Typical... The British are trying, once again, to outsource blame for their dreadful position to Europe. What a freak show! Economic Reports Surprise in Britain and Germany By JULIA WERDIGIER
Our Myopic OP once again walks into a brick wall . In the worst ever economic period --- set to dwarf the Great Depression of the thirties -- the UK has effectively outperformed the whole of Europe , given its businesses profile with a small manufacturing sector and reliance on service industries . This is reflected in its Financial standing where virtually every EU state economy has been down rated with the exception of the UK and Germany . At the other end of the spectrum we have Spain and Italy in deep trouble and Greece and Belgium in tatters . It seems increasingly that the EU is regarding Germany and the UK as the lynch pins on which to build a sustainable future . And this is all the more remarkable given that less than two years ago it was judged that Browne , the incompetent UK Labour Chancellor and then PM , had reduced the UK to assumed huge trouble . All the more reason to congratulate the tough coalition government that has combatted adverse conditions better than other major EU economies . And when Italy finally defaults , with Spain close behind , it will be Germany that will be hit hardest . The OP has to be criticised yet again for finding almost humorous articles written by unknown journalists desperate to find an eye catching head line , but clearly not having any great grasp of a subject best left to experts and those with experience on which to make balanced judgements .
Neither Germany nor the UK are in a hurry to save socialism by wrecking their economies, too. That's a good sign. Greece is going to have to crash and restructure.
While I think you're overly harsh on Brown, who was after all in the middle of a programme to redress the destruction previously inflicted by inept Tory government and was about to end the spending part of his financial plan (we are still seeing the completion of new schools designated by the Labour government, not the terrible Tories), the rest of your post is on the nail.
Come on now, Viv. You're a smart woman. I didn't know you would buy in such silly rethoric that easily.
As Rhetoric means the art and study of using language persuasively and effectively , you have given me a very deserved compliment ,Janpoor . I am sure you will aspire to a similar standard after university and a couple of decades in business . And thanks also to Viv , but my memory tells me that dear Mister Brown left office having ordered or commissioned schools at a total cost exceeding £60 million , but had failed to actually pay one penny of that amount . He was such a clever guy with figures , as the State of the Nation Budget Book showed us !!!!! PS it could be pointed out that the phrase ,"Silly rhetoric" is an Oxymoron . But I suppose you could be called the same .
The Tory government made a lot of inept decisions, but what did Brown achieve for the massive debt he inflicted on the UK? (The spending which caused it had the Tory party's approval.)
The economy inherited by the incompetent, spend-thrift Governemnt in 1997 was in fine shape a decade or so of Left-wing mismanagemnt by Brown and Balls has left us in hugh debt - little gold reserve (Brown sold 60% of the UK gold reserve at a rock bottom price) Just as all Labour Governments in the past 50years have left the UK economy in ruins it has always been left to the Conservatives to fix things again and put us on our feet. It is not for no reason that the UK population now no longer trusts the Labour Party with any econonmic policy and their poll rating on economic policy is at rock bottom. That is Brown's legacy.
I can quite understand committed spenders feeling a need to mumble a few words about Deaf and Blind Gordon , out of loyalty and based on necessary denial But to seek to try and justify the worst Prime Minister in recorded History is sheer perversity . Not only was he Publicly the equivalent of a buffoon turned idiot , but he was a ghastly man in private -- an out and out bully and dogmatic , a tunnel visioned clown . Other than that he did well .
