iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Replies

Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

A bad policy like taking people out of inheritance tax rescued Osborne in 2007. The fuel duty freeze was forced on every govt after 2000 The litany is endless. Voters are constantly threatening governing politicians with consequences if they do anything the IFS etc might approve of! 4/

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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

So while I agree with writers like @duncanrobinson.bsky.social and @stephenkb.bsky.social that this particular govt has at times taken lots of pain for little gain, and need to get better at where they take it, I never forget the fact of their needing to take pain the whole time. 5/

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tadaaa.bsky.social @tadaaa.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

[insert Jean-Claude Juncker quote]

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Jim Obey @jimob1.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

"admitting the opposite could have cost that sandcastle majority" The Ming vase (game theory) sacrificed ability to govern to guarantee the win. It was a 'choice'. And when belt tightening inevitably failed the 'choice' lay between a tactical retreat and reactionary politics. To govern is to choose.

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stefaniabarutta.bsky.social @stefaniabarutta.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Also good policies take years for the benefits to be felt: Sure start, GB energy, workers rights all Labour policies which give them little to no immediate credit and Next Gov will benefit from. Labour should get better at telling voters simple message: the Right destroys we ALWAYS have to rebuild!

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Tom Haddon @tomh-analyst.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

It's how we end up in a weird place where policy is designed to depress asset values (farm inheritance tax, 2nd home taxes, buy to let mortgage reform etc) but no one can actually say that because it would be seen as making us poorer (when the opposite is true for the vast, vast majority).

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Dominic Manchee @dpmanchee.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Agree. However, for the longer term issues we need to be more willing to learn from other countries, especially when it comes to the 'hard to do'. For example, Norway consulted widely, inc meetings w/ civil society, before putting in place their pension reforms. www.cepar.edu.au/publications...

cepar.edu.au

The Norwegian Pension Reform, An External Perspective | CEPAR | Centre for Population Ageing Research | University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)

George KudrnaLike many other developed countries, Norway is facing a rapid ageing of its population that is attributed to both falling mortality and fertility rates in the past and projected life-expe...

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joemcginn.bsky.social @joemcginn.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Agree. Makes me wonder how the eventual reduction of age-related spending will actually happen. A party campaigning on it will likely be hammered at the polls. A gov announcing it once in power may struggle to get it through their MPs if not in their manifesto - even with a majority.

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Simone Hochgreb @simonehochgreb.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

How much do you think better communication (e.g. a good teacher/explainer as a PM) beyond Daily Mail headlines can offset this inherent problem?

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Duncan Robinson @duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Sure! In general, I’d just rather see politicians go big because the political pain does not track the gain one-for-one, if you get me.

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Stephen @stevewelling.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

maybe should do away with democracy.

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Chris Bryan @chrisbryan.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

I guess the trick is that you always hand out a treat when giving out the medicine. I still remember, when I was a child, the lollipop after the vaccination.

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Richard K @rkemb.eurosky.social · 16/09/2025

This is why it's so important, if you have a decent majority, to do the unpopular good policies as early as possible so that by the time of the next election people have had a chance to calm down and appreciate the benefits.

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Tom King @tallgeekychap.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Good thread - but I don't see how it turns you sympathetic to governing politicians. What you're describing is a policy and political ratchet that ensures decline. Those who promote themselves as capable leaders are claiming they have the ability to arrest that decline - so lead!

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