Illegal drugs play a large role too but seem to be ignored. It won't be the solution because alcohol is only part of the problem. He intends to bring back proposals to set a minimum price per unit of alcohol - a policy, although well intended, included some fairly thin evidence that raising prices would be the solution. Yesterday Alex Salmond laid out his five year vision for Scotland with a pledge to tackle sectarianism and alcoholic drink. Governments increase income by taxation but how much longer can we cope with spiraling taxation when the basic costs of living - food, housing and utilities - are rapidly increasing? If my monthly income was £500 and I needed £495 to meet my living costs I'd be happy to give the remaining £5 to a charity, but if my living costs were £500, would I borrow £5 to give to charity? It wouldn't make sense because eventually I'd be in the position where I either had to radically reduce my living costs or else be deeply involved in a debt I couldn't pay unless I could increase my income. What's worse is that DFID has little idea where the money goes once it leaves these shores, although there are exceptions.Īll governments borrow money, but is it sensible to borrow money to give away charitably? Wouldn't we be much better using the money to solve our own financial problems first then helping others? In the past few years the Scottish government has recognised it and has a system in place although it is by no means perfect, at least it does offer a safety net of sorts to the elderly who may require extra care.
Moreover, in a few years the elderly population will increase dramatically yet only lip-service is being paid to the problem. We're borrowing money to give away to other countries while this is happening here and that can't be right. But is upping the aid to North Africa from £20m to £110m a sensible move when we're so much in debt? The problem is that there's no proof money does reach those most in need if it did I'd say it was money very well spent. Scaremongering is the best tactic to silence critics. “You would see, if we fail, more terrorism, more immigration and more instability coming from Europe’s southern border.” “We should be in no doubt that if we get this wrong, if we fail to support these countries, we risk giving oxygen to the extremists who prey on the frustrations and aspirations of young people. In a weak defence of his decision to give proportionately the highest amount of money among the world's leading economies in overseas aid - £8.5 billion - David Cameron insisted it was the right thing to do. More and more he looks like a glorified salesman rather than a strong leader with a conviction to make Britain a fair place for all. Usually I try to see the best in people but it's very difficult to see anything of substance in the Prime Minister.