Government Savings or Government Cuts?

I would like to raise what is ultimately a point of language but is important; what is the difference in government between a cut and a saving?

This thought has come of the back of a government report into how to save money on the rail network with the claim that £1 billion could be saved in 8 years with the main money saving recomendations being:

• Train companies should work more closely with Network Rail to improve efficiency
• More car parking spaces at stations
• Restructuring of the fare system (raising off-peak fares and lowering peak fares)

All of these are being described as saving in the rail network, however only the first of these is a saving, by being more efficient, both of the other two involve the public paying more but yet this is publicised as a saving and this is a much broader point in this "time of austerity" the words the government choose to use can have a massive baring on what we think of them.

Describing something as a cut is, understandably, politically uncomfortable for a government because nobody wants to take services away from the public, but describing cuts as savings is technically correct. This is because by removing a service (cutting it) you are spending less money, so you are saving money. This makes the terms almost synonymous with each other. This means that we can't just listen to what the politicians say, we have to look at their actions, and don't think this point just applies to the party in power. It also applies to the opposition. This is because the government may be making a saving without cutting (for example through improved efficiency) but the opposition can legitimately claim that it's a cut.

And if a government can convince the public that it is saving rather than cutting it will be far more popular and so will stand a chance of wining the next election; and in the UK may be labelled, if successful, the savours of the economy. A cabinets worth of political reputations are reliant on this linguistic swindle, and it looks like they might pull it off. 

So next time you see or hear something about a government cut or a government saving, from either side of the argument, don't just take their word for granted, look at what is being proposed because the word "cut" and the word "saving" appear to have become synonymous with one another during this parliament; but non of this should be that surprising. We have never been able to trust politicians.

Writing Stuff Down

Having a slightly less than perfect memory can pose its problems at the best of times, but when you're grappling with difficult thoughts it can be an absolute nightmare as some of the most fleeting of thoughts have a habit of being some of the most truthful. This memory problem also starts to annoy the people around you as you open your mouth to say something, only to realise that you've forgotten what you were going to say; and you could have been about to say something deep and meaningful that could have changed someone's life.

So after being scored by Fran for doing this far too often, I shall now be writing lots of things down in an attempt to hold onto these brief thoughts. Some things that I write down will be deep and meaningful, and many will be pointless, but the point of this is that I can elaborate on the important thoughts later, when I have the time and space to think about them, and it is time which I crave then most.

It's just a shame that I have AS-Levels to revise so I have little spare time but things are working. Progress is being made, I am feeling better, but yet I still manage to feel awful at the same time. It is all very confusing, but I do at least have a place to start with my thoughts. I need to work out what I want from everything. Once I know that I can start working towards it.

A Philosophical Preamble

This is the start of a new tag for this blog, it's the start of the "Philosophy" tag. Obviously, if you find it all boring then don't read the philosophy posts, this won't affect the other posts on here so you can still keep reading them.

Whilst revising form my philosophy A-Level exam in January of this year I found myself distracted by one of the topic areas which I was studying. It is known as "social contact theory" and it is basically trying to explain why we obey the state (government) and what the state should be like. It also looks as what the world would be like if there was no state, however I have not concerned myself greatly with this second point.

So what shall follow in the philosophy posts is my theory on why we follow the current governments rules, and what I think the world should be like, how we should run our lives. Obviously, it will be done in chunks and will try to avoid using long words and complex language as I believe that philosophy only has a use if it understood by all, not just an educated few (of which I am most certainly not one) but first I would like to make something clear.

My theory is based around the work of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes, I am mostly combining their work in to theory that I believe is both; applicable to the modern western world and; something in which I truly believe. I am also fully aware that my ideal society will never happen as it is too far removed from the current world, however this does not stop me believing that; something useful can be taken from it; and that it is the best way to live our lives.

I hope you find what follows to be both thought provoking and interesting but most of all that you enjoy it. I welcome all criticisms to my points and will respond to anything which I believe answering.

Enjoy

PS All of this blog is under copyright to myself, but for other posts I do not see the views expressed as important intellectual property.
However, for this series of posts I do believe this to be my intellectual property; and as such I ask that you respect this.
This message will appear at the bottom of all posts where I believe this to be the case as a reminder.
© Andrew Hill 2011

A Buzz Of Happiness

The past week or so has been a funny week in my head. A buzz of happiness has surrounded it (the reason for which I will not disclose) but, whilst being amazing for the most part, has led to some awful lows.

I can't lie, I have felt the best I have felt for an awfully long period of time this week. Everyday life has been manageable with no spells of misery filling moments when I'm not mentally active. I have gone to bed at night not wishing to not wake up. Life, in itself, has been enough to keep me going, I haven't needed constantly picking up by the people around me, in fact some of them are slightly worried by my good mood.

However, all of this has come at a cost. The side effects of this buzz of happiness is that the genuine lows are now far more pronounced. Before they just blended in with the general feeling of awfulness, but now they stick out like a sore thumb, and make me want to lash back. I'm just afraid that I'll do something daft.

I have got used to emotional swings, but before there has at least been some emotional middle ground, but at the moment my head is either floating around on serotonin or in my hands in agony. This next month ahead could present a new set challenges, but I've promised many people that I'll keep fighting, and that is what I shall do.

After all; it'll be rate.

AV Referendum Result

Having said I would comment on the AV referendum, I shall do.

Hmph.

Sheffield's 2011 Elections

Before I start about this, here are the results from the local elections here in Sheffield...

• Liberal Democrats 32 (formerly 41)
• Labour Party 49 (formerly 40)
• Green Party 2
• Independent 1

Overall turnout 41.82%

...and now you know that:

Firstly the turnout was very impressive for a local election. Sheffield has traditionally been an apathetic city with small pockets of the middle classes propping the election turnout. This may still be the case but a large student turnout again (remember the scenes at the 2010 general election of people queuing around the block to vote?) has boosted the turnout again this time, with traditional apathetic heartlands showing little change.

However, the "collapse" in the Lib Dem vote has made national news, mainly due a local MP being the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, but in truth there is little to be concerend about. The Torys have always been weak in Sheffield and that doesn't look like changing so with all Lib Dem losses being Labour gains and an "anyone but the Torys" attitude common place, in truth, there is little for Nick Clegg to worry about.

I also put collapse in inverted comers because actually, it isn't a collapse, it is a return to the status quo and little more. The Lib Dems only gained power due to voters frustration with the local Labour administration. National issues may have had an effect, but the incompetency of the Labour council must have played a much larger part, and Lib Dems are now suffering the same. After their incompetent spell in charge (not helped by the local paper it has to be said) the Lib Dems are now suffering the same issue, people are fed up and want an alternative. It is local politics, not some comment on Westminster politics.

It is not the end of the world for the Lib Dems, Sheffield always has been a Labour city, and always will be. Nothing major has happened in these elections, just a return to the historical norm.

PS I will comment on the AV referendum, but my prediction is that the Yes camp will only be saved by No voters apathy and if No does win then a legal challenge will be talked about from the Yes camp due to the lies from the No camp.