In a post last week I asked how it could be that the current Executive was silent on the subject of budget cuts. And now Sammy Wilson has finally got round to sitting down with a few civil servants who have told him that such cuts are inevitable.
The sheer incompetence and mismanagement being exhibited by the Executive is jaw-dropping. Jumped-up “Ministers” swagger around in their ministerial limos completely disassociated from real-world government logic. But now the truth must be dawning on the Northern Ireland electorate that most of the people they have elected and put into office are systematically useless.
And why are they useless? Because they have little or no skills required to govern – and because most of them have been so immersed in sectarian bickering that they have lost the ability to think about and resolve real world problems like balancing budgets.
The DUP, for example, made election commitments to defer water charges. Why? It makes no practical sense to defer charges for services that are provided and infrastructure that’s needed. Now, given the monstrous hole in the budget, it’s becoming clear that water charges are back on the table. And so they should be. They should have been on the table during election time. But so intent were lazy politicians to get elected they promised anything. They duped the electorate. Because I’ll bet you this – I’ll bet that no-one in the DUP actually sat down and did the sums. I’ll bet that no-one actually asked the question, “What will the consequences be of us deferring these charges on the rest of the budget?”
Now, of course, we’re in a deep recession. Our workforce is heavily dependent on the public purse for employment – as are other less developed regions of the UK. Whatever government is elected next year will commit to significant and deep public spending cuts – and that will affect the block grant.
Therefore, a major structural root and branch review of our budget is required – not merely adding water charges back on the table. Oh and that review should also address whether there is any demand for the devolution of policing and justice – given the fact that it’s going to cost an arm and a leg.
Northern Ireland is facing a major crisis. Something needs to be done – but one thing’s for sure. Sammy Wilson is not the solution.
Jeff have you a copy of the Conservative manifesto from the Assembly elections. I think we were the only party not to jump on the populist ‘no water charges’ bandwagon. In fact I think we backed the introduction of metering!
For the last few years SF have been hiding behind the excuse that they were in fact only against SEPARATE billing! Sammy and the DUP are now beginning to spout the same nonsense.
I’ve been saying for years they will reap the electoral whirlwind – lets hope so
Jeff sorry to beat a wee bit off track, but I’d just be curious about your views (given your involvement in the CHA) on the NSS’ campaign to abolish chaplaincy provision in the NHS as part of the cutbacks on health spending:
http://www.secularism.org.uk/nhs-chaplaincy-funding.html
Should the taxpayer pick up the tab for chaplaincy provision in NHS hospitals, or indeed the armed forces? McGimpsey claims the Health Department can’t afford any cutbacks, and is under almost intolerable strain as it is.
My position, Shane, is very straightforward. I completely agree with the NSS on this one. It’s completely bizarre that the tax-payer should have to pay for chaplaincy provision in the NHS or armed services.
Having said that, I do believe that in theatre of war there is a need for psychological support for soldiers – who often face severe psychlogical trauma. However, I just don’t think that holy-men or women are the right people to provide it.
For those soldiers that do require religious chaplains, the church should provide at their own expense.
Thank you for your answer, Jeff. What about when the denomination is unable to afford or are incapable of sending chaplains with an army/hospital, for example the diocese of Winchester is currently using lotteries and cake sales to sustain their (voluntary) chaplaincy provision for the elderly and dying after cutbacks. Often dying people belonging to small denominations may miss out. Would you make exceptions in that case? US General George C. Marshall believes religious provision is crucial for military espirts de corps:
“I look upon the spiritual life of the soldier as even more important than his physical equipment. The soldier’s heart, the soldier’s spirit, the soldier’s soul sustains him; if not he cannot be relied upon and he will fail himself, his commander, and his country in the end. It’s morale and I mean spiritual morale, which wins the victory ultimately.”
According to the AP, the US army love to have Catholic priests as chaplains because they are often used in negeotiations with local communities, warlords or religions on the ground (they are seen as more impartial, trustworthy and have more contacts). Captain Redmond, the Home Rule MP, said the lack of Catholic chaplains in the Irish divisions during WW1 had detrimental repercussions for troop morale, and therefore ultimately for the war itself.