Letter to the Local Newspaper

Dear Sir/Madam,

I felt obliged to write in following the recent debate between Mr Johnson and Mr Duff.  It is so disappointing when people apathetically agree with whatever they are told and believe one simple line which scapegoats the government axe and measures of austerity: “Oh well, we’re all in it together.”

Cobblers I say. I fail to see how we can accept such drastic cuts to our lifestyles, our culture and our livelihoods with a pitiful explanation of “it’s necessary”. This deficit is no larger than it has been for 200 years and the rubbish reasoning of “there are no alternatives” is just plain offensive. Of course there are alternatives. Maybe if Cameron’s billionaire friends hadn’t been making money out of the recession, he would be more inclined to invest in the economy to effectively pull us out of it.

As intelligent, free-minded individuals, it is our responsibility to look for the facts and not just lap up the rubbish we’re fed. The facts are simple: failures in the world’s financial system created a recession which inevitably created a deficit. To encourage regrowth within the economy it is absurd to suggest cuts to spending; we should be investing. While the national debt is higher than it's been for some time, it's still lower than it's been for most of the last century. Debt has often been higher in the past – and it goes up after national emergencies such as wars and worldwide recessions.

The first thing we have to do here is junk the idea that the national economy is like a household's. Every time a politician says we have to do with the nation's finances what a prudent householder would do with a credit card bill, you can stop listening. It's nonsense.

The fact is, the rich got richer during the recession. After the initial loss from the financial crisis, a stock market rebound helped the world's ranks of millionaires climb 17 percent to 10 million, while their collective wealth surged 19 percent to $39 trillion. So whilst you miss out on quality, vital services and think “yes ok we’re all in this together”, remember that people are making money from our lack-of. 

I certainly did not gamble unfathomable amounts of money away on risky rumour-led banking predictions. I just paid my tazes. I haven’t enjoyed the financial benefit of off-shore tax havens saving me trillions of pounds. I just went to work.

But it is our university fees that will triple. (Remember our Politicians and the ruling class enjoyed free university education.) It is our job prospects looking empty. (Our ruling class are all sitting comfortably) and it will be  our futures that are tainted and disregarded.

And all I did was go to work and pay my taxes. So now tell me we’re all in this together.

Yours Sincerely 

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