Budget Deficit Calculator - what will you cut?
Discussion
Good fun this - play with the truth of the situation then get a report on who's going to be pissed off with you 
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/abe91fdc-4e08-11df-b437-...
Apparently, my cuts will result in waves of public sector strikes, dead old people (from the cold), stranded disabled people... woohoo!
This is the scale of the problem however.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/abe91fdc-4e08-11df-b437-...
Apparently, my cuts will result in waves of public sector strikes, dead old people (from the cold), stranded disabled people... woohoo!
This is the scale of the problem however.
Here's a picture of the form:
This form does restrict you.
For example "means test child benefit" will only continue to make having more children than you can afford easier for the very people who can't afford to. Why not phase out completely? After all we're one of the most densely populated areas of the planet with a crowded infrastructure. Do we actually need to pay people to have children, especially regarding the comment above.
Higher and further education could be slashed dramatically and have absolutely no effect on the countrys future. The vast numbers in higher education are only there to hide the (true) youth unemployment figures. We don't need any more degree educated people than we did thirty years age, especially when you look at some of the subjects actually being studied. The social mobility argument is total rubbish. Giving half the country worthless qualifications at vast expense for both them and for the tax payer generates nothing but a generation of disapointed debtors.
Public sector pensions, don't reduce them, openly discuss a realistic plan that is actually sustainable, probably a money purchase one and not final salary.
Health is another sacred cow. It could be cut back. What we really do need is some openness about this issue. What would a basic health care service provide? What should you pay for? How can we decide how to allocate scarce resources (some kind of formula for cost of treatment versus likley outcome for example) to end arbitrary "post code" decisions? Perhaps a serious national referendum is called for on these issues. Ask the people, why not, they pay for it.
For heavens sake don't means test benefits any more. This creates the poverty trap. This creates the (very very expensive and time consuming) forms to fill in. Without means testing benefits could be a flat rate, much simpler to apply for, and cheaper (save all the admin).
This form does restrict you.
For example "means test child benefit" will only continue to make having more children than you can afford easier for the very people who can't afford to. Why not phase out completely? After all we're one of the most densely populated areas of the planet with a crowded infrastructure. Do we actually need to pay people to have children, especially regarding the comment above.
Higher and further education could be slashed dramatically and have absolutely no effect on the countrys future. The vast numbers in higher education are only there to hide the (true) youth unemployment figures. We don't need any more degree educated people than we did thirty years age, especially when you look at some of the subjects actually being studied. The social mobility argument is total rubbish. Giving half the country worthless qualifications at vast expense for both them and for the tax payer generates nothing but a generation of disapointed debtors.
Public sector pensions, don't reduce them, openly discuss a realistic plan that is actually sustainable, probably a money purchase one and not final salary.
Health is another sacred cow. It could be cut back. What we really do need is some openness about this issue. What would a basic health care service provide? What should you pay for? How can we decide how to allocate scarce resources (some kind of formula for cost of treatment versus likley outcome for example) to end arbitrary "post code" decisions? Perhaps a serious national referendum is called for on these issues. Ask the people, why not, they pay for it.
For heavens sake don't means test benefits any more. This creates the poverty trap. This creates the (very very expensive and time consuming) forms to fill in. Without means testing benefits could be a flat rate, much simpler to apply for, and cheaper (save all the admin).
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