Exciting times. The UK is the best in the world at something. It did not need any help from other countries; it did it all on its own. But how did it become so successful?
To get to the top of the league shows ultimate ambition. To ensure one stays there or close to it reflects real perseverance.
The ambitions shown by those on the bridge of the UK liner began many years ago. The first initiative was to strip away as many services, owned by the whole crew, and manufacture a way of giving them to the rich and powerful crew members with as few people noticing as possible. These crew members could then exploit them for their own ends. This sort of began in the mid 1970’s but went on supercharger in the 1980’s. Quoting Frances of Assisi a ‘female’ captain of the ship saw an iceberg and believed it provided an opportunity. So she set sail, full steam ahead with the express desire to rap the ship around it. And she did. She was so successful that all the contents of the ship cascaded in to a small space on the ship. About 1% of its area in fact.
Those people in that 1% were overjoyed. It just so happened that they already had a much greater share of the ship’s content and they could not believe their luck.
But what about the other 99%? Well their fortunes were mixed. Some were friends with the 1% and were given presents and prizes for that friendship. However, others were not so lucky and were left to drown or thrash around in the cold water with little or no life support. For some reason the 1% lacked any sympathy and empathy and had little or no concerns for those struggling to keep their heads above the water. Having been handed the contents of the ship one would have thought that those owning the necessities and luxuries would understand that the ship would be much better able to stay afloat if everyone was strong enough to work for that aim.
Alas the ship took in more water and the majority began to sink further and further down. The survival of the ship depended upon everyone uniting. But to the future detriment of all the 1% could not see this and their survival also became tenuous.
From that moment the only people who were allowed to become captains of the ship were those who agreed to ensure that the 1% should control the ship’s contents.
The reporting of the sinking ship was portrayed very differently to reality. Instead of ensuring that the massive hole in the hull was and is identified and solutions proposed they largely kept quiet and ridiculed anyone who made such a claim. Even the rising water level was passed off as the fault of the 99%. The 1% were apparently blameless.
Then one day along came a small boat and those on it noticed that from the outside that the UK ship looked all mangled and that there was much screaming coming from within. They were very confused because all of the reporting had given the impression that the ship was fine and sailing full steam ahead. From this small boat a man came forward and shouted ‘we need to save this ship’. ‘We have to cover the holes and save the 99%.’ ‘This will mean the 1% having to be a lot kinder and caring and giving away much of their share.’
Of course the 1% did not like this. The reporting became even more fake and waspish and many of those splashing around in the water chose to stick with the captain who told them it was their fault or the fault of another ship elsewhere. They believed them and alas continued to drown alongside their loved ones. The man who sought to enlighten them and help them survive was crucified by the 1% and their reporters and although he came close to rescuing them he ultimately failed.
This man and others in the small boat decided to try another tactic. How about if we keep telling the truth and hope that one day the crew on the sinking ship will decide to rescue themselves? And that is what the increasing number of small boats have now decided to do. They circle the liner and reveal the reality. It is all they can do as the captain and any future captain is determined to see the liner sink before sharing the contents with the 99%. Their only threat is that the 99% work things out for themselves.
Who will ultimately win? Those determined to save the liner and all of those aboard or those who seek to plummet it in to the depths?
While we wait have a gander at just a little bit of truth that could save the ship if enough of the crew responded in unity:
Piled on more debt in 4 years than Labour did in 13: https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2013/11/the-tories-have-piled-on-more-debt-than-labour/
A rise in wealth inequality on the horizon: https://www.ft.com/content/4642c8d6-eb95-11e6-ba01-119a44939bb6
Dismantling of disability benefits is a breach of human rights: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/un-report-disability-disabled-rights-violating-austerity-welfare-reform-esa-pip-a7404956.html
Number of homeless children hit an eight year high last year: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/03/child-homelessness-christmas-eight-year-high-shelter-12000-children-temporary-accommodation
Child poverty expected to rise by 50% by 2020: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/28/number-uk-children-living-inpoverty-jumps-200000
Living standards fell for all but the richest: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/05/uk-living-standards-fell-for-all-but-the-richest-under-coalition-analysis
UK wages dropped 10% since 2007, the second-biggest hit in Europe: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-wages-drop-10-tuc-greece-recession-financial-crisis-brexit-a7157681.html
As of 2011, British people work the 3rd longest out of everyone in Europe: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/dec/08/europe-working-hours
16 million people have less than £100 in savings: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37504449
UK productivity growth is the weakest since WW2 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/apr/01/uk-productivity-growth-is-weakest-since-wwii-says-ons
GDP per capita is lower than it was before 2008: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/24/joseph-stiglitz-interview-uk-economy-lost-decade-zero-growth
Deficit was supposed to be eliminated by 2015, now the target is 2020: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/04/21/deficit-figures-an-embarrassment-for-george-osborne-as-he-misses/
For parents in full-time work the rate of poverty has risen to 8%, and the number of people in working-poor in absolute poverty grew by 2 million in the last decade: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21701216-number-working-poor-growing-blame-high-house-prices-low-productivity-and-too-little
£1 billion inheritance tax cut pledged: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/feb/28/tory-1bn-inheritance-tax-cut-will-worsen-north-south-divide
Six million workers paid less than the living wage: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34691404
Shelter: 1 in 5 adults suffer from mental health issues due to housing issues: https://twitter.com/Shelter/status/854782916739706881
In 2013 the Red Cross had to start a campaign for food aid in Britain for the first time since WW2: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-24487146
On average workers families are set to be £1300 worse off this year: https://fullfact.org/economy/average-working-families-and-budget/
By 2022 Conservatives will cut a combined £70 billion in corporation tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and bank levies, yet they claim they need to make savings by not guaranteeing triple-lock pensions: http://press.labour.org.uk/post/158315410419/the-tories-70bn-tax-giveaways-to-the-super-rich
Education and Schools
More than 500,000 primary school pupils are taught in classes between 31 and 35 pupils: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/15/primary-schools-oversize-classes-claims-labour
More than 40,000 primary children in classes over 36: https://www.educationbusinessuk.net/news/21042017/jeremy-corbyn-criticises-tories-over-overcrowded-classrooms
More than half of primary school teachers surveyed in a NUT poll said that pupils showed signs of holiday hunger, 39% of teachers said it affected more than a quarter of their pupils, 12% said it affected more than half, and 80% reported that holiday hunger increased over 2 years: https://www.teachers.org.uk/news-events/conference-2017/nut-survey-holiday-hunger
Fire Service
10,000 jobs axed and record fire station closures, fire prevention exercises have reduced by a quarter over 5 years, 13% less time on public safety initatives – 15% increase in fire-related deaths in 2015/16: http://www.writeyou.co.uk/dangerous_tory_cuts_to_our_fire_rescue_service_need_to_end
Carers
Carers only get £62.70 a week, and £4.6 billion have been cut from council care budgets from 2009-2015
NHS
20 hospitals declared a black alert in January: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/11/nhs-crisis-20-hospitals-declare-black-alert-as-patient-safety-no-longer-assured
The Red Cross declared the NHS was in humanitarian crisis in January: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/06/nhs-faces-humanitarian-crisis-rising-demand-british-red-cross
Around 1000 NHS England patients waited more than 12 hours on a trolley this January, compared to just 17 in Jan 2011: http://news.sky.com/story/worst-month-on-record-for-ae-waiting-times-10795364
There’s been a 504% increase of patients waiting over four hours since Jan 2011: http://news.sky.com/story/worst-month-on-record-for-ae-waiting-times-10795364
A&E diverts up 86% on last winter
Over 4000 urgent operations were cancelled last year, up 27% in two years: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/27/record-number-urgent-operations-cancelled-hospitals-england-2016
Knee and hip operations are “rationed” for only those who can’t sleep because of the pain: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/26/hip-operations-much-pain-cant-sleep-new-nhs-rationing-plans/
The rules on how much the NHS could pay agency staff is breached 50,000 times a week because of staff shortages: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36341285
Applications for nursing degrees are down 23% on September 2016 applications because nursing bursaries have been scrapped: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/applicants-uk-higher-education-down-5-uk-students-and-7-eu-students
Half of junior doctors chose not to progress to specialty training last year: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/Half+of+foundation+trainees+now+choose+not+to+progress+straight+to+specialty+training
NHS staff suffering pay cuts: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/nhs-staff-pay-cut-one-per-cent-rise-health-workers-doctors-dentists-nurses-midwives-a7654251.html
Private contracting has doubled from £4 billion to £8 billion since 2010: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37087304
Still, the Tories continue to cut £22 billion by 2020: http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_58322fcae4b09025ba32a16b
Even though the £15 billion in corporation tax cuts the Tories are enacting would be enough to train 10,000 teachers, 10,000 police officers, and 12,000 nurses full time every year for a decade: http://press.labour.org.uk/post/155290716819/tory-cuts-to-corporation-tax-worth-15-billion
Become an enlightened crew member and search out. Expose the growing hole in the hull. Tell other crew members and ask them to keep telling as many as they can. Work together to mend the hole and replace those who seek to sink the ship. Then we can all enjoy our cruise and be there for each other.
Jason Cridland
@JaseCridland
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