Is it the fault of NuLabour or socialism?

[AlfredJPruffock]

Absolutely. In any other country creating a huge public sector - by some estimates as many as one in five work in the public sector - would be seen as ballot stuffing.

The non-jobs in the Guardian are such a joke as to be ... aargh.

I know - try reading Jobs Section of the Glasgow Herald - its side splitting !

A staggering amount of public jobs and the private sector - will maybe the odd hairdressing job or store assistant- thats it.

Ballot stuffing - thats about the size of it -I have to conceed - it is a brilliant tactic though - Im sure its the hand of Brown.

All of those in the Government sector will be sitting there thinking- thank goodness Im not in the private sector !

And you can bet come the next election the very last thing they will vote for will be a Tory Government.

Game Set and match to NL.

Perfect.

[Cyberman]

Socialism has to be paid for by taxes from private individuals and private industry. As long as sufficient taxes can be raised to allow reasonable social services and benefits for those that need assistance, without ruining entrepreneurial spirit or driving us into recession, I have no problem with it.

Unfortunately we are now grossly overtaxed and overborrowed and we cannot afford the levels of socialism that we now have where people now use benefits as a lifestyle choice and make no contribution to the tax coffers. Labour have gone too far and now everybody will suffer as they dither over cuts to public services which should have been made a long time ago.

[Foxy Moron]

If that is socialism then the Tories too are socialists

[Cyberman]

If that is socialism then the Tories too are socialists

Indeed. All parties to an extent have an element of socialism. Unfortunately, Labour have far too much and it always drives the country to the 'dogs'.

[FSM with Cheddar]

If that is socialism then the Tories too are socialists

No, I would class the new Tory agenda as Liberal Conservative.

But I also see pragmatism from the Tories, so there is nothing stopping them using socialist principles where required.

As has been said on this thread, NuLabour represent the worst of all political concepts at the moment.

[Solidec]

I think most on this board would consider themselves either "Liberal Conservative" or "Neo-Conservative".

Not sure that the beating heart of the Tory party likes either of these types within their ranks!

[Ruprect]

We don't have socialism in this country, we have a largely capitalist society with some state intervention. Just as we did under the last government, albeit a bit more state. Monetarism has fked up so now we're returning to a sort of keynsian economics, albeit without full employment.

Full employment is a key assumption in Keynsian economics though, it doesn't work without it, as the disaster of the previous labour government demonstrated in the 70s. This particular lesson from history seems to be being ignored though, which is likely to lead to it being repeated...

[Cyberman]

I think most on this board would consider themselves either "Liberal Conservative" or "Neo-Conservative".

Not sure that the beating heart of the Tory party likes either of these types within their ranks!

There are people of all types in all parties but in differing percentages. Only when parties are extreme such as the BNP will this not be the case.

[Foxy Moron]

No, I would class the new Tory agenda as Liberal Conservative.

But I also see pragmatism from the Tories, so there is nothing stopping them using socialist principles where required.

As has been said on this thread, NuLabour represent the worst of all political concepts at the moment.

Prior to Labour getting in there were just as many unemployed as now, that's including all those on benefits. Ask yourself why they didn't reduce this during their 18 yr tenure?


PS want to get rid of IR35, then vote Liberal.

Lorely Burt, the Liberal Democrat MP has put forward an Early Day Motion to Parliament which would remove unnecessary barriers to enterprise and to abolish IR35 at the earliest opportunity.

[Mich the Tester]

Full employment is a key assumption in Keynsian economics though, it doesn't work without it, as the disaster of the previous labour government demonstrated in the 70s. This particular lesson from history seems to be being ignored though, which is likely to lead to it being repeated...

Keynes' precondition for fiscal stimulus is to run a surplus in the good times as I said earlier.