Tory response to economic crisis
Discussion
Anyone heard any strategic proposals put forward by the Conservatives to cope with the present economic calamity?
The obvious first reaction of any opposition party is simply to gloat - "ha ha, everything has blown up in Labour's face, we're bound to win the next election, this is great," etc.
Can't really blame them for this reaction as its fairly natural, but are they coming up with anything constructive, and if not, are they yet fit to govern?
The LibDems seem able to discuss the problems rationally and have some strategic ideas, but the Tories seem pre-occupied simply with apportioning blame (rightly or wrongly) for their own political ends.
No real substance.
Worrying.
The obvious first reaction of any opposition party is simply to gloat - "ha ha, everything has blown up in Labour's face, we're bound to win the next election, this is great," etc.
Can't really blame them for this reaction as its fairly natural, but are they coming up with anything constructive, and if not, are they yet fit to govern?
The LibDems seem able to discuss the problems rationally and have some strategic ideas, but the Tories seem pre-occupied simply with apportioning blame (rightly or wrongly) for their own political ends.
No real substance.
Worrying.
Plus, after Gordon's profligacy, there's no money in the bank to rescue things with.
The truth of the situation is that most fixes are going to be expensive and hurt. Yes, either government could put them in place, but who wants to tell the electorate "Vote for us and we'll make your life miserable for a few years until things are fixed".
Labour's solution is to ignore the problem and promise everyone free sweeties.
The Tories are keeping quiet rather than promising sunshine tommorrow.
Hmmm...
The truth of the situation is that most fixes are going to be expensive and hurt. Yes, either government could put them in place, but who wants to tell the electorate "Vote for us and we'll make your life miserable for a few years until things are fixed".
Labour's solution is to ignore the problem and promise everyone free sweeties.
The Tories are keeping quiet rather than promising sunshine tommorrow.
Hmmm...
The Tories don't need a response to the economic crises as such. They will shortly need a new policy on the public finances however. Their old commitment to keep to Labour spending plans for their first few years in office will be suicidal if the deficit reaches the level many are predicting.
Here you go:
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy.aspx
As for whether they are fit to govern or not, well that question assumes a free choice of party, whereas in reality the choice is Labour or Conservative. Thus, the question should be which out of those two are most fit to govern? IMHO Labour have proved themself unfit to govern and the Conservatives have not had to chance to prove either way recently, so the choice is simple.
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy.aspx
As for whether they are fit to govern or not, well that question assumes a free choice of party, whereas in reality the choice is Labour or Conservative. Thus, the question should be which out of those two are most fit to govern? IMHO Labour have proved themself unfit to govern and the Conservatives have not had to chance to prove either way recently, so the choice is simple.
BigLepton said:
Thanks. I bet Gordon Brown is absolutely kicking himself - he could have saved the economy with four bullit points;)My worry is that they don't seem willing to engage in any substantive debate or strategic analysis. Its just name calling (which is part of the political process, unfortunately).
They appear to want to campaign on Cameron's likeability rather than govern-ability, so we really don't know what we may be letting ourselves in for.
As I said, worrying.
The Tories also cannot say what they are going to do.
There are a lot of Civil Servants who will have to be out of a job as government will no longer be able to afford them. Expect below inflation pay rises, below inflation pension increases and below inflation benefits increases. Expect taxes to rise...even for the low paid. Expect infrastructure projects to be halted or postponed. Expect a shrinking of the public sector, strikes and unions getting very, very shirty. Frankly expect public services to get no better, possibly a little worse, and to cost more in council tax.
All that - not because they would be a Tory Government - but because it is coming anyway.
We are in deep s
t. It has to be fixed. The fixing will cost money and jobs. It will be ten years before things are better. I don't believe Labour will even try. So despite the above being crap my vote is for a party who will at least start the job.
And it will be decades before our economy is as good as it was ten years back.
It's not even all Labour's fault. But some of it is. And for that I will never forgive them.
There are a lot of Civil Servants who will have to be out of a job as government will no longer be able to afford them. Expect below inflation pay rises, below inflation pension increases and below inflation benefits increases. Expect taxes to rise...even for the low paid. Expect infrastructure projects to be halted or postponed. Expect a shrinking of the public sector, strikes and unions getting very, very shirty. Frankly expect public services to get no better, possibly a little worse, and to cost more in council tax.
All that - not because they would be a Tory Government - but because it is coming anyway.
We are in deep s
t. It has to be fixed. The fixing will cost money and jobs. It will be ten years before things are better. I don't believe Labour will even try. So despite the above being crap my vote is for a party who will at least start the job.And it will be decades before our economy is as good as it was ten years back.
It's not even all Labour's fault. But some of it is. And for that I will never forgive them.
deadslow said:
BigLepton said:
Thanks. I bet Gordon Brown is absolutely kicking himself - he could have saved the economy with four bullit points;)My worry is that they don't seem willing to engage in any substantive debate or strategic analysis. Its just name calling (which is part of the political process, unfortunately).
They appear to want to campaign on Cameron's likeability rather than govern-ability, so we really don't know what we may be letting ourselves in for.
As I said, worrying.
I don't expect policies founded on the detail of today, because that isn't the economy they are going to inherit (it's likely to get a lot worse). What I would perhaps like to see is some more tangible evidence of why the shadow cabinet is more capable of responding to the situation, when they do take power, than the current bunch of shysters will be.
However, everything that flows from the fact that they aren't Labour is enough to win my vote.
kambites said:
I think all the parties know that the government of the United Kingdom can do next to nothing to alleviate a slump which if affecting the majority of the western world.
This is very true - the really interesting question being played out in the US is should they even be trying?The Neo-Conservatives in Washington are against any interference in the free market as a basic principle and if banks, companies etc go to the wall then so be it - its all part of the cycle.
Perversely (some would say) the centre left (Democrats) are all for a bail-out of the financial institutions that created the mess using taxpayers money.
Its a funny old world, but these are interesting times.
ETA: Having just seen the Conservatives website bullet points (mentioned above) I see that the UK Conservatives are not entirely in agreement with their more hard-nosed American cousins in this matter, saying that they would allow the Bank Of England to take over a failing bank.
As I said - interesting times.
Edited by im on Friday 26th September 11:58
deadslow said:
They appear to want to campaign on Cameron's likeability rather than govern-ability, so we really don't know what we may be letting ourselves in for.
We don't know what we are letting ourselves in for, but we do not what we want rid of. If we never voted a new party in because we cannot guarantee what they will do, we would have a one-party dictatorship.You misunderstand the political process entirely. Political parties never 'win' elections, they can only lose them. Parties are voted out, not in and that is what will happen at the next election.
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