tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post6044138151547952861..comments2023-11-05T09:37:36.840+01:00Comments on A View From Rural Wales: 'Opposition'.Glyn Davieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10442114752573417252noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-24449285256125182072008-11-18T00:38:00.000+01:002008-11-18T00:38:00.000+01:00dalesman - agreed.christopher - agreed, but it is ...dalesman - agreed.<BR/><BR/>christopher - agreed, but it is odd to see Gordon Brown going for unfunded tax cuts, and the Conservatives opposing them<BR/><BR/>tojoevens - I read a lot of commentators calling for unfunded tax cuts - to be followed in a few years time by spending cuts to restore the balance. As if spending cuts on this sort of scale can be delivered 'just like that'. It all sounds too much like Tommy Cooper to me. Like you I'd like to see the shape of the budget balancing before I spend, even if its a bit down the road.Glyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-9029693108476174612008-11-17T21:45:00.000+01:002008-11-17T21:45:00.000+01:00Tax refunds will probably help the situation but n...Tax refunds will probably help the situation but not if they have to be borrowed. Surely the way is to get savings fron the vastly bloated public sector. Why should our children and grandchildren have to be lumbered for many years with debt caused mainly by irresponsible borrowers and lenders (that includes both Government and public)- and of course to keep 'Mr Prudent' in power.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05290637404736727150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-7366662766939831482008-11-17T17:55:00.000+01:002008-11-17T17:55:00.000+01:00The problem is though, the UK already has a massiv...The problem is though, the UK already has a massive debt load. I'm no economist, but if I look at another business that wants my services and if I see a lot of debt attached to that business it will likely make me less likely to extend credit to that business. I will want payment up front. <BR/><BR/>Currency speculators probably make similar calculations. They will look at a country's debt, look at its currency value and make a decision as to the vulnerability of that currency and if the numbers come out a certain way they might decide to short that currency. <BR/><BR/>It's happened before to the UK currency - and the chances of it happening again will increase if Brown borrows massively on top of a currently huge national debt.<BR/><BR/>Osborne is quite right to sound the alarm. Brown has been flippant with the way he has handled the UK economy and now Brits are supposed to believe him again? <BR/><BR/>How does that saying go? "Fooled once shame on you (Gordon), fooled twice shame on me (Brits).”Dr. Christopher Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09066490027824527304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-90045116341220201252008-11-17T16:56:00.000+01:002008-11-17T16:56:00.000+01:00Good post Glyn. Brown hardly got a mention in the ...Good post Glyn. <BR/><BR/>Brown hardly got a mention in the U.S newspapers, and as for leading the world, he's currently following.<BR/><BR/>Australia, Germany, Japan, USA, Spain, and others have already introduced their own "fiscal stimulus" measures. We are still waiting for ours.<BR/><BR/>This government does not like free speech, hence the biased reporting of many newspapers and the once great BBC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-1102262864244975232008-11-17T14:17:00.000+01:002008-11-17T14:17:00.000+01:00Chris - The point about tax cuts is that they will...Chris - The point about tax cuts is that they will increase Government borrowing in the short term, though it may be that the impact of the cuts may boost economic activity and tax take in the longer term. And it probably means at least some increased borrowing or cuts in spending to bring borrowing back under control. I reckon that people are not going to be easily fooled by promises of short term benefits in the current climate, even if Sterling doesn't collapse.<BR/><BR/>Alan - agreedGlyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-6905699610024875232008-11-17T13:33:00.000+01:002008-11-17T13:33:00.000+01:00We must not forget that New Labour do not appear t...We must not forget that New Labour do not appear to be in favour of one of the fundamental tenets of Democracy - FREE SPEECH!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258854366964329334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-87100529621706755362008-11-17T03:05:00.000+01:002008-11-17T03:05:00.000+01:00Imho, Osborne is quite right in pointing out the d...Imho, Osborne is quite right in pointing out the danger inherent in Gordon Brown's plan of massive borrowing to spend the UK out of recession and the inevitable risk to Sterling if Brown goes on a massive borrowing spree. When a government prints money without improvements in productivity or absolute or perceived increases in wealth there is fallout somewhere in the economy to compensate for such reckless actions. Brown can fool the public, but the markets see through his silly policies and react accordingly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com