Bedoom tax and our system!

This looming crisis is related to the financial crisis of 2007, but it will be infinitely more dangerous. Outgoing Bank of England Governor ‘have a good guess’ Mervyn King- Economist- has urged successor Mark Carney not to spell out how long interest rates will remain low when he takes charge. The low interest rates have as I previously argued creates a false economy, but a economy that can be changed.

The very trillianaires, the tax avoiders, Bankers and speculators which some argue apparently are not the cause of the chaos , always refuse to care and put profits first and people have been way down in there priority list. But apart from these abhorrent groups, interest rates have been at the root of practically every major political argument in this country, and it affects every aspect of the way we live our lives.

Interest rates affect most of us either directly or indirectly. In fact, you will certainly see the consequences of this deep rooted problem unfold across the cities, towns and villages of Britain. No one will escape the fallout and pensioners and those vulnerable are likely to be the most affected. Our system needs to be repaired and much more than that we need to find alternative ways of living and a new system.

The same financial problems that have been tracked from bank to bank, from company to company for more than at least six years, have now found their way into the heart of our financial system which is in disarray. The next phase in this crisis could threaten our very way of life. We know that printing mountains of money – quantitative easing- can only end in disaster. And, unlike most of the presenters on TV and in the mainstream press, some analysts understand what’s really going on, but it is their interests to deceive us.

Of course, the most important part of this situation is not what is happening, but rather what we can do about it. In other words, will you be prepared when this crisis becomes a national emergency, as can easily be predicted. I fear that most people will not know what to do if banks fold and they are unable to withdraw their savings. They won’t know what to do if the stock exchange suspends trading. They will feel powerless, if their pension income dries up or if their home loses 70% of its value. We need to prepare and commence discussions in all our communities. We really do need alternatives to the current mainstream parties, who have made it difficult for others to challenge. Most seem corrupt, but we seem to accept it.

If the NHS is sold off and benefits are partially scrapped, the confusion will turn into rage and huge campaigns. By the next general election in 2015, our national debt is estimated to stand at almost £1.4 trillion. It’s clear: our public finances are in an enormous mess. And to some extent, some politicians will admit it. But add in our financial, personal and private debt and an even darker picture emerges. But more cuts will not solve all this.

Compared to the size of our economy, Britain is now one of the most heavily indebted countries in the Western world. That’s official. Our total debts stand at more than six times of what our entire economy is worth. Proportionally, that’s more debt than Italy, Portugal, Spain and almost twice as much debt as Greece. Those are four countries already in the throes of financial crisis. We’re the odd one out because we haven’t collapsed as yet. But things can’t stay that way for long.

The only countries that have more debt than us are Japan, where the economy has stagnated for 20 years and the stock market has crashed by 75% and Ireland, where the housing market has crashed 50%, and the government has been forced to accept a bailout. It could be said that India bucks these trends, unless you examine the underlying criteria.

That means the most important trend of the next twenty years is almost certainly rising interest rates and the way it affects us all and even those living in a world of denial.

We’re now facing an unprecedented crisis. As interest rates rise, our record debts will become impossible to bear. And what will happen to all those that purchased on a buy to let basis. When these events unfold, very few people will have any idea how to respond. Most will see any assets they have worked all their life begin to lose value, rapidly.

It won’t matter if you have £2,000 in the bank or £500,000. It won’t matter if you own a five bedroom house in Surrey or a one bedroom flat in Chelsea or costed into the bedroom dreadful tax fiasco. This crisis will lay waste to the wealth of anyone who isn’t prepared for it. And prepare we must- profits should not come first!

It’s essential we all prepare for these events. We can’t rely on mainstream commentators to help us. We need to start real debates around the country, to prepare for a new and non speculative system. We can really achieve this, so lets start the debate now.

The stakes are high. No crocodile tears!

The stakes are very high. Climate change is accelerating, inequality is at historic levels, unemployment is rampant and many countries are bankrupt. The financial industry continues to teeter on the brink of collapse, threatening the entire global economy. And despite all this our political system has proved incapable of effecting the structural transformations necessary to bring about real change. The time is right for a new approach, a new progressive system and a new economy. Having more of the same failed medicine is clearly never going to work. We cannot simply shed crocodile tears.

The plan that I have consistently argued, begins with the recognition that a huge amount of people around the  country understand that the system is broken, and that we must work to replace it with something different. Many of these epeople are already campaigning through blogs and social networking and some are now beginning to work in their local communities to bring about change; whilst others campaign at meetings. Others are just waiting for an opportunity, which we must provide. My hope is to bring these people of all ages together with other progressive organisations to build a movement to propel us all towards a new economy. We can achieve a sustainable and fair economy and our blogs can act as a catalyst for change. We cannot continue in a state of denial- our future world and today’s environment is at stake.

Save our NHS!

The National Health Service we all depend upon could soon be just a fond memory,  if its place is taken by a profit based health- market, where only money talks.

The Government’s new plans for the NHS could spell the end of its precious, pioneering ‘free for all at the point of need’ principle. It could be turned into a profit-driven free-for-all in the very worst sense.

New legislation means that NHS managers are being pressed to order services from profit-making private providers, costing us extra money, at the expense of genuine healthcare.

Action we need to take. By persuading these managers to adopt safeguards that will protect our health services from ambitious corporations for whom cost comes before care.

What we must do – Encourage the new managers – known as Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – to adopt two safety clauses that have been drawn up by lawyers for the national campaigning group, 38 Degrees.

Important we act now. – Because your local CCG is currently finalising plans that could completely change the way it delivers its service.

Please see my previous post on the Clinical Commissioning Groups, which are making decisions as I type.

And please locate or form a local group now and for starters request a meeting as well as organising local campaign groups. It is not too late.

Two very diverse societies!

Banks became “detached from society” and still need to reconnect with their customers, the chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland has admitted.

In an interview with the BBC’s Today programme, Stephen Hester said the industry was “coming down to earth with a bump” following recent scandals.

“The converging problems of climate change, growing population and limited resources, which are unevenly distributed, require a change of approach. Capitalism as currently practised exacerbates these problems.”

The corporate world needs to include social responsibility in its policies. Neo-Con capitalism favours consumption and competition, whilst denying and avoiding any responsibility for consequent hardships.

“Money as a token of exchange is fine, but when it functions as a lever of unregulated power it becomes corrupted. Other values that cannot be measured are dismissed – truth, fairness, empathy, aesthetics, ethics.

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The corruptions are subtle and pervasive; honesty, for instance, becomes that which is not illegal, and examples of this excuse for unfairness are legion (MPs expenses, tax avoidance, disproportionate remuneration).

“If we continue as we are the gap between rich and poor will eventually produce two very diverse societies. The potential exists in that situation for massive social disturbance. It is not often that I quote at this length, but all this seems so relevant to my blog.

The system is unable to contemplate the abyss and modify their political beliefs, before some bright spark found a convenient scapegoat that allowed them to hold onto their convictions and pursue their illusions. Economists, bankers, politicians and presenters are all in denial of the crisis facing us all.

And in the meantime and according to a recent report:  a global super-rich elite had at least $21 trillion (£13tn) hidden in secret tax havens by the end of 2010, according to a major study. Time for realists and progressive people to take control for all our sakes and for our future. And it is now half a decade since the crisis started, which some of us predicted.

Mass Campaign to retain our NHS!

01-02-2012

The coalition’s NHS ‘reforms’, the biggest shake up of the health service in 60 years, are a “damaging, unholy mess ” that will need overhauling in five years’ time, the editors of three leading healthcare publications claim.The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, will attempt to soothe the anger of critics, particularly in the House of Lords where the health and social care bill will return next month, by proposing 200 amendments to the legislation later this week.

“The government’s NHS reforms have proved divisive and destructive. They have slowed the improvement of NHS services and cost the UK money that it can ill afford.” So many other organisations are vociferously opposed to the changes.

So for us all, it is still not too late to campaign to overthrow these changes to our precious National Health Service.  Please, write, telephone, e-mail, text or visit your MP and a Peer of your choice. Join or form campaigns in your area. Please see the many articles on our websites/ blogs, and please act now on a very urgent basis.

Any alternative and a genuine democratic society must surely have at it’s core, a system of health care which provides a comprehensive range of health services, which are free at the point of use to all residents. The various forms of ‘responsible’ capitalism now being discussed are full of contradictions and can never survive. We need real change with no more tax dodgers, corrupt bankers, politicians, speculators or generic phonies!