Sunday
Alas, the drinks really are starting to run out now, in the UK's socialist Wonderland. As the world price of crude has started dropping, because the UK and US Coalition Allies have finally got the Iraqi oil pumps flowing again, instead of passing any resultant economic benefit onto the British people, the UK Chancellor Gordon Brown is about to pass this benefit onto himself by raising UK petrol prices by up to five pence per gallon. A splendid back-door tax effort, I think you'll agree.
But one would've thought he'd learned his lesson during the UK Fuel Crisis, three years ago. However, our Gordon is wiser than we mere mortals. He thinks he can slip this tax rise in when the pump prices are dropping, thereby fooling we gullible British people into not noticing the difference 'twixt cup and lip. But what happens, Gordon, when some unforeseen event pushes pump prices back up again? Will you reduce your tax-take? Or cut your spending? Or will you steel yourself for the UK Fuel Crisis Mark II?
I really don't think you have a clue. Because, idiotarian though you are, you're a highly intelligent man. And you know if you allowed this price cut to be passed onto the British private sector, instead of keeping it to pay for all your new lesbian nicotine-awareness counsellors, it would stimulate economic growth and increase your long-term tax-take. But you don't care about the long-term tax-take, do you Gordon? When the British economy is heading over a waterfall, as you recently told the Cabinet, let's just get that oar in the water and start paddling as hard and as fast as we can. The long-term future will just have to take care of itself.
And it will, Gordon. It will. Let's just hope that you and your kind aren't in it.
Big government rests upon the supposed efficacy of therapeutic programmes. These, in turn, rest upon the desire to effect greater social justice. This rests upon a critical analysis of privilege and power in society. This rests upon of a belief in the moral necessity of equality. This rests upon the concept of the native equality of man and the role of environment in bestowing privilege upon some and disadvantage upon others. And this rests upon the statistically disproven (and probably fraudulent) head-measuring research of the inimitable Franz Boas - godfather of social anthropology - conducted in 1920's New York!
It isn't enough to attack socialism by arguing the wastefulness and ineffectiveness of big government. The left isn't defeated that way, not even when the Societ Union falls. It just comes back in new forms, this time demanding inclusiveness, fairness, justice, or access ... all new buzzwords for the same old, egalitarian agenda.
But egalitarianism is built on a proven lie. It does not exist, even in prospect. We are not equal.
Better, then, to sap the strength of the structure by undermining it.
Posted by Guessedworker at September 21, 2003 03:38 PM
The most interesting thing about this is that he is suddenly entitled to do this without reference to Parliament, thanks to the Finance Act 2003.
Setting taxes is supposedly the key, exclusive, power of the House of Commons. That's what our Civil War was about. One more major constitutional change by New Labour, and this one without any warning or discussion.
Posted by Guy Herbert at September 21, 2003 04:28 PM
This rests upon the concept of the native equality of man and the role of environment in bestowing privilege upon some and disadvantage upon others. And this rests upon the statistically disproven (and probably fraudulent) head-measuring research of the inimitable Franz Boas
Hmm. I'd have said Rousseau myself. Who's read The Mismeasure of Man, then? Clever Guessedworker.
Posted by Dave at September 21, 2003 04:59 PM
Guy Herbert:
"Setting taxes is supposedly the key, exclusive, power of the House of Commons. That's what our Civil War was about."
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"Taxation without representation" was one of the main reasons the British Colonists in the US revolted.
Of course, our elected representatives may try and tax us to death, but that's another issue. The point is we like to elect the people who constantly have their hands in our wallets. It makes it slightly less painful?
Posted by Chris Josephson at September 21, 2003 07:00 PM
Andy Duncan wonders:
"Or will you steel yourself for the UK Fuel Crisis Mark II?"
I'm watching some of the motoring groups - it's interesting.
Of course, this time round, I doubt doubt they'll be watching them from GCHQ, too.
Personally, I rather hope there is another rebellion and that it, coupled with Bliar's stonking lack of popularity at the moment, brings this wretched, mendacious government of Scottish socialists to its knees.
Well... we can all dream, can't we?
Posted by G Cooper at September 21, 2003 08:10 PM
