What one change would you like to see from this fiasco?

Graham_Devon

I'm talking about the recession itself, how the government are dealing with it etc.

So say you could make one single change to the "system" and how we / the government / business has been working over the past decade, in hindsight, what would you do?

Would it be something to do with regulation, houses, government etc?

GeorgeHowell

Abolish the FSA, put all financial regulation and monitoring back with the Bank of England, and give it real teeth.

lostinrates

Actually, mine is a bit oblique. I'd like improved situation for renters, so that there is not such necessity to buy for people who cannot afford it, and that they are not financially, or otherwise, penalised for this choice not to get into ridiculous personal debt and that landlords in effort to mitigate the loss from lower turnover and less likely hood to 'get rich quick' are more easily able to issue leases where the tenant has more responsibilty for maintaining the property and the responsibility that goes with that.

I understand the global bigscale issues, but I think the impact of the small moves with big money at the top of the scale have larger impact lower down, and that the way we borrow and live is something that needs a lot more consideration.

Reaper

Bring back firing squads. I've got a long list...

ad9898_3

A mortgage lending cap, at a specific multiple of a single and joint income (3,75x single 2.75 joint), outlaw IO mortgages unless a certifiable investment vehicle was in place to repay the capital. These two things would almost certainly stop dead this kind of catastrophe happening again.

StevieJ

Tax relief on renting primary property to enable people to move houses easily i,e. rent out their own house and rent some place else.

MrFonzerelli

Biennial elections by Proportional Representation!

Should probably go for a sound bite too...get Brown out!!

Lifeisbutadream

Make banks like they used to be.

I.e. the bank manager knew who you were and someone would ring you (and tell you off) if you went overdrawn or were about to go overdrawn. The Bank Manager would meet with you and discuss your loan/credit card/mortgage app and decide whether he should give it to you or not.
Counter staff would do the job they were supposed to instead of having to meet targets by selling to customers.

MyLastFiver

The dictatorship of the proletariat.

b0rker

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation to be renamed to Regulation, Regulation, Regulation. One full hour of watching bankers being whipped and chained until they are fully rid of their assumptions that they are superiour to those that they serve (no, not themselves!).

Graham_Devon

Well for me, it would be a completely accountable government.

Just like all other companies, the government would be required to show its books as it were, especially considering it's our money. This would range from exactly what things have been spent on, including expenses.

They require it from me, and can fine me if I don't do it. They require it from others.

This could be done via a panel of people from all spectrums, not just politicians, who can all pat each others backs, but members of the public too, who do not have a wage to be part of this, so there would be nothing in it. These people also would not be allowed to have jobs in a sector where a "you pat my back, I'll pat yours back" could get them higher.

Again, we have to do this in the medical profession and face scruitny for everything we do, with public and professionals on the panels.

Personally I think this would raise uproar in the first instance when we see where our money actually goes, and were able to relate say, MP's expenses to the cost of the NHS, side by side.