As I checked the on-line version of the Evening Standard, a London daily, for an update on yet more travel chaos in the capital, I ended up in the newpaper’s chat room. The posts covered a range of topics from strikes in the UK to German economy, Gordon Brown, the EU, etc. I was fascinated by the following opinions and encouraged by an unexpected degree of common sense they contained.
On Gordon Brown, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer:
Comparatively other European economies are worse off than ours… for now. The strikes [ed.note: London tube drivers, fire fighters, airport staff] were inevitable. As soon as Brown started raising huge amounts of tax (direct, indirect, stealth, overt, personal & corporate) and making such a great play out of how he was intending to chuck vast quantities of cash at public services without insisting on reform, the unreformed public sector was always going to demand its ‘fair’ share.
In a way, we can thank Brown. He has finally proved, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that old-fashioned socialism with a Treasury-centred tax-and-spend doctrine is a failure. In the past, plenty of excuses have been trotted out about how enough money wasn’t spent to really make a difference. Now, Brown has thrown unimaginable amounts of money, particularly at the NHS… and there is no visible benefit.
It is long past the time when Brown should put the brakes on spending until reform has been carried out. He is throwing good money after bad… our money. He intends to raise taxes further and further because his pride won’t allow him to admit that he has got it wrong. He will end up sacrificing British jobs, industries and competitiveness on the altar of his own enormous ego.
Great Chancellor? Ha! The man has the economic instincts and ability of a whelk.
On German economy:
It’s Economy has tanked. Many small Businesses are closing down due to massive tax and bureacracy. The Unions have way too much power here and the cost of employing people is outrageous. We need a Maggie Thatcher here to deregulate everything and make Germany competetive again. The only light at the end of the Tunnel is the success of the Euro.
Reply: Christ, it must a f***king dim light then.
On the EU:
Every new regulation from the EU seems to add to the pile, and the language of the EU is that Britain should become more like these countries, not that Europe should become more competitive.
[ed.note: to a Europhile in the thread] Do you understand? Do you see why so many of us find your seemingly blind adoration of all things Euroepan so laughable?
What we have now [in the EU] is a ‘club’ for failed socialist politicians where ineptitude, corruption and waste are rewarded by monolithic undemocratic structures. The main political agenda is set by France, whose selectivity in implementing the outcomes are legendary and Germany, which is drowning under the very rules it has helped to create.
How sound is that?! 
Amusing then, that the conservatives think the way to political success is to advocate the raising of taxes to yet further – to pay for public services.
‘Amusing’ is not the first term that springs to mind, Julian
Conservative “modernizers” think in 1960’s terms (as Edward Heath did and does).
Being “modern” means being in favour of “group rights” (for women, ethnic minorities, homosexuals – or any other group the media happens to favour) and supporting ever more taxes, spending and regulations.
Archie Norman is a good example of this sort of “Conservative”. However, Conservative STYLE is no indication that someone is not a modernizer – Max Hastings (ex editor of the Evening Standard) is a classic example of someone with a Conservative old world style who has very “modern” political opinions.
Sadly so, it seems, is I.D.S. – the recent obsession with the “gay adoption” vote (which was a lot of nonsense anyway as homosexuals can already adopt children – and some do) diverts attention from the basic point that I.D.S. is just as much of a modernizer as Kenneth Clarke and M. Portillo.
Apart from John Redwood I can not think of any Conservative who talks about cutting taxes and getting rid of regulations. Even Oliver Letwin (the hero of some libertarians on this blog) seems to have gone rather quiet. In his recent speech to the Adam Smith Institute did Mr Letwin clearly promise to cut taxes and scrap regulations – or was it all vague “we love freedom, but……” stuff?
As for Evening Standard – well it clearly has some good readers.
Paul Marks.
Uh, what’s a whelk?
Sorry for being so thick.
“Germany, which is drowning under the very rules it has helped to create”
In this case it’s more the specific rules in Germany, not tose of the EU. There’s a reason why Germany has the biggest problems in the EU.
“The only light at the end of the Tunnel”
The light at the end of the tunnel is the approaching train
Can someone here tell me why, if the EU is coordinating all, becoming a suprastate, etc., etc., should each country be allowed a rep at the UN?
One suprastate, one voice, ONE VOTE.
Rotate it like everything else, but you should only get one.
Russ:
whelk n.
Any of various large, mostly edible marine snails of the family Buccinidae, having a pointed, spiral shell, especially Buccinum undatum, which is commonly eaten in Europe
Commonly eaten in Europe. Bloody typical.