Jim Audiomisc
pfm Member
I must admit I got tired of the old 'left-right' characterisation of a complex reality some time ago. My concern tends to be identifying what the real problems are in our society and trying to deal with them.
So, for example: We need more in the way of genuinely affordable homes of a decent quality that people can live in. To do this we can as a country invest in building them, not leave it to the 'market'. i.e. provide councils and/or new town corps with the money to build the infrastructure - and as it happens train skilled workers and employ them to do the building (properly, not bodged) so they can afford to buy things and live in the homes. In the process also acting against the relentless drive towards property costs sucking up ever more of people's income and concentrating it into the hands of a few.
It's actually a no-brainer which even the *Tories* supported decades ago. Go look to see when council house and new town building of homes at decent costs peaks. Think 'SuperMac' and that era! Have whatever mix of rent or buy as people want - so long as the price of buying covers the cost of building a replacement.
The point here is that such infrastructure is needed by the people who want somewhere to live. And also to become the infrastructure that then enables other things. e.g. having a wage and paying less in rent/mortgage means you have more to spend on other things, thus generating other economic and social activity, etc.
So instead of allowing the press to keep us chasing our own tails all the time: sort out and talk about such issues which will improve the lives of people and help our economy and society. B00ger the tory press agenda.
So, for example: We need more in the way of genuinely affordable homes of a decent quality that people can live in. To do this we can as a country invest in building them, not leave it to the 'market'. i.e. provide councils and/or new town corps with the money to build the infrastructure - and as it happens train skilled workers and employ them to do the building (properly, not bodged) so they can afford to buy things and live in the homes. In the process also acting against the relentless drive towards property costs sucking up ever more of people's income and concentrating it into the hands of a few.
It's actually a no-brainer which even the *Tories* supported decades ago. Go look to see when council house and new town building of homes at decent costs peaks. Think 'SuperMac' and that era! Have whatever mix of rent or buy as people want - so long as the price of buying covers the cost of building a replacement.
The point here is that such infrastructure is needed by the people who want somewhere to live. And also to become the infrastructure that then enables other things. e.g. having a wage and paying less in rent/mortgage means you have more to spend on other things, thus generating other economic and social activity, etc.
So instead of allowing the press to keep us chasing our own tails all the time: sort out and talk about such issues which will improve the lives of people and help our economy and society. B00ger the tory press agenda.