Do we really want to "get back to 'normal'"?

[LMcD]

I think most people mean something different in "getting back to normal" than politicians, big business and economists. For many it just
means face to face human interaction, meeting friends and family, going for a walk for as long as you want and, as a work colleague put it, for going to work not feeling like a version of Russian Roulette. I'd hope things won't be "the same" after we get back to normal, essential workers being paid their worth etc. especially the end of zero hours contracts as they are currently abused by employers, but I doubt it.

There'll be plenty of words and promises but I suspect very little will actually change. Too many people who could help change things have too much at stake to allow anything remotely radical.

[Serial_Apologist]

I think most people mean something different in "getting back to normal" than politicians, big business and economists. For many it just
means face to face human interaction, meeting friends and family, going for a walk for as long as you want and, as a work colleague put it, for going to work not feeling like a version of Russian Roulette. I'd hope things won't be "the same" after we get back to normal, essential workers being paid their worth etc. especially the end of zero hours contracts as they are currently abused by employers, but I doubt it.

As I've said, it all depends on whether spending on essentials is treated as a sort of fag end of economic activity, or its precondition; or whether the latter is impossible under capitalist relations of production and distribution, as I suspect.

[burning dog]

Perhaps essential workers will realise how much power and influence they could have, but I doubt that as well

[teamsaint]

One part of normal that needs to go is the vast difference in income and wealth.In one sense betweeen the 0.1% and the rest, and also between the absurd salaries that many in the affluent middle classes receive, ( investment bankers, many orchestral conductors, Premier league footballers,mutlilty CEOs this means you) , compared to other workers in the same professions.

[gradus]

Presumably we'll adopt high income taxation/vat to pay for it all ie Denmark/Sweden +, higher inheritance tax, capital gains etc but I would be very surprised to see boardroom salaries permanently reduced to what most people would consider more reasonable levels. There is a very effective salary survey culture prevalent in large UK companies that ensures that directors' remuneration is always backed up by extensive research that establishes the going rate and I can't see that approach changing in a very high personal tax environment, in fact it's likely to get worse as the 'special ones' commission salary research experts to show that they deserve as much as their higher paid colleagues in comparable companies, especially after their heroic efforts throughout the crisis. High time that the big corporate shareholders started challenging directors' pay, snag is that many of them benefit from similar approaches to fixing their own pay.

[MrGongGong]

What would be a start would be for Mr Johnson to be sent down for causing the uncecessary deaths of many people
but that's not going to happen and the likes of him will simply get richer and more immune

[Tony Halstead]

One part of normal that needs to go is the vast difference in income and wealth.In one sense betweeen the 0.1% and the rest, and also between the absurd salaries that many in the affluent middle classes receive, ( investment bankers, many orchestral conductors, Premier league footballers,mutlilty CEOs this means you) , compared to other workers in the same professions.

"many orchestral conductors"...?

Is approximately 20-30 conductors in the entire world 'many'?

[teamsaint]

"many orchestral conductors"...?

Is approximately 20-30 conductors in the entire world 'many'?

It’s enough.

Incidentally there was an actual point in my post.

[Padraig]

It’s enough.

Incidentally there was an actual point in my post.

ts, I can appreciate how disconcerting it is to have your post(s) misread. But be reassured, they were both clear in their intent, which was to point out the universal truth that this world is ill divided in so many ways.

[ardcarp]

Presumably we'll adopt high income taxation/vat to pay for it all ie Denmark/Sweden

Yes, citizens of Scandinavian countries certainly pay more in personal taxes, but they also live in a more egalitarian society with a high standard of living plus first rate health care and welfare benefits. I doubt higher taxes will do the same for us.

[gradus]

Yes, citizens of Scandinavian countries certainly pay more in personal taxes, but they also live in a more egalitarian society with a high standard of living plus first rate health care and welfare benefits. I doubt higher taxes will do the same for us.

Mr Starmer seems to be looking for a new post-Corbyn direction, perhaps towards the North might be the way to go.

[Bryn]

Mr Starmer seems to be looking for a new post-Corbyn direction, perhaps towards the North might be the way to go.

Might well be heading for Hell in a handcart once this gets more widely read.

[alywin]

I've been wondering for weeks if the "minimum guaranteed income for all" thingy is the way to go. Certainly better than all the poor blighters who've actually got some savings behind them - and I'm thinking of young people desperately saving up for a deposit on a home - having to deplete those savings because they're too "rich" to qualify for Universal Credit ...