Britains Trillion Pound Horror - Channel 4

[Sysman]

I pay £9000 in business rates. It includes nothing. I then have to pay extra to have my bins cleared(another £1000 per year). The local council has put parking restrictions all around my business, then pay traffic wardens to fine people who park, so they've stopped coming. A town centre manager so incompetent(paid for my the council) he organized the local Xmas festivities to clash with a major market town elsewhere, didn't advertise it and then has quit before he got pushed. So I have to pay additional advertising.

In the 1980s I lived about the same distance from three towns, but out of habit used to do most of my shopping in one of them. Until a Labour Council got in - they slashed the number of parking spots, trying to force us onto the buses.

I simply took my business to the other two towns.

Who's going to buy a telly or furniture and take the bus? It was about half a mile from the nearest bus stop to my home.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Bond holders.

Thanks GL.

If it is the Bond Holders - then why not simply write off the Trillion debt by saying 'Tough Luck Old Bean - your Bond is now junk'.

If they dont like it - then how many tanks do the Bond Holders have ?

[lilelvis2000]

In the 1980s I lived about the same distance from three towns, but out of habit used to do most of my shopping in one of them. Until a Labour Council got in - they slashed the number of parking spots, trying to force us onto the buses.

I simply took my business to the other two towns.

Who's going to buy a telly or furniture and take the bus? It was about half a mile from the nearest bus stop to my home.

Bolton is like that. So people just go the the Trafford Centre instead. And now Bolton town centre is dead. We travel to the next town because parking is free, and where live its all restricted with silly pay and display machines. Some charging £2 for 1 hour, when I only need 20min.

And now the council has been re-taken by Labour who brag on about services being restored. I noted that under Labour the dangerous road junction I complained about wasn't changed - it was under the prior admin. The grassed area next to my house was rarely mowed - it is now mowed every two weeks. Council rates under Labour always increased just under the cap..last two years the council tax has gone down!

Why the F**K would anyone want a Labour council???

I'm pulling out my Adam Smith and writing a letter to no.10.

[lilelvis2000]

Thanks GL.

If it is the Bond Holders - then why not simply write off the Trillion debt by saying 'Tough Luck Old Bean - your Bond is now junk'.

If they dont like it - then how many tanks do the Bond Holders have ?

Then when we'd need money we'd have to go to the IMF because the rich Saudi Sheiks will stop buying our bonds...and may stop sending that black stuff our way as well.

[gingerjedi]

Then when we'd need money we'd have to go to the IMF because the rich Saudi Sheiks will stop buying our bonds...and may stop sending that black stuff our way as well.

Then next time invade a country for oil we better make dam sure we actually get some.

[Ruprect]

Whilst there's the odd valid point here and there it's clear that no one on here understands economics. Neither did the programme makers; I watched 5 mins and it was so misguided and poor I had to switch it off

[sasguru]

Whilst there's the odd valid point here and there it's clear that no one on here understands economics. Neither did the programme makers; I watched 5 mins and it was so misguided and poor I had to switch it off

Oh do enlighten us Oh great guru.

[meridian]

Thanks GL.

If it is the Bond Holders - then why not simply write off the Trillion debt by saying 'Tough Luck Old Bean - your Bond is now junk'.

If they dont like it - then how many tanks do the Bond Holders have ?

Seems to have worked for Iceland. Oh, wait a minute - one of the major bondholders that has been defaulted on is the British taxpayer....

Still, how many tanks does the average UK taxpayer have

[fullyautomatix]

A country borrowing cash is actually good in some respects. There will be a demand for the currency and it is a chosen method of long term borrowing to finance solid infrastructure projects.

UK does not actually owe trillions outright. I think it is more like 800 billion. But if you factor in costs of pensions promised etc it adds up to trillions. There is always the option of reneging on this promise or limit the pensions to a percentage of inflation and hope that there is a lot of inflation in the next decade.

Coming back to the actualy debt, it was Gordon Brown who installed a rule of limiting borrowing to 48% of GDP, but had to break this rule to bail out the banks. During the early part of this decade, the economy actually grew quite a bit ( although fair share of it was down to banks, so it could all be a bit of black magic). Anyway, when the economy grew, Brown borrowed more and more to increase employment in the public sector. If Labour had scaled down borrowing and paid back the debt at that point, things would have been a lot more easier.

[d000hg]

Bolton is like that. So people just go the the Trafford Centre instead. And now Bolton town centre is dead. We travel to the next town because parking is free, and where live its all restricted with silly pay and display machines. Some charging £2 for 1 hour, when I only need 20min.

Don't forget to factor in petrol costs, and your valuable time spent driving.