David Titan wrote:crime is down
This is not a government achievement. Crime has been on a downward trajectory all across the developed world, It's ridiculous to give the government credit for this.
David Titan wrote:immigration is down
Net immigration is slightly down, but it's still 75% above the government's target, and last year it increased.
David Titan wrote: the economy is growing
This is not a government achievement. The economy spends most of its time growing, that doesn't mean we should congratulate the government for this fact of life.
The important question is, are the government having a positive or negative impact on growth? To which the answer is: The government's measures are slowing economic growth because they are overseeing huge spending cuts, at a time when the country is in a liquidity trap and the fiscal multiplier is much larger than normal.
David Titan wrote:taxes are down
This is not a government achievement. Maybe if they weren't cutting taxes for the wealthiest individuals, and large corporations, they would have enough money to avoid some of the cuts to services and benefits that are devastating some of the country's poorest and most vulnerable people.
David Titan wrote:investment in infrastructure is up
This is factually incorrect. I found it harder than I expected to find official figures to contradict this. However,
Martin Wolf says that the government has halved public investment, and Nick Clegg earlier in the year
apologised for the cuts in capital spending admitting they had been a mistake, so I think it's pretty safe to say you've got this one wrong as well.
David Titan wrote: the number of speed cameras is down
This is not a government achievement. If you don't want to be fined for speeding, don't speed.
David Titan wrote:the deficit is smaller
This is not a government achievement. The government has spectacularly missed its own targets on this one. The deficit is higher than it was going to be under Labour plans which Osborne derided for not cutting the deficit fast enough.
David Titan wrote:job creation is up
This is not a government achievement - yes that is what tends to happen after a recession. It would probably be higher had the government not ruined economic growth with their self defeating austerity measures.
David Titan wrote:education standards are improving for the first time in 40 years
This is factually incorrect. Exactly what quantitative evidence have you seen which suggests this?
Do you genuinely think education standards didn't increase at all from 1970-2010? If so then you are a moron.
David Titan wrote:The test of a good government is whether it leaves office with the country in a better shape than when it entered into office. The Attlee government, the subsequent Tory governments in the 50s/early 60s, the Thatcher government and this Coalition government (assuming it breaks up in 2015) have all achieved it. Credit should be given to Clegg and Cameron - they have proven far more capable in leading this country than Major, Blair or Brown.
So the test of a good government isn't have they defended the weakest most vulnerable in society? Have they made the country fairer? Have they laid the foundations for a prosperous future for the country? Have they enhanced Britain's position on the global stage?
Instead it roughly translates as: if a government comes in power just after a global recession, then regardless of the government's policies the country will be in a better position when they leave, therefore they have been successful. Can you genuinely not see a problem with that?
