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IfAtFirst

Listed below are comments made by IfAtFirst between Thursday, 2nd April 2009 and Thursday, 3rd December 2009.

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Public servants on $20m a year 5:28pm on 03 Dec 2009 Paying these bonuses is for a job done in the past; it does not engender loyalty or stability going forward. And the recent past comprised entirely of state aid to keep them going.
Retain the cash; replace the board.
Government not defeated 10:37pm on 07 Jul 2009 The removal of the 10p tax band was just one of many 'stealth taxes' introduced by this government into order to pay for massive increase in public sector funding (for which we are yet to see much concrete benefit).

Unfortunately the government lost its moral compass somewhere along the line (maybe Gordon had one once but when the day Tony actually left; Gordon in turn forgot his compass down the back of the sofa in No.11).

Since, not only are they without compass, but the global financial maelstrom has reversed the magnetic poles and left us truely lost...

We're at sea, lost, without compass, and Gordon is determined to go down at the Helm....

Oh look... an Iceberg called the National Debt approaches...
'This is no big deal' 12:23pm on 05 Jun 2009 It would be much better for Cameron et al, if Gordon leads Labour at the next general election and even better if Darling is at his side.

Labour will look back on this as a missed opportunity as they sit it out on the opposition benches next time around.

How out of touch are these politicians? Almost incredible.
Chancellor in distress 4:09pm on 02 Jun 2009 @284 sweetAnybody

Steady Now, bye!

;)
A disorganised panic 2:30pm on 06 May 2009 For all the winding up at PMQs I still fail to see the point. Clearly the recession has a way to run yet with employment forecast to raise further. Goading GB into calling an election will of course not cause that to occur but at most will cause for him to be ousted by another more acceptable Labour candidate (an elected one!?) and ultimately strengthen Labours credibility.

It all seems very clever to take the mickey out of the lame duck that is GB but the strategy could back fire very badly.

And as for taking the downside rather than the sunshine... being downbeat might work in the short-term to show the government for what it is, i.e. a dismal failure, but in the long term we need optimism so I hope the opposition can cheer up a bit once it gets to the real election.

I did like the bullying reference tho... that was a classic!
'A bit of a week' 12:19pm on 01 May 2009 I've just seen a piece on TV from a NHS Direct Call centre where GB was interviewed...

Was it me or was he actually intentionally smiling between sentances? I thought it was kind of creepy.

GB might be lining himself as saving the nation from the threat of Swine Flu but I think he might like to have a bit more self-control if he is retain any form of credibility.
Cleaning up bankers' mess 09:01am on 01 May 2009 @11

Is that USB 2.0?
Why tax the rich? 2:35pm on 24 Apr 2009 The uber rich have smart lawyers and accountants who dream up trust funds, dividends, pension contributions, all sorts...

The 150+ tax is a red herring.

There will need to be big cuts in public sector spending and the sooner the better otherwise we'll be in an even worse position than we are now. If the labour party can't see that then they deserve to be made extinct at the next general election.

The crisis isn't over yet is it?.... the dead cat is just twitching.
Gilts shock 09:31am on 23 Apr 2009 The IMF, according to the BBC, say...

"It now projects that the UK will see its economy shrink by 4.1% in 2009, and by a further 0.4% in 2010."

Can Mr. Darling and Mr. Brown please do more homework before the next budget? It seems they have got the numbers wrong.
G20: The big money decisions 12:09pm on 02 Apr 2009 "could be named and shamed."

How does naming a Tax Haven make it ashamed?

Switzerland, Cayman Islands, Jersey,...

I think the names have been known for some time.

Maybe it's a bit like an ASBO; it's a badge of honour to be named.

If you look at the capital structures behind many structured instruments you see they have a charity based in an offshore tax haven as their basis; maybe cleaning up the use of charities should be added to the agenda.

e.g. The Jersey based Trustees behind Northern Rock's Granite issues.

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