to be upset that "we are not all in this together" i.e Skiing in Switzerland with George Osbourne

[FishKebabs]

It makes me upset to read that the likes of George Osbourne & Zac Goldsmith are currently enjoying lavish holidays in the Caribbean (8k a week villa) & Klosters, Switzerland with their families when these very people are telling us that we are all in this together. Clearly they are not in this together, they are enjoying privileged lifestyles whilst we are seeing increases in our fuel,vat, cutbacks just about everywhere, increased railfares, this is highly insensitive conduct my our MP's but not surprising as most are out of touch with reality.

I presume, George Osborne has (as I have) lost his personal allowance (worth close to £3k) lost child benefit, and has to pay increased tax rates of 50%. I also presume that he too will have to pay increased VAT.

So I think 'we're all in this together' is fair comment

Even though I think he is a twat of the first order

I don't care. What he does with our money is all that bothers me.

But are GO and DC [or TB for that matter]really the brightest highest achievers??? Or are they mainly just possessed of alpha dog arrogance and a sense of unusual entitlement? They have in the main been born into wealth and privilege and have been lucky to have exceptional expensive educations [which I agree is probably very useful in house of commons debates]. However this does not necessarily mean they are exceptionally intelligent or insightful in any real sense. They have not had to struggle in any way to get where they are and thus I feel have very little understanding of the way the real world works, not just the privileged circles which they inhabit.

I wish George Osborne would resign and stay abroad for good. He does not seem to have a very good grasp of the countries situation

I haven't bought into the cuts so much as been dragged into them, TSC :)

Whilst rationally I do see the need for the cuts, personally/emotionally it is a bit of a drag. I've done the maths and worked out I'll need to work an extra two or so years (always assuming that anyone in my profession would want to employ me) to manage the impact ....

It does actually help me a bit to realise that everyone is feeling the pinch.

Although I will reiterate that GO is a twat of the first order ...

Agree with all that Bootymum says.

Osbourne and his pals have decided that the way to handle the effects of the current(global) economic crisis, is to massively shrink our economy (that's what swingeing cuts do)in an incredibly short space of time.

The measures they are taking are rather similar to those that Ireland took. And that went well, didn't it? (Insert heavy sarcasm)

In the meantime Cameron, Osborne and all their chums must be absolutely pissing themselves at what we as a country have agreed to endure in the spirit of tightening "our" belts and all " being in this together".

Of course they should have some sensitivity to the plight of most of us, and not rub their excessive privilege in our faces, but why should they? At this point they can get away with murder, right?

So no one can go on holiday?? Get a grip.

Yes, coccyx. That is exactly my point.
No one can go on holiday.Especially you.

Northernrock

Time will tell if our economy will "massively shrink". I suspect it won't. Instead it will limp along which is probably as good as we can expect.

Ireland is actually very different to our situation. Unlike Ireland we actually do have a decent economy to fall back upon.

As for making the cuts now, politically speaking its the only way. The lessons learned from Canada actually have not been heeded. Had they have been, the cuts would have been deeper & faster. I guess its coalition poltics or perhaps the Tories are still trying to shake their "the nasty party" image.

The last thing they want is still to be making cuts in 5 years time. Get the pain over & done with now then let people recover over the next few years. That's the only way they stand any chance of getting reelected.

As for GO going on a holiday. So what? He's rich. You are not. Get over it.

Oh, it's just getting boring now.

Yes. We are all just jealous of rich people going on holiday. That's the issue

Everybody should be forced to go to Butlin's. At gunpoint if necessary.

Can't you at least make it Center Parcs?

NiceGuy.
We do have a decent(ish) economy to fall back on. Now. We won't soon though.

Sure, Ireland is a different kind of country. Canada is way way different. High in natural resources, low in population, cheap living costs.

Yeah, in theory "politically" a deficit demands cuts in spending. Simple, right?

In practice, any measure that suddenly cuts peoples actual living income, creates mass unemployment, reduces services, cuts spending on public infastructure and raises VAT can not fail to shrink our economy.

These policies are a) more radical than Thatcherism and b) the result of some very very right wing think tanks. Not sound economic policy for a recession.

And how do you know I am not rich?

If I am rich, that doesn't entitle me to behave like an insensitive twat.

So Mps aren't allowed to go on holiday then?
Does everything have to operate at the lowest common denominator now
How utterly depressing.

Yep charlie. Thats EXACTLY what everyone is saying. You nailed it.

No dear, I think what enrages people is the fact that said MP's:

Are backing massive and very deep cuts to everyone below the wealthy level.

Have a recent history of laughably greedy expense fiddling.

Are telling the people of this country that "we are in this together" before flaunting their in yer face over consumption, proving that, no, they are most certainly7 not in this with us.

They are over there on the yaught, snorting coke, quaffing champagne and laughing their porky arses off.

And before anybody bothers, no I don't envy them.
If I were George Osborne I would kill myself out of sheer self loathing.

Thank you, dear, for explaining it to me.
How kind.

haha this is hilarious - it's only because they're the Coalition.

There are people on mn who spend 400 quid on a pair of trousers - am I envious? You bet I fucking am - but I wouldn't insist they walk around in primark. That's just fucking bizarre!

Blimey, Northernrock, never mind killing yourself if you were GO, you're going to give yourself a heart attack if you carry on like that.

That's assuming you don't die of bitterness first.

Do the people who spend 400 quid on trousers go round Primark telling people they are in the same boat?

No, I thought not.

You are quite welcome charlieand lola.

Damn straight I am bitter monty.
I am bitter that the country I love is being decimated in a big old Tory carve up.

Not bitter about other peoples good fortune though, since that is obviously what you mean.

I don't want to get in the way of some good rhetoric but the UK economy is growing. In terms of outlook for 2011, the OECD

"...now predicts gross domestic product (GDP) will expand 1.7pc next year, far less than the 2.5pc foreseen in its May economic outlook.

Nonetheless, the Paris-based OECD judged the Coalition's fiscal tightening "substantial but necessary", even as official data showing that the coming VAT rise will shave 0.3pc off GDP next year caused ripples."

The cuts had to happen and needed to happen.

But I do like the idea of sending GO and DC to Butlins as a punishment for doing what had to be done.

Hmm Quattro. The OECD also predicts that unemployment will rise gradually.

I guess gradually could be a relative term?

If anything, it's just totally inappropriate and insensitive, lavish skiing holiday when most of us are in tough times.

They want us to beleive and trust them as politicians, but how can we when they clearly have no sensitivity to the people they are now serving.

He's like some French aristocat dandy wafting about the slopes without a care! But then again the Tories are prone to massive pompus arse gaffes.

Meanwhile, me and DH are still waiting for those useless fuckers at the child tax credit and job seekers allowance offices to get a fucking grip and do what they say they will do and not then change their minds and deny conversations, send letters out in triplicate times triplicate and be generally shit.

When I make lots of money I will have it all off shore than give these selfish bastards a penny to piss up the wall and I will be charitable to those in the UK who need it.

Well it's just that you said that the measures 'cannot fail to shrink our economy'. Which they haven't and aren't doing and in fact were needed to address the mother of all budget deficits that the Labour Government left us with.

We were going the same way as Greece ...