Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Actions speak louder ...

Today, the chancellor presented an excellent budget.

The budget contained investment in building & green technology, measures for the protection of society's most vulnerable, focus on training & jobs, benefits to savers, introduction of a higher tax rate and increased government borrowing in order to maintain public spending. Unfortunately whilst it's an excellent step in the right direction, it's just a step and we've got an enormous mountain to climb. That said, combined with Brown's recent lambasting of snout troughing MP's, this has been a good few days.

It's still a great shame we purchased all those gilts in the "quantitative easing" fiasco, that interest rates have remained too low, we've been foolishly generous regarding re-insurance of bad debts, the excessive bonus culture remains intact and the for the wealthiest it is all too easy to avoid tax. However, at least this we're heading in the right direction.

Naturally, a few of the most advantaged made the usual hollow threats to leave the country. Such words not only demonstrate arrogant beliefs of self-importance but also a delusion that anyone else cares or that somehow they won't be replaced in a heartbeat. Please don't threaten to leave - just leave, go on, sod off ... and don't come back.