Pay freezes is a bit dated as a tactic, but will there be prices freezes to match? Of course not, so a pay freeze is a stupid idea, wherever it comes from.
I'm with JHG on this, attack the profligate wastage at County level. They also have the reserves to withstand a bit of shock treatment.
Put high taxes on bonuses (60-75% up to 100k, 99% thereafter), however they are paid. Remove all second home allowances and attached expenses from MP's. Also tax the companies giving bonuses as a way of driving this out of our culture.
Make Jobseekers do some form of community service/voluntary work before receiving their payment. I'm not suggesting a 6 month wait, people have to live.
Finally, I think it is grossly unfair to freeze the pay of anyone earning less than £25kpa. How can they be expected to make their way in the world?
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Thats a first me and Sid agreeing on something,Sid you are sounding like a good socialist at last,I have got a pen if you want to fill in the form
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
John, I began my political life campaigning for Arnold Shaw in Ilford South. With mine and a few others efforts he took the seat for Labour in the 1964 GE and held it for some years after. Howard lived in the posh part of town, North Ilford, and enjoyed having a Conservative MP.
But then I saw just how little Labour actually did for the likes of me and just how much control they wanted over my freedoms, and, so, I took a long hard look at the Liberals. Once I had finished laughing at the sandal and beard brigade I turned my attention to the dreaded Tories. The rest is history as they say, and there is no going back.
What saddens me though is our Barry being so pro spy cameras as they are undoubtedly right up the socialist control freakery/nanny state street. Good Tories should tear them down IMO.
Still John, it's good to know that I can sometimes agree with a fine chap, and you are a fine chap, such as you.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Sid - dont mix up what Cameron said with the failed 70's style policies. The pay freeze is public sector only and for those on more than £18,000. Price freezes are frankly absurd and never did work.
May I remind you that the reason this recession has not resulted in as many job losses, so far, as was feared, is because the private sector employees have co-operated in protecting their jobs by not having pay rises and even pay cuts/hour cuts. This is entirely thanks to not having crazy trade unions interfering as a result of Mrs T's reforms.
It is time that the public sector felt at least some of the pain suffered by the private sector, sharing the burden.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Howard - Indeed the public sector pension bill must be trimmed, the gold plated final salary schemes need to be dropped as has happened in the private sector and money purchase adopted instead. They are unaffordable. They will have to be addressed regardless of who is elected. the trick is in how reform is done for which there are a range of options. I could go on and get very technical over this as it is a specific area of my professional expertese but I will resist it.
As for VAT - no you dont know and should not believe the desperate black propaganda being spouted. For the Conservatives it is spending that must take the strain and tax rises being only the last option when all possible cuts have been exhausted. Right now the only tax rises they expect are some of those already in the pipeline from Labour. No prospective Chancellor will ever rule out any tax rises, as MacMillan said, events dear boy... The LibDems who are making silly VAT claims will not themselves rule out VAT rises incidentally. One thing I am sure of, the Conservatives are the ones least likely to raise taxes and, if they had to do so, will increase them the least. The Conservative Party is fundamentally against high taxes and would bring them down if and whenever possible.
Incidentally - 'no plans for..... is not a ruling out....'
Sadly forms of words can be important.
The best way to view this, particularly in an economic situation as serious as we have, is simply to judge based on experience. Labour are addicted to higher taxation, often by stealth, and are firm believers in high public spending and big government.
The LibDems will say anything and often different thing to different audiences, after all they will not have the responsibility of enacting a manifesto.
The Conservatives fundamentally believe in small government and that means lower taxes.