Something Is Not Adding Up

[hedi]

now i am only in my mid forties,but have been interested in politics for 30 years and something is slightly worrying.

we had ali darling telling us that things are going to be a bit tougher over the next two years. thats all very well and good. but thats the point. the govenment never,never says things are going to get tougher,especially when they have been in power for 11 years. it just does not happen. add to that, most people if they are in reasonable jobs and as usual not interested in ecoomics, are really not aware of any problems in their world.

so this begs the question, why are they telling us that things are not all rosey all the time?

as far as i can see there are two options. either they hope that if things pass they can claim how well they managed a world downturn. or if the siht hits the fan they can claim, well we did warn you.

but here is the thing. they NEVER say things might be bad,especially before they are. so does this mean that they could be aware how bad things could get.

[Sheer Heart Attack]

now i am only in my mid forties,but have been interested in politics for 30 years and something is slightly worrying.

we had ali darling telling us that things are going to be a bit tougher over the next two years. thats all very well and good. but thats the point. the govenment never,never says things are going to get tougher,especially when they have been in power for 11 years. it just does not happen. add to that, most people if they are in reasonable jobs and as usual not interested in ecoomics, are really not aware of any problems in their world.

so this begs the question, why are they telling us that things are not all rosey all the time?

as far as i can see there are two options. either they hope that if things pass they can claim how well they managed a world downturn. or if the siht hits the fan they can claim, well we did warn you.

but here is the thing. they NEVER say things might be bad,especially before they are. so does this mean that they could be aware how bad things could get.

I know what you mean.

However, they could genuinely think it's not going to get much worse. In their minds, they think they're overstating it and they'll be able to point to what miraculous leaders they are when things don't turn out as bad as they portray it.

Of course, we all think the shit's going to hit the fan and they really might not believe that.

[sandster]

I think there is a gloom over us and no-one wants to admit it and when it all it the fan it is going to be mucky, I just feel it and I am no economist, I think lots of people know but (some people in) the mainstream press are in on the game and won't admit it.

Edit:I want to put the word carnage in this post

Edited March 13, 2008 by sandster

[winkie]

If you keep being told 'you have never had it so good' you start to believe it.

[Mr Yogi]

they'll be able to point to what miraculous leaders they are when things don't turn out as bad as they portray it.

It worked before!

I can't remember exactly which year it was, but New Labour hadn't been in long so it was probably about 1999.

In the autumn Gordon Brown was warning of the dangers of a recession; the mood got quite gloomy for a short time.

By the spring it was all over. GB came out of it looking like a financial genius. I suspected at the time that the whole thing had been a stunt and a masterpiece of spin.

This time we really are heading for recession; however don't underestimate this government's ability to spin things in their favour and come up smelling of roses!

Edited March 13, 2008 by Mr Yogi

[Dr House]

I think it was Goebbels who said that if you want the people to believe something you just repeat the same things over and over again>>......................

Stability...stability....stability....low inflation....low unemployment......storng fundamentals - even we know it all off by heart now and we have a built in propaganda resistance chip!

Welcome to the Stalinist period of Britain - 2007-2010........

[Bosh]

but here is the thing. they NEVER say things might be bad,especially before they are. so does this mean that they could be aware how bad things could get.

A very wise friend once told me this and I have lived by it ever since, He said..

"When some one is going to f@~k you over, they alway let you know before they do it"

I can promise you, this is so true. they always do!!!

Best words of wisdom ever.

[shippers]

I actually think it's more to do with our increased availability to specialised information through the internet and satellite tv.

It's a bit like the way footy reporting has changed. In the 70's and 80's you'd barely hear of a transfer before it happened. There certainly weren't the same number of opinion and rumour pieces.

Now we have 24/7 news of all varities coming through all sorts of time shifted sources.

An interesting thought that's been proposed to me is that one of the reasons we look back fondly to previous eras is that we really did lead a life of "ignorance is bliss". Not with our "Constant NEWS" (ala Chris Morris) we're always disatisfied. Either we're feeling worse off than someone else, or we're depressed by global conditions. We've stopped making local comparisons and feeling part of a smaller community.

I'd suggest that Alastar Darling has to acknowledge things more openly as the ridicule from the "Newscloud" would soon be deafening. It's always better to get ahead of bad news and try and control its direction, than have to respond to waves of contempt (though it sounds as if Jon Snow stuck the boot in tonight).

[Fudge]

I get the sense that New Labour don't know exactly what they have done.

They have created an economic boom as the basis of maintaining power and now an almighty bust is coming.

They are trying hard to hide it with all the bravado but people like Gordon and Darling are underneath actually quite afraid.

They are crossing their fingers hoping things wont be quite as bad as they think, but know they are in unknown territory.

The other labour politicians like Ruth Kelly and Ed Balls don't understand the situation and actually believe what they are told

about a strong economy and low inflation etc

It all comes down to Brown, I don't think even Blair understood or cared about the economics behind it.

Gordon Brown will go down in history as one of the most despised politicians along with Thatcher.

[debt_scared]

If you keep being told 'you have never had it so good' you start to believe it.

My wife doesn't!

On a more serious note though: Tuesday, when the central banks once again flooded the markets with liquidity (or money as it used to be called), the news had a long article on food inflation immediately after. All about how the newly wealthy people in Chindia are eating tons more therefore demand has risen, and that supply is falling because of bad weather and biofuel allocations. Devaluation of currency and consequent spike in prices of all commodities was totally absent. Seems like the hit from inflation in commodities is going to hit the high street first as food inflation. This food and oil inflationary combo will then be used to explain across the board inflation a year down the line.

Maybe I'm just a conspiracy lover, but it seems like the mainstream media are lining up the stories to say that serious inflation is something that hits us this year purely because of external factors rather than our own monetary problems. The planning is for once well laid with public sector pay tied to 3 year agreements for the first time. Also Darling's budget speech about reminding BoE about THEIR inflation responsibilities, but efectively tying their hands by saying no repeat of late 80s IRs to curb it.

They may be incompetent in many ways but their spin machine seems terribly efficient.

[Sheer Heart Attack]

It worked before!

I can't remember exactly which year it was, but New Labour hadn't been in long so it was probably about 1999.

In the autumn Gordon Brown was warning of the dangers of a recession; the mood got quite gloomy for a short time.

By the spring it was all over. GB came out of it looking like a financial genius. I suspected at the time that the whole thing had been a stunt and a masterpiece of spin.

This time we really are heading for recession; however don't underestimate this government's ability to spin things in their favour and come up smelling of roses!

You're right, Mr Yogi, I remember that too.

I'd been in business about 4 or 5 months at the time, and I remember my advertising customers (particularly the ones involved in some form of financing, like car leasing) telling me that virtually all applications were being rejected because the lending institutions were tightening up because they thought a recession was coming too. It wiped a couple of them out, the poor sods.

I remember it being the final few months of 1998. Then, in 1999, suddenly everything was smelling of roses. Why that was, I don't remember.

[smiffy1967]

I get the sense that New Labour don't know exactly what they have done.

They have created an economic boom as the basis of maintaining power and now an almighty bust is coming.

They are trying hard to hide it with all the bravado but people like Gordon and Darling are underneath actually quite afraid.

They are crossing their fingers hoping things wont be quite as bad as they think, but know they are in unknown territory.

The other labour politicians like Ruth Kelly and Ed Balls don't understand the situation and actually believe what they are told

about a strong economy and low inflation etc

It all comes down to Brown, I don't think even Blair understood or cared about the economics behind it.

Gordon Brown will go down in history as one of the most despised politicians along with Thatcher.

You are absolutely right, the caliber of some of those young cabinet ministers would not serve them well in a middle management position in a SME They have no idea what is happening in the world, they where never equipped to be where they are now, they fool only the dumbest in society now! those whom don't listen to what they say anyway!

This government has truly become unfit to govern anymore and the longer they stay, the worse it will be in the end.

They trump out pointless policy after policy whilst ignoring the real problems, fiddling whilst Rome burns.

[eric pebble]

The other labour politicians like Ruth Kelly and Ed Balls don't understand the situation and actually believe what they are told

No -- She's as thick as a plank -- I agree --- But he is a thick-as-pig-shit loathsome piece of dogshit -- BUT -- BUT --- he is a snake in the grass -- and I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if HE is the bagman between Nu-Labour & the City Suits who have organised this whole Pyramid Selling Scam - [the so-called housing "market"] --- and they've sold him a TOTAL PUP..... to put it mildly. Balls is a loathsome, LOATHSOME, SMUG, SLIMY LITTLE FAT SHIT.... Too good for dog turd.....

Edited March 13, 2008 by eric pebble

[cartimandua51]

I think it was Goebbels who said that if you want the people to believe something you just repeat the same things over and over again>>......................

Stability...stability....stability....low inflation....low unemployment......storng fundamentals - even we know it all off by heart now and we have a built in propaganda resistance chip!

Welcome to the Stalinist period of Britain - 2007-2010........

I think Goebbels also said something to the effect that if you're going to lie, make it a stonking great big one, because more people will believe it. Hmm...

[Fairies Wear Boots]

I think Goebbels also said something to the effect that if you're going to lie, make it a stonking great big one, because more people will believe it. Hmm...

The repetition one was Hitler, wasn't it? The only reason I know, is because isn't it in a member on here's sig?

[Guest The_Oldie]

I think it was Goebbels who said that if you want the people to believe something you just repeat the same things over and over again>>......................

Stability...stability....stability....low inflation....low unemployment......storng fundamentals - even we know it all off by heart now and we have a built in propaganda resistance chip!

Welcome to the Stalinist period of Britain - 2007-2010........

I think Goebbels also said something to the effect that if you're going to lie, make it a stonking great big one, because more people will believe it. Hmm...

The repetition one was Hitler, wasn't it? The only reason I know, is because isn't it in a member on here's sig?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Lie

[Converted Lurker]

There has been a noticeable hardening/development of Newspeak over the past few months, surely it's been a simple process of verbal osmosis? "Potentially challenging times" have moved onto "difficult" then "inevitable slowdown" "possibility of recession" it's actually the right thing to do otherwise huge swathes of the public could be spooked, but it feels insidious when you know its 'a sell'.

[scuuzeme]

No -- She's as thick as a plank -- I agree --- But he is a thick-as-pig-shit loathsome piece of dogshit -- BUT -- BUT --- he is a snake in the grass -- and I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if HE is the bagman between Nu-Labour & the City Suits who have organised this whole Pyramid Selling Scam - [the so-called housing "market"] --- and they've sold him a TOTAL PUP..... to put it mildly. Balls is a loathsome, LOATHSOME, SMUG, SLIMY LITTLE FAT SHIT.... Too good for dog turd.....

I take the lack of big caps and colourful fonts in that post as you not saying what you really mean, Eric

[notthereyet]

now i am only in my mid forties,but have been interested in politics for 30 years and something is slightly worrying.

we had ali darling telling us that things are going to be a bit tougher over the next two years. thats all very well and good. but thats the point. the govenment never,never says things are going to get tougher,especially when they have been in power for 11 years. it just does not happen. add to that, most people if they are in reasonable jobs and as usual not interested in ecoomics, are really not aware of any problems in their world.

so this begs the question, why are they telling us that things are not all rosey all the time?

as far as i can see there are two options. either they hope that if things pass they can claim how well they managed a world downturn. or if the siht hits the fan they can claim, well we did warn you.

but here is the thing. they NEVER say things might be bad,especially before they are. so does this mean that they could be aware how bad things could get.

What they mean is they now cannot claim £250 without finding receipts. Life is tough. But they now can claim a tax relief on thier second home, so take the rough with the smooth.

[Sheer Heart Attack]

Would this be a good point to admit that, even though she is the evil smoking-ban-introducing-cowbag, I would still hammer Housing Minister Caroline Flint?

Or does that not add up?

[Guest Charlie The Tramp]

If you keep being told 'you have never had it so good' you start to believe it.

Super Mac told us we never had it so good, but in 1964 he found we never believed him.

Sad really I thought he was a very nice man, knew how to handle a long knife.

[Guest mSparks]

My 2cents

They need us to save so they can pinch all the money off us. (negative savings rate an all that)

[jay67]

Would this be a good point to admit that, even though she is the evil smoking-ban-introducing-cowbag, I would still hammer Housing Minister Caroline Flint?

Or does that not add up?

You'd better invest in a Flymo first.

http://www.anorak.co.uk/twitterings/181686.html

[sandster]

There has been a noticeable hardening/development of Newspeak over the past few months, surely it's been a simple process of verbal osmosis? "Potentially challenging times" have moved onto "difficult" then "inevitable slowdown" "possibility of recession" it's actually the right thing to do otherwise huge swathes of the public could be spooked, but it feels insidious when you know its 'a sell'.

Newspeak was/is the thing that keeps popping up in this brain of mine, I get the impression that whatever it is it is a foregone conclusion we are just being let down very slowly.

[Guest mSparks]

Newspeak was/is the thing that keeps popping up in this brain of mine, I get the impression that whatever it is it is a foregone conclusion we are just being let down very slowly.

Almost, although its not a 'conclusion' its a 'plan'