| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:MCB News | |
| Posted by: | Cllr Sam Hearn | |
| Date/Time: | 21/10/15 10:53:00 |
| "Anyone - like me - wondering why the government isn't as interested in bailing our steel industry out like ... ? Why should this country buy Chinese steel for HS2 etc. when we can make it here, reduce the energy costs and business rates let them compete on a half-way level playing field. The cost of not doing something is far higher in social and benefit costs." Vanessa - a few questions for you; 1. Who will pay for the subsidies (direct and indirect) that you are calling for? Do not give me the sad old refrain of "all the rich bastards, bankers etc" because we know the figures just do not stack up. Even if they did surely we should using any extra cash to support the NHS and the Defence budget and the Police? Why have foreign owned steel companies suddenly come to the top of your list of priority government spending? 2. How long will these subsidies continue for - surely you do not expect them to continue in perpetuity? 3. "Our" steel industry is almost entirely owned by foreigners taking advantage of UK governments subsidies - Do you not perhaps think that we could use those subsidies more sensibly? 4. What other industries should we be subsidising so that they can compete with foreign dumping - the list is endless. I rather fancy growing oranges in greenhouses heated by subsidised photo-voltaic electric power. Think of all the poor unemployed East Europeans that I could employ in Isleworth or Feltham. 5. You do not seem have a clear understanding of the words "global economy". Do you perhaps favour leaving the EU and shutting our borders to all those "nasty" foreign imports that our horny handed sons and daughters of toil could produce if only the market was not swamped by cheaper foreign products? 6. When you say that "the cost of not doing something is far higher in social and benefit costs" where is your evidence? Or is this perhaps just a gut feeling that you have so it MUST be true? 7. After decades of post-war Labour, Conservative and Coalition Governments propping up and bailing out failed industries for short term political gain have you really learnt nothing about economics? Surely even you can see that whilst it is humane for Governments to help manage the decline of industries in which we no longer have a competitive advantage it is crassly stupid to try and preserve them forever in aspic at huge cost to the public purse. Ultimately it is also cruel to give false hope to those who still work in those industries. |