It was pretty much down to Thatcher's 'Right to buy' act in 1980. Coupled with her preventing Local Govt from building replacement housing. The rest is history. Well, the present really.

While I can agree with most of that critique I don't see what you are suggesting is the answer.

Howay!!!

Is citocracy not just a crude spelling of democracy? Or do you see a difference? Like a few people have said in recent years there is an obvious correlation between democracy and socialism. While conservatives naturally favour greater inequality.

Once upon a time you could go down to your local tax office and confront an actual person. I did it on two occasions. What I complained about was wrong. But they found I was owed hundreds of pounds in a tax refund for something else. Those were the days.

Worse millionaires extract money from the economy. That's how they become millionaires.

We did all those things in the 19th century before there was a Labour party. It won't quite be the same but we will have to just do it again. But I am hopeful a new left wing party is about to arise that will make a difference. The main party in the next coalition govt may be genuinely left-wing.

'Can't rebuild economy without redistribution'

Exactly Prem. It is the redistribution from the poor to the rich over the last 15 years that has caused the problem. Reverse austerity, restore the cuts increase govt spending to a sensible level and the economy will recover. First step tax the rich.

Palantir's FDP does not seem to have been tailored to NHS use in any way. The users see it as an awkward imposition they don't need. I can only see it will eventually be abandoned and the job done again properly by someone else who is not just trying to fob the user of with off the shelf software.

It is nearly 20 years since I retired rom IT but I see the same shambolic system persists. The Public sector offers itself up to be told what to do by external 'experts' and gets eaten whole. I think a group that could have developed and written a sensible spec exists (CDAO)but were ignored. Crazy.

'weren‘t there folks living before all these immigrants came in?'

There were but they were immigrants too. They ultimately came from East Africa like we all do.

While I agree with everything Richard has said I find it very strange that talking about savings and investment he fails to mention the biggest miscreants by far who operate in that arena. Hedge Funds, Private Equity and Asset Management are the epitome of savings which masquerade as investment.

For me it is just a matter of dealing with the way it is. Many people don't understand MMT and its implications. But they are still intelligent people who may well have more knowledge and experience of economics than I have. I respect their opinions and try to understand the way they see it.

'I'd never point to him as a place to learn about MMT.'

Yes he is kind of a frenemy of MMT. As is Steve Keen. But I think both are very worth while listening to. And their areas of disagreement with MMT are usually very useful perspectives. I do hope they keep co-operating.

Others have pointed to that inconsistency. And it is. But I do the same myself. The thing is when you are dealing with policy it is a quick and easy way of describing what is possible within an MMT framework. While using the terms that policy was framed in by the MP who did not understand MMT.

'The problem is that rich people are difficult to tax'

They get away with a lot yes. But taxing them would not be difficult if the political will was there to do it. And adequate resources provide to HMRC to fund good HMRC HNVC inspectors.