Spending cuts inevitable... or are they!?

WE HAVE BEEN told incessantly that spending cuts in public expenditure are necessary in order to tackle the national deficit. The population locally, regionally and nationally have been resigned to the fact that the "good times" - if they ever existed - are over and we must all make sacrifices for the common good.

HU12 brought early notice of a looming cuts crisis back in March. But particularly since the election of the Coalition Government in May then we have been subjected to a period of media saturation about "the cuts" to prepare us for the national austerity measures to be announced next month. We have even been asked to get involved and make suggestions on the best ways to make cuts and savings - and 44,000 people have - via the Government's Spending Challenge website (see Spending Review on HM Treasury website).

The Government Spending Review on the 20th October will see Government departments demonstrate how they will make savings of at least 25%. There is a sense of inevitability about it all. We are all resigned to the fact that cuts are coming and they will affect every walk of life - and there is nothing we can do about it.

The debate to date has revolved around the 'best' way to make cuts. Even Labour as the main opposition party have said that spending cuts are necessary; it is just just the scale of cuts and the timing that they dispute.

Yet this week an alternative argument has arisen. The Trades Union Congress held in Manchester has dared to argue that cuts are not inevitable, and rather than taking the axe to public services then a strategy of investment in those services is called for.

In particular Mark Serwotka, the General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), has challenged the status-quo and said that "Cuts are not inevitable, they are a political choice. There is an alternative".

The press and the established political parties will concentrate on threats of 'industrial action' and campaigns of 'civil disobedience' to fill the headlines. However, those seriously looking for a viable economic alternative to the cuts agenda, just might be inspired by reading the material being distributed via social networks and e-mail campaigns by the PCS. Download the pamphlet: There is an alternative - The case against cuts in public spending from the PCS website.

Perhaps we can raise our heads and see beyond the "inevitable" gloom and impending despair and at the very least discuss alternatives!?