The Recessive George

Written on 24th May.

So- eat your words, you filthy sceptics- George (Osborne) has done exactly as he promised, and saved 'our glorious' country. Britain is once more truly mended, spiritually at one with herself. He's pulled us back from the very brink, has 'our benevolent' George. The 'feel good' factor, as reported by 'our free' press, is again being roundly felt by the, "people on the street," as reflected, once more, in their respective pay packets. "Back on the road to prosperity!" All praise St. George and the holy forces of all that is 'honourable!'

The figures, as 'gathered' and then further manipulated by 'our democratic servants,' before being selectively relayed to the wider populace via 'our representative' media, would appear (albeit barely) to concur. Shall we delve?

Special thanks to stephen bowler

Those working in the private sector (the side of the angels *), and in receipt of bonuses (surely archangels) have recently witnessed their take-home pay creeping above the latest inflation figures. This news, as reported by the BBC and the (ostensibly tabloid) papers, much in the ilk of The Daily Mail, hopes perhaps to contrive to loosen our purse strings, and to soon see the British economy once again booming... a mere prelude to ka-booming! Throw in the reported 'drop' in 'recorded' unemployment, especially that of youth unemployment, and the faintest of smiles might perhaps deign to slither on to the side of one's doubting face. Chuck in the 9% rise in the housing market (average cost of a home) and surely the faintest of chuckles might even deign to resurface.

So, let's reflect upon this news, shall we? Reflect perhaps, from the perspective of the targeted 'demons,' that of those beavering away in the NHS (for example). One could ask the valid question, "Whether these individuals might be in agreement, that the worst of the recession- was there ever another state of affairs- is finally behind us?" Those labouring under the umbrella of 'care' of JC (Jeremy Hunt), the same media outlets are reporting, have been duly informed that the 'fragile' economy dare not risk affording them anything other than an effective further pay cut (1%). So, at the very best, then, some of the British electorate might be in 'recovery.' And several of these sections of 'society' have been  effectively granted immunity from the recession anyway. So what's actually changed? 

And to karen H. nickname.{ pooh}

It really is something of a mystery, do you not think, how it is that 'our democratic servants' might so frequently contrive to blame those of the public sector for quite all of the country's financial woes, and an altogether far larger mystery to understand why it is that the general media are so rabidly willing to play along. We could almost go a hunting for some sort of conspiracy, couldn't we? Perhaps the sort of conspiracy whereby we might find a government effectively prolonging the recession, or using the same as some sort of screen, behind which to terminally undermine the long hated enemy; that would be anything public sector, anything at all that is public sector, and additionally to hyper-extend that 'most to least well-off' ratio. The globe's sixth most wealthy nation and the world's fourth most unequal society do not sit comfortably together.

The public purse strings must be kept tight, we are forever being reminded. Except perhaps for during 'our MPs' pigs-at-a-trough means of determining their own pay- 11%, wasn't it?- and their continuing access to those bizarrely questionable huge expenses. Bye, incidentally, all too briefly, to Maria Miller, the current sacrificial lamb... or is it goat? But she'll be back, snout at the ready!

One might go so far as to speculate that those of the electorate hoping to squeak on to the housing market- also curiously tweaked, via Help to 'Buy'- might be less than delighted to watch those long-sought homes once again spiralling away from them, and into the hands of the Tory-revered investment purchaser. Yet more for the non-specified "man (person) on the street" to celebrate? 

Thanks also, to Anna Armstrong

And notice, please do, also those unemployment figures. Youth unemployment (Office for National Statistics) has 'decreased,' as has the number (also ONS) of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance. Yes, as 'your' government tinkers around the edges, to ensure a 'more competetive' market, via the county's pool of those available for gainful employment, handy for British companies hiring at rates on or around the minimum wage, life is again taking on a far more rosy hue. A tad more tinkering and, raise your glasses, official unemployment figures have finally started to 'tumble.' 

Call me, "an old fart," but I think I'd be inclined to include, on the official unemployment register, all of those individuals not being paid a proper living wage. "Debatable," those in receipt of vast inherited fortunes might contest. But at least we'd know where we really stood, instead of having to forever dig for a more accurate reflection of the nation's employment status. All of those in voluntary roles, those labouring in internships, perhaps those who have failed to register, and those 'employed' on zero hours contracts, any guesses as to what the current homeless totals really are?; where precisely do all of these people fit into the national picture? 

It is undoubtedly the case that huge numbers of properties are once again being snapped up by investment buyers. Unquestionably, those at the top of the wealth ladder have climbed yet further out of sight of the least 'rewarded.' Without doubt the public sector is fast shrinking at the behest of the private; much of this sector has already been subcontracted out to the likes of those demonic PFIs and is no longer really 'public' anyway. Huge swathes of the public sector are dangerously undergoing constant pernicious change at the behest of grasping private interests, to the point now where disingenuous misrepresentation might venture to claim that the country needs to effectively privatise 'our NHS' (£10 monthly NHS access charge, as suggested by Lord Warner). Universal health care and education are under siege, like never before in most of our lifetimes; cite almost any initiative by The Gove or the satanic JC.

Many thanks to Adam Baker



So, on reflection, "UK emerges from double-dip recession," really doesn't seem to be referencing the real world. Even so Howard Archer (IHS Global Insight) certainly doesn't want the pillaging to stop just yet-a-while. "Fiscal austerity, tight credit conditions, muted global economic activity and still serious problems in the Eurozone are all likely to hamper growth," he hopes to remind the targeted working classes. 

So, are we all feeling good about the economic recovery?

* Much in the vein of any 'divide and rule' scenario, those working in the private sector, away from government-revered upper echelons, may only ever be singled out for praise where the public sector is to be derided.