Should we simply prepare for a prolonged downturn?

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 18 Apr 2009, 03:04

Whatever.

Spending on arms or 'defence mechanisms' or whatever spin you put on it, it's all double or maybe triple negative spending. There is no way in the world it is an investment or worthwhile industry.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 18 Apr 2009, 09:30

Just reading Snow's and TB's conversation. Here's a positive spin on things. The UK has been in relative decline for a century. So Snow's correct in pointing to the UK's weaknesses. However maybe this is a good thing, as we are used as a nation to a nagging sense of slipping back / decay etc. That psychological condition will help us post peak.

How's the hangover TB?

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 18 Apr 2009, 10:03

How's the hangover TB?

Not good - I was drinking a variety of real ales from that Badger brewery in Blandford Forum.

nice but strong - now where are the aspirin tablets...

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 18 Apr 2009, 10:21

Drank a bottle of home made wine myself last night. I can vouch for the fact that it definitely works!!!

Slightly hung over now though!!

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 18 Apr 2009, 12:51

The UK has been in relative decline for a century.

I have been thinking about this (with a sore head), and this is my point about it all being relative.

Would you prefer to live in the times when Britain was top dog, in the ascendancy and at the height of empire?

No way! Life was shit for most compared to today!

So what if we are in relative decline, standard of living is still far superior to when Britain was global superpower and still far better than the vast majority of the world now.

Come on guys, dont get complacent but at least think positive!

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 20 Apr 2009, 09:39

Tess wrote:
DominicJ wrote: So, whats worse, us selling the Saudis 150 AsF/SF and the bombs and missiles to arm them at a cost of some £20b, or Russia selling Zimbabwe £5b of small arms...
How about, they're both evil? It's not either/or you know.

As far as I'm aware Saudi Tornados never fired a shot in anger, I admit I''' be surprised if they are that lucky with the Typhoons.
Even if they are, they will used as weapons of war, against soldiers.
The same cant be said for the small arms mfg by our good friends like Putin and Castro, which are used of weapons of oppression, against civillians.

Spending on arms or 'defence mechanisms' or whatever spin you put on it, it's all double or maybe triple negative spending. There is no way in the world it is an investment or worthwhile industry.

Are flood defences "investment"?
They arent, on their own productive, but a flood plain keeps a city unflooded and an airforce keeps it unbombed.

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 22 Apr 2009, 19:46

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/fina ... -2009.html

Looks like the UK isnt bottom on growth forecasts anymore wahoo!

It added thar the UK’s position in the world has actually improved since the January edition of the WEO, when it was forecast that Britain would suffer the worst recession of any advanced nation.

That crown now passes to Japan, whose economy was forecast to shrink by 2.6pc but is now expected to contract by 6.2pc, with Germany, traditionally seen as a country which has taken fewer economic risks than the UK, contracting by 5.6pc this year.

As a group, so-called “advanced economies” will shrink by 3.8pc on average, with the US sliding by 2.8pc this year, with flat growth forecast for 2010.

The IMF warns that the rest of Europe will fare even worse with growth in the Eurozone contracting by 4.2pc in 2009.

Lets party!!!