Listen to the Germans, Now
10th Dec 2008 10:14:48
Widely reported in the news today is the common occurance that a prominent politician, noted economist, and senior public figure from another country has yet again waded into our country's politics, calling Gordon Brown's tax-and-spend ideas "breathtaking". Not the good type of breathtaking, mind, like the Northern Lights, a new Ferrari or Jennifer Aniston, no, the kind of breathtaking that cames when you're punched firmly in the solarplex.
Of course, the discerning reader will notice the immediate fault in the above paragraph, the use of the word "common". Of course, it never happens that politicans from other EU countries criticize each other, at least not publicly. Mr. Steinbruck joins the Liberal Democrats in highlighting Labour's failed years, and complete incompetance. Who knows how many other politicians are silently condemning Brown's plans themselves, not making their thoughts public.
"Are you really going to buy a DVD player because it now costs £39.10 instead of £39.90? All this will do is raise Britain's debt to a level that will take a whole generation to work off."
- Peer Steinbruck, German Finance Minister
To be honest, the above quote could be from any of our front bench, or, in fairness, any of the Tories. In fact, a 12-year-old can tell you that this VAT decrease will help no-one. The streets aren't packed with people piling trolleys high with goods, saving 80p here and there.
Remember, food and childrens clothes (i.e. essentials) remain at 0% VAT, so the hardest hit won't get much help. If you're spending the majority of your income on food and bills, there'll be no help for you. Gas and electricity remains at 5% VAT, so no help for the pensioners struggling to pay the massively rising bills this winter.
I went out Christmas shopping today, and headed into the Disney Store to buy a pair of Minnie Mouse socks (for my little sister, I swear), and they'd decreased the price from £2.99 to £2.91. What a MASSIVE help. Eight whole pence, gee, what shall I spend that on? I can save 8p by not using my computer for an hour or two.
Of course, eight pence multiplied thousands and millions of times will lose the country (from the Government's own figures), approx. £12.5billion. Gordon Brown hasn't decided to reduce spending, or even cut down on the billions of pounds this Government wastes every year, he's just cut the tax, which means that we'll have to repay it 5-10 years in the future.
Thanks to the German Minister for highlighting just what the rest of the word feels about Gordon Brown. Meanwhile, the BBC news reports that the recession is speeding up. Thank the Lord that Gordon Brown's managing our economy. Goes to show experience counts.
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