David Cameron’s Surprise: Permanent Austerity [View all]

[marmar]

via truthdig:


David Cameron’s Surprise: Permanent Austerity
Posted on Nov 11, 2013


Back in 2010, the British PM began slashing the country’s budget on the promise that temporary cuts were necessary to reduce the deficit and right the economy. Another recession soon followed.

At the time, Cameron said the cuts would be temporary, but Monday he announced, “We need to do more with less. Not just now, but permanently.”

Cameron said the government could provide better services with less money. Whether or not that’s true—and common sense has a say in the matter—it’s a diversion from the inevitable question of whether or not he was lying—as some predicted —when he said cuts would be temporary.

Britain got the austerity craze rolling in Europe and Germany has continued to push the idea all around the continent, despite clear evidence that it doesn’t work. As William Pfaff noted, “Keynesianism was murdered in the U.S.A. by a conspiracy called the Washington Consensus.” ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/david_camerons_surprise_permanent_austerity_20131111