The post you are reporting:
I did produce some ONS figures a while back that demonstrated that the hours being worked are increasing and that there are a lot more full time jobs as well. Yes, part time work is also increasing but if you want those to be turned into full time work then much more needs to be done on supply-side reform and reducing the burden on businesses.
All the changes needed are changes that statists like Tom and Reg would hate.
Common sense and experience also shows why this is important and why the public sector need some serious trimming in its functions including its staffing levels..
Essentially all state spending that is inefficient or not contributing towards a healthy economy is parasitical depending entirely upon the private sector without contributing much back.
A healthy economy needs, for instance, communication infrastructure, good education, a decent health system and a framework of law and security with the means to enforce the law to be efficient.
To be a civilised society we do also need to look after the elderly, the ill and disabled while offering a safety net to those temporarily fallen on hard times. All this though contributes little or nothing to the economic health of the country and is entirely dependent upon the success of businesses generating profits and employment that ultimately pays for it.
The more resources sucked up by the state that is spent inefficiently or in areas that do not add to our economic needs represents a burden that reduces our ability to compete in the world and create a more prosperous society.
Right now our government spends far too much money, taxes us far too much and interferes, adding to our costs with far too much red tape. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people are employed by the state whose jobs do not enhance our economic success and represents no more than a parasitical burden. Reduce that burden and you will generate more economic activity, economic growth and more jobs.
Simple really.
The problem is that there are far too many politicians convinced they know better than all of us how we should behave and spend our money.
KeithB - there is some truth in what you say but far better to cut out a wholly useless level of government - the EU - than fiddle around the edges with peanuts. Reg - I do not disagree that reform of local government is necessary as well, they are also part of our over-governed, over-regulated, over-burdened society.