Is the U.K. really broken, or does it just need tinkering?

Interest payments on a £3 trillion National Debt is a serious drain on tax revenue and market jitters can raise the costs by billions. Prudent management is required.

eazybee

Britain is not broken but it is behaving very, very foolishly.
It is not in a position to 'offer largesse to all who land here' as is shown by our rapidly spiralling debt, and the demands made on those who are working to support those who cannot, or will not, work.

Spot on.
Probably a thousand a day in this hot calm weather too.

eazybee, I read your comment with a bit of futuristic, distopian dread. Forgive me for 'misinterpreting' your words, but taken in a different context, and with the evolution of the 'right to die' campaign, just how soon will it be that we, yes, us here on Gransnet, people of a certain vintage, will be considered politically to be 'those who cannot or will not work'.

Oreo

eazybee

Britain is not broken but it is behaving very, very foolishly.
It is not in a position to 'offer largesse to all who land here' as is shown by our rapidly spiralling debt, and the demands made on those who are working to support those who cannot, or will not, work.

Spot on.
Probably a thousand a day in this hot calm weather too.

Apparently, there are 1000 applications for PIP every day - and that doesn't depend on the weather.

And each PIP application needs to be addressed by in person interviews and recorded phone conversations.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

It’s business that runs the economy...

If it's business that runs the economy David then perhaps they should let someone else have a go because they're making a bloody mess of it...

David’s Its business that runs the economy I think he means businesses manufacture products, provide services, export and import goods along with employing millions of the population and paying various business taxes.

In my book that is not running the economy it is contributing to and providing employment to the economic system of the U.K.

Sorry I haven’t expressed myself very well.

Don't do yourself down! You're right. Businesses do enable money to keep circulating, but (as you say) they don't run the economy - that's the government's job.

I don't think GG13 is doing herself down, SMEs are a vital component of the economy. Big corporations? Hmm.. perhaps not so much...

TBH, I was making a somewhat sarcastic response to David...

I do think that overreliance on the neoliberal model of the economy, expecting 'markets' to create perfect economic conditions is ridiculous when we have so much evidence that a purely market led economy is neither rational nor in the interests of the wellbeing of the whole population.

I think we will have to find another model to accommodate a declining birthrate and the growth of AI. (I've no suggestions, BTW...)

Are some folk advocating the 'trickle down effect'?
I know a good joke about that, but 99 per cent of you wouldn't get it.

Maremia

Are some folk advocating the 'trickle down effect'?
I know a good joke about that, but 99 per cent of you wouldn't get it.

😂👏

Lathyrus3

Id like some really radical changes in public ownership of essentials like water and energy. A commitment to public transport and social housing even if it means higher taxes.
And a couple of other things but that would do for a start.😬

I absolutely agree. And would also priorities forward looking policies for young families to prevent problems further down the line.

UK is not broken - it is still recovering from the every man for himself attitude of Thatcher so we have stopped pulling together and accepting that we need to pay in to receive. Hopefully we will see the light gradually.

“I think we will have to find another model to accommodate a declining birthrate and the growth of AI. (I've no suggestions, BTW...)”

We may have a declining birth rate but a growing population so there is no problem, there will be plenty of workers to pay our pensions.

What successive governments have done to this once great country is truly appalling and I just despair….😭

Shinamae

What successive governments have done to this once great country is truly appalling and I just despair….😭

What's been so appalling and why do you despair?

I still think the UK is a pretty good place to live and I'm very grateful I was born here.

Maremia

Are some folk advocating the 'trickle down effect'?
I know a good joke about that, but 99 per cent of you wouldn't get it.

Haha!

It would be interesting to see an economic model where there was no business activity paying wages and paying taxes. Or are you thinking the state would provide everything, it sounds like communism to me.

Even China accepts private enterprise is good ( as long as it tows the party line ) and subsidizes it extensively.

I know a good joke about that, but 99 per cent of you wouldn't get it. ..... very good!!

growstuff

Shinamae

What successive governments have done to this once great country is truly appalling and I just despair….😭

What's been so appalling and why do you despair?

I still think the UK is a pretty good place to live and I'm very grateful I was born here.

There has been a massive lack of investment in growth for 10 yrs plus, at least Starmer has some ambition to expand the economy, if Labour MPs continu3 to be belligerent he won’t achieve it.

growstuff

Shinamae

What successive governments have done to this once great country is truly appalling and I just despair….😭

What's been so appalling and why do you despair?

I still think the UK is a pretty good place to live and I'm very grateful I was born here.

I don’t feel I have to justify my opinion to you, but the fiasco of the Covid and how it was dealt with by the government, Millions wasted..
The uncontrolled people coming into this country who we know nothing about and just infiltrating into our society this worries me greatly, State of the water in this country all our beaches and rivers being polluted by fat cats who run the water companies I could go on Call me what you want. I really do not value for your opinion….

LizzieDrip

Yes, Faridge et al constantly promise the moon on a stick with bells on … yet they never say how they would actually do this. Just ‘everything is broken’ and ‘we’re the only ones clever enough to fix it’ 🙈

That’s the biggest issue I have with Reform!

No, I don’t believe this country is broken, but I do believe some of our citizens are, we do need change and strong, positive, genuine leadership.

Do we have that with Starmer and crew? I simply don’t know.

But I do know that blaming certain cohorts of people, outside of our govt., isn’t in any way helpful.

Shinamae On a public forum if anyone makes a really damning or strong remark, it’s perfectly acceptable for other to question that.

Growstuff was perfectly respectful in her post, you less so in your reply.

I was not born in this country, but in Singapore, though I am British and have been since birth, we returned here when I was 3 years old, I am well travelled and very well aware that although changes are required we are extremely fortunate to call this country our home.

Shinamae

growstuff

Shinamae

What successive governments have done to this once great country is truly appalling and I just despair….😭

What's been so appalling and why do you despair?

I still think the UK is a pretty good place to live and I'm very grateful I was born here.

I don’t feel I have to justify my opinion to you, but the fiasco of the Covid and how it was dealt with by the government, Millions wasted..
The uncontrolled people coming into this country who we know nothing about and just infiltrating into our society this worries me greatly, State of the water in this country all our beaches and rivers being polluted by fat cats who run the water companies I could go on Call me what you want. I really do not value for your opinion….

Just interested in why you wrote what you did. I totally disagree with you.

I don't have to justify myself to you either, but I'll just say that the country is by no means perfect, but most things still work. I have water coming out of my taps and power comes out of my sockets. We still have buses and trains and the roads (despite potholes) are still passable. The health service has saved my life a couple of times over the last decade. Most people (at least the ones I choose to be with) are still tolerant and I have come across many examples of genuine kindness. It really is quite a nice place, in my opinion. It's a shame some people choose to be rude, but that's probably human nature.

PS. I don't value your opinion much either.

btw, I have and still do swim in our seas and lakes and have never suffered any ill effects, ditto my husband and children and friends. However I do think the govt should hold the water companies to account and I firmly believe water and energy should never have been privatised and I also agree with you that many ££££££ were wasted by the previous govt., and not just on Covid!

We sometimes forget what a small miracle it is to live in a society where the refuse is collected, the electricity works, etc.

Lathyrus3

Id like some really radical changes in public ownership of essentials like water and energy. A commitment to public transport and social housing even if it means higher taxes.
And a couple of other things but that would do for a start.😬

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Galaxy

We sometimes forget what a small miracle it is to live in a society where the refuse is collected, the electricity works, etc.

Yes, some of us certainly do! I truly believe that the majority of us live reasonable life, however that’s not good enough, everyone should be able to do this, irrespective of their circumstances.

Maremia

Are some folk advocating the 'trickle down effect'?
I know a good joke about that, but 99 per cent of you wouldn't get it.

Try us, I expect we have our Tenas on😂