Nothing good is going to come of this recession

Harvey Jones once dreamed the recession would change the world for the better - but now he's realised he was wrong....

I have to admit that as a financial journalist, the credit crunch had a morbid fascination at first. There was so much earth-shattering money stuff to write about. Professionally, it was a blast.

Even the fact that I lost a quarter of my freelance income as mortgage magazines foldedf didn't completely take the shine off crunch.

I also hoped a dose of fiscal reality might help bring us all to our senses, and resolve some of the UK's imbalances, notably inflated house prices, and our unhealthy debt-fuelled culture of consumerism. And I naively dreamed it would force politicians to administer shock therapy to those bonus-addled bankers.

But that was back in the day. Now I am finished with the credit crunch. I am so over the recession. Can it stop now, please? Because quite frankly, I've had enough.

What a bore!

I'm tired of thrift. I'm tired of counting the pennies. I'm tired of going cold turkey on consumerism.

I'm bored with drearily reminding my girlfriend that money is a bit tight this month, so no, you can't buy that Cath Kidston tea towel.

I'm weary of worrying about which friend or family member is going to lose their job. Or telling colleagues or contacts who have just lost their job not to worry, they'll find something soon (and most have, but in part-time or casual work).f

I'm tired of loathing bankers. I'm tired of people loathing Gordon Brown. I'm tired of pound shops, fire sales and boarded up high streets. I'm tired of earning less money. I'm tired of my old T-shirts.

I remember when the pound was worth something

I want to do all those things we took for granted before the crunch, such as taking a cheapo Ryanair flight to some European capital without worrying whether the pound would crash en route and the first glass of beer would bankrupt us.

I want to see shops and restaurants opening up, not closing down. I want to see banks giving mortgages to first-time buyers and loans to businesses. I want to buy a second home I'll only visit twice a year. I want to buy stupid gadgets that I know I don't need. I want to start spending money that I haven't got.

I want to return to the days when the government raised taxes to improve the NHS or schools, rather than service the national debt.

Sometimes it gets so bad, I want to watch old TV property makeover shows explaining how you can buy a rundown terraced house in Leeds, paint the walls magnolia and sell it on for a million pounds.

Recession. What is it good for?

I could stand the recession if I felt some good was coming out of it, but as time passes, it becomes clear that this isn't going to happen.

Investment bankers are still pocketing their bonuses for dealing in financial instruments nobody understands, risking another derivatives-fuelled crisis, and there is nothing the G20 is going to do about it.

The government is trying to solve a problem caused by excessive debt, by taking on even more debt. And dammit, house prices still haven't fallen to a reasonable level, so the recession hasn't even delivered on that front.

How can I keep writing articles telling innocent people to tighten their belts when the people who caused this mess are as profligate as ever?

Goodbye, good riddance.

The recession was fascinating for a time, in a car crash kind of way, but it has lost its novelty value. Instead of having the good grace to go away, it is just hanging around, like an unwanted guest at a party.

And even when it is technically over, the real pain will begin, as state spending is slashed, taxes rise and job losses mount. Plus there is always the possibility of a second global banking crisis.

Well count me out. I'm sick of the whole thing. You can have it, if you want it. Stop the recession, I want to get off!

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