Kenny - No current or capital cuts, and no new taxes

[Kevin Doyle]

Keynesianism got us into this mess, it wont get us out.

Eh, neo-liberalism did, stop attempting to rewrite history.

[Kevin Doyle]

We're borrowing at unsustainable rates to sustain current spending alone. If we continue to spend at this rate the burden of the interest rates will kill the economy. We need to cut back current spending to current revenues to prevent that from happening.

You want to cut spending by 15-20 billion?

And odd suggestion from someonw with an avatar like yours.

[Cato]

Bad hostage to fortune and shows a stunning lack of appreciation for the intelligence of the electorate. It is obvious that extra taxes will have to be made and even more obvious that cuts will have to be made.

[brughahaha]

Didnt hear it but if he did ... well done Enda ... in 1 unimportant Radio interview ages before an election he's already tied himself in knots
God knows how he'll behave or what he'll say in the fury of an election campaign

[Bebsaboo]

You want to cut spending by 15-20 billion?

And odd suggestion from someonw with an avatar like yours.

I think spending cuts are necessary. I just don't think that the poor and vulnerable in society should have to bear the brunt of them. Anyone on the breadline has to spend everything they have which makes them illogical targets to pick as it takes money directly out of the economy. Why not pick on wealthier individuals who simply won't miss it as much and will have less of an impact on the economy? To me it's as simple as seeing that cuts on those with low incomes makes their lives so much worse than it does to the lives of the well off.

I do accept that the financial reality means we need to reshape our budget though.

[DeputyEdo]

He says no new taxes, but did he mention anything about levies? That seems to be the new word for tax.

[goosebump]

Eh, neo-liberalism did, stop attempting to rewrite history.

Liberalisation may have caused the banking crisis, but our structural deficit is a direct result of funding current expenditure with short term revenue, which is Keynsian through and through.

[Gimpanzee]

Obviously, as leader of FG, he has to put out a fairly bland and non-controversial message, but are voters really going to swallow this? Surely, there is an appetite amongst the electorate for a little bit more straight talking at this stage?

I think he is reading it right. There is a huge appetite out there for Hope (fantasy) and Change (FF out). Honesty is not welcome 'round these parts at the moment.

[goosebump]

Why not pick on wealthier individuals who simply won't miss it as much and will have less of an impact on the economy?

On the contrary, disincentivising investment has a massive impact on the economy, which is felt most sharpely by people at the lower end of the pay scale.

Employment comes from either the State, FDI, or private investment. The first 2 have dried up, so the more you cut from surplus income, the more you stiffle our one remaining source of employment.

[Kevin Doyle]

I think spending cuts are necessary. I just don't think that the poor and vulnerable in society should have to bear the brunt of them. Anyone on the breadline has to spend everything they have which makes them illogical targets to pick as it takes money directly out of the economy. Why not pick on wealthier individuals who simply won't miss it as much and will have less of an impact on the economy? To me it's as simple as seeing that cuts on those with low incomes makes their lives so much worse than it does to the lives of the well off.

I do accept that the financial reality means we need to reshape our budget though.

Any cuts to public spending impact on the poor and vulnerable, how do make those cuts on the wealthy?