Funky, you have made very many cogent and sensible points on several topics. I agree with much of what you say. However, the "British Constitution Group" are a bunch of raving lunatics, who have no idea what they are talking about. It will not help you, or anybody else, to drift away into their deluded fantasy world. May I offer well-meant advice? Don't let them lead you astray. Peter.
But that's only part of the story. Most of the wealth of the citizens consists of assets (land, buildings, goods, equipment, etc) and inflation increases the money value of the assets (or slows their depreciation, in the case of wasting assets). It is only uninvested cash which is "confiscated", so inflation provides a valuable incentive to invest. Inflation also shrinks the debts of those who are indebted. Consider deflation, where prices are falling - if deflation occurs, everyone has an incentive to postpone decisions to buy or invest, since whatever they might buy today will be cheaper tomorrow. That has a dampening effect on the whole economy which is hard to reverse (e.g. Japan in recent years). The ideal balanced situation lies partway between deflation and high inflation, and the perfect level is probably about 2%. In UK since 1997 the Bank of England MPC has had the target of 2% - not always exactly met but between 2% and 3% is pretty close. Japan has only recently adopted the same sensible 2% target. Please be careful what you wish for, and don't wish for much lower inflation. If your wish came true we would be worse off.
either way, the exhorbitant rate of tax applied to fuel (because it is a necessity) is an absolute rip off..
Well, it is a rip-off. It's just that you have to decide how you want to be ripped off, because ripping off there has to be. It always strikes me that at least you can stay at home instead of tearing around the country needlessly burning up hydrocarbons and increasing global warming. Obviously, as a Ducati owner and keen motorcyclist, I like tearing around the country, burning up hydrocarbons and increasing global warming. But I can see that it is somewhat selfish reprehensible behaviour that is quite likely to be taxed viciously. As for going to work, the trains are so expensive now I suppose it makes sense to balance it out by taxing everyone in their cars. It's quite a neat bit of taxation. It looks to be discretionary, but isn't much. Still, you can walk, cycle, take a bus, not go at all, do something else. Future life will no doubt be all about curtailed enjoyment. I am beginning to think that those 10 years older than me probably hit the sweet spot: They avoided any wars, had more employment, were able to afford housing and still got cheap air travel and the internet. It's gonna be harder for the next generation.
with the rate of teen pregnancy these days, most kids think saving a deposit means only having a crafty tug on weekends.
The currently retired generation has lived through a period of great prosperity, interspersed with short periods of hardship brought about by Labour profligacy, and have for the most part done very well for themselves; the great Ponzi scheme was in full flow. That is now changing.
tell it to the miners, steel workers or anyone still living in the wake of Heir Thatcher... i'll have a quiet whiskey when the demented old bitch turns her shrivelled claws up... dont worry, if i see Sid, i'll tell him.
I'm going to party 'til I drop. Then I'm going to party twice as hard. Ha! Good times. I even bought £250 worth of the little feckers.
dont worry pete, im a free thinker and only stuck that on here just to forward a different view...i do think some of the views expressed are valid and workable, or are at least the basis for further discussion..one way or another, the system as it is has never worked for most of the earths population so its time we explored some alternatives...the difference between these crack pot fringes is size and capital...some have even managed to run the country (into the ground)... either way like ive always said...inflation is the devaluing of the currency..fact we can have a non interest based economy, or a non profit banking system, this would be of greater benefit for the global population...all discussion of interest rates and savings rates become redundant...rather like a lot of people working on the high street at the moment.
let me know, i'll join you.. i might take a heroin 8 ball hit directly into my groin, OD, get carted off to hospital, have an adrenalin shot courtesy of the NHS before its dismantled and im identified as being the right demographic but in the wrong postcode, get a taxi back, and do the fkr again once i know she's really dead... When i know she's terminal, would be indiscrete to sign up for some salsa lessons in preparation of dancing on her grave?
shall we have a group ride out?? what to wear what to wear.... good choice of tune Greyman...very touching... ive got some Billy Bragg somewhere.. in the meantime, Scotlands finest punk band (not saying much, but i like the sentiments): here's their celebration of our grantham's golden girl..
i double posted but removed this one because the actual title of the song appeared on the link..some may find the title inflammaTORY...i just found it...measured, enlightened and balanced.
