Dave, we're both on the same page, and it's difficult to get across what we really mean when we're typing it, not saying it, and we don't reply to each other for a couple of days!!
One thing about the free market economy though - it's dead. If we were running a free market economy, no bank would have been given a single penny. We'd have let the market sort this out, and let those companies take the consequences of their actions. We didn't. It's no longer a free market when Governments own more of the banks than shareholders do. As it sits, they have all taken advantage of the free market when it's on the up, but not suffered the consequences when it drops - it's so close to Communism it hurts!!
Manufacturing Utopia in this country ended in the 19th century, long before it all went downhill in the '70s. But, again, it wasn't a free market! Thatcher liberated the financial markets, but failed to do the same for the manufacturing sector. All the red tape of export controls remained, export credit guarantees were withdrawn (when Germany and Japan were increasing theirs) business rates soared, and inflation was rampant leading to higher wage costs (when, again, Japan, Germany and the US were controlling theirs) and the control of the £ was a shocking cock-up between Lawson and Lamont.
We talk free-market a lot, but the reality is Governments don't allow one. True, manufacturer's in the 1970s thought they could run companies on a spreadsheet (tongue in cheek there, but you get my drift) but let's not kid ourselves the market is free!
And, by the way, are there any Nick Griffin articles in the press today? Thought not!!
