The fall-out from the Iran war could be global economic chaos; but also perhaps the dawn of a new, possibly improved, appreciation of the precious necessities of living; and even in the fat and comfortable Western rich nations a greater recognition of the need to bear responsibility for self, rejecting bailouts and so entitlement.
In the UK this could begin with the eradication of Government bailout largesse. It is notable how the UK Government’s knee jerk response to a rapidly rising cost of oil and gas was to donate another £53 million to households which use oil fired energy. This would be allocated by local councils, to alleviate the economic pain. This is to perpetuate the philosophy that it is for the State to compensate all people for any downside they may experience: totally unaffordable, eroding personal responsibility and ingenuity to overcome hardships, great and small.
IS IT REALLY ALL JOHNSON’S FAULT?
The dominant reason the UK cannot afford to borrow more money is the enormous debt pile incurred by Government during the pandemic. In addition, that was followed by a world economic chaos as supply chains failed and Putin’s catastrophic and evil Ukrainian war rattled the global order: borrowing got bigger.
The Economist in the article “Compo Britain,” bemoans how a UK culture prevails today where, if a person suffers a loss for whatever reason, Government must provide compensation. Whereas historically, in general, if a household or business was embattled with problems, it had to adapt and change its ways, with personal responsibility and resilience. Welfare was truly for the most vulnerable. The UK world war mentality of toughness and community has long been a source of inspiration; and today so is the ingenuity and toughness of the Ukrainian people beset by an adversity which is many multiples greater than the current level of suffering in most Western democracies.
That compensation culture is claimed to have been fathered by Boris Johnson during Covid: the State saw fit to succumb to the bleatings and insistence of almost every interest group, political party and the media requiring it to lockdown and to protect everybody from the economic consequences of so doing. People were paid not to work and businesses compensated for lack of custom, whether good or bad businesses. The Government promised to spare no expense to shield the populace. Lockdown sceptics were dismissed but now with hindsight so many have changed their tune and question the value of lockdowns. It perhaps would have been better not to lockdown, protect, if possible, the most vulnerable and everyone else take their chances.
Ever since then, subsidies are expected. Instead, people should be taking the rough with the smooth. Energy subsidy is killing the finances of the nation, combined with a net zero policy uniquely dogmatic and inflexible, so that the UK businesses and consumers pay among the highest prices for energy in the developed world. This is exacerbated by green energy taxes and other taxes on fuel and refusal to maximise domestic production. All unaffordable. The latest oil subsidy is unnecessary: rather, suspending tax on oil could eliminate the cost increases. In any event, the public can take their own steps to economise and so save money if they choose to: the warm season is here – why not cut down usage, have fewer baths, wear warmer clothes, drive less etc. If the Iran war continues for many more weeks, quickly the price of almost everything will rise, from food to travel and certainly for most imported goods. Will the public expect the State to spend money it does not have to bail them out? And shortages may result. This is a chance to stem the entitlement “ look after me” culture and get back to mutual assistance and personal responsibility. Community spirit and national unity will be required, with an end to dishonest political bickering and focus on the basics of life.
NO MORE FREEBIES
It is not Johnson who is to blame for the bailout culture, it is the public and the media which demonises problems. But also, Government Ministers who cannot make tough decisions but want to garner votes. It could even be a time to consider reducing all freebies, from the totally free NHS to hand-out benefits. Why not charge for abuse of the freebie system, such as people who 23 million times a year don’t turn up for NHS appointments, or the millions of callouts of ambulances by people who don’t need them. A simple small charge for every NHS visit would not hurt most people and may reduce wasteful attendances.
Every freebie doled out by the State gets abused. Every freebie weakens personal resilience. The pain inflicted by the Iran War could be turned to advantage to make the UK stronger. Not just militarily, as this war has surely finally exposed the lie of Starmer and his cabinet that they are reinforcing our defences, while refusing to reallocate money to do so. Surely now some urgent rearming is to be undertaken, and dillydallying deferment of the Defence Investment Review must end. If the freebies are reduced, many people refusing to work because they don’t feel well might realise it’s time for them to look after themselves; and their suffering compares nothing to that of Ukrainians, Iranians and Israelis and Gazans and Lebanese, Somalians and the endless lists of others. Some common-sense perspective could reemerge.
This Iran war could, if we take the opportunity, make Britain strong again through the toughness of its people and leadership being forced to make hard decisions.
Or will votes continue to be bought with benefits and bailouts?
See Also: – Dishonest Budget Cementing Entitlement – Couldn’t Care Less Poisonous Entitlement – Culture Change, the Cure for UK Ailments
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