tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post5176166339140655182..comments2024-03-27T06:56:10.255+00:00Comments on Broad Oak Magazine: Rolling back the StateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-1646778525829366112009-01-25T19:15:00.000+00:002009-01-25T19:15:00.000+00:00Sackerson - think 'Victory gin'. It's a great way ...Sackerson - think 'Victory gin'. It's a great way to control discontent from spilling into general society, and has worked since the pyramids were built, with beer as payment.Paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07952088638231881617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-15766224313900071942009-01-24T22:24:00.000+00:002009-01-24T22:24:00.000+00:00Thank you for your comments, both. I think a crisi...Thank you for your comments, both. I think a crisis will result(for a time) in some form of "strong leadership". And behaviour will change quickly - there's a step learning curve in war, they say. Probably a temporary end to drunken debauchery, except where it has always thrived, i.e. among the elite and in private.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410040031410954403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-83767475071628199452009-01-24T19:40:00.000+00:002009-01-24T19:40:00.000+00:00It's interesting. One really can't tell what will ...It's interesting. One really can't tell what will happen.<BR/><BR/>There are so many socialists in this country. Especially among my youthful generation. And they draw completely different conclusions on this crisis.<BR/><BR/>Which I think is a real strength for the state.RobWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02255978974948870928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524682876220396502.post-70512784091943695162009-01-24T18:27:00.000+00:002009-01-24T18:27:00.000+00:00This is why I worry about Western, and specificall...This is why I worry about Western, and specifically UK, societies. So much of what is neccessary to exist as a human being (food, clothing, housing) is provided free either directly by the State, or by proxy (by providing a basic free State income - benefits). There is no longer any requirement on an individual to DO anything to get the basics. The State will provide, whatever you do.<BR/><BR/>Lose your job (say by your own fault - you punch your boss), you still get benefits. Lose your house, because you spend all your money on drink & fags rather than the mortgage or rent, the State will house you. Have children you can't afford, get more benefits. Get ill through being morbidly obese, the NHS will care for you. Take illegal drugs, the NHS will try and save you if you overdose, and even provide methadone if so needed. You'll still get benefits even if you do spend them all on drugs. There is zero responsibility required of a UK citizen anymore. There is nothing you can do that will cast you out of the protective blanket of the State's care.<BR/><BR/>So many people are now dependent on the State to keep them alive (ie without State care would probably end up dying in the streets, or rioting & looting) that it is politically impossible to rebalance the system towards self reliance. The number of losers would be so great that no politician could even contemplate it.<BR/><BR/>So the only way the system will be rebalanced (and it must - we cannot continue to spend increasing amounts on supporting an increasing % of the population) is by some catastrophic failure. IE the State literally runs out of money, due to reduced tax income from lower economic activity, increased expenditure on more benefits, and the refusal of foreigners to lend us more money.<BR/><BR/>Then it is too late for a gradual reduction in social spending. You would be faced with large numbers of people with no money to pay for food and heating, let alone rents. Anarchy on the streets would ensue in my opinion. And the refusal of politicains to face this issue now, leads us inexorably towards the catastrophic scenario.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com