Friends of Gill Beck Valley
@gillbeckvalley.bsky.social
Advocates for nature in the Gill Beck Valley Baildon/Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
Otherwise you'll always face the argument that things like environmental standards and green energy can't be afforded because 'we don't have the money'. It's never true that we don't have the money... But this is a complicated idea that has to be reinforced constantly
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Otherwise you'll always face the argument that things like environmental standards and green energy can't be afforded because 'we don't have the money'. It's never true that we don't have the money... But this is a complicated idea that has to be reinforced constantly
This buys into the whole neoliberal story that the govt must levy taxes in order to have money. The govt doesn't need to collect money in order to have some to spend. The main reason to tax fuel is to nudge people away from using it. Leave it at that
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
This buys into the whole neoliberal story that the govt must levy taxes in order to have money. The govt doesn't need to collect money in order to have some to spend. The main reason to tax fuel is to nudge people away from using it. Leave it at that
Well, especially when the govt doesn't have to find money from anywhere! It can always spend the money when it's necessary or good investment and stupid not to. It can always spend. There may be reasons to balance things up a bit by taxing somewhere but only if the economy needs it
November 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Well, especially when the govt doesn't have to find money from anywhere! It can always spend the money when it's necessary or good investment and stupid not to. It can always spend. There may be reasons to balance things up a bit by taxing somewhere but only if the economy needs it
And the govt can't save money. There is nothing to be gained by the govt not spending money. Their job is to ensure that resources are used to create future wealth
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
And the govt can't save money. There is nothing to be gained by the govt not spending money. Their job is to ensure that resources are used to create future wealth
Being comfortable in retirement isn't only about money. You can only access the goods and services that bring comfort if we have invested to create them. Doesn't matter how rich you are if too few doctors have been trained and energy infrastructure hasn't been built. (And tax doesn't pay for these)
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Being comfortable in retirement isn't only about money. You can only access the goods and services that bring comfort if we have invested to create them. Doesn't matter how rich you are if too few doctors have been trained and energy infrastructure hasn't been built. (And tax doesn't pay for these)
Tightening PIP eligibility will stop £9bn from flowing into the economy and into people's pockets
October 30, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Tightening PIP eligibility will stop £9bn from flowing into the economy and into people's pockets
That shot of Neptune 👏
October 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
That shot of Neptune 👏
Blimey! A UK political leader with a real, actual hint of wisdom. A first in living memory
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Blimey! A UK political leader with a real, actual hint of wisdom. A first in living memory
But it's irrelevant anyway... because the purpose of tax is not to raise money 🤦
October 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
But it's irrelevant anyway... because the purpose of tax is not to raise money 🤦
Murphy + Polanski gives me some hope that the British people can be persuaded that there's an alternative to austerity and bad economics. Core to Green party success is presenting a new economic perspective as plausible and practical rather than 'extreme'
October 23, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Murphy + Polanski gives me some hope that the British people can be persuaded that there's an alternative to austerity and bad economics. Core to Green party success is presenting a new economic perspective as plausible and practical rather than 'extreme'
Would be interested Dave. Can't for the life of me work out how to DM you tho
October 16, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Would be interested Dave. Can't for the life of me work out how to DM you tho
Ah yeah, just a little snail here and that flower there. Few trees in the way over yonder. No point worrying about a bit of this chemical or that pollutant. Very minor. Each case individually can be presented as petty. But, before long there will be nothing left! Have we learned nothing 🤦
October 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Ah yeah, just a little snail here and that flower there. Few trees in the way over yonder. No point worrying about a bit of this chemical or that pollutant. Very minor. Each case individually can be presented as petty. But, before long there will be nothing left! Have we learned nothing 🤦
At the end of the day it's about real resources. Wealth is not money. Wealth is access to things that people need. Conventional political dialogue has it that if govt spends then this adds to 'debt' but takes no account of real wealth it creates such as improved health, education, environment
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
At the end of the day it's about real resources. Wealth is not money. Wealth is access to things that people need. Conventional political dialogue has it that if govt spends then this adds to 'debt' but takes no account of real wealth it creates such as improved health, education, environment
Great quote from Phil Armstrong recently: the main attitude of the labour party towards the city and big business is one of fear. They feel they have to appease them. The conservatives at least recognized that government has the whip hand.
September 30, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Great quote from Phil Armstrong recently: the main attitude of the labour party towards the city and big business is one of fear. They feel they have to appease them. The conservatives at least recognized that government has the whip hand.
Implicit in this argument is that saving cash for retirement won't cut it. We need to invest in resources for retirement.
September 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Implicit in this argument is that saving cash for retirement won't cut it. We need to invest in resources for retirement.
You can look at it in terms of money. However, ultimately, wealth is not money. Wealth is access to goods and services. Whether we suffer future poverty depends on ability of the country to provide food, water, housing, healthcare, energy. Doesn't matter how much money you have if there's no stuff.
September 27, 2025 at 5:57 AM
You can look at it in terms of money. However, ultimately, wealth is not money. Wealth is access to goods and services. Whether we suffer future poverty depends on ability of the country to provide food, water, housing, healthcare, energy. Doesn't matter how much money you have if there's no stuff.
Is lack of growth a problem?
September 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Is lack of growth a problem?
Rich people buy assets. Houses,land, shares, bitcoin, gold. They don't buy more broccoli. Taxing the rich has significant potential to address, for example, house prices
September 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Rich people buy assets. Houses,land, shares, bitcoin, gold. They don't buy more broccoli. Taxing the rich has significant potential to address, for example, house prices
My motivation to post things does come and go! Always read your stuff tho👏
September 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
My motivation to post things does come and go! Always read your stuff tho👏
The complicated bit is that for LOCAL government taxation does fund spending. Obviously this is an arrangement that we could and should change. It has suited the narrative of successive governments to maintain the current artificial system. Real change required
August 30, 2025 at 6:07 AM
The complicated bit is that for LOCAL government taxation does fund spending. Obviously this is an arrangement that we could and should change. It has suited the narrative of successive governments to maintain the current artificial system. Real change required
It's such a counter-intuitive idea but so important
August 30, 2025 at 6:03 AM
It's such a counter-intuitive idea but so important
Fund it from central government whose spending is not dependent on sourcing money from taxation
August 30, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Fund it from central government whose spending is not dependent on sourcing money from taxation
Nope, it disappears
August 15, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Nope, it disappears