WHERE DO WE GO FROM DECADENCE?

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime (Gorney/Harburg)

What goes around comes around. The lyrics to the above mentioned song where written at the time of the Great Depression by Yip Harburg, a rare species of American, very much a socialist. He probably felt that he had good cause so to be, as his family business had collapsed due to the economic melt down of 1929.

Let us not, nevertheless, treat what is happening currently as something that will pass over rapidly and leave us unscathed. This is serious; not just the fault of greedy, shameful banking practices, but the 'must have it all' element within the general public is equally to blame. Anybody with the slightest grasp of common sense was aware that there was never enough wealth to underpin the sea of debt.

Noticing this week a letter in the press from a correspondent in Macclesfield, who made light of Peter Oborne's foreboding regarding many of our forthcoming problems. The main one is cedeing the world of finance to the East. We therefore become the 'Third World'. Sitting around bleating that this isn't so won't be a defence. We'll have to forsake all our green notions, get back into manufacturing, labouring at very competitive rates, if we want to keep ourselves fed, watered and warm. It doesn't help of course putting the nation in hock to the French Government to supply much of our electricity. THINK ABOUT IT.

To conclude: Yip Harberg went on to write the words for many musical productions and films. Possibly the most notable being Finian's Rainbow, with composer Burton Lane, and the song 'Over the Rainbow' from The Wizard of Oz, music by Harold Arlen. Many of his lyric lines displayed his political view point.







THE DAY THE 'COKE SNORTING' HAD TO STOP.

RUTH KELLY'S BLUES.

It really is extraordinary how a government that extols the virtues of both parents going out to work rather than staying at home to tend the family, accepts the resignation of a minister of the crown for that very reason. Or was it? Ms Kelly hardly ever set the world alight, due to her lack of foresight, which is about as impressive as that of her former colleagues in the cabinet. She did, however, due to her religion, have one thing going for her, this being her opposition to the all embracing sexual diversity pursued by this dumb government. That sycophantic resignation speech, to a virtually empty hall, was nauseating to say the least, but didn't our two faced leader love it!


This occurring in a week when we have seen adequate evidence supporting the author's understanding of the national situation, regarding society generally and it's not so wellbeing. Our PM (Sitting Bull) informs us that we are in good shape, financially, to cope with the rocky road ahead. His amusing 'key note' speech at the party conference is supposed to make us feel better. The speech flew in the face of all the evidence before us, amply described in the C4 Dispatches programme earlier in the week, concerning poverty generally and supported by official figures; be it children, senior citizens, you name it, we're all in there somewhere. Perhaps the forthcoming Scottish by-election will put a different perspective on the catastrophe we are witnessing.




RUTH KELLY'S RESIGNATION IS NO SHOCK AROUND HERE.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, MISTRESSES TO LUST.

Has the fat lady sung yet regarding the market's financial woes, or is she gargling in the wings? Nobody can be totally convinced. Not until the banking industry has the confidence to inter trade, loans etc. will we know. This could be some time away of course. Why should we get back to normal without some pain. Previous blogs in the series: ECONOMICS ON THE DRIP/
ECONOMIC CYCLE IN THE AGE OF CHANGE and EPICUREAN EUROPEAN explain this.

Selwyn Parker in his book THE GREAT CRASH: HOW THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929 PLUNGED THE WORLD INTO DEPRESSION, raises an obvious weakness of the capitalist system, to think that we can all be wealthy is foolish. In his review of the book, Geoffrey Wansell highlights these aspirations of the small time punter, as they treat the market as a sure fire certainty. The .com disaster of a few years ago proved foolhardy. This is fine if you only dabble with a fraction of your capital. After all to play the Stockmarket is gambling and in an ordered society should produce work for people, which increases the circulation of money, subsequently making general lifestyles better. If we treat this practice as a means to an excess of materialism, every so often we will be subjected to an implosion, which is a correction to many peoples greed. Bankers can be cited here as the culprits and should be made to pay. Governments also have to answer for much by not overseeing what was afoot in the financial markets. Probably because they were enjoying the cash returns as mentioned in UK GROUNDED, IT'S OFFICIAL, this makes the FSA appear irrelvant, which it was, prior to the collapse of Northern Rock. As pointed out previously, for ten years the FSA had done very little at enormous expense to the tax payer. Amazingly, this week in the wake of the HBOS debacle, The PM assures us that he is on top of the crises. What the writer would like to know is, Why was the FSA not watching since it's inception in the late nineties? Perhaps the answer is in the previous blogs.


Credit is also a consideration. Is it indeed the basis of our problems? From what the writer recalls, Roosevelt introduced HP (Higher Purchase) to ease the US out of the Depression; this was of course to buy home grown/made goods, which revived their manufacturing industry. The spanner which is now well and truly in the works is that both we and the Americans generate
billions in credit on imported goods. Our main source of income in recent years being the Financial Markets, which brings us full circle.


Having condemned both bankers and politicians, most people should reflect on being excited about the way property prices went through the roof in recent years. How could it be so? There was never the money available to underwrite the property sales. As it turned out it was just smoke and mirrors plus plenty of greed. Could we suggest a brick in the middle of everyones dining table with the message, "Can this house be worth 5% more every week" and on the reverse, "Or 5% less". Damien Hirst would probably produce an exclusive one for you, pickled in Formaldehyde, at an extornate fee, this would be an absolute must for many. There we go again!

Allison Pearson came up with a refreshing view this week on the subject of 'having it all'. She reflected on a visit to Lehman Bros. sometime ago, having been invited to interview some of the trading staff. Evidently AP was feted by flunkies answering to her every need; these forming part of the support staff adding to what was, presumably, the vulgar opulence of the fixtures and fittings. The telling aspect of the piece was that the women of the trading species couldn't possibly find the time to fit having children into their schedule, they would lose too much cash. This is sad! The author is pleased to report that he's always been happy in his own skin.





YESTERDAY I HAD A PINT OF TEN FIFTY (I think), BREWED BY THE GRAINSTORE BREWERY IN RUTLAND. 'MAGICAL'

UK GROUNDED, IT'S OFFICIAL!

Although it's terrible to witness thousands of travellers languishing in airports around the world due to the mishandling of their holiday/airline company's finances, why is the news presented in a shocked fashion? All this financial mayhem is the natural process of a nation that has not been keeping an eye on the economic ball. The truth is, as mentioned previously, we have a Government that can only see the tax returns to the coffers of the Exchequer, irrespective of whether or not they came from transactions done with real or borrowed cash. All this has been obvious for at least the last five years in both business and personal finance. To cover the costs involved in running an airline must be vast and does call for having a contingency plan for a rainy day. Businesses run on a mountain of debt are generally going to hit the buffers sooner or later.

The most disturbing aspect of all this is that thousands of folk are continuing to expose themselves to the possibility of being stranded abroad when the writing is on the wall in flashing narrative.


PERHAPS IF ONE HAS VOTED THREE TIMES FOR BROWN AND CO. IT WOULD SUGGEST A LACK OF ECONOMIC UNDERSTANDING.

JOBSWORTHS BY THE SCORE.

The writer will admit to visiting the subject of what we might call the Ridiculous Jobs Society, on a regular basis. Can publically funded positions really still be growing at a steady rate in a country that has gone 'Bust'? Here are a few examples: Manager Sexual Exploitation Team (Bolton Council), Senior Parenting Practitioner (Reading Borough Council), Diversity Managers (Audit Commission), 2no. Community Capacity Building Development Officers (Irish Traveller Movement in Britain) Presumably that is us again.




The legacy of three terms of socialism.







THE ROAD TO DECADENCE (Not a Bob Hope/Bing Crosby film).

MORE SHAMBOLIC DRESS SENSE.

Although one can't deny that Andy Murray is getting closer to a major tennis triumph, his semi -final victory over Nadal in the American championships could easily have been considered to be a fancy dress occasion or, alternatively, was Murray serving out an ASBO and Nadal auditioning for a part in Pirates of the Caribbean? Surely as any member or former member of HM Forces will know, one performs better with a neat and tidy approach. Personal discipline.





"BY YOUR BEDS"

F1: THE FIX.

Why are we obliged to witness, on a regular basis, the fixing of motor racing to favour Ferrari? One can assume that an organization run by a second hand car salesman and a disreputable character with a peculiar dress sense are not going to be above board, but today's decision to relegate Hamilton to third position is bound to be construed by many as an underhand deal. As an observer, it was apparent that Hamilton's car cut a corner, subsequently giving way to Raikkonen as the rules require. His ensueing manoeuvre to overtake was completed on the opposite flank of Raikkonen's Ferrari; this was the highlight of the race. These moves are so rare, such moments are the reasons why we tune in. Regular viewers will be aware of the incident in Spain last week, when Ferrari's Massa had a near miss in the pit lane. As we now know, he got away lightly. Why? It would appear that it is advantageous for your team name to start with the letter 'F'. But what do you expect from someone who was ready to give a million pounds to New Labour and another with a vintage Hugo Boss complex.













HOW COULD MASSA BE DECLARED THE WINNER? HE WAS NEVER AT THE PARTY. SOMETHING STINKS!

McCAIN AND THE PISTOL PACKIN' MOMMA.

Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, lobs a smoke bomb into the Democrat's camp by selecting unknown Sarah Palin as his VP hopeful. Barack and his sidekicks are now in a flat spin, not knowing how to defame her next. A master stroke Mac!

The author was sure that McCain would prefer a woman, with a view to the following 2012 elections. Should he be successful, I wouldn't expect him to want more than one term. His party would then have the ideal candidate in Sarah Palin, someone with the right CV to see off that 'Sapphist' Hillary Clinton, whose lack of experience will make her appear shallow. An admission here, the writer had thought Condoleezza Rice was in the frame.




ALL HYPOTHESIS OF COURSE.

THE DANGER IS, HE'S GETTING ON WITH THE JOB.

"Who's done Brown till he's done brown?" (Muir/Norden: 'Take It From Here' circa 1950s)

A prerequisite before one gets on with the job, is to understand what it is that you are supposed to be doing. This is always going to be a problem when weighed down with the theory/dogma of Socialism. The ethos of which assumes people are willing to work, simultaneously projecting the right to a good life, even if they don't want to bother. The party needs their vote. This of course has to be funded by those who choose to work; probably a fading breed.

When the PM arrived on the political scene some twenty plus years ago, he quickly worked his way up through the ranks, hardly a difficult task, I'm familiar with a couple of gerbils who could have done the same. Most aspects of the media thought that he had something to offer; although one Tory Minister at the time made the astute observation that his speeches could have been read in reverse, the author would liken this to any country and western song, it sounds the same which ever way round one performs it.

On assuming the Chancellorship in 1997, 'to get on with the job' was when our problems started. It could be assumed that to give the BoE (Bank of England) control over interest rates was deemed to be a good move. That may be so but it also gave him the opportunity to avoid the blame as and when his policies hit the buffers, which has now happened. So how did this come about?

The founding of a vast (unecessary department) the FSA (Financial Services Authority), an organization soon to employ an army of people at the taxpayers' expense, all retiring presumably at 60 to cruise the world on their fat pensions. The very existence of this ridiculous shambles of an institution, until 2007 did little more than to get under the feet of the BoE. Socialism, naturally, is borne out of hordes of people being employed by the state. More on this later.

Another move around the same time was to exploit the private pension fund companies. There isn't a cash mountain anywhere in Britain that socialism can resist. Socialism relies on OPM (other peoples money), making ridiculous excuses to justify throwing it at petty 'eye catching' causes. Well, we are now aware of the consequences. Some of the most respected financial institutions in the world have been seriously affected. This has led to the current workforce being reluctant to invest in pensions. They think that the state will pick up the 'tab'. Don't be fooled, it won't have the wherewithall.

As we entered the 21st. century, he (Brown) slipped from the shackles of the previous Conservative administration's fiscal policies set in place by Kenneth Clarke. From then on, he has thrown our money at every looney project he could dream up. This was funded via stealth taxes and personal borrowing, by 2003 it was clear that this was out of control. He enjoyed this of course, every mortgage over the stamp duty threshold, he considered to be productivity. The frightening thing here is that the Banks loved it, realising that they could play 'fast and loose' with our money. Where was the FSA during this 'smoke and mirrors' facade? Presumably they were instructed by the boss to ignore the situation, calling it 'prudence'. If we add to this, the selling of gold reserves when the market was disadvantaged. Surely to those who thought the good times were paid for, think again.

We can add endless incidental items to the array of nonsense perpetrated by this shambles of a regime, most we assume were from the thoughts of 'Chairman Gordon'. Devolution, which played straight into the hands of the SNP, Alex Salmond in particular. He's much too slippery for a 'slow coach' such as the character who goes under the title of PM. Expect to be getting another increase in taxes as the Government endeavours to buy them back. The author's tip is to let them get on with it. If I never hear another Scottish politician, I'll be over the moon. Further, consider the extra cash that has gone to health and education, much of it to cure and educate immigrants, many illegal. THEY DON'T COME CHEAPLY.

Probably, however, what has been ignored by most while sleeping, is the growth of Local Government. Much of this in response to EU directives, that's the fraudulent outfit in Brussels, as their auditors remind us annually. Laws regarding political correctness and green issues are excellent for employing thousands of unnecessary personnel, all of whom will retire long before the workforce who create the money for their cosy retirement. Extraordinary how, from the decadence of assumed wealth, a section of society appears to have it all, whilst the producer has little of which to look forward. Surely Socialism wasn't founded upon such a thesis.

THIS IS AN OVER ALL REPORT ON AN ECONOMIC NEOPHYTE. WHO CAN'T IMPROVE

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH.

It is encouraging to read in the letters to the press that, following years of political scheming, misleading and betrayal, certain correspondents seem to be close to the thinking of this 'blog', that voting a government from office is not enough. A certain Mr. Tom Muir would appear to be alluding to such actions in a letter recently noted.

Let us therefore pursue this logically. Should a democratic Goverment, during peacetime:

a) be allowed to renege on a manifesto promise just to extend it's own survival?

b) reduce standards in education to enhance examination results?

c) mislead the public on NHS performances generally, whether the latter are concerned with
hygiene or patient treatment?

d) get away with making bogus claims regarding the climate, without producing any sign of their
qualifications. Trying to impress upon us that all the leading scientists in the world have
proved the theory. It is, however, still a theory to which many other scientists refuse to
subscribe. As mentioned previously, any research group agreeing with the Government will
receive the necessary funding.

If we are to return to democracy and overturn the Dictatorship centered on Brussels, we have to determine ways of reducing the number of MPs and making sure that those remaining are scared of making decisions that fly in the face of the Electorate, in the knowledge that there will be a financial penalty paid out of their own pockets. Plus re-training at their own expense.





REMEMBER THE FEUDAL LORDS, KING JOHN AND THE MAGNA CARTA.

THE GREENING VERSION

One of the main areas for the Government to raise taxes continues to be from so called green issues. This is a 'con' of course, as the powers that be are grubbing around to raise revenue from a diminishing manufacturing/business base. The fact that this hoax is alive and well has been proved by the United Nations, pointing out that 'Taxpayer GB' pays about six times the amount estimated to counteract our so called carbon footprint.

As suggested in previous postings all that we have to do is reduce the population. Currently the only reduction is coming via people fleeing the country. Unfortunately, they are not, in many cases, the ones we wish to lose. Apart from the young well- educated, we are paying pensions to thousands of emigrants. Money not to be spent within our economy. In a few years time we will be adding vast numbers of people returning to the Indian continent as India's economy out performs that of the UK, the same pension consideration will apply.

What then is the answer? There isn't one unless we take dramatic steps. The obvious one is to reconsider our position on immigration. The main task, however, is to stop subsidising the illegitimacy of thousands of births to young people who are unable to maintain children. If we are to continue funding this irresponsibility, then let those that want to carry on supporting them run a charity. It is noted this week, that injections for cervical cancer are now available to schoolgirls in Scotland. Presumably paid for by the English. This should increase sexual activity for teenagers north of the border.





A GREEN LIGHT, THE GOVERNMENT ONLY USES RED POLITICALLY, NEVER FOR DANGER.