Friday
Despite all the evidence to the contrary, far too many people still believe that their elected officials exist to look after the interests of the ordinary person. Yes, of course they make mistakes. Doesn't everybody? Still, their hearts are in the right place and that's what counts.
For those who may still harbour these lingering, absurd delusions, I recommend this article by Sean Gabb.
As always, Sean's language is both florid and forthright. But so it should be because it explains, in detail, how wealth-producing, hard-working Britons have been robbed of their future by a government that they, inexplicably, still trust above all other institutions.
"But the tax changes are enough. People of my generation may now be looking at a far less comfortable retirement than we expected. Some of us may find ourselves in very straitened circumstances. Those of us lucky enough to stay reasonably healthy may find ourselves having to delay or even give up on retirement."
And it may get worse. We have a desperate administration that has plundered everything in sight and the temptation to help themselves to the juicy, low-hanging fruit of private pension funds, may be more than they can resist.
The government is not your friend.
I think we have a hyperlink problem here, David. While I get a site for Sean Gabb, I can't find that article.
[Editor's note: link fixed and David duly spanked]
Posted by Kevin Connors at November 29, 2002 04:55 AM
In today's Times a Mr JOHN HOSKYNS
(Head, Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, 1979-82) writes
The Conservatives should waste no more time trying to ingratiate themselves with a public that is not really interested. Instead, they should first understand that their party saved the UK economy 20 years ago. They should then work out how to clear up the new Labour mess which they — or someone — will in due course inherit. And finally they must prepare, in some detail, for their own “mission impossible” — the liberation and embourgeoisement of the inmates of Britain’s welfare prison. If the Conservatives can’t do it, nobody else will.
What a great word embourgeoisement is!
http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=1094
Until capitalism, everyone but a tiny, hereditary elite lived in poverty. Capitalism has lifted more and more people out of poverty. By the early decades of this century it was obvious that capitalism wasn't going to destroy itself; left to itself it would get stronger. The worker-heroes of Marxist mythology were not going to launch a revolution against the bourgeoisie because they wanted to be bourgeois.
Mark
Posted by Mark Holland at November 29, 2002 11:53 AM
Kevin
Apologies. And thanks to Perry for clearing up my mess. It was very late, I was very tired.
Mark,
The worker-heroes of Marxist mythology were not going to launch a revolution against the bourgeoisie because they wanted to be bourgeois.
Superb quote. Thankyou.
Posted by David Carr at November 29, 2002 02:53 PM
