NEW PAMPHLET: Cuts are not the cure
Posted in Resources on February 2, 2011
We’ll be distributing thousands of pamphlets with the message that ‘Cuts are not the cure’ in the run-up to the March for the Alternative.
The new pamphlet argues that the government’s decision to close the deficit in just four years and to do so by cutting four pounds in spending for every pound raised in tax are political choices not put to voters at the last election, rather than economic necessity.
Carefully setting out the difference between the annual deficit and the national debt, the pamphlet explains in straightforward language that the UK’s debt is lower than in most years of the last century, lower than in many other countries and cheaper to service than in almost every year between the end of World War II and 1997. And unlike countries such as Greece or Ireland, the UK has no difficulty servicing its debt, it says.
The government is therefore wrong to say that there is no alternative. The real job of closing the deficit will come from the increased tax raised by economic growth and getting people back to work. But this will require a longer timetable to close the deficit, as the deep rapid cuts imposed by the government will choke off economic recovery.
Cuts are not the cure says that spending cuts and last month’s VAT increase hit the poor and those on middle incomes while a fair tax regime that raises more money from the finance sector through a Robin Hood tax and cracks down on tax avoidance and evasion would be a fairer way of tightening belts.
“Cuts are not the Cure” is great – and rightly gives sources (or credit for) the text quotations. Any chance of getting information on the sources for the graphs. They form a very powerful part of the argument. I intend to write to my (Conservative) MP telling him why I will be marching and how much his Governments policies will damage and imperil my (adult) children and my grandchildren. My MP is an Oxford Economics graduate so I need to be sure my facts are valid – would love to have the sources for the graphs in case he comes back and argues with me.
Urge everyone to write to their MPs against the cuts- especially those who cannot/will not march (e.g. because they are at work, have family or previous commitments, cannot easily get to London etc)
John Temple
I’m marching because we need to get this Con/Dem millionaires coalition out. We need to keep reminding the British people that it was the Banks that caused the problem and it is they that should be taxed in order to meet the deficit. Why should the people be put out of work and public services cut to maintain the establishments lifestyle. The Tax avoidance/evaders should also be targeted on a grand scale too. Egypt got rid of their unpopular Goverment let’s try and get ours out too by marching on the 26th March and by casting our vote for Labour in May.