|
It is vital that government is about the short, medium and long term good of the country not party politics, power and winning the most votes at the next national or local elections.
The job ahead is truly awesome; no PM has ever had such a mess to disentangle and correct.
It is important to be truly brave in the challenges ahead but also important that the electorate understands how much Labour is to blame and not the GLOBAL downturn that Gordon Brown constantly ranted on about. They also need to understand that there is no choice or the country becomes bankrupt and the pain from that will make the necessary cuts needed now look like a scratch on the arm.
Remember a fair society is where hard work, honesty and achievement are rewarded.
Life should be a partnership between the individual, their family, their community and the state with every part taking it’s responsibility.
The issues seen and solutions below do not necessarily reflect Popular Alliance views or policy. What they do is to wake us up to the true state of the mess Labour has left and some of the deeply unpopular measures or similar ones that WILL need to be taken.
Don Clark
Secretary
Popular Alliance
ISSUES:
1. Our government spending has been based on a GDP that is not true and sustainable. Our GDP has been boosted by personal, corporate and government debt.
2. Sickness in the public sector is far higher than in the private sector.
3. The final salary pension schemes in the public sector have already built up almost a £1 trillion debt mountain and cannot continue.
4. Our tax credit system works as a deterrent to go full time or be promoted. It encourages people to have children whether or not they can afford it. It also helps fuel the black economy.
5. There are too many people in this country working for cash in hand without paying tax or claiming benefits and working. Or claiming that they are not living together etc
6. The true hard working honest British person (who we should look after) often feels penalised as others around them rely on the state or avoid paying taxes.
7. Our NHS wastes money hands over fist to meet targets. Consultants are often paid £1400 per day to do “NHS waiting initiative days” to help managers meet their targets on waiting lists.
8. Our universities have become diluted down in the quality of the institution, quality of courses offered and the quality of intake.
9. The students that would often do the casual work are no longer there, so we rely on immigration to fill those roles.
10. Our NHS and welfare state has become a magnet to immigrants.
11. We cannot keep taxing middle England or they too will slip into the black economy or choose benefits.
12. There are too many people making too much money. Executive, director and banking remuneration are far too high.
13. The police seem to have less and less time to fight crime and catch criminals.
14. The legal system has become a game of making money.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
1. Do not look to make people redundant in the public sector. We cannot afford the redundancy money or their welfare payments subsequently. Instead freeze all public pay for workers earning under £25K per annum. 2.5% reduction this year for £25K-£50K. 5% reduction for £50K to £100K. 7.5% reduction over £100K. Then frozen for the following two years for all bands.
2. Change the sick pay rules in the public sector to reflect the norm in the private sector. This will save hundreds of millions of pounds.
3. Reform the pensions offered so they too are more in line with the private sector.
4. Reform the tax system along the lines of the Lib Dem proposal. I would go further and potentially take everyone earning up to £13,000 out of tax but reduce the tax credits and introduce more tax bands for higher earners to claw that money back. More bands than now will probably be needed to prevent one particular group losing out. But nowadays with spreadsheets and the internet multiple tax bands should not pose a problem for employers or employees. If we do this then most of the work in the black economy now would not be due for tax anyway and the tax credits that many claim would be reduced to make working more favourable.
5. Ask the heads of Schools and the police “What are the three most wasteful aspects of work in your organisation” then remove those areas of bureaucracy.
6. Create “The British Renewable and Recycling Company” a company that is dedicated to the manufacture of renewable energy equipment, construction of sites and the efficient processing and recycling of waste. It should provide 10’s of thousands of jobs. (Use it to help rehabilitate prisoners into work)
7. Aim to provide over 150% of our current energy output to allow for the need for surplus energy to be used both in the production of alcohol based fuels, hydrogen fuel cells and to supply electric cars. (Our energy consumption from electricity to power cars, heat homes and businesses will massively increase as fossil fuels diminish)
8. Reduce the power wasted on street lighting by reducing the amounts of lights on at any time and the times of operation.
9. Eliminate the possibilities for fraud in all the benefits and tax credits system. Impose heavy sanctions on those caught breaking the rules.
10. Remove child benefit/any other extra money available for families after the first child. Give more for the first child than currently.
11. Reduce the Legal aid bill significantly and possibly introduce salaried lawyers to act for clients so it is in their interest to be quick and efficient in cases, not to drag them out for a big legal aid fee.
12. Ensure all companies trading in the UK pay corporation tax in the UK and do not take the money to Switzerland etc.(Too many companies are registering abroad, but trading in the UK)
13. Long term the Health Service will have to change as it is clearly unaffordable with changing demographics. The only way I can see that will work is to have a NHS levy, which is set by the government, depending on what is affordable at the time. (Say 10%) The patient would then pay 10% of the cost of treatment/drugs. How they pay for that 10% is entirely up to them. (Health Insurance Schemes, personal savings, Company Health Support Schemes)
14. Re-negotiate terms with the EU where we are clearly disadvantaged and do not suit the national interest. It may be in a treaty but we should still be allowed to take some powers back.
15. Create a 2nd tier of corporation tax for companies whose profits are over £100 million and 10% net profit margin. Their only exemption from the tax is if they employ more than 5% more workforce than the year before.
16. Send all terrorists or suspected terrorists back to their home country irrespective of the possible reception they will receive. We cannot afford to pay for them here or send the message that you can get off on some legal technicality and continue to live here. |
Blog Archive 
