The news about poor maintenance of school buildings is the latest thing in the long list of governmental failures. It seems that responsibility for this one lies with the current PM when he was chancellor.
The two largest parties are competing in their efforts to woo voters in anticipation of the next general election. They both make promises they can’t keep, and set unreachable targets. That is because there simply isn’t enough money to pay for all that needs to be done. And the reason there isn’t enough money is because both parties fear unpopularity if they raise taxes.
Ours is a very unequal society. Many people are unable to afford food, fuel and housing, while corporations make huge profits and some CEO’s are paid enormous salaries plus bonuses. And many of the wealthy contrive to pay taxes at a lower rate than the rest of us. The obscenely rich should be properly taxed. Many of us who have more modest incomes and savings, but belong in the ranks of the “comfortably retired” would willingly pay taxes at a higher rate, not only because we might have children and grandchildren who would benefit, but also because it would simply be the right thing to do, for everyone’s sake.
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