Do we know where our taxes go?

[ZARDOZ]

Yep - we are fooked! Lets spend what cash we have left on one massive party then tell the foreigners to go whistle for it.

Are we talking about the UK now or You? You know you really should have saved your tax money rather than spent it.

[d000hg]

Beware; saying something in CUK general will just invite a load of armchair experts and pedants to contradict you!

FTFY

[KentPhilip]

Were things that bad in Weimar Germany?

In Weimar Germany the problem was the debt was in a currency other than its own. The more they printed money the lower the value of the money relative to the debt currencies, so the less able they were to repay it.

[OwlHoot]

... any progress could get wiped out by labour going off on one again.

and that's why it is pointless, in fact counterproductive, for Tories/Republicans/right wingers in any democracy to seriously reduce the national debt - It just gives left wing spendthrifts an opportunity to bribe their way into power with all that lovely lolly that has become available.

So in a perverse sort of way, the presence of left wing parties, in or out of power, helps guarantee freedom in the longer term, by preventing any government becoming too rich and thus interfering and tyrannical.

Forget this babyish, idealistic desire to eliminate national debt. Doing so is not "progress", just the opposite - As history has shown over and over again, a skint government is a healthy government, because their impotence allows more freedom for citizens of the country they are supposed to govern.

[BlasterBates]

Absolutely ...it's the interests of any outgoing government to leave the country in dire straits so that the following government will end up unpopular trying to sort out the mess.

[escapeUK]

So in a perverse sort of way, the presence of left wing parties, in or out of power, helps guarantee freedom in the longer term, by preventing any government becoming too rich and thus interfering and tyrannical..

You are insane. We just had the most left wing party for 12 years who were the most interfering and tyrannical ever. Its the right wing parties that interfere the least, believe in people being self sufficient and not trying to micro manage every element of peoples lives.

[Scoobos]

If you think new labour are left wing you are very mistaken.

It is hard to differentiate between any of the "top 3" .

[OwlHoot]

You are insane. We just had the most left wing party for 12 years who were the most interfering and tyrannical ever ...

Exactly my point - That's what happens when they have money to burn, which they did.

But sooner or later on that course the money runs out, as it has, and then they have to stop.

[Robinho]

If you think new labour are left wing you are very mistaken.

It is hard to differentiate between any of the "top 3" .

They're all left wing i'd argue.

[OwlHoot]

They're all left wing i'd argue.

As left wing and meddling as they can afford to be