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Election campaigns force the parties to set out their policies so the people can choose. Obama has set out Democrat economic policy. Centre pieces are $l50 billion investment in alternative energy to generate jobs and end oil dependence. Support for the automobile industry to develop l50 m.p.g cars. Support for the development of battery technology. Development of clean coal technology. Building fast rail (why the hell don’t they have this in such a big country?)
An attractive manifesto which the Republicans can’t cap. It’s also one which Labour should offer now because it will wrong foot the Tories and more important it would work and generate jobs here.
Why should we be so afraid of public spending? Financialisation of the economy has led to this mess. Reducing public spending on housing has cut building to record lows. Handing vast areas of the public service to consultants and the private sector has led to record waste and no improvement in efficiency. Time now to shift the balances back from empowering the market to management, intervention and regulation and stop giving the Tories’ speeches for them.
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First fruit of our registration with the Obama campaign is an invitation (from Gale Force!)to swim round the peer for Obama.
The Cayucos Senate of which we’re now part, sits every morning at 8am in Kelly’s coffee bar produced the terse response “Why swim? Obama can walk on water”
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Gordon is to announce the Mitchell Plan to cabinet on 8 September. It must include action on one part of the crisis we can influence: falling house prices. Turn these around and confidence and consumer spending will return. That requires 2% interest rates, local authority purchase of repossessed houses to stop them depressing the market, far more generous help for those struggling to keep their houses and pumping public money into the lending institutions so interest rates on mortgages come down and people can borrow again. All immediate priorities the government should act on. Now. September 8 is the date. The Bank of England will have give is a grudging little reduction of interest rates by then. Or not.
Cabinet will meet at an unknown location in the Midlands-not the North. David Miliband will profess his undying loyalty and lead a chorus of “For he’s a jolly good leader” and Gordon will then announce his acceptance of the Mitchell recommendations. Or Not.
It’s make or break time. It decides whether we win or lose the next election. Downhill to deflation. Or spend to succeed. Go for it Gordon.
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Just had an article urging Brown to go for growth turned down by the Guardian All my articles are turned down by the Guardian but unusually this time they gave a reason: too long and needs to be more about Miliband” Now we know
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The old Blue Fox she ain’t what she used to be. Murdock’s Fox news is getting bit sad. Four years ago it was innovative and exciting. Now it’s just a rant against Obama. Hannity has gone far and petulant. O’Reilly self referential and self reverential too and their commentators are the remnant of the right wing wrecking gang who’re not in prison: Rove, Coulter, North, Gingrich, Dick Morris and other busted flushes. Even the limbough dittoheads who make up the audience are shrinking in numbers and as that happens Rupert faces a choice. His politics are right wing but he loves success With the country going more liberal and Obama certain to win will he want to finance a grouches grumblefest? Or will he move with the mood?
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Good to know that in a bursting world the Bank of England, defender of the Old Testament in economics, stands unshook. Keep interest rtes at 5% and keep retribution flowing.
Instead of letting Mad Merve become the Torquemeda of economics Gord should send him to do some work experience at the FED to learn the Central Bankers job.
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