Comments for Nick's Blog http://ippr.org?option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17 IPPR Director Nick Pearce blogs from the heart of progressive thinking in Britain Sat, 08 Jun 2013 09:25:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Miliband’s speech heralds majoritarian welfare, opens new political space by John Woods http://ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28477 John Woods Sat, 08 Jun 2013 09:25:43 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28477 This is the second analysis I have read of Ed's speech. The first was by Compass. Both reflect the intellectual nature of the argument which, I fear, will pass straight over the heads of the majority of the UK voting population. They just will not understand this level of rhetoric. Tony Blair was not successful because of what he said but in the words he used to say it. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls desperately need to get someone to help them make their argument in words that are meaningful to the people who would vote Labour if they thought they had a better answer to the current economic issues. I know that should not be difficult with George Osborne as chancellor, but the majority of people polled still think the Tories have the best answer to the economy. This is the second analysis I have read of Ed’s speech. The first was by Compass. Both reflect the intellectual nature of the argument which, I fear, will pass straight over the heads of the majority of the UK voting population. They just will not understand this level of rhetoric. Tony Blair was not successful because of what he said but in the words he used to say it. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls desperately need to get someone to help them make their argument in words that are meaningful to the people who would vote Labour if they thought they had a better answer to the current economic issues. I know that should not be difficult with George Osborne as chancellor, but the majority of people polled still think the Tories have the best answer to the economy.

]]> Comment on Miliband’s speech heralds majoritarian welfare, opens new political space by Dane Clouston http://ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28436 Dane Clouston Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:49:14 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28436 Increasing annually by the same amount FOR ten years or so up to about 10% of the average wealth of every adult and child in the UK. Increasing annually by the same amount FOR ten years or so up to about 10% of the average wealth of every adult and child in the UK.

]]> Comment on Miliband’s speech heralds majoritarian welfare, opens new political space by Dane Clouston http://ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28435 Dane Clouston Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:46:37 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1069&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28435 For greater majoritarian equality of opportunity in an individualistic country, there should be an Asset Welfare State as well as the Income Welfare State, with Democratic Capitalism replacing quasi-feudal Dynastic Capitalism, under which some inherit billions while others inherit no capital for all. Introduce UK Universal Inheritance for all UK-born UK citizens at 25, financed by reform of Inheritance Tax with abolition of unlimited exemptions and a modest flat rate Capital Donor Tax in combination with a progressive rate Accessions Tax on cumulative lifetime totals of unearned gifted and inherited capital. To be fair to adjacent year groups of 25 year olds, introduce UK Universal Inheritance gradually, at £1,000 in the first year increasing annually by the same amount of ten years or so up to about 10% of the average wealth of every adult and child in the UK. For greater majoritarian equality of opportunity in an individualistic country, there should be an Asset Welfare State as well as the Income Welfare State, with Democratic Capitalism replacing quasi-feudal Dynastic Capitalism, under which some inherit billions while others inherit no capital for all.

Introduce UK Universal Inheritance for all UK-born UK citizens at 25, financed by reform of Inheritance Tax with abolition of unlimited exemptions and a modest flat rate Capital Donor Tax in combination with a progressive rate Accessions Tax on cumulative lifetime totals of unearned gifted and inherited capital.

To be fair to adjacent year groups of 25 year olds, introduce UK Universal Inheritance gradually, at £1,000 in the first year increasing annually by the same amount of ten years or so up to about 10% of the average wealth of every adult and child in the UK.

]]> Comment on China ups the stakes on climate change action, while UK debate flounders by Nigel http://ippr.org/?p=1061&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28090 Nigel Fri, 24 May 2013 21:12:44 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1061&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-28090 Delivered by Guy Turner, Director of London-based New Energy Finance, says Korea is starting its wind industry at a difficult time, with falling prices and shrinking demand. There renewable zukunft is increasing interest now that they're producing. Delivered by Guy Turner, Director of London-based New Energy Finance, says Korea is starting its wind industry at a difficult time, with falling prices and shrinking demand.
There renewable zukunft is increasing interest now that they’re producing.

]]> Comment on The energy of new ideas: British progressives need a dose of Thatcher’s dynamism by Mervyn Hyde http://ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26654 Mervyn Hyde Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:03:37 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26654 Academia in general hasn't even grasped the fundamentals of what drives an economy. China are gobbling up the worlds resources at a rate that is not sustainable, we are still dreaming about how we compete in an arena that we not present in. (size Matters) The financial sector is a busted flush, Steve Keen makes clear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGkmgnprrIU If we are to become anything like a viable economic entity we need to start thinking self sufficiency, that is not part of a free market capitalist agenda, socialism works just look at the Mondragon co-operative, but that has to modified and directed by a willing government, no such government exists yet in this country. That is what people need to wake up to, society does exist it just needs organising. Academia in general hasn’t even grasped the fundamentals of what drives an economy.

China are gobbling up the worlds resources at a rate that is not sustainable, we are still dreaming about how we compete in an arena that we not present in. (size Matters)

The financial sector is a busted flush, Steve Keen makes clear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGkmgnprrIU
If we are to become anything like a viable economic entity we need to start thinking self sufficiency, that is not part of a free market capitalist agenda, socialism works just look at the Mondragon co-operative, but that has to modified and directed by a willing government, no such government exists yet in this country. That is what people need to wake up to, society does exist it just needs organising.

]]> Comment on The energy of new ideas: British progressives need a dose of Thatcher’s dynamism by Anthony Gray http://ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26653 Anthony Gray Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:32:04 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26653 I recall being in a very small minority trying to get my Trades Union to accept that hers was, in the main, a very radical (rather than reactionary) approach. So I agree with much of this review – but what place monetarism? Think you missed the need for an additional caveat there surely ? I recall being in a very small minority trying to get my Trades Union to accept that hers was, in the main, a very radical (rather than reactionary) approach. So I agree with much of this review – but what place monetarism? Think you missed the need for an additional caveat there surely ?

]]> Comment on The energy of new ideas: British progressives need a dose of Thatcher’s dynamism by Mick Hills http://ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26651 Mick Hills Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:40:18 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1033&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26651 Science and technology will lead the way in employment in all kinds of ways. This harnessed with the advances that can be made through environmental, energy production across Britain is a massive agenda that Labour need to be seen to be at the head and in the lead of. If you like Wilsons White hot age of technology in modern terms. The Banking system has to be radically reformed and the message given out, Thatcher style, that not supporting society by paying a fair rate of taxation is anti-British, and not playing the game by the vast mass of working people who have no choice in the matter. Jobs through a new environmental industry supported by a system of worker participation in production that takes away the leading edge of capitalism being seen as the only system that works. Science and technology will lead the way in employment in all kinds of ways. This harnessed with the advances that can be made through environmental, energy production across Britain is a massive agenda that Labour need to be seen to be at the head and in the lead of. If you like Wilsons White hot age of technology in modern terms. The Banking system has to be radically reformed and the message given out, Thatcher style, that not supporting society by paying a fair rate of taxation is anti-British, and not playing the game by the vast mass of working people who have no choice in the matter. Jobs through a new environmental industry supported by a system of worker participation in production that takes away the leading edge of capitalism being seen as the only system that works.

]]> Comment on Bournville, Birmingham and the bedroom tax: the lessons of Victorian localism by Jeremy Hardie http://ippr.org/?p=1028&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26462 Jeremy Hardie Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:38:51 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1028&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26462 Absolutely right. One morally impoverishing effect of even good state intervention is that I can feel I am doing the right thing by paying my taxes so the poor are helped by the state, without having the values of a Quaker or indeed any values except the cold notion that poverty ought to be sorted out. Impersonality is bad for the giver as well as for the recipient. Absolutely right.

One morally impoverishing effect of even good state intervention is that I can feel I am doing the right thing by paying my taxes so the poor are helped by the state, without having the values of a Quaker or indeed any values except the cold notion that poverty ought to be sorted out. Impersonality is bad for the giver as well as for the recipient.

]]> Comment on Bubblicious: Osborne perpetuates the high house price cycle by John Woods http://ippr.org/?p=1023&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26187 John Woods Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:24:02 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1023&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26187 It is very strange that he set the upper limit at £600,000 and mentioned First Time Buyers in the same breadth. What FTB can afford £600,000 and yet cannot afford more than a 5% deposit and yet have the national debt bear £120,000 of his/her risk. I don't know any people in this position. Even considering that it takes a minimum of £50,000 a year after tax to live in London and that every 1% of a £570,000 mortgage is £5,700, I can only ask who George Osborne is seeking to please. It is certainly not people like me who bought our first house (in 1968) on twice our annual earning. I am beginning to believe he is thinking of people who want a second home in the Home Counties. It is very strange that he set the upper limit at £600,000 and mentioned First Time Buyers in the same breadth. What FTB can afford £600,000 and yet cannot afford more than a 5% deposit and yet have the national debt bear £120,000 of his/her risk. I don’t know any people in this position. Even considering that it takes a minimum of £50,000 a year after tax to live in London and that every 1% of a £570,000 mortgage is £5,700, I can only ask who George Osborne is seeking to please. It is certainly not people like me who bought our first house (in 1968) on twice our annual earning. I am beginning to believe he is thinking of people who want a second home in the Home Counties.

]]> Comment on Childcare: Cui bono? by @Home Childcare http://ippr.org/?p=1019&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26047 @Home Childcare Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:44:56 +0000 http://www.ippr.org/?p=1019&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17#comment-26047 Wise words! Totally agree. Wished the govt would face the childcare costs problem head on & deal with it properly. Wise words! Totally agree. Wished the govt would face the childcare costs problem head on & deal with it properly.

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