Wanna argument is a section looking at the the arguments for and against a particular issue.

Wanna Argument?

Inflated Expectations

In March 2007, UK inflation rose to above 3%, triggering a letter of explanation, written by the Governor of the Bank of England to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The gloom-mongers pointed to this news as evidence of an impending crisis in the UK economy. But is it as bleak as it seems? Here our contentious compatriots chew the cud over inflation and economic pressure.

Inflated opinions

Lead balloon

	Strewth, have you noticed the cost of everything going up? Council tax, petrol, car insurance - it's getting harder to make ends meet each month
			You're just trying to make me feel worse about things. Ever since getting my driving ban, all I've heard from you is about cars and driving.
	Yeah OK, but think of all the money you've been saving on petrol, car tax and all that..
			I still have to get about, though. Have you seen the cost of public transport these days?
	Yeah, but you get all those benefits, though, don't you? Not really hit by massive Council Tax rises are you? Not when you don't pay any. Still get your bins emptied, though, I bet!
			Don't get me started about the bins, please! You know they've refused to do mine?
	Well, yes. But you have been refusing to sort out your bottles and paper from your wheelie bin, though, haven't you?
			That's not my job! They always used to collect everything I threw out.
	Times have changed, my man. Not hard to guess the council's reaction to your attitude.
			No, well, I've got Dwayne sorting the recycling now - maybe that'll calm them down a bit.
	Still got your Charmaine paying you a bit of her wages and all?
			Yeah, but that barely covers the Sky plus broadband - or the mobile costs.
	Hardly what you'd call essential items of expenditure, I'd say.
			Fills the time, y'know. Plus I need the phone and broadband for all the job searching I've got to do.
	Yeah, right! And the satellite TV?
			Can't miss out on me football, you can appreciate that.
	I'd appreciate a bit of company down the pub. You could watch the footie there, couldn't you?
			What? And pay those prices for drinks? No thanks! I reckon I save more by getting the tinnies in at home. That probably pays for my Sky subs on its own.
	Do you reckon so? That's an awful lot of tinnies to make that sort of saving.
			You should check out the contents of my wheelie bin some time. Plenty of evidence there. Dwayne was saying only the other night - we should open up a metal recycling business round our place, the number of cans in that bin.
	OK, it's not competition time! Thought you'd have grown out of that sort of thing by now. Anyway, you've changed your spending from having a night out to staying in of an evening - at least you recognise what I'm on about. Price of things and all that. Pubs are a good example.
			A good example of me not having to buy you a round, perhaps.

Are prices rising fast in the UK?

			Looking a bit dodgy for you, that. What with your bigger mortgage and all.
	Think you'll get away scot-free, do you?
			Well, as you know, I rent my place from the Housing Association, so, yeah, no mortgage - no impact from higher interest rates. Sorry!
	It's not just people with mortgages who are hit by rate rises, you know?
			How do you mean?
	Duh!

What are the effects of interest rate rises?

	So, still reckon you're going to get away with feeling the pinch, even with all those debts you've run up lately?
			I'll be OK, don't you worry. There's always Dwayne's car. I can flog that if it comes to it. About time he started contributing to the household, little parasite!
	Shouldn't have thought he'll be queuing up to sort through your rubbish if you start on him.
			He'll have to! Either that or move out. Getting fed up with having to support him and his sister all the time. Why don't they get proper jobs and look after themselves?
	Well, you are their Dad. And you've hardly set a good example to them on the job front, have you?
			What d'you mean? I've worked!
	Yeah. For short periods, punctuated by long lay-offs.
			It's knackering, working! Everyone needs a break now and then.
	If we all had the same attitude, imagine the state of the country!
			Couldn't be much worse, judging by what you've been saying.

What's the outlook for the UK economy?

	Not as bleak as you thought, eh?
			I'll believe it when I see it - growth, pah! What does that mean to me?
	Perhaps it would mean something if you were serious about getting a job and sorting out your finances.
			Not much chance of that. Think I'll have to just find new sources of income.
	Oh no, not the market stall again?
			Could be. I heard there are some tasty MP3 thingies coming in soon.
	Well, don't expect me to be queuing up for one. The stuff you get your hands on tends to work for a week before packing in. Reminds me of someone, that!
			Right, I've taken all the abuse I can stand for one day. I'm off to have a word with Dwayne.
	Expect more of the same from him, the mood you're in. Go easy with him on the wheelie bins - otherwise you might find yourself in one!

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