David Cameron has just used the phrase made famous by Lady Thatcher - there is no alternative or TINA. I must say though, the context in which it is used is somewhat insulting to those of the Thatcherite persuassion.
Most Thatcherites would expect this phrase to be used to explain why reduced public services are a necessity, why it is essential that we, as a nation, start to live within our means, that the credit card is 'maxed out' and the bank manager won't grant us any further overdraft.
So, it is galling to hear it muttered relative to the anemic 'cuts' that have taken place. When money is being devalued by Quantitative Easing, when borrowings and the deficit and debt are increasing, when the future for our children and grandchildren is being mortgaged by feckless and gutless politicians.
David Cameron (and George Osborne, for that matter) need to understand that this far into the election cycle, what is needed is not words but actions. Having wasted three years that must now be all the more bolder.
Of course it is just possible that David Cameron was floating the TINA phrase to warm us up for real spending and tax cuts in the upcoming budget. Somehow though, I doubt it. So long as the Lib Dems run the country - and let's not kid ourselves that it is the Conservatives that are really in charge. No, so long as Clegg, Cable and Alexander are calling the shots, we won't see any meaningful reductions in public spending, such as suggested here http://bit.ly/VWgyug Nor any real cuts in taxation - these must be 'funded', is the latest excuse. On what moral basis must a tax cut be funded? The government, through HMRC, puts it's hand into the pocket's of all taxpayers, without asking permission (and let's not fool ourselves that any of them have a real mandate) and then has the nerve to say that to take less, it needs justification! Imagine any other kind of thief doing that; " I do apologise but I must take all of this because you haven't given me a reason not to"
The Conservatives have this last opportunity, prior to the 2015 election, to initiate the changes to the economic direction of this country and put us on the right path. I sincerely hope that they have the courage to do the right thing, because for me, and I believe for the UK, there is no alternative.
Most Thatcherites would expect this phrase to be used to explain why reduced public services are a necessity, why it is essential that we, as a nation, start to live within our means, that the credit card is 'maxed out' and the bank manager won't grant us any further overdraft.
So, it is galling to hear it muttered relative to the anemic 'cuts' that have taken place. When money is being devalued by Quantitative Easing, when borrowings and the deficit and debt are increasing, when the future for our children and grandchildren is being mortgaged by feckless and gutless politicians.
David Cameron (and George Osborne, for that matter) need to understand that this far into the election cycle, what is needed is not words but actions. Having wasted three years that must now be all the more bolder.
Of course it is just possible that David Cameron was floating the TINA phrase to warm us up for real spending and tax cuts in the upcoming budget. Somehow though, I doubt it. So long as the Lib Dems run the country - and let's not kid ourselves that it is the Conservatives that are really in charge. No, so long as Clegg, Cable and Alexander are calling the shots, we won't see any meaningful reductions in public spending, such as suggested here http://bit.ly/VWgyug Nor any real cuts in taxation - these must be 'funded', is the latest excuse. On what moral basis must a tax cut be funded? The government, through HMRC, puts it's hand into the pocket's of all taxpayers, without asking permission (and let's not fool ourselves that any of them have a real mandate) and then has the nerve to say that to take less, it needs justification! Imagine any other kind of thief doing that; " I do apologise but I must take all of this because you haven't given me a reason not to"
The Conservatives have this last opportunity, prior to the 2015 election, to initiate the changes to the economic direction of this country and put us on the right path. I sincerely hope that they have the courage to do the right thing, because for me, and I believe for the UK, there is no alternative.
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