We are not coming out of recession.
Even speculating about it is pointless.
Any recovery will be fake as the Government have poured so much money into public services to provide the impression that recovery is happening.
But with more people now being paid on borrowed money and the manufacturing sector so badly hit, what we are seeing is a fake recovery.
If the people of this country are producing less tax because of reduced income and more people are being employed by the state then eventually the true recession will snap into place with a vengeance.
This recession hasn't started yet.
You are all in for the biggest surprise of your lives when it does, because we will have no reserves left to carve us out of trouble.
Worst still this government is putting more pressure and holding back UK businesses with yet more restrictions on pensions, minimum wage and social conformity.
Stifling business growth, funding more public services and buck passing blame culture is not going to improve the economy any time soon.
Believe this recession is over soon and you are clearly the same type of mug who believes the government spin and manipulation that they have been spouting for years.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Monday, 8 December 2008
One more nail in the coffin
I wonder how many nails it actually takes to hammer home the coffin of freedom, to stifle our civil liberties and destroy once and for all the democracy that so many in the UK care about.
This government has done more damage to the individual than any other British government.
There is not a single day where what I do is monitored, where I walk is watched and how I live my life is criticised and then stymied in the interests of ‘my own good’.
You can guarantee that this blog itself is already on the security services radar. For the language I am using is seditious and inflammatory.
The fact that only a handful of people may be reading it or really care about what I say, is irrelevant. I am risking my freedom by writing this. Over the top? Well when you consider that an MP can be arrested for making us aware of more coffin nails coming our way – apparently not.
The next barb in our lid is the removal of tobacco from our high street shelves – a move that will gladden the hearts of the vociferous non-smokers, who until recent years were outnumbered by the hard working smokers in this country.
Never before have I been subjected to such abuse as a result of asking a question on a public forum about smoking. I was threatened, condemned and abused in writing, for merely asking a question about being able to smoke in smoking approved licensed premises.
Apparently I deform babies, pollute the atmosphere, kill children, destroy my loved ones and heap misery and suffering on millions of innocent people by my disgusting habit. This all despite me saying – I don’t smoke.
The level of hatred as a result of manipulation of the facts goes to prove more than anything how this government has sought to gain control of the public through carefully massaged facts and figures.
The fact that such enmity without rational can derive from misinformed data is concerning in that it allows the ignorant to erode our freedom in our perceived ‘best interests’.
This is not about our health, it never was. It is about control.
ID cards will very soon become a matter of course – I jokingly said the other day, why not go the whole hog and bar code us at birth, only to find to my horror that with DNA testing now prevalent in schools and hospitals that they already do.
It may seem very innocuous that removing cigarettes from the display areas at shops is not a very big step and yet it is another attack not on health but on liberty.
For now the traditional nervous standing at the counter to buy a box of condoms is to be replaced by shamefacedly asking for a box of cigarettes served by disapproving newsagents and retailers sucked into the Labour Government conspiracy without even realising what has happened.
Maybe if people knew what the chemical compositions were of lettuce leaves and that Sunday roast was, they would be less inclined to criticise others habits. But balance has never been high on the agenda in modern Britain.
While standing waiting to buy a chemically enhanced orange juice from my local supermarket a team of two policemen looking as if they owned all that they saw walked into the supermarket to be shown into the back. No doubt to deal with the days latest crime masterstroke.
A couple of teenagers in front of me turned to one another and rolled their eyes, one saying, “watch out here are Gordon’s Stormtroopers!”
The whole queue of about 7 people started laughing and I have to say it was funny – but now as I lie here hammering on the lid of my coffin, suddenly this is not funny.
This government has done more damage to the individual than any other British government.
There is not a single day where what I do is monitored, where I walk is watched and how I live my life is criticised and then stymied in the interests of ‘my own good’.
You can guarantee that this blog itself is already on the security services radar. For the language I am using is seditious and inflammatory.
The fact that only a handful of people may be reading it or really care about what I say, is irrelevant. I am risking my freedom by writing this. Over the top? Well when you consider that an MP can be arrested for making us aware of more coffin nails coming our way – apparently not.
The next barb in our lid is the removal of tobacco from our high street shelves – a move that will gladden the hearts of the vociferous non-smokers, who until recent years were outnumbered by the hard working smokers in this country.
Never before have I been subjected to such abuse as a result of asking a question on a public forum about smoking. I was threatened, condemned and abused in writing, for merely asking a question about being able to smoke in smoking approved licensed premises.
Apparently I deform babies, pollute the atmosphere, kill children, destroy my loved ones and heap misery and suffering on millions of innocent people by my disgusting habit. This all despite me saying – I don’t smoke.
The level of hatred as a result of manipulation of the facts goes to prove more than anything how this government has sought to gain control of the public through carefully massaged facts and figures.
The fact that such enmity without rational can derive from misinformed data is concerning in that it allows the ignorant to erode our freedom in our perceived ‘best interests’.
This is not about our health, it never was. It is about control.
ID cards will very soon become a matter of course – I jokingly said the other day, why not go the whole hog and bar code us at birth, only to find to my horror that with DNA testing now prevalent in schools and hospitals that they already do.
It may seem very innocuous that removing cigarettes from the display areas at shops is not a very big step and yet it is another attack not on health but on liberty.
For now the traditional nervous standing at the counter to buy a box of condoms is to be replaced by shamefacedly asking for a box of cigarettes served by disapproving newsagents and retailers sucked into the Labour Government conspiracy without even realising what has happened.
Maybe if people knew what the chemical compositions were of lettuce leaves and that Sunday roast was, they would be less inclined to criticise others habits. But balance has never been high on the agenda in modern Britain.
While standing waiting to buy a chemically enhanced orange juice from my local supermarket a team of two policemen looking as if they owned all that they saw walked into the supermarket to be shown into the back. No doubt to deal with the days latest crime masterstroke.
A couple of teenagers in front of me turned to one another and rolled their eyes, one saying, “watch out here are Gordon’s Stormtroopers!”
The whole queue of about 7 people started laughing and I have to say it was funny – but now as I lie here hammering on the lid of my coffin, suddenly this is not funny.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
The death of democracy
The death of democracy
This week has seen so much to convince me now that we have a real and tangible threat to our freedom in this country.
A few weeks ago Hazel Blears condemned people like myself (and you who are reading this as well) as ‘fuelling cynicism’ in government. Not taking into account that if the government were more trustworthy then we would be less likely to be cynical about their actions, deeds and intentions.
There is a danger with anyone who becomes ‘settled’ into any position that complacency will result. With complacency often comes scorn. Every time I watch our government on the television or listen to them on the radio I see and hear nothing but scorn and arrogance.Their favourite watchword at present is ‘it is the right thing to do’. Not only is that an idealistic statement and arrogant in the extreme it firmly supports my own personal contention this government will do what they want to do regardless of what we think or really need.
How is this democracy?
Another example, that proves my point, is that when Gordy was struggling and losing by-elections he said – ‘we must listen to the people’. Since then they have introduced yet more laws undermining our way of life using their ‘It is the right thing to do’ statement on prostitution that is unworkable and damaging, on banking that is ineffective and on terrorism that does more to protect our government than its people.
The jewel in the crown this week comes when our civil service – who are by their nature meant to be neutral and non-political act in a political manner by removing threats to the government in an unprecedented act of support to a long term party in power.
The complacency that has afflicted the current government has clearly infected the civil service to the point where they started producing their own spin.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell said the measures were in place for staff to “raise matters of concern” rather than resorting to leaks. The whole point being that if they followed those procedures then it is extremely unlikely that we would ever get to hear of it.
Let’s face it – the current government does more to support the civil service than any other. It invests more heavily in state run projects than any of the other parties were ever likely to.
At what cost? – answer=Accountability.
With the government able to rely on the civil service to protect their backs, hide their mistakes, conceal their plans and massage their figures we are less likely to question or disbelieve that they are doing ‘the right thing’.
They and the civil service think that we are idiots. Hazel Blears sees bloggers as an annoyance – I see bloggers (like myself) as interpreters – reading the spin and making the truth crystal clear for everyone.
Sorry Hazel, but do we wait until Gordon cancels future elections (which I am not going to dismiss as a possibility) someone needs to make the governments true intentions crystal clear.
My proverbial hat is raised in salutation to Damien Green and Christopher Galley for having the courage and temerity to stand up to these arrogant and ignorant leaders of ours. I am also tempted to join the fifth column that is Conservatism as a result.
Almost.
This week has seen so much to convince me now that we have a real and tangible threat to our freedom in this country.
A few weeks ago Hazel Blears condemned people like myself (and you who are reading this as well) as ‘fuelling cynicism’ in government. Not taking into account that if the government were more trustworthy then we would be less likely to be cynical about their actions, deeds and intentions.
There is a danger with anyone who becomes ‘settled’ into any position that complacency will result. With complacency often comes scorn. Every time I watch our government on the television or listen to them on the radio I see and hear nothing but scorn and arrogance.Their favourite watchword at present is ‘it is the right thing to do’. Not only is that an idealistic statement and arrogant in the extreme it firmly supports my own personal contention this government will do what they want to do regardless of what we think or really need.
How is this democracy?
Another example, that proves my point, is that when Gordy was struggling and losing by-elections he said – ‘we must listen to the people’. Since then they have introduced yet more laws undermining our way of life using their ‘It is the right thing to do’ statement on prostitution that is unworkable and damaging, on banking that is ineffective and on terrorism that does more to protect our government than its people.
The jewel in the crown this week comes when our civil service – who are by their nature meant to be neutral and non-political act in a political manner by removing threats to the government in an unprecedented act of support to a long term party in power.
The complacency that has afflicted the current government has clearly infected the civil service to the point where they started producing their own spin.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell said the measures were in place for staff to “raise matters of concern” rather than resorting to leaks. The whole point being that if they followed those procedures then it is extremely unlikely that we would ever get to hear of it.
Let’s face it – the current government does more to support the civil service than any other. It invests more heavily in state run projects than any of the other parties were ever likely to.
At what cost? – answer=Accountability.
With the government able to rely on the civil service to protect their backs, hide their mistakes, conceal their plans and massage their figures we are less likely to question or disbelieve that they are doing ‘the right thing’.
They and the civil service think that we are idiots. Hazel Blears sees bloggers as an annoyance – I see bloggers (like myself) as interpreters – reading the spin and making the truth crystal clear for everyone.
Sorry Hazel, but do we wait until Gordon cancels future elections (which I am not going to dismiss as a possibility) someone needs to make the governments true intentions crystal clear.
My proverbial hat is raised in salutation to Damien Green and Christopher Galley for having the courage and temerity to stand up to these arrogant and ignorant leaders of ours. I am also tempted to join the fifth column that is Conservatism as a result.
Almost.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Banks Are Evil
Interestingly enough I learned of two shock news stories this week.
1. The queen wants to know why the credit crunch was not detected earlier
2. Half the banks will not be passing on interest rate cuts
1. Is surprising as Her Majesty (God Bless Her) rarely comments on the lives of mere mortals and especially on an issue that is unlikely to actually affect her.
2. Is less surprising - because banks are evil money grubbing little toads run by a clique echelon of public school fags who are so used to be rear ended at school that they can think of nothing else than to do it back to us.
OK - That is a little harsh, but I do have to worry about the mentality of people who place bonuses above common sense.
Lets make things clear.... (new motto?)
Not long ago I was talking to a Senior Bank Manager who deals with securities and we were talking about the huge profits that the banks were reporting at the time.
"Why not take 10% of the £300m profit you have just made and re-invest in small businesses, but take a gamble, no security, no credit checks just back the person and the business premise take a share holding in its success say 30% or more, provide financial assistance, accountancy etc as well as the banking and then surely both stand a greater chance of long term success and profit?"
Predictable answer: "Banks don't take risks, we work to make money for the shareholders and that is our priority"
"So how is investing in shares with bonuses in the millions less of a risk than investing the money back into the countries economy?" I naively asked.
"The money markets are where the banks can make big killings in a very quick time, but we don't use bank money, we use the money of our investors - so no risk"
"But surely if you do make big profits, it is sensible to invest back into your local economy whom you rely on to make continuous profits?"
"We don't risks"
"Why not?"
"Because the country needs strong banks who are have good financial under writing"
Obviously I have not seen this person since the credit crunch, so sniggering is off the menu - unfortunately.
This is the real point though, why when banks can earn so much money one year can they then lose it all the next year and still screw the public to pay for their errors.
Answer- rubbish government and greedy bankers.
What would have happened if the banks did not receive the £bn's bailout?
Well.
Those who had invested in shares would have lost their money. '000's of bank workers would have lost their jobs. Mortgages would become the porperty of receivers, accountancy and legal businesses would boom, pensioners would lose their pensions, estate agents would go bankrupt and the idiots who caused the crunch would end up on fat cat salaries in utility companies.
Two questions - Why did the banks risk loans on uncertain futures to such a dangerous degree, when they scrutinise the repayment potential of every borrower in this country to within the nearest nano-pence?
Why are the important things like pensions and mortgages so dependent on banks?
Obviously, banks provide the collateral for people to borrow.
But actually they don't! No physical money changes hands!
So this is what I am suggesting - investment banks with shareholders, safe banks for monetary operations - no shareholders.
The FSA which was set up to protect us, does little more than protect the banking cartel. (PLEASE don't suggest there isn't one) So scrap that.
Those banks that have taken the Queens shilling - should be fully publicly owned. Shareholders would be bought out at 50% of the current value which is more than what they would have got if the government hadn't intervened.
Those banks solely deal with pension holding and mortgages. NO MONEY MARKETS
Mortgages would be sensible rate interest. Obviously deals can be offered but the rates are more realistic. i.e. Borrow £200,000 at (for arguments purposes) 20% interest over 30 years - forget APR the bank makes £40,000. With all the buying and selling the bank makes a lot of money, but living suddenly becomes more affordable.
Those that miss payments then go to rented status and have to re-apply for a mortgage again at a later date and the banks become more involved in the housing service industry working with councils.
10% of the profit made by that bank goes into the pension pot - adjustable according to circumstances, but the important point being that the bank is there for the national good.
Investment Banks - these are run in the same way as currently with the understanding that if they screw it up - you lose everything. Obviously you stand to gain more, but there is always the Safe Bank option for those who prefer security over risk.
Cries of - "I lost it all!" will then go unheeded.
All banks have to take the money that was going to shareholders and give 20% of that money after tax to the Safe Banks - who will use it for small business investment and business management services.
In essence the money made in this country stays in this country and gets re-distributed.
This way there is still opportunity for the greedy buggers to still be greedy and make money, but less opportunity to screw the public and have individuals risking it all.
Common clear and sensible.
Footnote: The answer your Majesty, is that most of us saw it coming, as soon as Barclays announced that £1.3bn profit that year. We all said - "it had to come from somewhere, and what goes up........"
1. The queen wants to know why the credit crunch was not detected earlier
2. Half the banks will not be passing on interest rate cuts
1. Is surprising as Her Majesty (God Bless Her) rarely comments on the lives of mere mortals and especially on an issue that is unlikely to actually affect her.
2. Is less surprising - because banks are evil money grubbing little toads run by a clique echelon of public school fags who are so used to be rear ended at school that they can think of nothing else than to do it back to us.
OK - That is a little harsh, but I do have to worry about the mentality of people who place bonuses above common sense.
Lets make things clear.... (new motto?)
Not long ago I was talking to a Senior Bank Manager who deals with securities and we were talking about the huge profits that the banks were reporting at the time.
"Why not take 10% of the £300m profit you have just made and re-invest in small businesses, but take a gamble, no security, no credit checks just back the person and the business premise take a share holding in its success say 30% or more, provide financial assistance, accountancy etc as well as the banking and then surely both stand a greater chance of long term success and profit?"
Predictable answer: "Banks don't take risks, we work to make money for the shareholders and that is our priority"
"So how is investing in shares with bonuses in the millions less of a risk than investing the money back into the countries economy?" I naively asked.
"The money markets are where the banks can make big killings in a very quick time, but we don't use bank money, we use the money of our investors - so no risk"
"But surely if you do make big profits, it is sensible to invest back into your local economy whom you rely on to make continuous profits?"
"We don't risks"
"Why not?"
"Because the country needs strong banks who are have good financial under writing"
Obviously I have not seen this person since the credit crunch, so sniggering is off the menu - unfortunately.
This is the real point though, why when banks can earn so much money one year can they then lose it all the next year and still screw the public to pay for their errors.
Answer- rubbish government and greedy bankers.
What would have happened if the banks did not receive the £bn's bailout?
Well.
Those who had invested in shares would have lost their money. '000's of bank workers would have lost their jobs. Mortgages would become the porperty of receivers, accountancy and legal businesses would boom, pensioners would lose their pensions, estate agents would go bankrupt and the idiots who caused the crunch would end up on fat cat salaries in utility companies.
Two questions - Why did the banks risk loans on uncertain futures to such a dangerous degree, when they scrutinise the repayment potential of every borrower in this country to within the nearest nano-pence?
Why are the important things like pensions and mortgages so dependent on banks?
Obviously, banks provide the collateral for people to borrow.
But actually they don't! No physical money changes hands!
So this is what I am suggesting - investment banks with shareholders, safe banks for monetary operations - no shareholders.
The FSA which was set up to protect us, does little more than protect the banking cartel. (PLEASE don't suggest there isn't one) So scrap that.
Those banks that have taken the Queens shilling - should be fully publicly owned. Shareholders would be bought out at 50% of the current value which is more than what they would have got if the government hadn't intervened.
Those banks solely deal with pension holding and mortgages. NO MONEY MARKETS
Mortgages would be sensible rate interest. Obviously deals can be offered but the rates are more realistic. i.e. Borrow £200,000 at (for arguments purposes) 20% interest over 30 years - forget APR the bank makes £40,000. With all the buying and selling the bank makes a lot of money, but living suddenly becomes more affordable.
Those that miss payments then go to rented status and have to re-apply for a mortgage again at a later date and the banks become more involved in the housing service industry working with councils.
10% of the profit made by that bank goes into the pension pot - adjustable according to circumstances, but the important point being that the bank is there for the national good.
Investment Banks - these are run in the same way as currently with the understanding that if they screw it up - you lose everything. Obviously you stand to gain more, but there is always the Safe Bank option for those who prefer security over risk.
Cries of - "I lost it all!" will then go unheeded.
All banks have to take the money that was going to shareholders and give 20% of that money after tax to the Safe Banks - who will use it for small business investment and business management services.
In essence the money made in this country stays in this country and gets re-distributed.
This way there is still opportunity for the greedy buggers to still be greedy and make money, but less opportunity to screw the public and have individuals risking it all.
Common clear and sensible.
Footnote: The answer your Majesty, is that most of us saw it coming, as soon as Barclays announced that £1.3bn profit that year. We all said - "it had to come from somewhere, and what goes up........"
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
The Lucidity Party
That's it - I have had enough.
£50bn of our money going in to support professional money managers!!??
Time has come for a change and I have decided it will start right here. For all and anyone who wishes to join my Political Party the 'Common Sense and Sanity' party this is it.
I am fed up being represented by politicians who seem to be the main beneficiary of their actions.
I am also fed up of being treated like an idiot and patronised.
So in the words of Pink and the Dame Shirley Bassey - Lets get this party started!
Over the next few weeks I intend to develop a manifesto, party political broadcast, invite applications from candidates and comment on the farce that experienced politicians are making of our constitution.
PLease feel free to comment as this a party that looks for input from its voters.
Consequently this is now called the Lucidity Party. As clarity is essential.
£50bn of our money going in to support professional money managers!!??
Time has come for a change and I have decided it will start right here. For all and anyone who wishes to join my Political Party the 'Common Sense and Sanity' party this is it.
I am fed up being represented by politicians who seem to be the main beneficiary of their actions.
I am also fed up of being treated like an idiot and patronised.
So in the words of Pink and the Dame Shirley Bassey - Lets get this party started!
Over the next few weeks I intend to develop a manifesto, party political broadcast, invite applications from candidates and comment on the farce that experienced politicians are making of our constitution.
PLease feel free to comment as this a party that looks for input from its voters.
Consequently this is now called the Lucidity Party. As clarity is essential.
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