There is talk today of there being no alternative economic narrative.
That's not true. Take this from the Guardian:
Britain's trade unions must build a movement for an "economic alternative" rooted in green technologies and forcing banks to lend to small businesses, the leader of the TUC says on Monday.
On the same day as the government-commissioned Vickers report outlines plans for reforming UK banks, the TUC's general secretary, Brendan Barber, will urge trade unions to "shift the debate" away from deficit reduction and on to building a new economy.
And yes, I do advise the TUC. And I'm proud of that fact. And yes, this does sound like some things I say though I had no direct influence I know of.
But that's not the point: the point is that right now is the Labour leadership can't or won't take the lead in setting the terms for the economic debate we need then the trade unions will, and that's great news.
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Labour is far from providing any kind of leadership on this issue and that is probably because they are wedded to neoliberalism. We really have to begin to consider how employment in the future is to be created. There was an interesting article in the Guardian on Saturday from Richard Sennett – emeritus professor of sociology at the LSE. He discusses the structural unemployment resulting from modern capitalism and the creation of insecurity and ‘the spectre of uselessness’. Apparently some northern European countries are addressing these issues, for example Holland supplements the wages of part time employees. We should be exploring these policies because, as he states, as a society we need to ‘deal humanely with automation’. If we do not address these issues then social cohesion will disintegrate beyond repair and personally I would not wish to live in a country with such divisions.
Typical Guardian eco-nonsense on green technologies. The belief that forcing the economy down the “green route” will generate jobs is false. Read the Verso Economics report “Worth a Candle” which states for every “green job” created , 3.7 jobs are lost in other parts of the economy.
And I don’t believe a word of it!
” Read the Verso Economics report “Worth a Candle” which states for every “green job” created , 3.7 jobs are lost in other parts of the economy.”
How do they work that one out?
Read the report its on the web I believe. Similar studies in Spain also related to their push for Solar. I think they calculated 2.2 jobs losses per one “green job”.
Respectfully I seriously doubt any such conclusion and the control that might be made for other variables
Respectfully Richard I would ask that you read the reports (both by reptuable organisations) before condeming them.
Read the executive summary here: http://www.versoeconomics.com/verso-0311B.pdf
Richard you will no doubt have something to say after reading point 5 (V) where exemptions from the climate change levy cost HMRC £77 Million in lost tax. I know how you love your tax.
I’ve read one (OK the exec summary)
And I disagree with you even more profoundly, respectfully
That’s typical consultant stuff
That’s not evidence