John Sentamu has proposed making St George's day an English bank holiday to promote unity. I think this would be a great idea, and we could all do with a holiday from the banking system.
Instead of a celebration today, we are left pondering the propositions in the budget, which taps into some of the bad behaviours on our module.
As usual smokers, drinkers and motorists are being hammered. People may feel this is morally acceptable. This group of people are soft targets for bailing out Britain’s debt problem. Research shows however that increasing the price of alcohol and cigarettes does not change people’s behaviour. The price rise is merely a cynical attempt to screw money out of people who chose to smoke and drink. Regarding petrol, many people have to use their cars to get to work (because the public transport system does not encompass everybody’s needs and is woefully inadequate in rural areas) - the price hike is unlikely to help the environment.
Britain is now sitting in the world’s pawn shop with staggering levels of borrowing. It is estimated that the government will need to borrow £175 billion for this year alone. This will culminate in less spending on the NHS and education. Our own University is being subject to cost cutting measures. This is imprudent and short sighted because healthy, well-educated citizens could create a better and more enlightened society.
Breaking promises constitutes a form of lying. In my opinion it is dangerous to make promises; circumstances can change, and promises may have to be broken. People feel let down and trust is broken. The government promised not to increase taxes, but have had to renege on this.
Robin Hood was lionized for robbing the rich to help the poor. At lot of people would consider this morally a good thing to do, although it is stealing, which is illegal. Now the government is taking 50% tax from high earners, knowing there cannot be a brain drain this time, because high taxes are a global problem; many people think it is a good thing for the rich to pay more.
The most immoral part of this however is that all of us, and innocent generations to come, will have to pay for the greed of the banking system.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm
Instead of a celebration today, we are left pondering the propositions in the budget, which taps into some of the bad behaviours on our module.
As usual smokers, drinkers and motorists are being hammered. People may feel this is morally acceptable. This group of people are soft targets for bailing out Britain’s debt problem. Research shows however that increasing the price of alcohol and cigarettes does not change people’s behaviour. The price rise is merely a cynical attempt to screw money out of people who chose to smoke and drink. Regarding petrol, many people have to use their cars to get to work (because the public transport system does not encompass everybody’s needs and is woefully inadequate in rural areas) - the price hike is unlikely to help the environment.
Britain is now sitting in the world’s pawn shop with staggering levels of borrowing. It is estimated that the government will need to borrow £175 billion for this year alone. This will culminate in less spending on the NHS and education. Our own University is being subject to cost cutting measures. This is imprudent and short sighted because healthy, well-educated citizens could create a better and more enlightened society.
Breaking promises constitutes a form of lying. In my opinion it is dangerous to make promises; circumstances can change, and promises may have to be broken. People feel let down and trust is broken. The government promised not to increase taxes, but have had to renege on this.
Robin Hood was lionized for robbing the rich to help the poor. At lot of people would consider this morally a good thing to do, although it is stealing, which is illegal. Now the government is taking 50% tax from high earners, knowing there cannot be a brain drain this time, because high taxes are a global problem; many people think it is a good thing for the rich to pay more.
The most immoral part of this however is that all of us, and innocent generations to come, will have to pay for the greed of the banking system.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm
No comments:
Post a Comment