Why is it always money?

John Carter · 29-03-2007, 02:08 PM

I'm a problem. In order to fix me, you only have to throw copious amounts of money my way. Couple of hundred mil should sort it, I reckon.

David Agnew · 30-01-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pentameter

'We', as private individuals, generally don't and can't.

'We', as a society - effectively the politicians in charge - do for a variety of reasons;

It's easier than thinking and taking hard decisions, which might make them unpopular.

It isn't their money.

It's very easy to allow the public sector to grow, but incredibly hard to prune it back.

It creates a large section of dependent voters.

Have you noticed the way that 'investment' is increasingly used for 'spending'? An unpleasant corruption of the language.

Nice summary.

I think a large part of the problem is that politicians simply haven't got any ideas or problem solving ability. Spending taxpayers' money is a substitute for action. They are not ashamed, but see it as a badge of honour. New Labour likes to boast about how much they spend. You are right, they do now call it 'investment', when a more honest term would be 'waste'.

Ronald Reagan hit the nail on the head when he said:

Quote:

Governments do not solve problems, they subsidize them

mkpdavies · 31-01-2008, 10:38 AM

I would just like to offer the EU/NWO/Commies/etc a deal.

You put 2 million (pounds sterling) my way and I will shut up, give in and never be a thorn in your side again.

Otherwise I am here to haunt you forever.

See, everyone has a price.

The Guvnah · 31-01-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

Milton Friedman sums up government waste very succinctly (video at ...

There are four ways in which you can spend money:

1. You can spend your own money on yourself.

When you do that, why then you really watch out what you’re doing, and you try to get the most for your money.

2. You can spend your own money on somebody else.

For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I’m not so careful about the content of the present, but I’m very careful about the cost.

3. I can spend somebody else’s money on myself.

And if I spend somebody else’s money on myself, then I’m sure going to have a good lunch!

4. Finally, I can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else.

And if I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get. And that’s government.

Beat me to it Harry. this is all you need to know about govt's economic expenditure, procurement, policy and rationale.

TannyD · 31-01-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjt

Why when we are faced with a problem do we tend to throw money at it?

People having kids they cant afford to look after- throw money at them.

NHS in trouble- throw money at it.

People starving in the third world- lob them some lolly for their dictators to spend.

Yet so often when I say these things on my university disscussion forums I am shouted down for being a extremist.

Does it not make more sense to actually look at the causes of a problem before throwing money at it?

I don't think Third World Hunger will end in decades time, in fact I think it may take a few hundred years maybe more. Shouldn't we be sorting out the problems in our own country first, if we don't keep our eye on the ball we might become a Third World country and then what use will we be to anyone or of what interest?

The Guvnah · 31-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Agnew

Nice summary.

I think a large part of the problem is that politicians simply haven't got any ideas or problem solving ability.

That's why they have effectively subcontracted out huge swathes of policy to the see of such groups as The Inst. for Public Policy Research, J. Rowntree foundation, Fabian Soc. and many many more, basically anyone who can churn out a few hundred pages of group-think in exchange for ..?..ty thousand pounds or so. How DO these organizations remain in business anyway, surely their output is only of interest to maybe a thousand or so PC departmental policy wonks (and I'm being generous) and is retailable to maybe 1 or 2 hundred of these across the country. Commissions from Accenture, BT, Housing Organizations et al?

A topical example? The Public Policy Forum? are we any the wiser about what the hell they ever did/still do? Of course the inclusion of the word "public" is appended to give the appearance of consultation with genuine public bodies or fora, so that's fine then. I am actually on the I.P.P.R.s email bulletin list, (know thy enemy etc) and its output is indeed, and invariably, turgid tripe on a universal scale.

g hall · 31-01-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

I would just like to offer the EU/NWO/Commies/etc a deal.

You put 2 million (pounds sterling) my way and I will shut up, give in and never be a thorn in your side again.

Otherwise I am here to haunt you forever.

See, everyone has a price.

Cheapskate I want 10 mill GBP

31-01-2008, 10:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	I would just like to offer the EU/NWO/Commies/etc a deal. You put 2 million (pounds sterling) my way and I will shut up, give in and never be a thorn in your side again. Otherwise I am here to haunt you forever. See, everyone has a price. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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29-03-2007, 02:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	I'm a problem. In order to fix me, you only have to throw copious amounts of money my way. Couple of hundred mil should sort it, I reckon.