Thursday 18 February 2010

Steaming ahead ... to a Precipice?



As the UK Government continues blindly along its path (without changing a thing), the 'elephant in the room' is still steaming ahead and taking the UK economy towards the edge of the precipice.  With buoyed up (i.e. inflated) asset prices, colossal debts (Government and personal debts), collapsing tax receipts (income tax and corporation tax) and economic activity 'quietly' but steadily declining (and with massive jobs cuts predicted in the public sector too), it doesn't take long to see the unsustainable nature of the currently 'recovery' (0.1% growth!) and where it's heading.


However, 'talking things up' appears to be back, with news of house prices 'apparently' on the rise once again (i.e. more asset price inflation/speculation - rather than building of new property, which is real wealth creation).  The folly of such concepts is plain for all to see, with just a little digging, as the only people who truly profit in the long run from this are the landowners and the banks (who take away most of our younger generation's salaries). Reports of banks making bumper profits (and paying themselves large bonuses are also back), which is not hard to do in the short term when you can pay out at 0.5%, whilst lending out to businesses/individuals at 5%-30%, and whilst you can also take taxpayers money and re-invest and speculate it in the short term on collapsing assets prices (that are a result of previous actions of the banks themselves) whilst the Government/taxpayer underpins any of their bad debts.

However, inflation is now rising (the Bank of England has had to write to the Chancellor this month), and in normally the best month for tax receipts (January), the Government has had to borrow yet more money rather than being able to pay any debt back - for the first time since records began!! Our economy is in crisis, and founded on outdated/flawed leadership and management practices (i.e. poor moral values, self interest and greed).  The present system is continuing to collapse, but those in power (e.g. Government leaders, banks) are choosing to look after themselves rather than doing anything about it (for the majority of people in this country, and particularly younger generations).  Real economic inactivity and the impact on future generations has been recently highlighted, and there will be more of this to come in the future unless we change things quickly and for the better. The opportunities in the future are vast, but only if we embrace them.

As the risks associated with our economy grow, investment in the UK will drop, our debts will become increasingly expensive to service, and more young people will look elsewhere when considering their future - none of which the UK can afford ...