Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Arquably the nations favourite politician Vince Cable, Uncle Vince to you and me, the genial Liberal Democrat with a penchant for economics...and heralded by many as the only guy to have predicted the recession and the banking collapse, has hit out at the barefaced cheek of these overpaid Business Leaders. I speak of those Business Leaders who joined ranks with the Tories against Labour's proposed National Insurance increase.
We all know that taxes have to be increased, but paying for all expansion plans by saving on wastage, as is being currently mooted, is something Ive heard politicans say for many years, and it never works out..never...So, is not National Insurance the best way to do it, rather that than an increase in VAT. Which between you and me is inevitable under the Conservatives.
But back to our man Vince, the amiable LibDem...Vince says "I just find it utterly nauseating all these chairmen and chief executives of FTSE companies being paid 100 times the pay of their average employees, lecturing us on how we should run the country. I find it barefaced cheek."
These 'nauseating' business leaders continue to pay themselves so much that even David Cameron is reeling at it all, and is murmuring at nurturing some way to limit the kind of pay levels these guys get, and the kind of pay rises they keep on awarding themselves so that their remuneration goes ever further into the stratosphere. Nauseating.
We hear that old chestnut dont we...to get the best you have to pay the best otherwise they will go overseas. This is a giant size red herring...far too big a lousy red herring for us general workers to consume for breakfast. So Im with Uncle Vince on this one.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Taxes Paulb should be the last thing to go up when dealing with Labour economic incompetence, as we are already overtaxed. Before all that every penny of savings must be squeezed out of public sector, efficiency savings yes but also the cancellation of expensive projects, and what is more, a reduction in the size of tthe State and what it actually does. The State is bloated and must be cut back and forms a burden and brake to the economy. Yes there will be job cuts in the public sector, a lot of them, mostly I hope through natural wastage.
Cable is overrated, he did not anticipate the crisis and no-one can find any quote of his to indicate that. The man has never run anything and has had the luxury of not having his half baked ideas scrutinised properly because he will never have the opportunity to enact them. The BBC and Guardian love him simply because Labour have so obviously screwed up and they have only him on the left to 'big-up'.
He has a damned cheek attacking these business leaders the way he is, an act of desperation. These are successful people who know what they are doing and should be listened to. A lot of people depend on the employment they provide. It does not take a genuis to see that taxing jobs, increasing the costs of employing someone, during a recession will lose jobs. Darling has admitted it and we now know only raised NI under pressure from Brown and Balls.
You are totally wrong is what you say about Cameron - you really should listen more closely PaulB. Read my blog and you will see what he said. It is the public sector fat cats he is referring to, not business leaders. What these people in the private sector get paid is no business of Government. You have fallen into the silly trap of old Labour politics of envy and that shows why labour will go down to a crashing defeat.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
irrespective of who is right on this one, the fact remains that the public do like vince cable.
even more important, the public in the main would endorse hiw views on our business leaders.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
The power of the BBC and the lack of proper scrutiny Howard
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
No this is not the 'politics of envy' but the politics of disgust. The nation is disgusted at fat cats larding it and this is why Vince Cable is on the pace with the public...they, the business leaders, pay themselves huge salaries and are not particularly or especially talented. Give the next guy the opportunity with a bit of on the job training and he could do it too. When these guys retire they are always replaced competantly.
The bankers are a case in point ,stratospheric salaries, but while indulging them the country goes to its knees due to their high flying incompetance, and they themselves move off to the Cayman Islands or similar if we go bust. These guys and the business leaders in question are all themselves personally completely recession proof. Lets not forget that.
There is some talk yes that the NI increase is a tax on jobs, will cost jobs, but the counterpoint to that argument is that when the economy picks up with this NI increase and other measures, the recession will eventually fade and the job market will flourish then anyway. The Conservatives are promising swingeing cuts to public services. To be fair they say "not frontline services" however 40,000 jobs will go according to the pundits.
So on one hand you have a racing certainty that jobs will be axed under Conservative plans, and the possibility that jobs may..may..be axed under Labour.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
PaulB
You are on form today.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ah jeeez a fan!! lol..
I'll send you a fiver in the mail Marek!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Always been a fan.
As for Vince Cable he is certainly a safer bet than Osborne but I think this govt have got it about right..the economy is growing,unemployment falling and small businesses feeling more confident.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Old fashioned envy PaulB that is all it is, failed old Labour attitudes that belong in the dustbin of history along with the Labour Party itself.
Lets be clear - Gordon Brown is personally responsible for the economic mess we are in. He screwed up banking regulation, he overspent over taxed and over borrowed. He messed up on the Bank of England Inflation brief. He sold gold when he was told it was mad to do so. He taxed pensions when he was told he was mad to do so. He was complicate in damaging businesses with added red tape and political correctness. He was complicit in opening the doors of the UK to a flood of immigrants. He is guilty of over complicating the tax system.
That is just for starters. How dare you, a supporter of this the most useless PM in British history, claim that successful businessmen who run £Billion businesses employing a lot of people as 'fat cats larding it'. You clearly would not recognise a fat cat if it bit you.
Worth adding that there are going to be a lot of job losses whoever wins the election. I prefer those losses to be in the public rather than private sector simply because all the wealth that pays for the public sector comes from the private sector.
With 52% of our economy eaten up by the public sector and just 48% in the private sector this country is like an inverted pyramid, economically unstable.
The pyramid needs to be stabilised with the private sector base on which it all rests returned to 60% of the economy. The more public sector spending rises above 40% the less efficient and the greater the burden becomes.
That means public sector job losses or there will be an even greater disaster than we have had so far when the 'inverted pyramid' truly collapses.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
BarryW
The Govt have pledged to keep the 20p,40p and 50p income tax rates for 5 years therefore reassuring workers.Where as the The Camerons are to increase VAT by 2.5%. Labour will keep VAT free food,bus fares,kids clothes,books and newspapers.Where as the Tories will scrap the minimum wage.tax credit,sure start and winter fuel allowance.The choice is yours dear voter.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
barry
what you say about the economy may well be true, however who will pay after the election if the blues get in.
a look at what marek said in post 10 will suggest that the
least well off will be shafted.
this will come up later in the campaign.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
marek,a good point there.as for vince cable i would put him above darlimg and osbourne for chancalor.darling is doing well with a b plus rateing but osbourne with a g minus rating.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Marek - do stop making up Conservati9ve policies it just makes you look rather silly.
The fact is all of us will have to pay for Labour's incompetence in one way or another. Me I prefer to cut spending than raise taxes.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
BarryW
Not making it up...(the Tory Policies) but simply requoting their own words.As for making myself look silly..I have done that all my life annd see no reason to change now..
My world will not end if the tories get elected cos I'm bigger than that but there are certain things in life you have to stand for or against..otherwise whats the bloody point.
My father once said "you will cross many peoples paths in life..try to help them on their journey not hinder them.." a motto ,I have(to some regret) adhered to.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
marek,
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Brian
Thanks some things in life are worth fighting for...
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Surely can't be this Labour Government though Marek.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I see more business leaders have been wheeled out today in support of the Tories over the 'Rise in National Insurance' issue. There is no doubt about it that initially this onslaught from business groups and the Conservatives wrongfooted the Labour campaign and wrongfooted Peter Mandelson...Mandelson is not a geezer known for his wrongfootedness. But they(Labour) have recovered. The polls are showing a steady but depleted lead for the Tories, whereas once they had a lead of 29points in the polls, it now is down to a lead of between 5 points and 7points.
I think myself that this is due to the level of embattled experience that both Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling have on financial matters. They come across as competant and experienced...rather like the men from the Pru. You are more likely to trust your hard earned savings in their hands than in the hands of a young whippersnapper called George Osborne, known to one and all as Boy George.The public have not warmed to George in the way the Tories would have liked, this is clear in the feedback.
But back to the 'nauseating' business leaders...I think the Conservatives( Tories) took a lead on this one but its been nullified with events since..and any spiritual lead they may have taken has not registered in the polls.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Roger
It's not the best Labour govt but what are the options?..Clegg or Cameron...no thanks.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Cameron for Leadership and remember IDs and his social-conscience paper.
The Conservatives are supporting fully the NHS and the deserving (and I don't mean to sound patronising) people, but will come down on the lazy uselss people that you have most elequently spoken of.
Roger
