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Let Us Do Something
Every day the news reports further evidence of economic meltdown - not good
news for someone who is already out of work and urgently seeking a new job
with income - but what are THEY doing about it?
Surely this is the time for some serious action?
Surely this is the time to look at the UK Economy as the macro economy
instead of lulling off in to the realms of our economy being a micro part of
the macro world economy.
It is surely time to stop the rot - long overdue and now a necessity to help
prevent total economic meltdown and give ourselves a chance of a sustainable
recovery - this is going to require some seriously strong management and
resolve but without it what is the future?
We need to recognise that we no longer have a feasible base of value added
industries to support us - the Blair 'Service Nation of Europe' principle is
now found wanting - the Unions call for increased benefits for job finders
yet this can only come from an increased tax take from those employed in
vulnerable service related jobs - it is simply not sustainable.
Below are suggestions of some simple measures we could take NOW which might
start to make a difference - there will no doubt be more -
Buy British - genuine British - items which have been majority manufactured
here with British jobs - this was a major campaign in the 70's when I was a
child and one which urgently needs to be engaged with - we need to invoke a
pride in British produce and generate enough demand to ensure that there is
competition and therefore high standards
Employ British - it pains me to see the quantity of 'foreign' workers on
building sites, in what remains of manufacturing factories, office cleaning,
hotels, and so on. Pay a bit more, get a UK worker, reduce unemployment,
increase the regular tax take, and ultimately provide a framework for
genuine tax reduction (for example Employers National Insurance) resulting
in a genuine reduction in the cost of employment.
Import Quotas? - we neither build the ships nor containers that bring the
multitude of different goods from the East - and at the same time our
exports have been technology and machine tools to facilitate this
production. All for cheaper prices in large retailers to make more super
profits from an increasing percentage of the population who live on or near
the breadline?
Sustainability - design out the dispoability of products - from cars to
washing machines to sofas to toys - we need to be able to enjoy longevity
from our products - replace worn parts and not fill landfill sites due to
entire replacements every couple of years. Give VAT FREE tax breaks on
products offering a genuine 10 year warranty.
Farming - how many 000's of acres are on set aside - let's get these
productive again creating more jobs and generating more foodstuffs - we
could return to fresh produce as opposed to processed produce requiring
tins, packaging, and so on.
Mining - re-open our pits in a controlled and manageable fashion to produce
our needs - we are net importers of coal currently yet we have enormous
untapped reserves!
Environmentally - let's recycle more and at the same time produce less waste
- how many of us purchase items that come in a glass bottle which is neatly
packaged in a cardboard box? - what is the true cost of all the packaging
required for flat pack furniture from China and other Far East manufacturers
- cardboard, plastic, polystyrene? - and of the huge environmental issues
created and ignored in the country of source?
Apprenticeships - return the old apprenticeship to enable young people to
become fully skilled craftsmen and engineers? - we have created these huge
monsters of education on the premise of a brighter future and higher
earnings despite saddling these young people with huge debts and often no
opportunities in their field of study?
Public Service Pensions and Benefits - surely it is time to bring to an end
these extravagant schemes for public servants across a variety of roles to
retire in their 50's on full pensions ultimately paid for by the private
sector? What is the real cost of this year on year to the taxpayer and the
economy as a whole? - at the same time many old people cannot afford to heat
their homes, or eat properly
Family values - we need to be encouraged to once again look after our own
and take responsibility for our families. Perhaps a step back to a 6 day
week with Sundays a day of rest with no shops open to enable everyone to
pursue some leisure and or family interests - we all deserve a quality of
life but the 24/7 culture
Constantly we are being told that it is uneconomic to manufacture in the
country, or to mine coal, or farm the land? - but what is the real cost to
society? With increasing unemployment and an ageing population with a year
on year growth of the number of pensioners on benefit all to be paid for by
those currently in work?
This is not a quick fix - there is not a simple solution - it is a highly
complex situation - but do nothing is not an option - it is time for action
- and for those with the power and influence time to use it for the good of
us all.
Regards
Tom Mawhood
