UK: Country in Crisis – Chance for Change?

Even though the more upbeat data coming out of the USA last week and oil prices are behaving a little more tamed after the recent hike, Great Britain’s Chancellor Alistair Darling feels inclined to give a statement claiming that the UK is going for the worst economic crisis in 60 years.

Robot-like he repeated his mantra in an interview with the BBC that due to the unique set of circumstances in the shape and form of that combination of a credit crunch and high food and oil prices Old Blighty is in for tough times.

Eyes blinking nervously upon challenging questions.

Is Alistair at last speaking the painful truth or is he trying to somehow level with the country because he wishes to stay in office all platinum haired and jawed, eyes set to very distant torch of verity?

The Chancellor presented himself surprisingly open in an interview with the Guardian. Looks like someone wants to really make a point here, if not leave a certain impression.

Poor Darling, after all it is not his fault.

For years now Britain’s economy has been reliant on overspending by the general public as well as the government. People were unrestrained by better advice, and so completely becoming dependant on their banks and credit card companies and… that all’s well that ends well. Whistling in the dark.

Everybody went on spending sprees, indulged and encouraged by the Labour Party government on borrowed money which corresponded so well with their old fashioned bravado style “spend now – pay tomorrow” house keeping of former chancellor and still interim prime minister Gordon Brown.

The housing market went absolutely crazy and prices for even humble abodes shot through the roof thus becoming increasingly difficult to be in reach for lower income families.

House prices are tumbling now, rumor has it that by the end of 2009 up to 50% of value of the British homes could have evaporated into thin air leaving even now many a hard working family with reason to be worried stiff as the housing ladder turned into a rather wobbly affair.

Something is really going pear shaped here and for much of it you do not have to blame the US subprime crisis or the hike in oil and food prices nor the credit crunch, but the backward and socialist style management of the British economy for years.

Gordon Brown meant well somehow and seems not to have known better but really I think he never was up to that job either and should have been replaced but sadly wasn’t.

Not too many countries are doing well right now and all are facing their particular problems.

Germany is blaring out positive news in order not to talk down the economy but when you are there you will experience empty shopping centers, bored sales assistants and special offers galore as consumers are tightening their pockets and battening down the hatches in case that the cool wind of downturn may turn into a fully blown recession storm.

Even though there will be a very sunshiny rebound following this cooling period (and I still fail to see a full blown recession but then I am not an economist and glad of it) we all are facing up to quite a bitter reality check rather sooner than later.

But perhaps it is a blessing in disguise?

Why?

When I first came to England many years ago there was a recession going. Still people had a different way of getting by then even though all was pretty grim and bleak. They were more upright, individuals and not just consumers, more cheerful, they rarely complained and everybody made do somehow and used the proverbial stiff upper lip as well as the unbeatable “need not – want not” attitude as a form of practical philosophy.

I loved this England and it was the only country where I felt absolutely at home.

When I was asked why not some perhaps exotic place else I used to say ” because you really need not to be rich or important there in order to be quite happy”.

Standard of life was not at all how it is today yet still the quality of life was so much higher. Then people still cherished little pleasures, small gifts and had healthy aspirations. There was Austen-eske economy and moderation and it was not a crime not to have new stuff all the time.

Bill Bryson observed those amiable habits as affectionately as I’ve experienced them in his book “Notes from a Small Island”. Couldn’t agree more.

I may be wearing rosy glasses but to me then it was truly Great Britain.

Today there is only just Britain left.

Was it globalization per se, that focus on turning into a country of service providers and not so much of proud producers anymore and all that “Cool Britannia” stuff that changed England?

To me that all was more like “Fool Britannia”.

All on borrowed money, phrases and PR bullshit galore.

Nobody can get away from the facts of a globalized world. Even I had to accept that.

So now, after “boom and bust” was what New Labour wanted to avoid like the pox now it seems high time to tighten belts again and revive those old British virtues.

I see a great opportunity here.

We all may be able to learn a lesson rather easily and be better off in the end.

I know it is not nice having to retrench but as it does not look avoidable at any rate we may as well make the best of it and embrace a more moderate lifestyle by free choice. Better jump before being pushed.

We will save money, we can do more for the environment by buying less and we shall be able to again find other attractions in our lives than shopping and going on holidays as often as possible.

I wish to stress the fact that I am not preaching water whilst drinking wine.

Until today most of my clothes are second hand for many reasons and I was called a little anti-hedonist oft times for never enjoying that caviar and champagne lifestyle. When destiny showered me in success and money I ate the same simple food and bought vintage fashion like I did when I was poor so when the wealth was taken after my accident there was no lavish personal lifestyle to be missed.

Only the freedom money and position seem to offer.

Until I’ve learned that I was actually laboring under a big misapprehension there. But that is another story.

Anyhow, to have or to have not is not the question.
To want or to want not much more.
Why not grab the chance for more freedom?

I want my Great Britain back. Don’t you too?

This article published by MIZPAH Magazine -  ©2010 www.mizpah.tv

© Helena Lind

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