Reeves is a banker, not an economist. Nor is she very astute. She is basically trying to equate national budgeting with single household budgeting - a fault of female politicians, methinks; certainly Thatcher and May were also of that ilk. I wonder if they know that when Attlee set out, he had no household kitty to draw from......or, indeed, are familiar with JM Keynes - rather than Hayek and Milt?
Because Reeves needs to get elected into actual government so, if she said anything else the right-wing client-media will eviscerate her. Like it or not, that is the very real situation we are in. Obviously this is far from ideal but the county needs to be rid of the tories in a big way & by a big margin - only that way can they do anything about dismantling the system that keeps such hard right ideology in power.
Question is, is she saying it because she thinks she has to and doesn't believe it herself, or, does she also believe it? In the first instance she's lying, which is a worry, and in the second, she's clueless, also concerning.
Once in power, how are they going to do much unless they can spend money, which she has already said she won't have? She'll have to suddenly find the Tree she said didn't exist - then the "right-wing client media will eviscerate her" presumably.
Or are you thinking by then she can ignore them - at least until the next election. Perhaps, if thing go well, but if they are, as seems likely, wrestling with a whole raft of problems and making little headway, then her pandering to this big lie will bite her big time.
The point of winning the election is what you then do WITH the power you gain. If its just more or less what the previous lot did, why bother?
"Question is, is she saying it because she thinks she has to and doesn't believe it herself, or, does she also believe it? In the first instance, she's lying, which is a worry, and in the second, she's clueless, also concerning." Now you are doing it - false dilemma. They are not the only two options. I think I will take your advice, Zoltan, and start a blog. Only it will be called "Logical Falsies and how to avoid them" (a bit punchier, but less amusing than your suggestion).
There's no magic money tree - unless there are relatives , friends and donors to give dodgy contracts to, wars to fund or a royal event such as a wedding, funeral or coronation. Funny how there's ALWAYS money for that stuff!
We need to create an alternative narrative, to "money doesn't grow on trees" and Austerity which = , rationalising, down- sizing? out-sourcing, which in plain language means cuts
Theresa May said that "money doesn't grow on trees", However, after her disastrous GE in 2018 she manged to find millions to bribe the DUP into a coalition, she must have found the money in a Tax Haven Forest. We need an alternative sustainable economy, investment in clean energy, public transport, buildings, health, education the things which matter to ordinary peoples lives, we must change the narrative from division, conflict and greed to tolerance, cooperation and peace.
I highly recommend the book "The Courageous State" by the economist Richard Murphy which totally debunks, in simple terms, the nonsense of austerity as a workable policy - it is actually counter-productive to a successful economy, but sadly both Tory and Labour adopt the same ideology ~ one which only benefits the very wealthy.
Reeves is a banker, not an economist. Nor is she very astute. She is basically trying to equate national budgeting with single household budgeting - a fault of female politicians, methinks; certainly Thatcher and May were also of that ilk. I wonder if they know that when Attlee set out, he had no household kitty to draw from......or, indeed, are familiar with JM Keynes - rather than Hayek and Milt?
Because Reeves needs to get elected into actual government so, if she said anything else the right-wing client-media will eviscerate her. Like it or not, that is the very real situation we are in. Obviously this is far from ideal but the county needs to be rid of the tories in a big way & by a big margin - only that way can they do anything about dismantling the system that keeps such hard right ideology in power.
Question is, is she saying it because she thinks she has to and doesn't believe it herself, or, does she also believe it? In the first instance she's lying, which is a worry, and in the second, she's clueless, also concerning.
Once in power, how are they going to do much unless they can spend money, which she has already said she won't have? She'll have to suddenly find the Tree she said didn't exist - then the "right-wing client media will eviscerate her" presumably.
Or are you thinking by then she can ignore them - at least until the next election. Perhaps, if thing go well, but if they are, as seems likely, wrestling with a whole raft of problems and making little headway, then her pandering to this big lie will bite her big time.
The point of winning the election is what you then do WITH the power you gain. If its just more or less what the previous lot did, why bother?
Hey Zoltan,
"Question is, is she saying it because she thinks she has to and doesn't believe it herself, or, does she also believe it? In the first instance, she's lying, which is a worry, and in the second, she's clueless, also concerning." Now you are doing it - false dilemma. They are not the only two options. I think I will take your advice, Zoltan, and start a blog. Only it will be called "Logical Falsies and how to avoid them" (a bit punchier, but less amusing than your suggestion).
All the best
Sam
Good luck with your blog. It's fun when the greedy fish takes the bait. Or is it? Its either fun, or it's not. Hmmm.
Well played
One of these days I'd love an actual journalist to ask the Chancellor (or indeed the shadow Chancellor)...
"Could there ever be a time where the British Government could not service a liability that is due in £'s?"
If they claim that could be possible, they are either lying or ignorant. Both cases would be proof they are not suitable for office.
Unfortunately the notion of "Tax Payer's Money" is firmly embedded.
Even our left leaning politicians with good intentions always go with the "we'll tax rich people to pay for X, Y or Z policy".
They've all got it back to front
I have another. "We can only spend each pound once." Patently absurd wordage.
There's no magic money tree - unless there are relatives , friends and donors to give dodgy contracts to, wars to fund or a royal event such as a wedding, funeral or coronation. Funny how there's ALWAYS money for that stuff!
It's an analogy, Tom, that is all. In no way can you read anything more into it, and definitely not incompetence or deception.
We need to create an alternative narrative, to "money doesn't grow on trees" and Austerity which = , rationalising, down- sizing? out-sourcing, which in plain language means cuts
Theresa May said that "money doesn't grow on trees", However, after her disastrous GE in 2018 she manged to find millions to bribe the DUP into a coalition, she must have found the money in a Tax Haven Forest. We need an alternative sustainable economy, investment in clean energy, public transport, buildings, health, education the things which matter to ordinary peoples lives, we must change the narrative from division, conflict and greed to tolerance, cooperation and peace.
I highly recommend the book "The Courageous State" by the economist Richard Murphy which totally debunks, in simple terms, the nonsense of austerity as a workable policy - it is actually counter-productive to a successful economy, but sadly both Tory and Labour adopt the same ideology ~ one which only benefits the very wealthy.