How The Mighty Fall

As the UK Prime Minister says the country is out of the recession. Within a week of photographic giants Jessops going into administration and closing its shops after 90 years. Big music giant HMV today have also called in the administrators.
HMV has retail stores worldwide and has been seen as the main retailer for music and video - until now that is.

So what the hell happened? Is the recession to blame along with the Government for not doing enough to save businesses from failing? Or is technology bringing down retail giants to their knees?

Personally, I think both have had a part to play. The Government hiked VAT up from 17.5% to 20% raising prices and increasing the cost to run a business. This rise in VAT was frowned upon by many, but the Government stood their ground and raised it to 20%.
Recently, the Government announced plans to raise VAT further to 25%, which could mean more well-known businesses could end up knocking on the administrators door, putting more people out of work. It would also mean less money in the customer's pocket as fuel would become more expensive amongst other household bills.
However, this has yet to be given the green light as the announcement has angered many MP's and members of the E.U. have actually spoke up telling the Government to lower VAT and not raise it to help move the economy. But as per usual, this plea has fallen onto deaf ears and the Government continue on to put us back into the recession.

In saying all that with the growth of technology, faster broadband and cheaper online retailers - is there really any shock value to the news of HMV going under? Not really, no.
I personally found HMV to be expensive on a lot of its goods. For example, last year I bought the Alien Blu-ray box set for £18 in Tesco. It was also the same price in other high street and online retailers who sold it for around the same price. However in HMV, you could buy the same box set for £40. That's a big difference, but in their defence, HMV have had decent sales on such as 5 Blu-Ray discs for £30 and the more recent blue-cross sale knocking 25% of its displayed price.
Unfortunately, these sales haven't helped the company from going under because the online market is under cutting their competition with ease.

What high street retailers should be doing is taking on these cheap online retailers head on and match their prices. At present, customers would be willing to wait three days for a item which they bought a hell of lot cheaper than what they could in a high street store. If a high street retailer matched or under cut its online competition they could see a rise in profits as people would most probably opt to make their purchases in store rather than waiting those three days.

However, with faster broadband speeds now available in the UK, a lot of people are preferring to download their music, games and films rather than buy a hard copy. Why? Space saving is one reason with no CD or DVD cases cluttering up room space. As for other reasons, well, shopping from home is the big thing now. People would rather buy online in the comfort of their own homes, plus you can shop with non UK online retailers being able to buy a product not available in the UK.

Overall then, are we really surprised to see well-known high street retailers disappear? I think not.

How The Poor Will Fall!

So, almost month after the UK budget and the country is no further on in moving the economy because of the fat cat government who this year robbed from the poor to give to the rich.

Their most recent incentive to take more money of the general is to slap residents of the United Kingdom with a green tax - Yes, you read right there!
The Tories as the Toff's like to call themselves, managed to con the country years ago when they convinced the public to convert their cars from dirty environment damaging 4-star leaded petrol to a greener petrol called 'Unleaded'.

Now, the government say that unleaded petrol is damaging the environment therefore people should stop using their cars and use public transport instead. They've also hiked the price of car tax up for many, along with fuel prices which at the time of writing this blog stands at 1.44p a litre ($2.28 a litre, €1.75 a litre).
So how the hell are the average working class family supposed to keep a car running on a low wage or afford to use public transport? Public transport isn't an option for a lot of people, so its all good and proper the government telling us to use public transport especially when most of those lazy sods get driven around anyway!

The Cuntservatives and the arse kissing Lib Dems seriously need to stop putting their needs and the needs of the rich first and start helping the rest of the country before their isn't a country to run.

People can only take so much before they brake and it won't be long before we have more riots on our hands because the working class folk will be sick of not being to enjoy a family day out, have decent food on their table or have a well deserved holiday, because all their wage goes on nothing more than trying to keep a roof over their heads. Something which a good amount of the population are trying very hard to do.

Cut VAT, scrap fuel duty, do something you fat greedy bastards that we will all profit from and get this country out of the recession.

Time For Action!

Well, the economy is getting worse. America has less money than Apple Inc., and the British arrogant morons government have decided to take more money out of our pockets (money I wish to add a lot of us have very little of) by asking workers to pay around £100 a month extra into their pensions and get less when they retire. Seems fair doesn't it?

They've also noticed that nobody is really spending and things are getting worse. No shit Sherlock!

Oil companies and energy suppliers have announced billions in profit. Well good for them they deserve it. Like hell they do!

Its greedy companies like these along with our greedy government who are pushing the economy back into a recession. Well, when I say back into one, did we really come out of one?

Now the government are scratching the knob on their heads to think of another money making plan they can put together which will plummet the country further into the recession and leave us with less money that we cannot afford to part with.

What they should be doing is actually listen to the public and company directors who are all struggling and ask them what should they be doing to help. Yeah, yeah, yeah as if that will ever happen. Its been decades since a government actually listened to the people and followed up their promises, but if they did take notice to what we had to say then slowly the country will walk clear of the recession and the economy will begin grow again. Companies would be saved, people will be solvent again instead of worrying whether or not they'll have a roof over their heads in six months time and food on the table.

It seriously annoys me when the likes of BP are boasting of the profits they're making and is it a wonder why when fuel prices are so high?

If you're making so much money and boasting about it, how about you drop the bloody price of fuel and I don't mean by a penny like the government did in March thinking they were doing us a favour. You can afford to do it, but you choose not to because of greed.

In March, the government claimed they couldn't get rid of fuel duty or VAT on fuel because it would take years to process all the paperwork. Utter rubbish! They don't want to get rid of it because it would leave a big gap in their pockets - Greed!

The only way we are going to get out of this recession and build the economy back up again is to get us to spending again. How? Lower VAT from 20% down to 12%, this will make food, appliances, etc cheaper to buy again. Cut the cost of fuel down to below a £1 a litre, this will make fuel more affordable to the average family household so they can afford to go out on day trips again without worrying about how many miles they do. It will also help companies to keep their fleet of vehicles on the road and improve services. Wait a minute! If people start to go out more, they might begin to spend more. Yes they will because they'll be able to afford to! Can you start to see a pattern forming here? Shame the government can't! Cap the cost of gas and electric supplies. The recent 19% rise is unacceptable, that is pure greed from the companies who are now boasting of high profits, yet they feel the need to up their prices? Stop companies offering payday loans or force them to lower the APR down to a reasonable rate such as 19% instead of 1200%.

Already I've presented just a handful of solutions, solutions that realistic and would help the economy greatly, but it will never happen as greed will always win. 

This country seriously needs to stand up for itself and show the government enough is enough.

The only people who are getting rich are those who are taking from the poor. The government are talking from their arse when they say there's nothing more it can do to help. There is a hell of a lot they can do, they choose not to because they will begin to lose out.

Something seriously needs to be done and soon, otherwise this country will get to the point of no return and the economy will take decades to recover, especially as there are so many selfish, greedy people out there.

Butterkist and King Cones

My blog has bugger all to do with the title I just couldn't think of anything to call it.
Anyhow, hope your all well. I thought I should write something as I've not done so since March, but it has been a busy couple of months for me.

In March, I was hired to help re-write a script for a play which was due to be performed in May. So for a month I worked closely with the show's director and we managed to pull off a miracle. The show 'What the Window Cleaner Saw!' toured the part's to the UK and was an overall success. So much so that the company behind it - Northeast Producers have extended the tour, which is nice.

While that was going on, I've busy working on the series 'Solid Venom' which is being produced by Danish production company 'Skumfidus Film'.

I finished writing the first season earlier this year, with the series in pre-production stage as casting and everything else is currently being organised.

I've been asked to direct the series, but I'm only prepared to direct one or two of the episodes, which they seem happy with.

Although I had nice surprise to be sent some examples of the graphic novel to Solid Venom which is currently in production. The artwork is superb and I'm excited to see something of mine in this form.
I don't know when it'll be finished or when its due to go on sale so I'll have to keep you informed with that one as soon as I know.

As for the film I was shooting last year - 'Christian', that is to be re-shot and I'm currently rewriting the script as its now going to continue on from the Solid Venom series.

Continuing on with the writing theme, I've also began writing a new comedy sci-fi series called 'Some Kind of Heroes'. I'm not allowed to give too much away at present until the scripts have been approved, but I'm quite excited about this one.

Anyhow time to chew the fat.

One subject that I know is on everyone's mind in the UK is the price of petrol.
I'm sorry but why is it so frigging expensive again? Mmm, wait... its because we've got a greedy Government!

Okay, yeah I know that the price of Crude Oil and the Dollar has something to do with it too, but its still not an excuse to have it so expensive in the UK compared with mainland Europe.

In France the cost of Unleaded is £1.10 a litre and Diesel is 94p a litre.

So why is it £1.34 for Unleaded and £1.40 for Diesel in the UK??? Why is Diesel so more expensive in the UK that mainland Europe? There is no excuses of it other than its filling the fat-arsed MP's pockets that's all.

This country is on its arse financially, yet our Government feel need to bail out every other country from their financial problems including the banks and its us, the taxpayer that get's the bill for it all. But do we get any financial help to help us pay for everyday things? No! Has our wages increased? No!

In my opinion, if the country wants to get out of this financial struggle, then lower the cost of everything to get people spending again. Without us spending, the financial problem isn't going to get better.
How is the rise in VAT and fuel bills amongst other things helping the economy? It isn't! Who are the ones benefiting from these rises? I'll give you a clue - it isn't us.

Our shitty useless Government need to take a step back and stop thinking about themselves and start thinking about those who put them in power, before we start to see rioting on the streets and our Government being overthrown because its citizens have had enough.

Seriously, sort it!

That's all I've got to say about that! ;-)

My Alternative Christmas Message

Source: cheapflights.co.uk

So this is Christmas, and what have we done?
Absolutely nothing to be honest. Why? Because people are worse off than ever before and who do we have to thank for that? The Government.

Now, I'm not just blaming the morons who are in power at the moment. Most of the blame does have to goto Labour for their hand into making the country poorer.

This year, people are worse off than ever before and next year is going to be worse.

How on earth can the government say we're out of the recession when signs are clearly stating we're far from it.

Next year will see a rise in VAT. Over the past two years it has gone from 15% to 20%, and this next rise is going to help the economy how exactly?
With utility bills expected to rise greatly, along with council taxes, petrol and food, how are the working class people going to cope?

Its all good and proper the government saying they'll be help for the poorer, but the reality is, is that people struggle to get that help in the first place.

When banks and building societies got into financial difficulties, they were bailed out but us, the tax payer, and the government clearly said that we would not have to pay for the bail out.
So what we doing now? Paying for the bail out hence one of the reasons behind the increases in tax.

In my opinion, those who were in trouble should have been forced to close.
It was wrong to bail out companies who got themselves into trouble in the first place.
But the other reason behind the bail out was simple. The government would have lost a large amount of money, which meant the average MP couldn't decorate his office or run around in his shiny new car.

The only place our money is going is into the fat pockets of our money grabbing government.


Source: oldschoolparents.blogspot.com


2011, will probably see more people out of work as they won't be able to afford to travel to work.

Wages have been frozen in the public sector along with other businesses and major employees. Yet the cost of living continues to rise.
In January 2011, unleaded petrol in the UK is set to rise from 121p a litre to a staggering 130p a litre.
For an average family it will cost them around £60 to fill their car.

So its all good and proper the government and local councils telling you to go green and use public transport instead, but hang on, weren't we all pushed into using unleaded petrol because it was cheaper and greener on the environment, hence why leaded petrol was stopped?

Now, its become expensive and we're now being told its harming the environment - make your mind up!
Plus, who the hell are they to tell us to stop using our cars and travel to work on public transport?
I would love to use public transport, but I was moved into the middle of nowhere where there isn't any public transport available, so leaving my car at home isn't an option and the same could be said for the majority of the country.

But as individuals slip into more debt as they're unable to keep up with payments as their household bills rise. More and more people will file for bankruptcy this year, more businesses will go bust and the public sector services such as police and fire will suffer from budget and jobs cuts.

What are the solutions to get this country going again?
In my opinion, I would cut taxes - make essentials such as food, utility bills and fuel cheap again.
This will put extra money in your pocket and get people spending again as they'll be able to afford to go out and treat themselves once in a while like we used to do in the good old days.

If petrol wasn't so expensive, families would be able to afford to go on trips again, instead of limiting where they go today because their counting the miles so a tank will last them longer.

Stop bailing out failing companies. If there in debt, that's their problem, not ours!
You don't see the government helping small family run businesses do you? No, as I said before, they'll only help those who they profit from to begin with.

End the war! Bring our troops home, back to their families and stop wasting tax payers money trying to find someone we know you don't want to find. C'mon! Its almost been ten years and you still can't find a terrorist leader despite all the technology and intelligence that's available to you?
That is a pure sign that the government is profiting from the war and the reason why Bin-Laden has never been captured. They know where he is, they just don't care.

So, this year Clegg, Cameron and Brown - yes BROWN and the UK government!
While you're tucking into to your expensive Christmas dinners with your family around the table. Admiring your silk shirts and other expensive gifts you can afford to buy for your families.
Hold a thought while you cut into that turkey, for the families who can't afford a proper meal not just for Christmas, but forever until the day comes when life becomes affordable again.
Hold a thought for those who's families have been driven apart because of the mounting pressure of debt and jobs losses they'll face over the coming year. For those who took their own lives because they were unable to cope, for those who are now homeless and are living on the streets with nowhere to go. For those who died in battle while your government profited from their sacrifice, for the children you let down such as Baby Peter who died in pain because of government bodies failed to do their jobs properly again and for the students who are unable to continue with their further education because its too expensive.
Finally, hold a thought for everyone who voted you all in, these are ones who you've let down once again.

Enjoy Christmas with your families boys, don't waste your time thinking about us. Hell we are the ones who have probably paid for it all.

Merry Christmas! 

Hope Your Happy Now!

(Picture: Atlantic Council)

Its been announced that spending is down yet again in the UK.
Seriously are we surprised? Erm... not really no.

Is it going to get better? Erm... not while the Government think of more ways to rob from the poor and give to the rich.

The only way this country will see any improvement in spending would be to make things affordable again and up the wage and ease taxes for the poorly paid.

Ahahahaha! Who the hell am I trying to kid? This is the Government where nobody gives a toss about anyone who voted them in. The only people they care about are themselves and their deep pockets.
To be honest, how many of you can honestly say you've got full satisfaction from your local council, councillor or MP? Very few of you because they just don't seriously care. We voted them in, give them a job and we get shat on from a great height.

This country doesn't need higher taxes, spending cuts, more job losses.
What would we benefit from when VAT is raised to 20% in January 2011? Nothing. I believe this will bring the country firmly down to its knees and for what? Hmm?

Petrol in the UK is expected to soar to £1.30 (US $2.02) a litre on Unleaded, £1.50 (US $2.33) on Diesel by the new year.
How is that going to help the economy?  On the average 1.6 litre motorcar, a tank of unleaded petrol can cost on average £60 to fill.
So how are the Government expecting people to continue using their cars if petrol can rise to £100 a tank?
People will stop using their cars, people will have to get a second job to meet payments on bills their primary job won't no longer cover, people might even leave their jobs because its too expensive for them to travel to work on a daily basis.
On top of that, the Government plan on taxing food items that aren't covered by VAT. So when food prices rise what's going to happen to people who can just afford a week's worth of shopping? What's going to happen when utility bills soar? The list can go on and on.

I'll give it a year before we start hearing of more businesses collapsing or taking their companies abroad, more redundancies and more bankruptcies.

More people are leaving the UK because its become to expensive to live in their own country.

The people who should be hit hardest on tax are the rich, not the poor, not the people who work long hours to earn enough so they can afford to pay a gas bill or a week's worth of food.

If the Government want people to start spending and give the economy the boost it needs, then they're going to have to make thing more affordable again so people will spend, spend, spend.

Drop down VAT to 9%, get rid of council tax. We coped without it in the past and we can cope without it again.
Half petrol prices, it can be done especially when the oil companies are boasting about the millions their making in so many months.
In all honestly, all this is falling on the deaf and dumb isn't it? Why? Because if they gave up all that extra money, how else will they afford their big polluting cars, flights around the world, holiday homes, their second homes, their office refurbishments, their unfaithful marriages and porn stash?

Its great living in a country where its elected Government care. God bless everyone of them!