While things aren’t nearly as bad here in the UK as they are in the US, they’re not brilliant either. Let’s take, for example, unemployment:

UK unemployment total reaches 17-year high
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15271800

and

US economy: US unemployment rate drops to 9%
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15593984

As we can see, US unemployment is at 9%, while UK unemployment is ‘merely’ 8.1%. Youth unemployment makes up a significant factor of both (21.3% in the UK, and I *think* 51.2% in the US?), and I couldn’t even tell you for sure if the UK figure is merely the people actually looking for jobs. I presume it is; I seem to recall someone telling me that youth unemployment figures would be even higher if not for the push to get people into so-called education.

The main thing that scares me is how much of the crap falling out of this British government’s mouth sounds suspiciously like the same brand of bullcrap that has been peddled in the US. There is valid and serious concern that the social safety net that makes this country is being dismantled in order to pad pockets, such as the current NHS reforms.Or  such as the Bank of England continuing to hold the interest rates so low; the US doing the same has served them so well *sarcasm*.

I’m vexed that I have, apparently, not bothered to pin down any other particular remarks, because it has been fascinating and alarming – the US is *not* the model to emulate in these times. That is, unless you want to pad the pockets of the already wealthy, which obviously, that’s part of what the Occupy movement is for – fairness for all, not just ‘fairness’ for who got lucky and made money, or exploited people to make money… but more on that tomorrow. For now, have a good Thursday, and I’ll see you later.