UK General Election 2015

[Kmac84]

You can criticise the coalition on various issues but on the economy they have done a good job considering the total shambles they inherited.

Depends how you measure success. 

[neeko]

The thing about Gidiot is . . . . .  He has a shit degree, he's a failed journo and life experience was packing a few shelves before becoming a speech writer. 

Not read any of Varoufakis's papers so can't comment on his economics but his Twitter account is great. Even reposted a photo comparison of him and Voldemort. UK chancellors are just not that interesting.

[DungBeetle]

I don't think the coalition have been bold enough on the economy, but not sure where Kmac is getting the concept that Osbourne is a "failed journo".

He applied/enquired about a post and it didn't go anywhere.  Perhaps Kmac can list all the careers he has thought about or interviewed for so we can list his failures as well?

[Jon MW]

I don't think the coalition have been bold enough on the economy, but not sure where Kmac is getting the concept that Osbourne is a "failed journo".

He applied/enquired about a post and it didn't go anywhere.  Perhaps Kmac can list all the careers he has thought about or interviewed for so we can list his failures as well?

Would have thought calling a 2:1 a 'shit degree' was a bit iffy as well. Unless Modern History is what doesn't stand up to KMacs rigorous academic standards.

[AndrewT]

I don't think the coalition have been bold enough on the economy, but not sure where Kmac is getting the concept that Osbourne is a "failed journo".

He applied/enquired about a post and it didn't go anywhere.  Perhaps Kmac can list all the careers he has thought about or interviewed for so we can list his failures as well?

Would have thought calling a 2:1 a 'shit degree' was a bit iffy as well. Unless Modern History is what doesn't stand up to KMacs rigorous academic standards.

For the the man in the most powerful economic position in the country then, no, a Modern History degree doesn't cut it, no matter what the grade.

[Jon MW]

I don't think the coalition have been bold enough on the economy, but not sure where Kmac is getting the concept that Osbourne is a "failed journo".

He applied/enquired about a post and it didn't go anywhere.  Perhaps Kmac can list all the careers he has thought about or interviewed for so we can list his failures as well?

Would have thought calling a 2:1 a 'shit degree' was a bit iffy as well. Unless Modern History is what doesn't stand up to KMacs rigorous academic standards.

For the the man in the most powerful economic position in the country then, no, a Modern History degree doesn't cut it, no matter what the grade.

That doesn't make it a shit degree - that makes it an inappropriate degree.

Also history/politics and economics are all pretty intertwined in the general scheme of things. Given you'd expect to surround yourself with suitably educated advisors then I'd have thought a broader perspective could be pretty useful.

[DungBeetle]

I don't think the coalition have been bold enough on the economy, but not sure where Kmac is getting the concept that Osbourne is a "failed journo".

He applied/enquired about a post and it didn't go anywhere.  Perhaps Kmac can list all the careers he has thought about or interviewed for so we can list his failures as well?

Would have thought calling a 2:1 a 'shit degree' was a bit iffy as well. Unless Modern History is what doesn't stand up to KMacs rigorous academic standards.

For the the man in the most powerful economic position in the country then, no, a Modern History degree doesn't cut it, no matter what the grade.

That's not how our political system works.  If we had a system where you need real life experience to be an effective politician I'd agree with you.  But unfortunately we live in a word where being a politician is a career option fresh from university.  The system isn't a good one, but that's how it is.   I don't see how Osbourne has done any worse a job than other chancellors down the decades.

[Jon MW]

I was curious so had a check - the degrees of the previous chancellors have been:
law, history, law, economics, none, PPE, law, classics

Would have thought modern history would probably come after PPE and economics in usefulness, but as suggested more useful would be who you surround yourself with.

EDIT: that was going back to the mid 70's for completeness

[RickBFA]

Plenty of success billionaires don't have degrees.

It doesn't automatically follow that to be success in the case of Osborne he needs to have a degree in economics.

[mulhuzz]

the idea that the chancellor is somehow 'chief economist' is hilarious.

i think he's woefully underqualified and incompetent. but not at all because he's not an economist.

speaking of the economist, they wrote today that whereas Mr Varoufakis (new Greek finance minister, and a genuine economist with a decorated academic history and background in general, including being the economy designer for Steam/Valve) "may be a specialist in game theory, Mr Draghi has had actual practice".

Translation: you can be as expert as you like, but if you're not a good politician, you're fucked.

It's the same with George (although he's not a good politician, either) -- he doesn't need to be an economist to be the Chancellor. He needs to be a politician.

[doubleup]

You can criticise the coalition on various issues but on the economy they have done a good job considering the total shambles they inherited.

In what regard was it a total shambles?  The recovery had started.  The banks were stabilized. What did they do iyo to deserve your "good job" accreditation?

[doubleup]

btw here is public spending in 2010

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2010UKbn_14bc1n_80#ukgs302


and here it is in 2014

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2014UKbn_14bc1n#ukgs302

There isn't really very much evidence of Labour's profligacy and George's austerity.  He did though manage to scare everyone when he took office nearly causing the economy to tumble back into recession.

[arbboy]

btw here is public spending in 2010

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2010UKbn_14bc1n_80#ukgs302


and here it is in 2014

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2014UKbn_14bc1n#ukgs302

There isn't really very much evidence of Labour's profligacy and George's austerity.  He did though manage to scare everyone when he took office nearly causing the economy to tumble back into recession.

I think showing 2010 labour spend isn't really the reason why the country is busto.  Try publishing the previous 8 years then we might see where the issues with over spend were with the loony lefties pre 2007 banking crisis.

[mulhuzz]

btw here is public spending in 2010

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2010UKbn_14bc1n_80#ukgs302


and here it is in 2014

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2014UKbn_14bc1n#ukgs302

There isn't really very much evidence of Labour's profligacy and George's austerity.  He did though manage to scare everyone when he took office nearly causing the economy to tumble back into recession.

I think showing 2010 labour spend isn't really the reason why the country is busto.  Try publishing the previous 8 years then we might see where the issues with over spend were with the loony lefties pre 2007 banking crisis.

What? The 2008 crisis wasn't a public spending crisis man.

[DungBeetle]

btw here is public spending in 2010

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2010UKbn_14bc1n_80#ukgs302


and here it is in 2014

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/year_spending_2014UKbn_14bc1n#ukgs302

There isn't really very much evidence of Labour's profligacy and George's austerity.  He did though manage to scare everyone when he took office nearly causing the economy to tumble back into recession.

You know there was a record deficit in 2010?  Eiminating a deficit is like turning round an oil tanker due to medium term spending commitments.  And until you reduce the deficit to zero then debt will increase each year.  The coalition have reduced the deficit by 30% or so, but haven't eliminated it.  Also note that our interest payments have gone up 50% between 2010 and 2014 as our debt continues to pile up.

If your point is that the coalition haven't been brutal enough with their cuts then I'm with you 100%.