the snap general election thread

Arklight

Whatever happens tomorrow, it won't be dull.

Joe_Horner

Apologies for not quoting the Daily Mail, or the other Tomes of Wisdom that seem so popular around here, but this is a lot of highly placed and experienced economists and accountants who endorse Labour's economic plan:

The Conservative manifesto calls for continued austerity, which will tend to slow the economy at a crucial juncture, against the backdrop of Brexit negotiations. Their spending cuts have hurt the most vulnerable and failed to achieve their intended debt and deficit reduction targets.

In contrast, Labour’s manifesto proposals are much better designed to strengthen and develop the economy and ensure that its benefits are more fairly shared and sustainable, as well as being fiscally responsible and based on sound estimations.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/jun/03/the-big-issue-labour-manifesto-what-economy-needs

Who to believe? 128 professional economists or tabloid journos with an axe to grind? Incidentally, before answering that consider that at least 3 of those economists - Pettifor, Keen and Baker - predicted the "unforeseen" 2008 crash up to 4 years ahead of it happening:

https://www.intheblack.com/articles/2015/07/07/6-economists-who-predicted-the-global-financial-crisis-and-why-we-should-listen-to-them-from-now-on



Or possibly this well written and thought provoking piece from the Guardian's economics editor who, incidentally, supported leaving the EU:

There is a recognition that macro-economic policy since the crisis has been flawed, with far too much emphasis on ultra-low interest rates and quantitative easing and too little on tax and spending measures. Austerity has been tested to destruction, with both deficit reduction and growth much weaker than envisaged. There is a strong case, as the International Monetary Fund has noted, for countries to borrow to invest in infrastructure, especially when they can do so at today’s low interest rates.

Indeed, it is sign of how much ground has been ceded by the left over the last decade that these ideas are seen as dangerously radical. Germany and France have higher levels of corporation tax than Britain, but they also have better trained workforces and higher levels of productivity. A group of eurozone countries are planning a financial transactions tax. Balancing day-to-day spending while borrowing for roads, railways and superfast broadband, which is what John McDonnell is suggesting, is more Keynesian than Marxist.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/14/is-labour-manifesto-fantasy-land-quite-the-opposite



Or finally this from Mohamed El-Erian, ex-IMF, ex CEO of Pimco, now chief economic adviser to Allianz SE.

I'm betting he probably knows a thing or two more about economics than Murdoch's lackeys:

“we need to get back to investing in things that promote economic growth, infrastructure, a more pro-growth tax system for the US, serious labour retooling ... If you’re in Europe, youth employment is an issue you’ve really got to think about very seriously.”
Second, countries that can afford to do so must “exploit the fiscal space,” meaning borrowing to invest or cutting taxes. He puts the US and Germany unambiguously in that category “and to a certain extent the UK”.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/13/mohamed-el-erian-signals-system-enormous-stress-global-capitalism

Filo25

Westminster voting intention:

CON: 42% (-)
LAB: 35% (-3)
LDEM: 10% (+1)
UKIP: 5% (+1)
GRN: 2% (-)

(via @YouGov)

kabayiri

Does anyone know if the swingometer will be making an appearance?

You can't beat a bit of swinging late at night ...

michaels

kabayiri wrote: »

Some American bloke on the radio said that our campaign feels a bit like theirs, except theirs is 9 months long !

Poor sods.

Yep, I was thinking we should have an elected second chamber 1/3 of seats elected every 2 years for six year terms, 2 terms max but having had 3 elections in just over 2 years I have changed my mind.

michaels

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Apologies for not quoting the Daily Mail, or the other Tomes of Wisdom that seem so popular around here, but this is a lot of highly placed and experienced economists and accountants who endorse Labour's economic plan:



https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/jun/03/the-big-issue-labour-manifesto-what-economy-needs

Who to believe? 128 professional economists or tabloid journos with an axe to grind? Incidentally, before answering that consider that at least 3 of those economists - Pettifor, Keen and Baker - predicted the "unforeseen" 2008 crash up to 4 years ahead of it happening:

https://www.intheblack.com/articles/2015/07/07/6-economists-who-predicted-the-global-financial-crisis-and-why-we-should-listen-to-them-from-now-on



Or possibly this well written and thought provoking piece from the Guardian's economics editor who, incidentally, supported leaving the EU:



https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/14/is-labour-manifesto-fantasy-land-quite-the-opposite



Or finally this from Mohamed El-Erian, ex-IMF, ex CEO of Pimco, now chief economic adviser to Allianz SE.

I'm betting he probably knows a thing or two more about economics than Murdoch's lackeys:



https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/13/mohamed-el-erian-signals-system-enormous-stress-global-capitalism

1st stop on the debt train, Italy. Destination, Greece.

Joe_Horner

michaels wrote: »

1st stop on the debt train, Italy. Destination, Greece.

I guess you're clearly a believer in the knowledge of tabloid hacks over real economists then.

Or did you simply trot out the trite dismissive line without actually reading any of the links? You'll never expand your horizons that way, you know!

setmefree2

michaels wrote: »

Yep, I was thinking we should have an elected second chamber 1/3 of seats elected every 2 years for six year terms, 2 terms max but having had 3 elections in just over 3 years I have changed my mind.

Enough. I have had enough of voting. Please someone just govern.

setmefree2

I've spent the last twelve months trying to understand the Brexit result - as a remainer - trying to understand the passion people seemed to feel about immigration and its consequences.

And here we are leaving the EU (a MASSIVE thing to be doing) and apparently the number one issue isn't Brexit any more - it's "public services" - !!!!!! ? Am i nuts? Or are people just really thick and fickle - sorry that's the only conclusion I can reach.

Seriously? Why the flip did we ever bother asking them their opinion in the first place if they have the attention of a gnat?

Filo25

Westminster voting intention:

CON: 41% (+1)
LAB: 40% (+1)
LDEM: 8% (-)
UKIP: 2% (-3)
GRN: 2% (-)

(via @Survation / 06 - 07 Jun)