A remedy for the hysteria, outrage and gloomy propagated by the MSM

 

The Tory Conference ended yesterday with the finale, the Truss speech. No, I didn’t watch, no, I didn’t read, and no, I’ve given up on making sense of the hysterical muddle this government, Whitehall and the esteemed Westminster MSM are inflicting on us. I’m extremely relaxed in the face of conflicting ‘narratives’ handed out to us peasants. This morning’s print editions’ front pages are yet another example (link) for the attempts of yon MSM to keep our emotions at boiling point: outrage works as well as fear when one wants someone to stop thinking. 

Regrettably, trying to create this ‘climate of outrage’ by producing the screamiest, shoutiest headlines seems to have affected the thought processes of the writers and editors to an extent that I’m beginning to feel pity for the poor things. Take for example the ‘orrible news that we all will be worse off in a few years because of ‘stealth income tax’, for example a freeze on personal allowances and the income thresholds at which these tax levels will apply.

I am puzzled by this outcry. Weren’t we told that lowering taxes was immoral, even the 1% reduction of 20% to 19%? So why the outcry now? Isn’t that what Labour wanted? Didn’t economic gurus, e.g. those populating the IMF, scream that one doesn’t lower taxes when there’s inflation? Firstly, see TheTimes’ report on the analysis by the IFS:

“The typical basic-rate taxpayer will pay an extra £500 in income tax and national insurance contributions per year by 2026, while higher-rate earners face a £3,000 rise, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said. The figures are a result of the freezing of tax thresholds, which in three years’ time will bring an extra £41 billion to the exchequer amid high inflation and rising wages.” (link, paywalled)

How dare the government ‘earn’ an extra £41bn from taxes accruing through inflation and higher wages! It’s what Labour wants though, isn’t it: ‘higher-rate earners’ are ‘rich’ and must pay. I’m no economist, so I see this as a concerted effort to impoverish the working middle class, to level down so that none of us plebs have anything …

Now see, in contrast, the report in the DT, based on that same IFS report. It made my toenails curl up. Look at this:

“The Treasury will impose an additional £21bn of income taxes despite Liz Truss’s “tax-cutting” mini-Budget, a detailed analysis released on Thursday has revealed. The average household will be £1,450 per year worse off as a result of the stealth raid, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank.” (paywalled link)

Amazing: it’s now the Treasury but not the government nor the Chancellor, which imposes taxes! Who knew! Never mind that the tax U-turn means yon mini-budget isn’t now ‘cutting taxes’: the point is that there’s a ‘stealth raid’ – by the Treasury, yes? So Trus sand Kwarteng can’t be blamed? There’s more:

“The four-year freeze to multiple tax thresholds was announced by Rishi Sunak when he was Chancellor as he sought to stabilise the public finances following the pandemic borrowing binge. It was announced before the surge in inflation and wages boosted the amount the Exchequer would generate from the policy.” (paywalled link)

So it wasn’t even the poor Treasury imposing those tax level freezes, nor was it Kwarteng – but Rishi! Oh dear. This ‘narrative’ is muddled indeed: keeping the locked-down economy going by borrowing is now ‘a binge’ and therefore bad. Generating income to pay off some of the debts is also bad, as is lowering taxes. So what the fluffing fluff ought to be done? And shouldn’t we be told in a proper manner what we need to be outraged about? 

Then there’s Miz Liz’ junket to today’s sort-of EU-plus-accretions meeting in Prague. She penned an article for the readers of The Times to justify this. It’s brimming with slogans, aimed to press all buttons: Remainers, Brexiteers – no difference (my emphasis):

“Security, energy and migration are three of the most urgent priorities for the British people, so they are top of my agenda too. That’s why I am travelling to Prague for today’s European leaders’ meeting. These vital issues affect the whole of our continent, so it is right that we find common cause with our European friends and allies. It’s also why we want to see a strong voice for non-EU countries like Ukraine, Norway and Switzerland.” (link, paywalled)

Yay – Ukraine! I’m certain that this meeting will agree to ‘moar support’ for Mr ‘e’s unfortunate country, notwithstanding the economic crisis in all those nations, inflation, tax troubles. Here’s more – note that Miz Liz doesn’t explain, she only tells us to trust her because she ‘is very clear’ about what she says:

“Today’s meeting is not an EU construct or an EU alternative. I am very clear about that. It brings together governments from across Europe, around a third of whom are outside the EU. A post-Brexit Britain, as an independent country outside the EU, should be involved in discussions that affect the entire continent and all of us here at home. We are taking part as an independent sovereign nation, and we will act as one.” (link, paywalled)

Aww … how lovely! Never mind though, it’s nought but a continuation of Miz Liz’ ongoing election campaign, aimed at keeping the ‘faithful’ Brexiteers in her camp while reassuring the inveterate Remainers that she is also mindful of keeping all doors to the EU open. Troubles with the economy, with taxes, with inflation here at home? Bah. These are petitesses when it’s about Miz Liz performing on the international stage as PM! 

I leave you with another example of muddled thinking. A certain Bill Gates has resurfaced, this time at a ‘virtual climate summit’ where he told listeners that relying ‘on Teslas and wind turbines’ ain’t sufficient to save the planet but that ‘moar innovations’ are needed:

“Asked if he was saying that Tesla electric cars and wind power would not solve all our environmental problems he said they would not. “The cement emissions, the steel emissions — those are completely unaddressed by any existing technology,” Gates said.” (link, paywalled).

Oh dear! I now expect the green ‘rebels’ to demand we stop building stuff altogether until ‘innovations’ have come in. And what are these innovations we have to wait for? Gates has the answer: “The philanthropist cited innovations such as fusion power, which he has invested in, […]” (link, paywalled).  Does he want to stop the world’s economies until his investments bear fruit? But wait – what about a new pandemic? Isn’t Gates deeply involved in getting the world population jabbed for everything? What does he want? More income from his investments, that’s what.

I leave you with news that a certain Ms Dorries has become the poster child for the Times in their campaign to oust Truss, accusing Miz Liz of ‘abandoning Johnson’s prominent policies’ and “that the government was “lurching to the right” and abandoning the centre ground to Labour.” (link, paywalled). Never mind that the ‘centre ground’ is meant to be in the middle, neither left nor right. Never mind that Ms Dorries, who had supported Truss, is crying now because she’s not been ‘rewarded’ with a government post for her ‘efforts’.

This is ‘Westminster politics’ in its full, stinking ‘glory’. Disgruntled MPs are courted by the MSM whose agenda is regime change. It is utterly irrelevant what we, the unfortunate electorate, actually want. Instead, we’re told what to think, whom to despise, and to pay our taxes which a shiny new Labour government will certainly not cut back.

Finally, something completely different. I highly recommend reading this important analysis in regard to yon war in the Ukraine which came in last night. It’s an antidote to the pro-Ukraine propaganda in our MSM and a preparation for what is coming in the next weeks.

Enjoy these autumn days, golden or grey, depending on which part of our country you live in. Private joy trumps Westminster hysteria any time!

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