liberte, egalite et fraternite
I like easy concepts. Ones that don’t overly tax what little functioning grey matter I have left. The easiest one I have ever worked out all by myself is the difference between conservatism and socialism. True, there ain’t but a cigarette paper between the current three parties (or is that two?) but it hasn’t always been the case and maybe won’t be in the non-too-distant future.
All governing parties have to be duly conservative (with a small c) to a great degree. With the economy and money supply to look after they have to be prudent and monetarist; with the NHS to manage they have to be eagle-eyed as far as efficiencies are concerned; with dwindling tax revenues and a growing benefits system they have to be cruel to be kind. In opposition, a shadow party can be as radical and revolutionary as it chooses as its’ opinion don’t count for a jot. In government they have to toe-the-line or they’ll upset the ‘state’ and/or the status quo, all hell’ll break out and they unseated within four years and back on the other side of the chamber feeling very sorry for themselves. Remember, the other institutions of the state – the civil service, the military, the judiciary, the police, the house of lords – won’t have been changed by your 45 seconds of voting power, let alone the CBI and the ruling elite.
With so little difference and so little room for manoeuvre I’ve narrowed the difference to one little trait, one principle: Tories are concerned for the individual and tolerate the great unwashed, socialists support the collective. This in turn impacts directly how each party tend to mould their taxation and spending policies. Pure and simple and as far as I am concerned, right on the money.
If I needed any further proof then ol’ Davey-boy’s always on hand and he certainly didn’t disappoint me last week in a European speech where he openly mocked the recently France’s elected socialist government for declaring a (very) slightly different way of approaching their own budget deficit. Openly scoffing at the French desire to raise tax for their own millionaires, Cammy has generously offered to ‘roll out the red carpet’ to them as our taxation policies certainly wouldn’t treat them in such a harsh and unfair manner. With taxation and banking legislation never having been in the news more than it is today, and for good reason, it’s patently clear that it’s the Tories intention to continue to try to establish the UK as Europe’s tax haven of choice where all those with no interest in providing for the collective can flock to. Those without moral or civic-mindedness relocate here, the UK’s open for your business.
And whilst we’re on the subject, Jimmy Carr you are immoral, tight-fisted and not worthy of my laughter. Sure the law is confused and should be clearer but being rich does not remove you from the obligation of paying tax, at the correct level and commensurate with your wealth. Mr Carr you should be ashamed of your pernicious acts and deserve to be ridiculed and heckled for the rest of your natural. Or at least for the rest of your current tour.
