When Generosity Fails to Impress...

The recession in the Dis-United Kingdom is beginning to bite.
Inflation in food prices is now above the 10% mark by any reasonable estimation, whilst the fall-off in trade in almost all other areas of business is beginning to worry anyone who relies on sales to pay their wages.
Meanwhile, down on our little allotment in South Gloucestershire, the news that Gordon the Moron has postponed the autumn escalator tax increase on petrol and diesel fuel has impressed very few apart from his Assistants in Idiocy.
'They really are more stupid than I thought possible' said Nosher at lunchtime as we sat in our deckchairs in the weak sunlight. 'Everyone knows the Glasgow East by-election is coming up, and today is the last day before the summer recess that this announcement could be made to Parliament, thus guaranteeing media coverage. But everyone can see through it - it's a shallow trick to convince us they're on our side, when their apparent generosity is actually not actually generosity at all - it's our money they're giving back to us, only to take it away again as they stealthily increase some other tax. No one is fooled any more.'
I think Nosher has captured the national mood very well.
'Perhaps it wouldn't look so hypocritical' I ventured 'if the MPs themselves weren't so well insulated from increases in fuel tax. Their expenses are not taxed as earned income, whereas anyone else in the country who travels on behalf of their employer and who claims the cost of fuel back, is then taxed as if that remuneration was income, when, of course, it isn't, it's a repayment for costs incurred whilst on their employer's business. So the rate of tax being levied on those people in that situation is actually horrendously high already - yet the Government is oblivious to the injustice of it all.'
'The sooner this dishonest, incompetent, corrupt, and callous Government is voted out of office, the better' said Nosher 'can't come soon enough.'
'Well' I said 'I for one am not placing too much hope on Dave 'the people's toff' Cameron making a big difference once he is in power - these politicians are members of an elite group who merely change from one side of the House to the other from time to time, but their interests are much the same - keep the gravy train running, whilst pretending they're running the country for our benefit. It's pathetic really that we bother to call it "democracy" at all.'
'Yep, have to agree with you there' Nosher replied.
More from www.overthegardenfence.blogspot.com soon.
Find out more at www.paulsturdee.co.uk and www.PGSBooks.co.uk
Paul Sturdee's book Is God a Terrorist? is available from all good booksellers - please support your local bookshop, if you don't, you may find it's not there when you next visit!
If you have any difficulty obtaining a copy, contact the PGS Books website.
Best wishes.