Six of one, half a dozen of the other

One of the things that most annoyed me about the labour years, was Gordon Brown's tax on the dividends paid to pension funds.  It was the previous conservative government that first breached the principle that pension fund earnings were untaxed, on the basis that the pension once paid is classed as taxable income.  It was however Gordon who drove a coach and horses through the principle.  I have not, and never will, forgive the labour party for taxing my pension twice; once while saving for it and again when receiving it.  In my mind that extra tax is going to support public sector pensions, which will be a lot more generous than anything I will ever receive.

Last night the conservative government voted to increase Britain's subscription to the IMF by 88% or £9.3 billion.  The conservatives claim that the increase was agreed by the last labour government.  Labour reply that the agreement was finalized only six months ago.  It speaks volumes that they are both falling over themselves to distance themselves from the decision; yet still £9.3 billion of our money will be spent supporting the euro.  A currency that we as a nation declined to join.  Under this government we have now spent over £22 billion supporting the euro, over £8 billion to bailout Ireland, over £4.5 billion to bailout Portugal and an increase of £9.3 billion to the IMF to support the Greek bailout.  In my own mind I am certain that the conservatives have not fought Britain's corner with anything like the vigour that they ought to have. 

The choice seem to be between

1. Spendthrift labour pouring money into public services for little or no improvement in the service while paying benefits to fit health people at the same time as employing immigrants to do the work that the benefit claimants should be doing.
2. Spendthrift conservatives pouring money into supporting the euro; so that Greek workers can retire at 50 instead of working to support their own currency.

I imagine myself in ten years time, retired (I'll be over 65 by then) on holiday in a miserable B&B in Clacton-on-Sea.  I sit watching the rain falling from grey skies into an equally cold grey north sea.  I dream about how nice it would be to holiday on a Greek Island with warm sunny skies and clear blue Mediterranean seas.  I sit in a taverna with a glass of retsina watching the luxurious yachts in the harbour, I can see the bankers and politician sipping cocktails, they discuss how to write off billions of pounds in outstanding taxpayer loans.  I turn and and chat happily with all those public sector holiday makers and Greek pensioners in their early fifties, we watch the sunny setting over the sea.  Perhaps we would talk about who to vote for at the next election.
 
Best Wishes
Will