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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think Britain is heading towards economical and social collapse

707 replies

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 30/07/2022 05:28

It feels like we are living in strange times, having come out of a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and now the cost of living crisis and the added pressure from Brexit.

Ive barely slept tonight, worrying about what might happen with energy prices. I’ve heard the energy price cap is expected to rise to £3,850 in October. A few months ago I’m sure they predicting it would be £2,400 and that was horrifying enough.
Now I’m seeing people on the energy support Facebook group talking about monthly energy costs of £900 per month. It feels like this is escalating out of control very quickly and the Government are allowing us to sleepwalk into a disaster.

I realised tonight that if the price cap does keep increasing at the rate it has then what will happen to all the businesses once people can’t afford their energy bills anymore? They will probably increase their prices to try and cover their costs but that will drive down sales even more as people won’t have as much money to spend anymore. Eventually it will only be the essentials that we can afford so that surely means that all the other businesses won’t be able to afford to keep going?

Then what? Unless our government actually get their heads together about this then the whole country will end up in financial ruin and we will see the breakdown of society. Why so much focus on the leadership contest, surely that must take a back step.

Ive just checked the parliament website and the House of Commons has now gone into summer recess so they won’t meet again until September! I think this is an emergency situation and that they should be called back to focus on this. They get paid enough.

I think it’s outrageous that they can claim for utility bills on their expenses when there are people out there with young children who are worried about being cut off and put onto a prepayment meter.

OP posts:
Festoonlights · 30/07/2022 07:55

I agree with op that many businesses (not all) are jumping on the bandwagon and are increasing prices without justification

Discovereads · 30/07/2022 07:56

The treasury are producing plenty of doom and gloom reports but many economists believe we can avoid recession with the right policies.

We are already in a recession. GDP has shrunk 5% due mostly to Brexit. The real question is how bad will it get and for how long?

carefullycourageous · 30/07/2022 07:57

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 30/07/2022 07:32

You might want to check the recent news reports on EDF.

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I read (and just rechecked) that the decision to nationalise has been taken. It is only for the last minority share anyway.

Happy to be corrected always, I'm not an oracle! Have they decided not to go ahead?

knittingaddict · 30/07/2022 07:58

StridTheKiller · 30/07/2022 06:20

It is all part of Agenda 30, which is now under way. Read up on it, it is well publicised and no secret.
We are walking into a dystopian nightmare and this is just the start.

Sounds amazing. Where can I sign up for this?

Seriously though, what is the problem with tackling poverty and empowering women?

OperaStation · 30/07/2022 07:58

Nothappyatwork · 30/07/2022 06:42

More catastrophising it’s getting boring now

It’s not catastrophising. The projected cost of living increases aren’t just figures plucked out of thin air. They are accurately modeled. If you can afford to pay the difference then good for you but don’t come on here and tell people who are already struggling to put food on the table that they’re catastrophising.

Isitsixoclockalready · 30/07/2022 07:59

AndreaC74 · 30/07/2022 07:49

There is some good news on that front. Contracts were awarded for increased offshore wind generation that will add 7GW of extra capacity by 2026. Renewables via wind and solar are the fastest way to increasing capacity. The weird thing is that it's a positive story for the government - you'd think that they could do with one and it slipped under the radar

What does it matter?

Electricity is traded as a commodity, the UK could be a net producer and we'd still pay super high prices unless we stop that industry model... which we could if we wanted too.

It will reduce price volatility. I do agree that the model itself does need changing though.

balalake · 30/07/2022 07:59

Recession yes, many more in poverty, but I would not call it collapse.

ivykaty44 · 30/07/2022 08:00

predict a medium-term increase in nuclear.

where from? How long will it take to build?

lightisnotwhite · 30/07/2022 08:00

towellette · 30/07/2022 07:27

People saying we have made it through before but I think the difference this time is the inequality & demographics. We never really recovered from 08 & all that QE devalued wages & inflated assets causing huge inequality. How on earth is the NHS & social care going to cope with the much higher numbers of older people? There are now more over 65s than under 15 yrs. Those kids are the future tax payers & there isn't enough. The NHS will not be free at the point of care in 5 yrs time.

Definitely need a more forward looking government.
My friends mum is in a care home - £7k a month.
We worked out she could save £20k a year by putting her mum (and carer) on an all expenses paid cruise ship for a year. Higher standards of service and no smell of wee plus you get to see Rio Janerio…

lucielou82 · 30/07/2022 08:02

If everyone that was really worried about the state of the country actually got angry and pissed off with this Government, protested and voted accordingly then we wouldn't have this shit show! (Or it might not be quite so bad) Time and time again I get disappointed by this country and it's lack of political intelligence! First we voted for Brexit (I don't care what the 'head in the sand' Brexiters say, this has had enormous financial and social implications to this country), then we voted for Boris and the same ignorant people just forgave him and his party every shitty thing they did! Now we have a country that cares very little about the average working man or woman and is slowly eroding away our rights! Get worried, get angry, make a noise, educate yourself and vote! And educate those who don't vote! (Sorry OP, I'm sure you vote and have no idea about your political views, but I agree the state of this country is crap)!

Rustydress · 30/07/2022 08:03

I think it’ll be tough but not as tough as some people expect.

Ive just been made redundant so am obviously worried. I’ve had times where I feel sick. And I’ve had times when I’ve cried over the lack of new jobs adverted but we’ll get through it.

Worried about my electricity more than anything as I’m on a variable tariff (gas is locked in until 2023)

Silvercatowner · 30/07/2022 08:03

What does economic and social collapse even mean? What would it look like? So much hyperbole.

Andante57 · 30/07/2022 08:03

And hopefully some civil unrest

Aceofpentacles what form will this ‘civil unrest’ take? Rioting? Destruction of businesses and property? Maybe burn down some rich people’s houses?

GrinAndVomit · 30/07/2022 08:03

WisteriaHysteria22 · 30/07/2022 07:36

@GrinAndVomit no if you think that you are playing into what this government and its friends wants, companies don’t have to raise prices, their shareholders and company execs need to be made to take less which they are more than able to do.

One of the biggest root causes of problems in this country outside of the energy crisis - as I don’t think the OP is referring to just that. There’s all sorts that is just spiralling out of control or just not working as it should be which means we’re going to fare worse than other countries in terms of the affects of global issues such as energy, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. And it all comes down to wages. I will find you some good articles which show the growing disparity in shareholder and company exec pay in comparison to workers over the past 10+ years when I get a minute.

And what about businesses that aren’t owned by conglomerates?
The small businesses that have not recovered from having close for 18 months? The SME’s that make up 95% of uk businesses?
The big ones you’re talking about will just move their business to other countries if they aren’t allowed to make ridiculous profit. The small businesses who can’t afford to raise wages without raises cost to customers will just go out of business.
This will result in mass unemployment.

MintJulia · 30/07/2022 08:04

dizzydizzydizzy · 30/07/2022 06:16

Or reduce other costs so we can afford energy bills. In Germany they have cut train fares by 90% and in Spain by 100%z (ie you can travel on the train for free)

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In some parts of Germany they've turned off the gas and everyone is having cold showers!

User135644 · 30/07/2022 08:04

How did people allow the Tories to sell off our essential utilities and privatise them? How did New Labour do nothing about it 13 years? Nit to mention the trains.

40 years of Thatcherism finally coming home to roost and Truss wants to double down on it.

Teach12 · 30/07/2022 08:05

TenRedThings · 30/07/2022 05:57

In France the energy raise has been capped at 4% because the Government didn't sell of the EDF so they can control the price rises. A pack of paracetamol is under €2 !

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Yes and the energy companies here are making unbelievable.profits.

Yes, as Martin Lewis said, our 'zombie's government is doing nothing ( most likely because they have close ties to these companies).

lucielou82 · 30/07/2022 08:05

@GettinPiggyWithIt exactly! We're all a bunch of lazy fuckers who bend over and take whatever the government give us!

knittingaddict · 30/07/2022 08:06

StridTheKiller · 30/07/2022 07:03

@LaurieFairyCake
I suggest you read Klaus Schwab's book and look further into this. It really really isn't good. Look into who the members of the WEF and why they are pushing this agenda. It's frightening as fuck.

This sounds like conspiracy theory stuff to me.

Isitsixoclockalready · 30/07/2022 08:07

knittingaddict · 30/07/2022 08:06

This sounds like conspiracy theory stuff to me.

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It is conspiracy theory stuff.

fullfact.org/online/agenda-2030/

MarshaBradyo · 30/07/2022 08:08

Festoonlights · 30/07/2022 07:39

Op, this is the reality of a real war in Europe and a Cold War with Russia, there are going to be huge consequences for years to come, and for some countries like Germany, France and some parts of Africa particularly dependent on Ukrainian grain it is going to get far far worse. France are already limiting energy use whilst we were there.

The U.K. is not as dependent on Russia for energy (4% approx I believe) and our food prices have been artificially low for decades compared to elsewhere.

The issues with China and repeated lockdowns creating delays and supply issues and everywhere is struggling to get back to pre pandemic levels but we will get there.

The treasury are producing plenty of doom and gloom reports but many economists believe we can avoid recession with the right policies. Truss seems to have a plan - let’s see what happens.

Are you suffering from anxiety op? Because some of your posts seem to be quite catastrophic when in reality we are set for a rough winter, but the medium to long range forecast is positive.

Yes it’s not fun living through a pandemic and now a war on the doorstep ( be glad you don’t live in Ukraine) but the important thing is to focus on what you can do to help your own situation Take on a second job or income stream, look at your options to sell or rent out stuff you don’t need, consider scaling back and having a home made Christmas this year etc. Positive action will help you feel more secure.

I hope you read this post op

I also agree with pp who have questioned why pp would want civil unrest - where would the destruction to property and lives be

User135644 · 30/07/2022 08:08

Summerfun54321 · 30/07/2022 07:14

The positive in all of this is that as a country we’re being forced to become more independent in terms of energy generation and speed up our renewable energy programme. People are being forced to use less energy and do less and consume less which is all much better for the environment. I’m not saying the negative cost issues aren’t scary, but there are hidden long term positives.

But our whole economic model is run on mass consumerism.

ivykaty44 · 30/07/2022 08:08

This will result in mass unemployment.

there is a mass employment problem, so that’s not going to happen

and business are going to just up and leave, it’s just scare tactic to make the poor think they shouldn’t have a proper wage they can live on without claiming working benefits ( who pays for the working benefits)

lucielou82 · 30/07/2022 08:08

@Phrenologistsfinger I think civilised protests should happen much more in this country! I am not for civil unrest... was there during the Tottenham riots and that was enough for me! But I do think as a country we take whatever this shitty government gives us and just accept it! And that is what I find depressing

User135644 · 30/07/2022 08:09

lucielou82 · 30/07/2022 08:05

@GettinPiggyWithIt exactly! We're all a bunch of lazy fuckers who bend over and take whatever the government give us!

This country deserve everything it gets for its Tory loving. The Tories are wreckers.