Matt Erskine

"Killed"? In an accident? An earthquake? A more appropriate term would be "murdered" or "assassinated", would it not? And by Israel...or is that fact not considered relevant?

There isn't, nor can there ever be, a 'hole' (black or otherwise) in the finances of a sovereign, fiat currency regime such as ours.

What borders are they going to recognise?

Once again we're being subjected to the claptrap about fiscal 'black holes', raising taxes to 'pay for' government programmes, shortfalls in revenue, and the other gibberish about how government spending works. There is nothing more economically and socially damaging than the economic 'orthodoxy'.

I want Trump dead, but not before he's answered for all his crimes, particularly those against children.

I don't care how old and senile he is. He should be in jail, not the White House.

Where are all the snipers when you need one?

Yes, of course the Epstein Files must be released, and in an unredacted state. But has anyone thought about listening to the victims? Taking their evidence? That's how it happens in other rape cases and the perpetrators are imprisoned.

Starmer says he'll recognise the State of Palestine if Israel meets certain conditions. A couple of points: How the hell can it be right for such recognition to be contingent on the actions and agreement of another country? And, what Palestinian borders are proposed to be recognised?

Absolutely this 👇. The problem is that too many folks clamour for a piddling 1 or 2% tax to 'pay for' stuff. Taxation is there to help address the scourge of inequality, and we need to return to the days of 70, 80% etc. We need to understand the roles of taxation.

Taxing the 'rich' is to help curb their disproportionate power over democracy, the media, resources etc. We don't need 'the rich'; they don't create wealth, they hoard it and abuse it. Taxes don't 'pay for' public services, so let's stop thinking we're beholden to them to build a decent society.

A country utterly broken by Thatcherism now has a Thatcherite PM so despised by the public that many of them are looking to Farage who is an actual disciple of Thatcher and will deliver full fat Thatcherism.

She’s dead but she may as well still be with us.

When will this country wake up?

It must carefully build the necessary alliances with fellow Leftist parties and organisations to avoid hampering the Left's ability to challenge electorally the Tory/Labour duopoly. It must, in particular, get the backing of the Trade Unions. (3/3)

The new party must reject the Thatcherite framing of public spending. It must adopt an MMT-based narrative and policies based on reality, not on the neoliberal nonsense of the last 45+ years, restoring the sovereignty of democracy and parliament over 'the market' and the media. (2/3)

I wish the new Left party in Britain every success. A few thoughts: It must not give an inch to the inevitable bile, hatred and lies thrown its way by the Zionist lobby. It succeeded in bringing down Labour under Corbyn and it must be called out, each and every time, for the evil that it is. (1/3)

When we talk about public spending in terms of its effect on the deficit we look at the wrong metric, and it's hugely damaging to our prosperity. To use a football analogy, we ignore how many goals we concede and obsess about how many corners we give away.

...and no questions asked about the fiscal power of government in a fiat currency regime such as ours.

A progressive tax system is an important part of creating a caring society.

However, it is not the method you use to finance it.

If politicians, pundits and the media were to understand how public spending actually works, we wouldn't be running scare stories like this. The gov't can always afford to pay pensions, to any age group, any amount. The key is to ensure that the economy can meet the resulting spending demands.

I agree with this, @greenparty.org.uk, but it misses a key point. Whatever the 'cost' to the government, it can always afford it. Gov't creates the money as it spends. The availability of the real resources, such as skills, raw materials, infrastructure to put things right, is the critical issue.

Taxes don't 'raise' anything in a fiat currency regime such as ours. Government creates the money as it spends by instructing the Bank of England to mark up the relevant accounts(s). This process is mandated in law. Taxes retrospectively destroy some of that spending.
www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/pub...

Keir Starmer and David Lammy both belong in The Hague.

A so-called 'advanced' country that is promising to halve the dumping of shit into waterways in 5 years. Christ, we're supposed to accept this as 'progress'.

Fartage on again??

I don't doubt for one moment that his job was blackmail. And that blackmail continues.

During my 68 years on this earth, I have learnt that everyone is susceptible to peer pressure, regardless of age.

Why not? 'Small' independent countries thrive. Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, Denmark, Estonia. Why not Scotland?

"Complicity is the US’s foreign policy in Palestine." — Francesca Albanese

This government serves the neoliberals and the Zionists. You'd have a hard job convincing me otherwise.

Sorry to hear that, Elaine. 😢