the sheer amount of money the government is spaffing up the wall.
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 5 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gutted. Hope it pans out OK for you and things improve.
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not making light of the situation but poor sales could mean he works for United!
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not making light of the situation but poor sales could mean he works for United!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We just seem to be very lacking in empathy as a society right now and have been for a while, some as it’s about personal gain, others misdirecting their anger about their own situations.
The cost of living crisis is a prime example of showing we aren’t really currently all in it together. There’s a huge difference in impact between those having to choose between feeding themselves or putting the heating on and those deciding whether they need to cancel the third holiday abroad this year.
I just think at times like this in particular, but as a wider point too, we have to do some form of levelling and we’ve let it go too far. The role of every generation should be to leave the one that follows it with a better quality of life than they had, and that’s for all of that generation. It really does concern me that we’re going to fail at that.
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 46 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We just seem to be very lacking in empathy as a society right now and have been for a while, some as it’s about personal gain, others misdirecting their anger about their own situations.
The cost of living crisis is a prime example of showing we aren’t really currently all in it together. There’s a huge difference in impact between those having to choose between feeding themselves or putting the heating on and those deciding whether they need to cancel the third holiday abroad this year.
I just think at times like this in particular, but as a wider point too, we have to do some form of levelling and we’ve let it go too far. The role of every generation should be to leave the one that follows it with a better quality of life than they had, and that’s for all of that generation. It really does concern me that we’re going to fail at that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's almost as if those who are in power get there because they lack empathy and our most empathetic people are getting paid buttons for looking after our most in need. Society is upside down.
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 30 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that. I've been made redundant a few times and each time come out of it better off. The best thing to do is not to dwell on it and see it as an opportunity. I know that might sound difficult in the immediate circumstances, but it has generally been true of most people I've worked with.
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 15 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty much my take.
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 14 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's council tax that goes on local roads. Nothing to do with the other taxes. Potholes are a nightmare with the cold weather. Very difficult to keep up with as well. Then workies "fix them" leaving cracks around them which then form potholes again because they weren't properly fixed.
comment by Derick Osei (U1734)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 14 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's council tax that goes on local roads. Nothing to do with the other taxes. Potholes are a nightmare with the cold weather. Very difficult to keep up with as well. Then workies "fix them" leaving cracks around them which then form potholes again because they weren't properly fixed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Just displaying my anger.
I've forked out 700 smackers because they do a shoddy job on the roads, yet they have to cheek to chase me for council tax if I'm a few days late.
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 29 minutes ago
Busby, furlough was a one off, so hardly worth using as a comparison.
By the way, the estimate on tax avoidance, fraud etc. is £35 billion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the article is about the country being on its knees. About public services striking.
They aren’t doing that for any reason other than interest rates and the cost of living.
That’s primarily down to a war and furlough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good grief. This guy is a tool
Tories are indefensible
———
And yet you still try and give it a good go.
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not a Labour voter or supporter.
Prior to COVID-19, UK infrastructure was already creaking badly; academics and economists on all sides were condemning the damage a completely failed austerity programme had done (and was continuing to do); Brexit was tearing society apart and already wreaking havoc on the pound, exports, the City and investment; child poverty was rocketing; homelessness was increasing; home ownership was falling; life expectancy had stopped increasing for the first time in 100 years; health outcomes were worsening by various measures; income and wealth disparities were increasing; high streets were failing; rental increases were pushing families into debt spirals; worker shortages were crippling social care, agriculture and hospitality…
All of this happened *before* COVID-19 came along. All of it.
It’s been a shiiiiitshow since the Tories took power, and now we have the UK with the worst economic outlook of every country in the G20 barring Russia.
"..In 2021, the median age of the population of the United Kingdom reached 40.7 years, compared with 37.9 years in 2001. .."
There's your problem right there. Half the country is over 40. And the median age will probably hit 50 over the next 20 years.
The ever-narrowing segment of the British population of working age solely exists to support an expanding population of pensioners. And it's the old geezers who vote.
We're like Spurs - in the G7 but only just and going backwards, keep changing the manager and the followers are mostly raging, old or both. The establishment just turn the other cheek and carry on cos they're loaded.
UK productivity is pash - that needs sorted. BTW, the strikes were just as bad in the mid-70s and it ushered in Thatcher that no matter what your politics at least had a vision and largely executed. Yes, at a cost but we came out it AND fought a war.
The issue is there's no vision and even what there is politicos just change their mind once they get in and there's no chance of holding them to account. Starmer is just another one that fills no confidence TBH but probably at least deserves a go.
As much as corporates are coining profits whilst resisting wage increases the unions are just as opportunistic and asking daft increases that will just have inflation running out of control - yeah like the 70s.
We need some sort of reset in almost everything. So much waste, inefficiency, lack of investment. Productivity! It is easy to cut stuff. Takes skill to grow stuff.
God help us.
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That take is misguided at best and moronic and ideally tribalistic in itself at worse. We had demonstrable improvements in plenty of aspects including public services under the last Labour government compared to both their predecessors and successors.
It’s a complete cop out to ignore the impact of austerity and only focus on two factors that every one else has to deal with too.
Sign in if you want to comment
Country on its knees
Page 3 of 7
6 | 7
posted on 16/1/23
This country’s economy still hasn’t recovered to the level it was pre-COVID and that’s down to one factor which the government and opposition is ignoring. No wonder we’re broke.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
posted on 16/1/23
The money is there, it's just been concentrated into the hands of an obscenely wealthy minority
Brexit doesn't help obviously but it also doesn't have to be as bad as it is
posted on 16/1/23
What isn't getting enough attention is the sheer amount of money the government is spaffing up the wall.
posted on 16/1/23
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 5 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gutted. Hope it pans out OK for you and things improve.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not making light of the situation but poor sales could mean he works for United!
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 6 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that.
What line of work are you in?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not making light of the situation but poor sales could mean he works for United!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We just seem to be very lacking in empathy as a society right now and have been for a while, some as it’s about personal gain, others misdirecting their anger about their own situations.
The cost of living crisis is a prime example of showing we aren’t really currently all in it together. There’s a huge difference in impact between those having to choose between feeding themselves or putting the heating on and those deciding whether they need to cancel the third holiday abroad this year.
I just think at times like this in particular, but as a wider point too, we have to do some form of levelling and we’ve let it go too far. The role of every generation should be to leave the one that follows it with a better quality of life than they had, and that’s for all of that generation. It really does concern me that we’re going to fail at that.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 46 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 11 minutes ago
The issues go back a lot longer than covid or the Ukraine war, it’s all a knock on impact on those happening on top of austerity.
Personally, I’d significantly increase the higher levels of tax and add in additional banding. I’m a high rate tax payer myself but the disparity and concentration of wealth is way too much right now and our spending on public services across the board is way too low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're a good man Melts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We just seem to be very lacking in empathy as a society right now and have been for a while, some as it’s about personal gain, others misdirecting their anger about their own situations.
The cost of living crisis is a prime example of showing we aren’t really currently all in it together. There’s a huge difference in impact between those having to choose between feeding themselves or putting the heating on and those deciding whether they need to cancel the third holiday abroad this year.
I just think at times like this in particular, but as a wider point too, we have to do some form of levelling and we’ve let it go too far. The role of every generation should be to leave the one that follows it with a better quality of life than they had, and that’s for all of that generation. It really does concern me that we’re going to fail at that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's almost as if those who are in power get there because they lack empathy and our most empathetic people are getting paid buttons for looking after our most in need. Society is upside down.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 30 minutes ago
Sadly got the dreaded call into a meeting room today with my boss. 25 of us in head office put up for threat of redundancy due to poor sales.
Not the start to the year I was hoping for but oh well. Soldier on etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to hear that. I've been made redundant a few times and each time come out of it better off. The best thing to do is not to dwell on it and see it as an opportunity. I know that might sound difficult in the immediate circumstances, but it has generally been true of most people I've worked with.
posted on 16/1/23
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 15 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty much my take.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 14 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's council tax that goes on local roads. Nothing to do with the other taxes. Potholes are a nightmare with the cold weather. Very difficult to keep up with as well. Then workies "fix them" leaving cracks around them which then form potholes again because they weren't properly fixed.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Derick Osei (U1734)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ali - (U1192)
posted 14 minutes ago
Get facking taxed 40% on income.
Get facking council taxed
Taxed on fuel
Taxed on the groceries
National insurance
Tax on everything
And the bastads still cant fix potholes in the roads.
One blew out the tire the other day and fecked the alloy. 700 pound down the drain.
Made a claim to council. Will see how that goes
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's council tax that goes on local roads. Nothing to do with the other taxes. Potholes are a nightmare with the cold weather. Very difficult to keep up with as well. Then workies "fix them" leaving cracks around them which then form potholes again because they weren't properly fixed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Just displaying my anger.
I've forked out 700 smackers because they do a shoddy job on the roads, yet they have to cheek to chase me for council tax if I'm a few days late.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 29 minutes ago
Busby, furlough was a one off, so hardly worth using as a comparison.
By the way, the estimate on tax avoidance, fraud etc. is £35 billion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the article is about the country being on its knees. About public services striking.
They aren’t doing that for any reason other than interest rates and the cost of living.
That’s primarily down to a war and furlough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good grief. This guy is a tool
posted on 16/1/23
Tories are indefensible
———
And yet you still try and give it a good go.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m not a Labour voter or supporter.
Prior to COVID-19, UK infrastructure was already creaking badly; academics and economists on all sides were condemning the damage a completely failed austerity programme had done (and was continuing to do); Brexit was tearing society apart and already wreaking havoc on the pound, exports, the City and investment; child poverty was rocketing; homelessness was increasing; home ownership was falling; life expectancy had stopped increasing for the first time in 100 years; health outcomes were worsening by various measures; income and wealth disparities were increasing; high streets were failing; rental increases were pushing families into debt spirals; worker shortages were crippling social care, agriculture and hospitality…
All of this happened *before* COVID-19 came along. All of it.
It’s been a shiiiiitshow since the Tories took power, and now we have the UK with the worst economic outlook of every country in the G20 barring Russia.
posted on 16/1/23
"..In 2021, the median age of the population of the United Kingdom reached 40.7 years, compared with 37.9 years in 2001. .."
There's your problem right there. Half the country is over 40. And the median age will probably hit 50 over the next 20 years.
The ever-narrowing segment of the British population of working age solely exists to support an expanding population of pensioners. And it's the old geezers who vote.
posted on 16/1/23
We're like Spurs - in the G7 but only just and going backwards, keep changing the manager and the followers are mostly raging, old or both. The establishment just turn the other cheek and carry on cos they're loaded.
posted on 16/1/23
UK productivity is pash - that needs sorted. BTW, the strikes were just as bad in the mid-70s and it ushered in Thatcher that no matter what your politics at least had a vision and largely executed. Yes, at a cost but we came out it AND fought a war.
The issue is there's no vision and even what there is politicos just change their mind once they get in and there's no chance of holding them to account. Starmer is just another one that fills no confidence TBH but probably at least deserves a go.
As much as corporates are coining profits whilst resisting wage increases the unions are just as opportunistic and asking daft increases that will just have inflation running out of control - yeah like the 70s.
We need some sort of reset in almost everything. So much waste, inefficiency, lack of investment. Productivity! It is easy to cut stuff. Takes skill to grow stuff.
God help us.
posted on 16/1/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
comment by Disembowel the liberals, and drink the blood of their children (U17054)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Robb Me The Horizon (U22716)
posted 19 minutes ago
Tory Busby ignoring the elephant in the room. 13 years of Tory rule and destruction of the country ending up with what you see now. He’s the kind of guy who no doubt blames Sadiq Khan for the crime rates in London while ignoring the Tory cuts to the police force.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 years but who was complaining pre Covid?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tories are indefensible, but labour did no better before them. Instead of focusing on tribalism, focus on the a fact politics are fecked and accept that when you have a pandemic followed by a Russian war, times are going to be tough no matter what.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That take is misguided at best and moronic and ideally tribalistic in itself at worse. We had demonstrable improvements in plenty of aspects including public services under the last Labour government compared to both their predecessors and successors.
It’s a complete cop out to ignore the impact of austerity and only focus on two factors that every one else has to deal with too.
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