When we were heading towards the last election. I knew for a fact that with the Tories back in - the NHS would disappear. I also knew that the the Welfare State as it was wouldn't be far behind. It's what they do. No amount of shiny suits and shiny haircuts could disguise the fact that the "New Tories" were just made up of the same old failed Ministers from the last time around. Such a shame that so many did fall for it.
After 1997 there was an interview with a Junior Minister in the Major Government who said that there was a "Green Paper" or a discussion paper going around Tory Central Office looking at options for introducing competition (aka "Privatisation") into the NHS once they were re-elected. I never forgot this and knew it would get dusted off once they got back in.
This latest round of cuts announced yesterday is really scraping the bottom of the barrel though in regards to fairness. It is Demonisation and Victimisation of the worst kind. You'll think it extreme and an exaggeration to suggest it - but they are on edges of Nazi-ism. I feel ashamed at daring to suggest something that is - in a normal democracy - laughable, but there you are. I've said it and it does appear to be a stone's throw from what the Tories are doing.
Instead of a "Bedroom Tax" - How easy would it have been to introduce a couple of extra tiers to the Council Tax Bands and impose taxes on Mansions that would be appropriate to their size? Have a look at your Council Tax Bands - Go on! What's the percentage difference between Band A and Band G, or H or whatever the last one is these days? Not much is it? Perhaps that could change?
Equally, Instead of cutting off small businesses by not lending, not supporting jobs or encouraging people to set up on their own, would it be so difficult to get some money out of the very Bankers who caused the crash in the first place? The "Banking Transaction Tax" could do just that - and put money back into your community to support your services.
Whilst we're on the idea of "Predictions", The Minimum Wage. As soon as Cameron started on about his "Big Society" - didn't you guess that it was just there to undermine it? When Job Centres came up with Workfare? Wasn't it too easy? As soon as there were enough volunteers doing good work in the community - how easy would it be to cut, freeze or just let fade away the Minimum Wage? After all - It was the Tories who cut out the old "Wages Council" in the early nineties - so it was only a matter of time before they did the same once again. So obvious, so predictable, so why didn't anyone else realise?
But they won't do that. In the old "Divide and Rule" cliché. In the old "Laugh at the little guy" bullying tactics of the Classroom, this bunch of schoolboys just want to pick on you, pick on what you do, make fun of your clothes and hair and - oh yes! Pinch your Dinner Money.
