Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

I suspect it’s because it reminds me of a famous (infamous) Warren Mitchell character sketch.

 

Raynor or Reeves would be a whole lot worse.
But with Labour constantly using the excuse that they woz left a huge deficit, yes, it'll be austerity all over again - just as the Tories were making some headway (after the hiccups of COVID and Truss).
And I have to retire in five years, so I'm not optimistic.

 

When the Tories next get into power you will hear exactly the same speeches/complaints from them just with the names changed. So Labour left us with a large deficit, have trashed the economy, so what we are doing regarding cuts and tax rises is not down to us but them.
Just as happened when the Tories regained power after the Blair/Brown government and when Blair/Brown took over from Major.

 

I have to agree, but Tony Teflon knew they had driven the country onto the rocks and jumped ship.
Gormless Gordon was stupid enough to step into his shoes and take the can back.

Yes all new governments blame the one before, but cant remember them apologising for screwing us before they do it like Starmer is doing.
He's scared.

 

You'd think they'd have realised, given all th eevidence of its effects on the needier in society, that austerity doesn't work.

They shoud be investing in social services from full-time nursery places from 30 months old, school breakfast clubs, youth clubs and other activities that help kids grow up to realise they need structure in their lives and a minimum of educational achievements. Not just the 3 Rs but also respect, tolerance, caring and sharing. At the other end of the scale providing socialmeeting places and activities for retired people would improve their physical and mental health as would improving the housing stock for young and old. They would all then have better health and less need of NHS resources.

For those in the decades between there needs to be decent, affordable transport, better working conditions, fewer hours and training for peoplewho want to change jobs or improve skills.

This is not pie in the sky. After the 1st world war when Germany was on its knees th egovernment started building autobahns to improvve lobility. Hitler claimed them as his own but he just nicked them. During the depression, the USA had the New Deal to help pull the poor up by their bootstraps. It was working too till the outbeak of war changed priorities and lead to a host of jobs, innovation and wealth creation in military and transport technology that lasted a couple of decades beyond. Even Britain managed full employment and huge social mobility in the 5Os and early 60s.

Austerity so far has led to worsening education, worsening social care, stagnat social mobility and too many people not meeting their potential cos their opportunities are fewer.

 

The country was collapsing under the conservatives. They had no authority, they had broken trust with the electorate, despite years of promises to cut taxes, reduce immigration, improve the NHS. They did none of that. In fact they didn't really do anything, except party when people weren't allowed to attend funerals. No-one is any better off, except the very richest, and most people are worse off.

Are Starmer's lot ideal? Not at all, they aren't nearly radical enough, they are too vague and timid, they've already made some bad decisions, appointed some questionable people. But they are not yet consumed by corruption scandals, infighting and bickering. They can do a lot more, and I'd much rather a leader underpromise than only tell people what they want to hear.

 

I don't disagree with your assessment, @Obelix-Vendée, but I don't think, deep down, any of the political class of today are really aiming to make society fairer. They are at the top and intend to stay there. Social mobility effectively stopped here in the 60s, and even then, it only worked for a very few.

It takes money to improve things, of course, but it also takes an underlying will to actually want significant change that lasts over the long term.

 

II am still waiting for my 7 day assessment on my refund claim from Octopus. I suppose they would say the Bank Holiday is why it has been delayed. I want my own money back in my own account!
They were quick enough to switch my account to a fixed rate account, done in 24 hrs.

 

Only what we want to hear is always reserved for the manifesto.

 

@Erigeron . It's good to see the other side of the argument. It was getting very one-sided on this thread.

 

The intended ban on smoking in certain outdoor areas deserves a moan IMO. It's never been a good idea to encourage people to start a tobacco habit or to allow smoking in indoor spaces which are open to the public but this new plan is going way OTT. Governments have and continue to make millions on tobacco duty much as they do on alcohol. As the proposed intention is for a "smoke free Britain", I wonder how the inevitable shortfall will be managed - or not, as the case may be. Maybe a ban on the consumption of alcohol in public indoor spaces and certain outdoor spaces too would be in order ? After all, drinking to excess is far more likely to cause anti social behaviour than people having a quiet smoke and minding their own business. Unlikely of course as that would cause even more of an economic disaster than we appear to be facing at present.
My other Moan is having too many tomatoes ripening at once - not something I thought I'd be moaning about this year