this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2024
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politics

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[–] [email protected] 73 points 2 months ago (4 children)

This is one of the greatest scams that conservatives get away with IMO, not just in the US but it happens in the UK and other places too. Conservatives get in, go hog wild cutting taxes, selling off public assets and throwing huge contracts to their friends, and then as soon as the other side gets back in they find that they have to now balance the books, the conservatives start complaining and saying they're the fiscally responsible ones.

It's literally happening right now in the UK - we just got rid of the Tories finally after about 15 years, and the new Labour government immediately found a £20 billion hole in the economy which they now have to make harsh cuts to sort out, and they're the ones getting criticized for it by the media.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago

We need a government report card.

At the end of every administration, we need to compare the national debt and all important factors.

It’s one thing people missed in coming up with democratic systems. If different people take turns to steer the ship then you need to define what their goal is so you can evaluate each.

[–] ClockworkOtter 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'd half agree; they could raise taxes instead of making cuts.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That generally also does not go over well in the media.

Conservatives make a mess to their advantage and win/win every time

[–] ClockworkOtter 6 points 2 months ago

Sure, because the media is generally profit oriented and therefore aligned with capitalist interests. We need more mutually supported and supportive media and journalism.

[–] aesthelete 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Don't say this around any conservative. They only believe in cutting taxes.

They always have these "household budget" analogies when it comes to the government, but even in a "household budget" situation one solution to overcoming debt is to find a way to raise your income so you can pay down the debt faster....Facepalm

[–] GhostFaceSkrilla 2 points 2 months ago

To be fair, in this monopolized 2 party system, both parties are owned by pretty much the exact same corporate interests and mega rich. Everything is by design. There is nothing they leave to chance.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil 2 points 2 months ago

not just in the US but it happens in the UK and other places too

Damn. Can't believe New Labour is getting tarred with accepting soccer tickets, fancy clothes, and vacation packages from British Peer Lord Alli. Seems so unfair. Wish people would stop accusing the Labour government of being corrupt, when they are very obviously following the rules of accepting gifts and definitely not operating on any quid pro quo.

the new Labour government immediately found a £20 billion hole in the economy

New Labour has a set of accounting rules that count investment in capital as an expense and insists on running daily budget surpluses for their operating expenses.

Popping open your household account, making cartoonish bug-eyes, and announcing "We owe $200k on our 30 year mortgage but we only make $80k/year! We're bankrupt for the next three years until we pay this house off!" This is New Labour accounting. It's laughable and only ever used as an excuse not to spend any money.

On the flip side, this is the same party that insists on privatizing everything. From Thames Water to British Gas to UK Rail, every once-public service has to be turned over and rented back from the private sector. The Brits pass out these privatization contracts as sinecures, guaranteeing their financial friends huge piles of free no-risk revenues at the expense of the British taxpayer. And then they complain that the country has no money.

That New Labour slid directly into the driver's seat the Tories left and gunned it isn't something you can ignore, simply because the party leadership has changed.