#UKBudget 3rd March 2021 - a pertinent reminder for the Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Conservative government have responded to the social and economic pressures of managing the covid pandemic with unprecedented financial support for people and employers (financed by government borrowing). This was necessary albeit there has evidently been mass fraud by unscrupulous claimants - (both personal and corporate.)

Several things have happened over the last covid year.

• many people have been furloughed (on 80% wage/salary and have got used to not working) - a status many have enjoyed and maybe preferred.
• many have come to the conclusion life is too short for mundane work.
• the nation has borrowed massively and the nations debt pile is staggering (which leaves us acutely vulnerable to even small interest rate rises.)
• while the debt has to be repaid many seem to think it either doesn't or more particularly - if it has - not by them!
• a populist view has emerged - that there is no scope to increase tax paid (to repay the debt) by the ordinary man in the street or to reduce public expenditure (but repay the debt) - because that would not be fair on the ordinary man in the street. So called austerity policies are no longer acceptable apparently!
• there is a rational economic arguement that tax rises could stunt recovery and growth (which is the main route to being capable to repay the debt in the longer term). However many (especially the Labour Party) see this as only a short term - temporary position. 

The standard wokish MSM pedalled answer is the virtue of the hoary old mantra-  to selectively tax those with the "broadest shoulders" - higher earners and corporates (as if they are not carrying the main tax burden already) !

But is it - I do not think so. This is why - in 2 simple paragraphs :

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

A parable: The ant worked hard all summer collecting food and preparing his home for winter. The grasshopper played all summer not doing any work. When winter came the grasshopper had no food. No worries, the grasshopper elected a socialist leader that took away 40 percent of the ants food and gave it to the grasshopper. The next year the ant thought what is the point of working hard if the government is going to take it off me. He decided that the new government would have to take care of him the same way so he played all summer too, as did all the other hard working producing ants. When winter came, there was no food and they all starved to death.

I fear there are too many out there that wilfully do not understand or accept the practical and dangerous reality of these statements. It will cost our nation dearly if we let what is effectively a cursed socialist doctrine hold sway (as it has before with such awful economic/societal consequences).

I am one of those calling for the Chancellor to be straight with the people. The debt must be repaid. It is both highly risky but also immoral to plan to pass it on to future generations. Our nation has to start dealing with it now. 

It will not work if the burden falls only on the entreprenurial and industrious. It will kill the goose. That is the reality.