The Burnham Years - Can the new(ish) broom sweep clean?

[Weston Super Saint]

On 14/10/2026 at 14:32, Osvaldorama said:

My overall point was that understanding how the economy is doing is a matter of perspective.
(Aka how you are measuring it.)

Measured in gold (and other hard assets), the average British person is being fucked over, and the country is declining as a result. 

From that perspective economy has been terribly managed for a long time. I disagree with Gloucester’s assessment that it’s doing well.

But also, GDP per capita has been stagnant for more than a decade. 

People can try and argue that “it’s global issue” all they like, and there is some merit in that. 

But the main reason for that is because all of the G7 have adopted the same stupid policies. (Eg driving energy costs up with ridiculous net zero policies and massive welfare spending.)

The UK has spent £1.1 trillion more on welfare benefits than critical infrastructure since 2006.

You can’t tax your way to growth. It must be nurtured and incentivised. 
 

Why not measure GDP against the value of bitcoin since 1960?

Would that still back your argument?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

34 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Why not measure GDP against the value of bitcoin since 1960?

Would that still back your argument?

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

[Weston Super Saint]

16 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

Fucking lefties, destroying the economy by giving money away to something, something, something.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Fucking lefties, destroying the economy by giving money away to something, something, something.

Think of the hungry patriotic children at Christmas, with fewer chocolate coins. 😭

[Osvaldorama]

13 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

You can’t actually be this thick? 

You’re literally proving my point that the currency is being debased. Lmao. 
 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Osvaldorama said:

You can’t actually be this thick? 

You’re literally proving my point that the currency is being debased. Lmao. 
 

 

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

 

These low-iq, non-serious people eh?

[Wade Garrett]

Surely the best barometer of how the economy is doing is that the government wouldn't be taxing and borrowing more if the economy was filling their coffers?

 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Surely the best barometer of how the economy is doing is that the government wouldn't be taxing and borrowing more if the economy was filling their coffers?

 

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

[Wade Garrett]

4 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

Fair point.  I don’t think the economy being ravaged by COVID helped either.

Either way, the economy isn’t in good shape.

[whelk]

4 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

And he will now be blaming fuel prices on Ukraine. The gullible moron pool of 77 million must be shrinking all the time I would hope. 

[Farmer Saint]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Fair point.  I don’t think the economy being ravaged by COVID helped either.

Either way, the economy isn’t in good shape.

And yet it's better than most think-tanks think it should be.