The next general election.

[Ivanhoe]

Papaumau, No, the British electrate "will never learn".

[BillB]

I tired of the party point scoring and not enough real progressive policies, How are the three main parties to tackle the banking crisis? Let it go on as before with a slapped wrist! Or take them (the banks) under our controll.Are they to be allowed to gamble as before, while in the good years money flowed into our economy it was all smoke and mirrors. While many blame the present government, the problem goes back thirty years when Thatcher and Reagan ended the controls of the banking system. Investment flowed out of this country to the third world and industry and jobs with it. until we square that circle, which will take a long time to resolve.  This is one of many problems we must address. In the mean time we are treated like kids by the politicians with very few exceptions, so it's business as usual. If we accept that we deserve every thing we get. 

[John]

It was Gordon Brown who gave independence to the Bank of England in 1997 that started the rot.

It was Gordon Brown that sold over half the gold reserves at the bottom of the market.

There have always been Banking Laws and controls - the FSA is the largest Quango.

Brown was happy to sit back and take billions in tax - not appearing to take any interest from
whence it came. Even greedily stripping the pension funds until it was not worth running them.

Major Companies and most of the High Street has been sold out to foreign investment since
this Government came to office. British Vehicle Industry is an example.

The spin of what may have happened 30 years ago is wearing thin.

We need to reflect on what has taken place in the last 13 years - it is far more relevant.

[Ivanhoe]

How can "one" have progressive policies when the residing government have embraced the policies of the former government 1979 - 1997.

It is stagnation.  And they are getting away with it, because nobody is saying the above.

[John]

It does appear they may have carried on - but in reality this
government has been very lazy. Just throwing money at things.

I am fed up drifting from one catastrophe to another.

This government has spent far more on outside advisor's and
even brought people in - because they have not got a real clue.

There are no Cabinet decisions - it is a dictatorship!

[Ivanhoe]

Can you say exactly what they have thrown money at, that you believe to be wrong ?

[Ivanhoe]

John, the main problem is that New Labour came into power with neither manifesto, or ideoligy, they merely embraced what Thatcher had started.

[John]

"Can you say exactly what they have thrown money at, that you believe to be wrong ?"

It would have been easier and fairer to ask me what I believed was right.

In short I am unable to think of anything.

Money thrown at the NHS has resulted in vast amounts of new managers.

Money thrown at Quangos produces little.

Money thrown at Education - wel wot kan u sey...

Money thrown at MPs as expenses and defending them

Money thrown on getting the Olympics

Money thrown on an illegal invasion of Iraq

Money thrown at Banks

The list is endless

[Ivanhoe]

John, Here is my observation.  New Labour are running this country on the very same low income tax trickle down economics as the former Tory government under Thatcher and Major, hence managers at low level, and no, like you, I dont agree with them.

I believe in a high income tax economy where services are funded adaquately, as in Western Europe.

Britain's vital services are being run on low income tax, including education and health, and far less GNP spending than any other EU country.

[Papaumau]

I tired of the party point scoring and not enough real progressive policies, How are the three main parties to tackle the banking crisis? Let it go on as before with a slapped wrist! Or take them (the banks) under our controll.Are they to be allowed to gamble as before, while in the good years money flowed into our economy it was all smoke and mirrors. While many blame the present government, the problem goes back thirty years when Thatcher and Reagan ended the controls of the banking system. Investment flowed out of this country to the third world and industry and jobs with it. until we square that circle, which will take a long time to resolve.  This is one of many problems we must address. In the mean time we are treated like kids by the politicians with very few exceptions, so it's business as usual. If we accept that we deserve every thing we get. 

Well said BillB....I couldn't have put it better myself !

[John]

'Being treated like children'

If you allow yourself to be you will be.

This is applicable to many matters.

There is also much ageism in this direction - some justified but
other presumed.

About financial matters. We very much pivot on a Budget out of which
comes a Finance Bill. Anything that came before can be wiped out
or allowed to continue.

There is no need to go back further then the government actually in
power. Some leeway would need to be given in the first 2 years,
but after that it is a blank canvass.

This government have had plenty of chance to rearrange the deck chairs
a it wished.

[Ivanhoe]

It didnt want to, Thatcher's right wing policies remain intact.

[Ivanhoe]

////There is no need to go back further then the government actually in
power. Some leeway would need to be given in the first 2 years,
but after that it is a blank canvass///

What I know is that New Labour have continued Thatcher's policies from 1997 in tax, pensions, privatisation, the free market in general.

The only thing New Labour has done in response to her policies is a sticking plaster approach for the elderly and for workers re- further means testing, and other non means tested handouts, coupled with means tested tax credits for workers.

This is why there is stagnation in politics at PM'S Question Time,  because New Labour have no effective opposition, ie Cameron cannot attack his own policies under New Labour.

[John]

New Labour haven't made much effort then have they?

If you follow the same line as the opposition  -
you would not expect that opposition to be that
effective...

[Ivanhoe]

Correct.  But then again you knew this didnt you.  Didnt you ?