this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2024
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UK Politics

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[–] Darkard@lemmy.world 17 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Well we already have local councils going bankrupt, school ceilings collapsing, money wasted on deportation schemes going to court and dodgy covid contracts under the Tories now.

So either you vote Tory and that almost certainly continues or you vote Labor and you find out if they do spend it better.

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

All those things were failing before the tax cut. If we can't effectively run these things during times of the highest rates of tax in recent history, maybe it's not a problem we can simplify tax ourselves out of.

Call me a cynical old bastard but I don't trust either the Tories or Labour to spend my hard earned cash effectively. For the record, I will be voting against the Tories at the next GE, although I don't think that has anything to do with this debate.

You know what lower taxes can do though? Give me some cash to fix all the cracked plaster and flaking paint on my house, give me enough money to pay the bills and buy some meals that don't come from the "Tesco's cheap dinner recipes" website and maybe even have enough money left over at the end of the month to spend on some things that I personally enjoy.

The years since the 2008 financial crisis have been fucking dog shit and you don't expect me to be pleased that I'm for the first time in a very long time getting to keep a little extra of my own hard earned cash?

[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 18 points 8 months ago

Yeah, they were failing due to chronic under funding. So the Tories took the extra taxes labour had suggested to fund the public services and used them to cut our taxes.

Make the most of the extra money, but honestly if you want to see a doctor easily or for the council to keep collecting your trash, those taxes are probably going to have to come back up.

[–] Tagger@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

I totally get it, mate. Honestly, no I don't expect you not to enjoy that bit of extra money, life is really hard right now! I hope the next few months are kind to you and hopefully the next government can do some good work to build the economy and restore some of our faith in the political systems by working, not the line their own pockets and support their father-in-laws business interests but to actually make life easier for regular people.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz -3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

vote Labor and you find out if they do spend it better.

Spoiler, Blair II won't.

[–] Tagger@lemmy.world 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean, Blair 1 did spend it better.

You may not like new Labour, but it's pure delusion to suggest they were as bad as the criminals in office now.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Blair was the one who saddled the NHS with terrible PFIs.

[–] Tagger@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I still maintain, that overall for the majority of people he spent the government money far better than the current conservatives party have been spending their money.

[–] echodot 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

So your solution is to simply continue to vote for the status quo is it?

Interesting tactic but I'm not sure it will work.

You're standing on the sinking ship and you're refusing to get in the lifeboat because there is an outside possibility that the lifeboat will also sink. But also quite a high possibility that it won't. Simple game theory would suggest that you get in the lifeboat.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 0 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I live in a tory safe seat, so my vote barely matters, but I won't be voting for any of the big three.

[–] echodot 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

There are no safe seats in this election I highly recommend that you look up tactical voting.

Voting for a different party simply because you have a chip on your shoulder and it's an imagined chip as well is only counterproductive for yourself.

You have to ask yourself what you want, Which would be a worse scenario for you another conservative government, or a labor government, because those are the only two possible outcomes here. It would be nice if that wasn't the case but it's the case.

[–] HumanPenguin 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Looking at polling data. Your safe seat really might not be so safe. When polling gets to the low 20s everything is up for grabs. The 2 party advantages start to collasps at the 20s. Add to that the 3rd of the big 3 is around 10%.

Then the ability for any of the smaller parties to change things a little seems less extream. So voting habits can change Drematically.

With 1 party at about 40% and no other seeming like the obvious only option to beat them. Absolutely every seat starts to look at the polling at home. People who don't like labour are less willing to vote them to avoid the tories. Meaning many smaller parties may get a push from left of labour.

But much more the case. People who would normally vote tories to keep Labour out. Have to start thinking tactically. And will think about how to reduce the labour lead from a land slide while placing People who they may turn to and compromise with if weak. When so many parties can potentially gain seats from losing tories. Any one non labour MP may make the difference in a weak labour government.