Daily Archives: February 10, 2015

Why politicians need to stop using the meaningless term “middle class” – The Washington Post

February 10, 2015 By in Austerity, David Cameron, Democracy, Ed Miliband, Education, Fiscal Policy, Growth, Healthcare, Immigration, Nigel Ferange, Politicians, Politics, Public Services Reform, UK Tags: , , , , 1 Comment
Social class

Social class (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a really interesting article from the Washington Post. It’s worth a read. Check it out!

via Why politicians need to stop using the meaningless term “middle class” – The Washington Post.

As I read the article, my mind drifted to the UK, ahead of the forthcoming election. In the UK, social class is still about more than income, it’s about family background, wealth, beliefs and cultural values. Traditionally, the Labour Party was the protector of working class values. But under Tony Blair, the Labour Party took the middle ground of politics. Now under ‘Red Ed’ Milliband, the current leader of the Labour Party, there has been a move away from the center, back to more left-wing values. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party,  under David Cameron, has primarily looked after the interests of the very high earners, the privileged, and the seriously wealthy.

As a further insight into class, the illustration provides an alternative social class model for China in 2005, with capitalists, cadre and quasi-cadre, urban workers, peasant workers and peasants.

This leads me to two open question:

Which UK political party will look after the interests of UK middle-class voters? Also how should we define middle class in the UK?

Thoughts?

Greek negotiators should learn a little from Britain – FT.com

February 10, 2015 By in Austerity, Business Administration, Central banks, Democracy, Education, Energy Policy, Euro Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Germany, Greece, Growth, Healthcare, Keynesian, Politics, UK, Unemployment Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

This is an excellent article by Bill Emmott, former editor of the Economist, and published in the FT.

via Greek negotiators should learn a little from Britain – FT.com.

Simply, the article is saying that if the UK and Greece want reforms, then the proposals should be ‘win-win’ or ideally ‘win-win-win’, with other countries benefiting.

It is time to recognize the argument of the other side too. Germany is right about reforms in Southern Europe but Southern Europe needs a fiscal boost to stimulate investment and jobs. Similarly, the UK must recognize that less red-tape must be for the benefit of all European countries.

Thoughts?