The U.K. 2022

DaisyAnne

Whitewavemark2

It occurs to me that my mother who died in 2020, and lived independently her entire life, could no longer afford to heat her home now. She was on state pension with benefits etc, but her income would no longer cover the cost.

It also occurs to me that if consumers as a result of rising fuel costs, no longer have disposable income to spend then the economy will simply crash.

Sadly, I think you are right. As I have said before, I am a little wary of nationalisation. However, I think we need to, at least temporarily, nationalise the energy-producing companies. But can we? Are they UK owned?

Very few of the utilities are UK owned DaisyAnne, and the cost of buying them out to nationalise is extortionate. That’s why Labour dropped the plans to do so, it’s just not affordable for the UK to do so in the short term.
I’m very disappointed though with the result of the meetings the government had with the energy companies this week, they seem to have achieved sweet fa.

Can we look at how it worked during the IFC*? We took those areas likely to fail into "care". I suppose the energy producers are very unlikely to fail - unless we cap to meet people's needs and not the companies.

All questions and no answers from me on this, I'm afraid. Gordon Brown seemed to think that we could do something along the IFC lines. I better go back and read all he said. Any links would be welcome.

*International Financial Crisis

Good post.
Liz Truss would have us believe none of this is actually happening, and any individual or organisation that points out these facts are “talking the economy down”.
Some people seem to live in an alternative reality, and believe the lies we have and are still being peddled.

Maybe going on in a different way is what is required

Why be so downhearted when you can look forward to a more powerful vacuum cleaner and blue passports.

Until we break the mould of the numerous self serving morons in Government ….. we are all doomed !

We are taking refuge from the universal gloom by re-reading great works of literature and watching operas from the Met.

If you can read Frost's article in the Telegraph today

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/08/11/tories-can-no-longer-avoid-telling-hard-truths-route-mess/

It sets out what might be in store after Truss takes power. He talks about people not being dependent on 'State charity'. It's not charity of course for the State to help the poor or citizens generally - we have all contributed tax so it's redistribution and service provision. He seems to have forgotten the first duty of government: to protect it's citizens from all threats (and in my opinion that includes starvation and cold).

God help us if he were ever to take office in any capacity.

Bring it on !! Political upheaval required! Time for we ordinary folk to stand up and be counted ! Join “ Enough is Enough” !

Richard Murphy, you clearly are a very clever man. However you are scaring the hell out of people. We all see what you are saying in the newspapers every morning and on various types of media. Unless people are paid up members of the Tory Party then they are powerless. It feels odd that a small number of unelected people have the power to decide by their leadership vote how the country will be run. Many of us feel powerless in the face of what we may have to face. What is your solution?

It beggars belief that Liz Truss could be our next PM. The woman hasn’t got a clue. In one of her recent interviews when asked about the energy crisis, she said that she wasn’t going to give out a budget at this stage. More likely meaning she didn’t know what she would do, probably because no one has told her yet! Is it just me or do others feel that she has got such a large backing because she is going to be someone’s puppet with others actually making decisions? Cos every time she opens her mouth she either back tracks or says it was a misunderstanding. What a very sad state of affairs, we are just going from bad to worse and it’s not likely to get better any time soon.

And still people keep bringing children into this dire world. What future do they have to look forward to?

If the Government had taken over the energy companies that have failed e.g. bulb, they could have started a process of nationalisation at very little cost. They could then have sold fuel at a more competitive price than the large companies and market forces would have brought customers to the nation's own company and we could have all had a choice.

What nonsense about Liz Truss potentially becoming PM beggaring belief. Don't forget we had Boris. I still simply can't comprehend how that happened!

Our once lovely country has turned into a sad, depressing and angry one. I lay the blame firmly at the doors of the media they have carted blanc to say what they want most of which is conjecture nobody challenges them the government are frightened of disagreeing with them .Most of what they spew out is lies and opinions

@Aveline like I said bad to worse!

kwest

Richard Murphy, you clearly are a very clever man. However you are scaring the hell out of people. We all see what you are saying in the newspapers every morning and on various types of media. Unless people are paid up members of the Tory Party then they are powerless. It feels odd that a small number of unelected people have the power to decide by their leadership vote how the country will be run. Many of us feel powerless in the face of what we may have to face. What is your solution?

Just out of interest, what is he saying that is scaring you. A quote would help.

I personally find him a less than likable human being but cannot think what he has said that is scary. He does seem to have done, with others, some really good work on tax transparency and on introducing MMT to those of us who are not economists.

Why scary?

Iam64

Thanks growstuff. I was never a Corbyn fan but, the fear of ‘the left/extreme left’ seems to far outweigh the fear of the ERG or those old white men in the shire counties, who are about to chose our next PM. They want Truss because they believe (I agree with them), she will do their bidding.
I never imaged saying this but I’d prefer Sunak. He’s clever and has ideas

I totally agree. Although Truss makes a Labour government more likely I at least feel that Sunak, right wing as he is, does seem to have a brain and a basic grasp of what needs to be done. It’s beyond me what the people who pull the strings in the Conservative party have chosen Truss. Or how the few people that are allowed to vote for the next PM have been brainwashed into choosing her.

More than anything Iam I keep getting reminders that Sunak has not yet made a pact with the devil. Whatever he says seems to be limited (in a good way) by his own morals. So many New Conservatives seem to have sold them for power.

The alternative is that they actually think this is the way people should be seen and treated.

MayBee70 I don't think that they've been brainwashed as such. These are people who grew up in post war Britain, probably had a decent education, a good job and were able to buy a nice house. They would like things to return to the country that existed when they were younger and believe that Truss will make it happen. They do not see beyond their own self interest and maybe that of their immediate family.

Also, they are arrogant enough to believe that they know best.

Ilovecheese

If the Government had taken over the energy companies that have failed e.g. bulb, they could have started a process of nationalisation at very little cost. They could then have sold fuel at a more competitive price than the large companies and market forces would have brought customers to the nation's own company and we could have all had a choice.

I don't want to be negative because I want a workable solution. However, wouldn't doing this put the efficient distribution companies out of business? It isn't the distribution companies who are the problem. This, I suppose, is what happens when you set up a market where none exists. Nationalising may be the only way to get around that very problem. I would rather they agreed to a small number of companies working as "not for profit" than directly run by the government. Although, having once worked for a Quango ... ... .

I worry about swinging to the far-left solutions simply because we have swung to far-right ones that don't work. I want politicians to look at all solutions - and share them with us. We should be able to find a reasoned and up-to-date way to look after everyone.

No one should feel entitled to more water or warmth if it leaves others without any.

I'm being dim, I know, but - regarding the energy crisis, why can't the price cap remain as is - or raised but not to the levels we're hearing about - and HMG pick up the shortfall? Why isn't this even being put as an option?

Someone will have the answer on here, I'm sure.

Fleurpepper

Grany

What’s wrong with Britain? Let’s start with the monarchy

The Royal Family’s archaic-seeming rules and customs obscure its deep connections with modern global corporate power

www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/whats-wrong-with-britain-lets-start-with-the-monarchy/

The British monarchy stands for corruption, greed, immorality, theft.... You name it. They have a part in it.
The British RF is another form of the Mafia.

FORMER BRITISH MINISTER: ‘THE ISRAELIS THINK THEY CONTROL THE FOREIGN OFFICE. AND THEY DO!’

The recently published diaries of former foreign minister Sir Alan Duncan provide an unprecedented window into the influence the Israeli government and affiliated pro-Israel lobby groups have over the UK Foreign Office.

declassifieduk.org/former-british-minister-the-israelis-think-they-control-the-foreign-office-and-they-do/

Energy companies should be nationalised and utilities It is very popular nationally

Why not Labour Where is Starmer

No wonder Liz Truss wanted to abolish it ;)

Yes and Lisa Nandy and Starmer though he has since changed his mind as he does quite often.

Johnson stayed on so that he would just avoid being the shortest serving Prime Minister. If we get Truss as PM that will be a disaster for everyone.

DaisyAnne

kwest

Richard Murphy, you clearly are a very clever man. However you are scaring the hell out of people. We all see what you are saying in the newspapers every morning and on various types of media. Unless people are paid up members of the Tory Party then they are powerless. It feels odd that a small number of unelected people have the power to decide by their leadership vote how the country will be run. Many of us feel powerless in the face of what we may have to face. What is your solution?

Just out of interest, what is he saying that is scaring you. A quote would help.

I personally find him a less than likable human being but cannot think what he has said that is scary. He does seem to have done, with others, some really good work on tax transparency and on introducing MMT to those of us who are not economists.

Why scary?

Interesting question. I wonder if it will be answered.