Hostage Nation

Yesterday a report was published called 'Hostage Nation'.

The key sentence in the report's summary is 'The first and most fundamental duty of a civilised state is the safety of its people' This, in the author's view means not just safety from enemies but economic security enough to be able to feed' clothe and house ones self, and one's family and to be able to have good services to look after ones health and welfare.

The report is written by Jamie Driscoll, the former Labour mayor of Newcastle/Tyneside who was not allowed to stand for re-election in 2024 and was basically chased out of the Labour Party for being too left wing. He is now in the Green Party but stresses that his report is his personal work and not a political document on behalf of the Green party.

It is quite long, very readable and with good notes (which don't have to be read) explaining his sources.

His contention is that there are ways in which all that a government would like to do to achieve 'security' could be easily financed but for years governments have been held hostage by the global market place which threatens to break us if the government doesn't conform to what suits 'the market' .

He says: This is not a think-tank essay. It is an escape plan. It is about escaping four words: w can't afford it.

It is in 5 sections;

The Trap
Why Nothing Changes
Raising the Money
Rebuilding the Nation
The Future

I, naturally, think it is rather good. It demonstrates the folly of some practices and the need to stop unthinkingly accepting that because something has been happening for years it is somehow the 'natural' thing to do.

It has nothing to do with MMT, it takes the conventional 'taxes and borrowing fund spending' route. I still like it😆

Driscoll is well acquainted with the PM, he would be as they were Northern Metro Mayors at the same time. I hope the PM reads and takes note...

I'll be non argumentatively interested in others' opinions (well, I'll try)

hostagenation.com/summary/executive-summary/