Where's The Sense In Voting Labour?

[naomi24]

Labour intend hitting businesses and oil companies with high taxes. The result will be that the cost is passed on to the consumer meaning potential job losses and higher prices for everything, including fuel. The people least likely to be able to afford higher prices are the poor. Since concern for the poor is an on-going theme here, can anyone who is concerned for the poor but is nevertheless intending to vote Labour, rationalise their choice? Where is the sense in voting Labour?

[Theland]

Drmorgans - A very good point.

Naomi - I have never been so confused and indecisive.
My postal vote is sitting there waiting to be completed.
Melanie Phillips said on the Politics programme, it was a case of choosing the least worst party, and I agree with her.
My 25 year old son who lives with us has ripped up his vote in disgust.

[Theland]

The bankers want capitalism for us, and socialism for them.
When they crashed the economy through greed, they turned to the rest of us to bail them out. That is socialism. Their shareholders did not take a hit at all.
The rest of us did.

[TheDevil]

" but everything has to be paid for and that's what Labour doesn't seem to understand. "

Labour knows where what money there is to use annually, they also know where the money is going and where it could be going.

You imply the Labour government doesn't understand that things cost money. Of course they understand that things cost money. They know more than you do Naomi24 from your keyboard.

[naomi24]

TD, have you ever seen communism in action?

[TheDevil]

That has no relation to my answer.

[Theland]

I fully support Naomi's views on full blooded Socialism, the history of which is often written in blood.
Simple historical facts.
Remember, Hitler was a National Socialist, as was Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, there is a very long list.

[naomi24]

There's a surprise. :o)

[gulliver1]

Theland 10.38, Spot On!.

[drmorgans]

You could equally draw up a list of capitalist tyrannies, probably starting (historically) with the East India Company, (present-day) exploitation of Africa by mining and oil industries and the destruction of the South American rain forests by logging and agricultural businesses.

[naomi24]

Nice try but that doesn't address the question.

[Theland]

Can anybody help here?
I am trying to remember when, and what prompted Edward Heath, to come out with his quote, "The unacceptable face of Capitalism."
Anybody remember this?

[drmorgans]

1973, about Tiny Rowland of Lonrho infamy.

[Theland]

Drmorgans - Yes I remember now.

[Theland]

Drmorgans - I understand your point about unbridled Capitalism, but a lot of what you suggest is tied up with foreign policy, and corruption in the governments of the target countries. A lack of law and regulation in the recipient countries are an issue.
But you have opened up the discussion, and we can surely all agree that unregulated Socialism or Capitalism lead to exploitation and we must try to imagine an economic system that is humane and fair but that benefit the whole population.

[diddlydo]

Theland - "we must try to imagine an economic system that is humane and fair but that benefit the whole population".
Precisely - and that means voting the Tories out of office.

[emmie]

there is no sense in voting Labour, but i do think that it's going to be a close call this election.
the poor are the ones who won't benefit as you say they will be hit just as much as the better off.
higher taxes, that mean the companies will offload the rises to the consumer, as per usual.

[Theland]

I'm a fan of a mixed economy, nationalisation for some essential services, and encouragement for private business to compete, thrive and grow.
But working people have rarely been given anything by their employers, but have had to fight for every improvement in their working conditions, and fair wages.
I am certainly not one of those who thanks their lucky stars for the rich and super rich, because they provide employment. That is just so much forelock tugging blue shirt.

[naomi24]

//But working people have rarely been given anything by their employers//

Why should anyone give you anything? A fair day's work for a fair day's pay and all that - but your claim is nonsense anyway. Practically every big company gives its staff enormous benefits from private health insurance to lucrative pension pots and welfare schemes. Nothing would ever satisfy your agenda. You'd complain regardless.

[Theland]

Private health insurance in my experience has been for management only.
Also, the pension pots are not what you would describe as lucrative. Don't know where that came from.

[Theland]

What welfare schemes?