3 ms·

I don't see there is much of a discussion to be had here without going into politics. The situation is a lot more complex than is being put across in the articl

by bArray 4y ago

I don't see there is much of a discussion to be had here without going into politics. The situation is a lot more complex than is being put across in the article. This situation will get worse, everywhere.

makomk 4y ago
Absolutely. For example, take this quote from the article: "The opposition Labour Party estimated in November that at least £576 million had been lost nationally in levelling up funds due to inflation. A frustration to those on the front-line of projects is that the Conservative government isn’t providing extra funding to cover these costs." That inflation is just the big, publicly-visible aspect of the whole world becoming poorer in real terms; inadequate energy supplies, shutting down large parts of the world's economies over the last three years, and worker shortages throughout the developed world have all sapped away at the UK and other countries' actual capacity to carry out big projects like the ones talked about in the article. This can't just be fixed by the government giving out more funding, there ultimately have to be cuts somewhere - and the decisions in the UK specificially that lead here had bipartisan support with the opposition generally calling for the government to go even further.
- foldr 4y ago
  > That inflation is just the big, publicly-visible aspect of the whole world becoming poorer in real terms Partly, but the UK has higher inflation than many other European countries facing the same global situation. Brexit and broader economic mismanagement are also factors. Cuts also have a tendency to be a false economy. For example, underfunding the NHS ‘saves’ money on the balance sheet, but the long term costs to the economy of a less healthy population very likely outweigh those savings. Many of the budget items on the chopping block are really investments, not mere costs.
  - pharmakom 4y ago
    Parks are a great example of this. Local parks cost a few million to maintain but save many more millions to the NHS

by bArray 4y ago

makomk 4y ago

Absolutely. For example, take this quote from the article: "The opposition Labour Party estimated in November that at least £576 million had been lost nationally in levelling up funds due to inflation. A frustration to those on the front-line of projects is that the Conservative government isn’t providing extra funding to cover these costs." That inflation is just the big, publicly-visible aspect of the whole world becoming poorer in real terms; inadequate energy supplies, shutting down large parts of the world's economies over the last three years, and worker shortages throughout the developed world have all sapped away at the UK and other countries' actual capacity to carry out big projects like the ones talked about in the article. This can't just be fixed by the government giving out more funding, there ultimately have to be cuts somewhere - and the decisions in the UK specificially that lead here had bipartisan support with the opposition generally calling for the government to go even further.

foldr 4y ago
> That inflation is just the big, publicly-visible aspect of the whole world becoming poorer in real terms Partly, but the UK has higher inflation than many other European countries facing the same global situation. Brexit and broader economic mismanagement are also factors. Cuts also have a tendency to be a false economy. For example, underfunding the NHS ‘saves’ money on the balance sheet, but the long term costs to the economy of a less healthy population very likely outweigh those savings. Many of the budget items on the chopping block are really investments, not mere costs.
- pharmakom 4y ago
  Parks are a great example of this. Local parks cost a few million to maintain but save many more millions to the NHS