tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post6171339978508690006..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Protecting Tory voters isn't levelling upJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-13746861605963336992021-10-06T16:57:19.127+01:002021-10-06T16:57:19.127+01:00"Boris is moving to the left... " No, he..."Boris is moving to the left... " No, he is posing to the left in a few tokenistic ways because those things are part of the new totalitarian pathway, at least until it become safe, or prudent, to ditch them. Over the last 18-20 months some of the behaviours have of necessity been those often associated with some sort of interventionist ( socialist) mindset. They were however driven by crisis, not any particular care or concern about people. Furlough was brought in to make life a bit easier for corporate friends to keep workforces moderately stable. The lack of speed and no evidence of planning in dealing with self employed and those falling between the cracks is sufficient to prove that government didn't really give a sh*t. <br /><br />MMT will be with us for some time whether the government likes it or not and will be seen as O.K unless interest rates start moving in which case, look out!. As for UBI, much as it appeals to me I think in the present shape of UK it will be diluted and butchered to a point of uselessness. dafishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216920242825385976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-55414068687136500342021-10-06T15:48:51.544+01:002021-10-06T15:48:51.544+01:00I agree with most of that, although I think you...I agree with most of that, although I think you're being a bit dismissive of UBI and MMT. But I'm a bit surprised that you've fallen for the narrative that <i>"Boris is simply moving left..."</i>. We should judge him by his actions, not his words, and whilst he refuses to use the word austerity, that's exactly what his Chancellor is proposing. Whilst he talks about "levelling up", his government is still redistributing wealth from the poorest to the richest.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-69857623436803026902021-10-06T14:02:46.411+01:002021-10-06T14:02:46.411+01:00I agree that the Tories are simply trying to win e...I agree that the Tories are simply trying to win elections, that's all. There is a world-wide interest in Universal Basic Income. Democrats in US are fairly open in using Covid as an opportunity to bring it in, on ideological grounds. Boris is simply moving left to block out any advance by Labour. And he will cut "UBI" in the UK because he thinks he can. Which is true because Labour haven't found any traction yet. <br />There is a question over whether UBI is a good idea. Personally I think it's like MM Theory and later-stage feminism. Plausible theories I grant you, very convenient for many, loudly asserted, but unlikely to stand the rigours of testing in real life. <br />To me, levelling up really boils down to regional policy. I have spend most of the last 40yrs in the Welsh context. And much of the last 10 knocking around the Midlands and NW of England, and contrasting all this with London, where I also go. I'm sure we agree about the chasm between London and the rest. London bleeds England white, and stunts us. With our consent, sadly. I'm sure we also agree that London/Tories/same thing just don't have it in them to put the Osborne plan for the North into effect. Wales must fight its corner, and not take the dependency way just because its familiar.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.com