Comments on: The Chancellor in the Times – still more silly spin http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/#comment-4802 mikestallard Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:07:38 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1195#comment-4802 I couldn't see why the government was being so silly until Newsnight last night. Two men were discussing the economic plight. One was quiet, sensible and I think he came from the Confederation of British Industry or somesuch. He spoke when spoken to and had obviously thought the matter through - saying the sort of things that everyone on this blog is saying - reduce spending first and try and get government expenditure down to avoid inflation and recession. The other bloke - I am not sure who he was - had grey hair and an open necked shirt under his grey suit. He constantly interrupted, spoke when told not to, and continued speaking even when his slot ended. He didn't listen at all. He knew. His message was this: we are short of infrastructure and it is urgent that we spend more and more on this vital need. To him all this quango business and over-centralisation was simply common sense. To question it was just as stupid as, say, questioning whether or not smoking causes cancer, or whether global warming is going to destroy the planet. Scary! I couldn't see why the government was being so silly until Newsnight last night.
Two men were discussing the economic plight. One was quiet, sensible and I think he came from the Confederation of British Industry or somesuch. He spoke when spoken to and had obviously thought the matter through – saying the sort of things that everyone on this blog is saying – reduce spending first and try and get government expenditure down to avoid inflation and recession.
The other bloke – I am not sure who he was – had grey hair and an open necked shirt under his grey suit. He constantly interrupted, spoke when told not to, and continued speaking even when his slot ended. He didn't listen at all. He knew.
His message was this: we are short of infrastructure and it is urgent that we spend more and more on this vital need. To him all this quango business and over-centralisation was simply common sense. To question it was just as stupid as, say, questioning whether or not smoking causes cancer, or whether global warming is going to destroy the planet.
Scary!

]]> By: Neil Craig http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/#comment-4801 Neil Craig Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:02:23 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1195#comment-4801 "The long term trend in oil and other commodity prices is up," Not so. The long term trend in commodity prices vis a vis income has been downwards since at least the begining of the Iron Age. The Simon-Ehrlich bet was made some years ago on precisely this question. Simon won & "environmentalists" have refused to put their money where their mouths are ever since. www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/botkin/0471389145/ed/pa03.html Unlike Cassandra Mr Ehrlich has prophesied many different sorts of doom for decades, been continuously wrong & profited mightily thereby which says something about our society. Commodities other than oil are rarely destroyed & can be recycled. Oil is an energy storage medium & we have cheaper sources of energy (ie nuclear) & are on the cusp of having a viable biofuels industry usng GM plants & algae. John you may think I am nit picking over 1 line but this question goes to the heart of whether humanity has an unlimited future or can only slow down our return to the caves, which in turn affects all our economic (& indeed other) policies. While it is possible to destroy our future & most western political action seems to be predicated on the assumption that we should, neither commodity limitations nor anything else provide a technical, as opposed to political, barrier to infinite success. I reccomend <a href="http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/" rel="nofollow">http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/</a> "The long term trend in oil and other commodity prices is up,"

Not so. The long term trend in commodity prices vis a vis income has been downwards since at least the begining of the Iron Age. The Simon-Ehrlich bet was made some years ago on precisely this question. Simon won & "environmentalists" have refused to put their money where their mouths are ever since. www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/botkin/0471389145/ed/pa03.html Unlike Cassandra Mr Ehrlich has prophesied many different sorts of doom for decades, been continuously wrong & profited mightily thereby which says something about our society.

Commodities other than oil are rarely destroyed & can be recycled. Oil is an energy storage medium & we have cheaper sources of energy (ie nuclear) & are on the cusp of having a viable biofuels industry usng GM plants & algae.

John you may think I am nit picking over 1 line but this question goes to the heart of whether humanity has an unlimited future or can only slow down our return to the caves, which in turn affects all our economic (& indeed other) policies.

While it is possible to destroy our future & most western political action seems to be predicated on the assumption that we should, neither commodity limitations nor anything else provide a technical, as opposed to political, barrier to infinite success.

I reccomend http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/

]]> By: david http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/#comment-4800 david Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:27:54 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1195#comment-4800 Will you be supporting David Cameron's intention of raising taxes when the Conservatives regain power? Perhaps cancelling the aircraft carriers should also be considered? Reply: He has no such wish Will you be supporting David Cameron's intention of raising taxes when the Conservatives regain power?

Perhaps cancelling the aircraft carriers should also be considered?

Reply: He has no such wish

]]> By: Kit http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/#comment-4799 Kit Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:21:30 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1195#comment-4799 "£4 billion over several years for two new aircraft carriers" The figure is closer to £20billion if look at the "on the road price." "£4 billion over several years for two new aircraft carriers"

The figure is closer to £20billion if look at the "on the road price."

]]> By: David Eyles http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/07/19/the-chancellor-in-the-times-still-more-silly-spin/#comment-4798 David Eyles Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:18:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1195#comment-4798 Whilst I agree with your general point about GB's financial proflicacy, I feel that the expenditure of £4 billion on a couple of aircraft carriers is a snip compared with the waste elsewhere (£101 billion according to the Taxpayers' Alliance for last year alone). Bear in mind that the Royal Navy has been halved in size since Labour took power. Nevertheless, as you say, the confirmation which was widely expected to be turned into a postponement, being announced when it was, does look very much like buying votes in Glasgow East. Whilst I agree with your general point about GB's financial proflicacy, I feel that the expenditure of £4 billion on a couple of aircraft carriers is a snip compared with the waste elsewhere (£101 billion according to the Taxpayers' Alliance for last year alone). Bear in mind that the Royal Navy has been halved in size since Labour took power.

Nevertheless, as you say, the confirmation which was widely expected to be turned into a postponement, being announced when it was, does look very much like buying votes in Glasgow East.

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