Britain's Trillion Pound Horror Story - Channel 4 - Forum

Did anyone watch this on Thursday night on Channel 4 ?

I found it riveting and thought provoking. If you get a chance to see it it More4 or 4OD - do...

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/britains-trillion-pound-horror-story/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

Here's the intro...

Film maker Martin Durkin explains the full extent of the financial mess we are in: an estimated £4.8 trillion of national debt and counting. It's so big that even if every home in the UK was sold it wouldn't raise enough cash to pay it off.

Durkin argues that to put Britain back on track we need to radically rethink the role of the state, stop politicians spending money in our name and introduce, among other measures, flat taxes to make Britain's economy boom again.

This polemical film presented by Martin Durkin, brings economic theory to life and makes it hit home. It includes interviews with academics, economic experts, entrepreneurs, no less than four ex-Chancellors of the Exchequer and the biggest stack of £50 notes you'll never see

True dat!
David Cox said:

They probably could - but they got their money didn't they? Bank the winnings and sit back while the world mops up!
Even then - we'd be in a lot less S*** if we didn't run a huge deficit during the good years.

Cesare Harradine said:
I spend a lot of time talking to the owner of my local off license(strange, because I don't drink). We predicted over seven years ago that:

1) The credit lead boom couldn't last.
2) The banks would be left with a whole load of unsecured debt.
3) National governments would have to bail them out.
4) The government cut in spending would severely inpead any future growth.
5) We're all going to be in the brown stuff for years.

If a guy who sells booze to drunks and a guy who pushes mowers for a living could see it coming, how come the bankers who spend more on a night out with their mates than the both of us earn in a year, couldn't?

Replies

PRO

Gary RK November 13, 2010 at 9:21pm

It wasn't depressing to watch - it was quite a breath of fresh air - whether you agree with it or not is personal

Gaynor Witchard said:
I don't think I'll watch it...too depressing by the sounds of it.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk November 13, 2010 at 9:27pm

nice one - ill watch that after 1984 or maybe before ;) thanks for 4od link...
Lawncare-4u.co.uk November 13, 2010 at 11:46pm

http://www.debtbombshell.com/
Fenlandphil November 14, 2010 at 8:29am

When the former Chancellors of the Exchequer were in power and people were telling them that by destroying manufacturing they were storing up trouble they said that the service sector would sort things out.
People like me said it was daft, we had many arguments with people about the need to stimulate the manufacturing sector, unfortunately we lost so apparently did the country.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk November 14, 2010 at 10:53am

spend spend spend lol. keep it tidy four tourism ? no dirty farms anymore......
PRO

Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care November 15, 2010 at 3:13pm

Made a lot of common sense to me.
Cesare Harradine November 15, 2010 at 3:45pm

I spend a lot of time talking to the owner of my local off license(strange, because I don't drink). We predicted over seven years ago that:

1) The credit lead boom couldn't last.
2) The banks would be left with a whole load of unsecured debt.
3) National governments would have to bail them out.
4) The government cut in spending would severely inpead any future growth.
5) We're all going to be in the brown stuff for years.

If a guy who sells booze to drunks and a guy who pushes mowers for a living could see it coming, how come the bankers who spend more on a night out with their mates than the both of us earn in a year, couldn't?
David Cox November 15, 2010 at 4:57pm

They probably could - but they got their money didn't they? Bank the winnings and sit back while the world mops up!
Even then - we'd be in a lot less S*** if we didn't run a huge deficit during the good years.

Cesare Harradine said:
I spend a lot of time talking to the owner of my local off license(strange, because I don't drink). We predicted over seven years ago that:

1) The credit lead boom couldn't last.
2) The banks would be left with a whole load of unsecured debt.
3) National governments would have to bail them out.
4) The government cut in spending would severely inpead any future growth.
5) We're all going to be in the brown stuff for years.

If a guy who sells booze to drunks and a guy who pushes mowers for a living could see it coming, how come the bankers who spend more on a night out with their mates than the both of us earn in a year, couldn't?
Cesare Harradine November 15, 2010 at 10:12pm

True dat!
David Cox said:
They probably could - but they got their money didn't they? Bank the winnings and sit back while the world mops up!
Even then - we'd be in a lot less S*** if we didn't run a huge deficit during the good years.

Cesare Harradine said:
I spend a lot of time talking to the owner of my local off license(strange, because I don't drink). We predicted over seven years ago that:

1) The credit lead boom couldn't last.
2) The banks would be left with a whole load of unsecured debt.
3) National governments would have to bail them out.
4) The government cut in spending would severely inpead any future growth.
5) We're all going to be in the brown stuff for years.

If a guy who sells booze to drunks and a guy who pushes mowers for a living could see it coming, how come the bankers who spend more on a night out with their mates than the both of us earn in a year, couldn't?