Another letter

Sir,                  

                 As imposed cuts bite harder and newly announced ones line up to diminish funding of public services and assets further, politicians on all sides are clamouring to score points in the taxation debate. 

                 With skillful spin, expressing outrage and injustice, calls for wealth, tycoon and mansion taxes are argued for and against. Arguments though prejudicial they are convince many yet serve to reaffirm only one fact. Political cowardice is as rife in this government as it was in the last when it comes to addressing taxation. Two points. First, it is reasonable to expect that everyone liable for tax, individual or company, pays their fair share, no more no less. Secondly, through taxation, we the electorate charge our government with responsible stewardship of a range of public services and infrastructure that are integral to a stable, inclusive and caring society. Politicians of the major parties purposely muddy the waters arousing envy across society, creating a smokescreen for the real issue, corporate tax evasion. According to the taxman, HMRC, annual corporate tax evasion costs our country £70bn. Employing armies of accountants and lawyers, corporations use offshore tax havens to hide vast profits and evade taxes due to the Exchequer. A practice the coalition showed, in this budget, it encourages, appeasing corporate greed whilst simultaneously betraying the British people and its hard won public services.

                  The politicians won't challenge them. Why ?, because they say, corporations provide jobs, stability and wealth! Really?, consider Arcadia, owners of Topshop and Boots among others. Last autumn they announced plans to shed upto 3,000 jobs over the next 2 years. Why, explained Arcadia's head Sir Philip Green, a legendary tax dodger in his own right, because profits were down to just £132m and shareholders demand profit. So, his organization's contribution to our economic recovery is to sack the very people who earnt him that profit. That's upto 3,000 people not paying tax and many of whom will need a period of welfare support to which the government's corporate chums will contribute little or nothing whatsoever.

                  The financial services sector, unsurprisingly, opposes imposition of the "Robin Hood" or Financial Transaction Tax, irrespective of the fact that they can easily afford it  and bear a considerable responsibility for our current difficulties. Mr Cameron, in true "world leader" fashion, supports their resistance arguing that even if Europe were to implement the tax the rest of the world would not. The coalition argues that the financial sector would desert the city though that is questionable. Whilst the financial services sector contributes between £20-25bn pa in taxes, we the British taxpayer in turn, by underwriting loans for the banks, effectively provides an annual subsidy of around £100bn. They used to call us a nation of shopkeepers, perhaps it's time we called their bluff and became a nation of small businesses once again.

A letter

Sir,

          I read with interest the article by Mr John Sharman of Unison, Letters and Opinion Lincolnshire Echo 15-21st March and offer the following thoughts. The Neo-Liberal model of economics which now blights the world economy was unleashed proper with the arrival of Mrs Thatcher as Prime Minister in our country and Ronald Reagan to the presidency of the United States. As national assets were sold off into private ownership, proponents of neo-liberalism argued that government "interference" of any kind was harmful and that free unregulated markets are natural, fluid and would bring about a natural order.

          From the late 90's on, Messr's Bush and Blair stoked the fires of neo-liberalsim encouraging the illusion of wealth through credit debt. U.S, lobbyists spent billions of dollars encouraging politicians to do their bidding whilst at home"Quangos", remember that term? commissioned by the government, paid for by the taxpayer, and headed by businessmen whose sole aim was to de-regulate in favour of their own business interests, fed off the public purse whilst trying to help themselves to the family silver.

          At this juncture I have to disagree with Mr Sharman, he is wrong to argue that it is the capitalist system not its operators who are at fault. That is akin to suggesting that because a car can be driven wrecklessly, it's not the driver's fault if it crashes. Following the financial crisis of 2008, it was widely anticipated that lessons would be learned and new regulation would prevent such a repeat. Clearly they haven't, nothing has changed significantly, the bankers and corporate elite get richer and have continued to manipulate the world's economy to suit their own ends galloping along in denial of the suffering and hardship they have brought about.

          I state the obvious, businesses of this nature exist to make profit for shareholders and shareholders demand profit.Whilst free markets do have a role to play in our economic growth and development there are areas of modern society in which profit driven performance has no place. Health and social care, education and the rule of law are of prime concern and must be protected by government. Health and social care because, and don't confuse this with the desire to be effective and efficient, caring for our sick and needy should not be compromised by economically driven targets. Education because it is through the guarantee of an equal opportunity to learn that we all grow, develop and are valued as members of a society in which our involvement is positively encouraged. The law must remain free of private interests because if government cannot guarantee that citizens are treated equally regardless of their financial wealth and social position we should be concerned that civil unrest such as that witnessed last summer will likely become more commonplace.

          Last week it was disclosed that Devon NHS Trust has put its children's services out to private tender. Can any right thinking person truly believe that young people trying to cope with varying degrees of personal trauma will be best served by a target and profit driven company. The NHS isn't perfect, it's a massive and expensive organization but it does pay its way, it's ours, it does work and it's a world envied national asset. If it wasn't any good why would private business want to be involved?

How unclever can you be ??

I don't doubt that some of those involved in the mess , destruction , vandalism , call it what you will were students. Foolishly, caught up in the rush of being in a rampant melee , easy to judge but we're all human and it does happen !! Thing is , those souls that found themselves stepping over their ownn  boundaries are going to regret it in the cold light of day. Sounds corny but they've let a huge number of people down, from the NUS to anyone who is/was on the verge of getting out onto the street to join any kind of protest on any kind of level !
Those that set out to cause a riot , knew exactly what they were doing and will forever think of themselves as the torch carriers of a cause celebre.Wrong , laughably wrong !! Whatever they call themselves , however they identify themselves , those that attended the student fees protest intending to create violent unrest , if that was their sole aim , goal , desire achieved nothing save revelling in those minutes of being part of a mob. You achieved sod all , average Joe can't even turn a blind eye to say you were "our hooligans" taking on theirs. T.v caught enough to paint a pretty good picture of a collection of people I struggle to describe acting so selfishly as to defy any kind of humane classification. Got it , "TURDS " that's about as near as I can get , you stupid , selfish simple turds! I don't pretend to understand physics but it seems to me that these turds ( I like the adjective even more !!) have created a football stadium sized heap of anti matter. Anti matter that alienates joe public who may have harboured sympathies for the students in their fight against tutition fees increases. Anti matter that loads the gun of those whose purpose it serves to curb freedom of speech. Anti matter for those who seek to deflect the blame for our current financial woes. Anti matter that feeds the corporate, rich elite, brand stomping machines because regular Joe and Joanne whilst passively agreeing with the need for fairness and human rights just will not rise up and align themselves with "TURDS." You silly silly extraordinarily dim selfish fools, enjoy your beer, laugh at whatever victory it is you think you've achieved  but know this, you may as well have laid down and poured a bucket of piss over yourselves. Watch the news and sneer at Cameron et al  as they churn out soundbites about " unacceptable behaviour". You haven't hurt them in the slightest , you've made it so much easier for them . Whatever little flame of justification for protest there was , rest assured you blew it right out, in fact you dunked it in a bucket of sand and threw a gallon of water on top just to make sure it was dead.! Think I'm talking bollocks ?? the press has a big tar brush , they just want to sell papers or create watchable news and students. like it or not , are now covered in shit thick black tar ! while those who should be floundering like the oil drenched birds of  B.P's american offshore oil spill sit back and watch in suits fresh on from the cleaners !

A glaring mirror ?

I can't help myself, I'm a patriotic royalist, I'm happy with that and guess it's all part of being brought up a son of a member of the armed services. Something else I've done since childhood is follow football ,specifically Leeds United in the days of Don Revie , Peter " Hotshot" Lorimer , Billy Bremner et al. Naturally I make efforts to watch our national team play in  competetive matches on T.V too, I believe in supporting any sportsperson who represents our country.
 Over the last few years I've casually followed the exploits of those teams battling it out in the Premier League. Not anymore, I've had enough of the football circus,  it's nothing more  than a massive industry that frankly takes the piss out of it's faithful paymasters. Wages  are insultingly huge for many in the topflight but what really requires examination is the cheating ( encouraged by all concerned I would argue) , the histrionics and appalling conduct on the field of those who are deemed to be role models to our children. We as a viewing / supporting ( many of whom are also paying ) public have been sucked into this branded circus and its exactly in this position that those who run / finance and sell the game want to keep us. Let me tell you now, it's bollocks and it's time we put a stop to it.
 As far as I'm concerned , football can do as it likes but it must recognise its responsibilities to our younger generations. All players cheat , they dive for fouls , appeal for decisions they know they have no right to claim, harrass and blatantly abuse referees and complain bitterly when their opponents do exactly the same.Their behaviour is pathetic to put it mildly and yet the authorities do nothing to stamp it out ! And why? because they want it to happen , whilst they may not encourage it , though passively I think they do, the powers that be in football are happy for this poor sportsmanship to continue.
 Why for instance do you think they're resisting using 4th referees for replay decisions , two reasons I suspect. with camera replays players would be getting sent off left right and centre for cheating and that wouldn't be good for business! Why , because when fans see cheating it creates tension , passion and emotion which lasts long after the final whistle. Such incidents make for good back page copy and keeps players and matches alive as a topic of conversation long into the next week. A slice of passion is naturally healthy but it's become more than that and has evolved into a season long war of accusations, and traded insults. In the cold light of day, football has little to be proud of because anything that is worthy about it is drowned in the mire of the circus.
 Personally, trhe icing on the cake for me was the South African World Cup and the performances of our national side. They suckered me good and proper I'll admit. I bought the t-shirt and the bloody huge flag for the front of the house , I truly thought our " world class " players could go a long way in the competition. Well what happened is history now and premiership footballers and their game can fuck off , I aint interested anymore, they didnt just let us down , they spat in our collective face and walked off like nothing had happened to their nice holidays. You don't need me and I sure as hell don't need you , I'll support honest sportsmen who at least look like they give a shit. One more thing, I don't trust anyone who , when representing our country can't be bothered to sing our national anthem with any pride.

do i need or want one ??

it's frustration, it's confusing, dissatisfaction , any number of things !. It's not feeling in control of much at all !! , I don't need to know my destiny but it's fucking hard not feeling like I have a purpose. So I'm 46 cruising aimlessly towards 47 and I haven't a clue !! I'm not stupid or clueless ha , or am I ? , I have no idea, I really don't , all around me , friends , some I have a whole heap of respect for , colleagues, acquaintances, no problem , ticking nicely along with life, me fuck knows, I can't make sense of it , what am I here for ??
I lost a friend a couple of years ago,a very special man, an extrovert, he loved life, loved his family and his friends, could always see the positive, uncannily so , such a special man. I'm looking at a press clipping of him now, I miss him and know I'm not the only one. If anyone had inner peace I'd have bet my right arm it would be him , how wrong I was, shit, to sit and chew the fat with him now !!
    I've always had , I suppose you could call it an "inferiority complex", me , I think it's that mixed up with a whole lot of " useless twat" , ha, let's agree on inferiority complex for now ( thank fuck the web is so big this blog of mine will occupy less than a gnat's interest of some corner !).
   Funny, I wish so often that I could say I don't care with some sincerity but truth is , I do !!, dunno if it's injustices I see or whether a pyschiatrist would tell me it's a deep rooted recognition of the fact that I'm impotent to do anything about it all !!

Life around a disillusioned man

Life should be colourful, sometimes however I can't but feel a bit of black and white is inescapable. It's the inability of my empowered countrymen and women to have the guile to operate in two tone that winds up a simple , reasonably hard working , tax paying member of society like myself. Well, to you whoever you are, for purely self satisfaction / therapy and occasionally, pleasure, the spleen that swells with a yearning to vent from within me is going to get it's chance to do just that ! I'm going to let fly at anything and everything as I struggle to hang onto a reasonable head of mousey brown hair. My rationale explained, harness prepared , it's time to unleash my glorious naievity and crack on !