I get your ire and the need to target it. We are in volatile times which, for the world, are a constant and rarely affect us majorly. On this occasion we are being affected.
Our reliance on oil is now being brought into focus and particularly how it affects not just fuel prices but the greater economy.
We live in an open market and therefore are subject to price changes as supply and demand dictates. The likes of Reform and the Tories argue for a "smaller state" and then argue that the state should intervene when price shocks occur. Well they can't have it both ways.
If you are an employee,you have experienced no changes to your tax or NI that were not already in place by the Tories. That changes next week when the Labour extension of the tax threshold kicks in. The "squeezed middle" will always be the source of the most pain as, fortunately, there are many more of them than the very poorest. Many of that group do get plenty out be it education, health, child support, police etc, as do you get plenty out but are lucky enough not to need to use those services.
I have previously put forward suggestions for how the SP could be reformed but it takes some political bravery and a view beyond a 5 year term. I think it will continue for those already "in the system" but will inevitably require major reform. But look at the furore when there was a hint that pensioners would lose £200 a year.
Which would be fine if the police and health services were fit for purpose, but they’re falling apart at the seams as well.
Neighbourhood policing is non-existent, as is the investigation of what they like to call “petty crime”. It’s not petty if you’re a victim of it.
The NHS has been fucked since covid.
Where does our money go?
There is no easy solution to any of this but we need a long term plan to get our economy back on track.
Going back into the EU would be the top of my list but this government lacks any kind of backbone to do anything that ‘brave’ so we’ve got more stagnation and hand wringing, meanwhile our economy swirls further down the toilet.
Our politics has been poisoned with mud slinging and populist personality politics and culture war bullshit, at the expense of sensible policy that is best for the nation.
I can’t be alone in thinking this. It’s maddening that advocating for grown up politics just gets dismissed as being “centrist dad".
Well what’s wrong with that?
I’m really on one today - just feeling properly, properly fucked off with all these clueless knobheads in charge around the world, not a single one of them could organise a piss up in a number 10 garden party.
Anyway I need to go back to work, lucky me I actually still have a job for the moment.