Adding to the posts of June and July seemed a vaguely fatuous exercise as the rest of 2010 seemed to be variations on the theme. Theoretical cuts became proposed cuts, and by the spring will be more actual cuts - the process of making these more concrete has at last triggered opposition. Whether it is libraries, forests or local campaigns to save school crossing patrols, the opposition to specific cuts and privatisation's demonstrate the basic 'nimbyism' that sees the public accepting the need for cuts, so long as they don't affect them and impact on someone else.
Cynically, both nationally and locally, politicians seem to make a crude electoral calculation by saving/protecting services for the elderly whilst cutting the EMA and closing youth services. Against this, the unlikely, but fantastic response of the students in November and December and the growing popularity of UKUncut all give cause for optimism. The linking of tax avoidance/evasion and the excesses of business with the student fee hike and cuts in basic services has great popular traction. The arrogant claims that 'its all down to the mess they inherited from labour' is being challenged on the ground, as is the bizarre idea that the deficit was down to incompetent labour, and nothing to do with a global economic crisis.
The disastrous GDP figures for the final quarter of last year showed the elementary economic ignorance of the marketeers and their cuts policies. The Thatcherite battle cry of TINA has already worn thin in the mounting evidence of cuts to front line services, whilst the absence of a plan B is starting to worry even some of their supporters. Regardless, our cabinet of millionaires, in the pocket of business, and with no understanding of the lives of ordinary people, continue their attack on the 90% who earn less than £45k a year.
History teaches us that such arrogant certainty can lead to unforeseen problems and, once the policies fail, the hunt for scapegoats starts. Cameron's speech on multi-culturism demonstrates that he is as ignorant of this history as he is of many other things. To not be able to see the irony of making a speech in Munich on mono-culturism, so full of lazy assumptions, and to do so on the day the fascist EDL marched in Luton, without one word of condemnation from Cameron, shows naivety. To continue to claim that he shouldn't change what he says 'because a few people walk down a street in an english town' starts to look more like a play for their votes. A very dangerous path to tread when the economic outlook is so uncertain.
