Question for you knowledgable types

[Rob]

Basically what i think this Government is doing, is making to severe cuts, then just before an election, giving a little back in order to sweeten the elector in the next general election. WATCH THIS SPACE

Which is precisely what every politician has done since they have had the inconvenience of the public voting them into office.

[£400 for a Penny ?]

As this thread is now nothing to do with coins, I'll chuck this into the mix.

An illustration of the problems we face is the driving licence. I passed my test many years ago and am automatically able to drive any vehicle, in any combination of pieces (i.e. trailed) up to 8.5 tonnes, no questions asked. My licence was issued (I think) up until the age of 75.

My son passed his test after 1997 and is only entitled to drive a car, nothing else. If he wants to drive the rugby clubs minibus, he has to take a test and apply for a licence. If he wants to use a trailer, he has to take a test and apply for a licence. He also has to renew his licence every 5 years and so do I now.

All at a cost of course, because the DVLA need to have jobs, don't they ?

Not fair for them to not have jobs.

And that principle pervades every industry in the UK - you can't work unless you pay me first...

[Peckris]

And for the record I am not, nor am I every likely to be a member of or affiliated to any political party - I just believe everyone, nation states and myself included should be living within their means. So no triple unite for me (as this is a coin forum).

Nevertheless Rob, what you're espousing is right-wing monetarism. And nation states are NOT individuals! The Thatcher "England as corner shop" mentality broke down years ago, in fact it was never valid. Individuals and families certainly SHOULD live within their means (overdrafts excepted of course, from which the banks make healthy profits). Companies perhaps less so (add 'cash flow' and 'orders on the books' to the overdraft equation). Nations least of all. Keynes proved that in the 1930s and it hasn't failed since, unless perverted in the name of dogma.

Yes yes, I know today's growth figures were healthier than forecast, but everyone spoken to said that has absolutely nothing to do with the spending review, which actually hasn't even begun to bite yet. I stand by the Keynesian analysis : we have to spend to invest. That way people are in work, the government RECEIVES :

- National Insurance

- Taxes

- VAT on consumer spending

The government SAVES :

- on unemployment benefit and income support

Everybody's happy. Everybody's quids in.

Exactly who gains from the progressive shrinking of the currency anyway?

Wankers with leveraged positions trading money that doesn't exist in some kind of 'game' that no-one fully understands.

That's about the size of it.

Doesn't it piss you off intensely that a few bloated, up themselves, individuals have so much unmitigated power

I just found a brilliant summation of the argument against the cuts! Here is the link (it says it all much more logically, fluently and coherently than I could ever hope to) :

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/campaign-resources/there-is-an-alternative-the-case-against-cuts-in-public-spending.cfm

Good summation, although I do take on board some of Rob's arguments as well.

There are certain moves which might lead a cynical person to believe that the government is not being entirely truthful with us. For example, the news last night that a "universal pension" of up to £140 per week, irrespective of National Insurance contributions, being dangled as a carrot. Apparently this won't get going until after the next election, which, assuming the coalition doesn't fall apart before then, will be 2015. Note the operative phrase: after the next election. What a transparently blatant attempt to scoop the grey, female and baby boomer vote in one fell swoop. Or am I the only one to think this cynically ?

Yes it came from Vince cable, but he's only acting as Cameron and Osborne's puppet.

The money's there when they want it to be, Peck. Either that or they're lying.

Both, I'd say. Kicking the disabled will save a few hundred million, no more, but it will please Daily Mail readers who think we're all workshy scroungers. And we've had government by that xenophobic, rabble-rousing, anti-semitic, populist, poor excuse for a newspaper for far too long now.

[azda]

Ok, so the thread was hijacked by the economy, so back to coins and the original question about the Sov. Its now in hand, quite nice to apart from a dig on Viccies cheek and a few scratches behing her head, so anyone for a grade please.

[azda]

and REV

[Red Riley]

and REV

I'd go VF obv., GVF rev.