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Big versus Small Government

As the UK General Election looms, the main political parties jostle for popularity in voters' eyes. With the trickle of new policy ideas threatening to become a flood, it appears that government has a great deal of control over our lives. But how true is this? And do people want a 'nanny' state or do they see government as an irrelevant burden?

Big Government - Get out of my life!

Great State - Don't leave me this way!

	I see there was the lowest turnout of voters since the First World War, in the last General Election.
			Ahh! General Election night. Better TV than the soaps.
	I suppose - if you like that sort of thing. Beats me why anyone bothers to vote. They're all as bad as each other, these politicians.
			You cynic!
	Well, what do they do for us - always meddling in things they don't understand - if it ain't broke, don't fix it, I say.
			You'd soon notice how "broke" things are if there was no government.
	I don't mind there being a government. It's the constant interference in my daily life that I can't stand.
			Such as?
	Oh, you know, schools, hospitals, roads, railways. Children, adults, animals. The usual suspects.
			That's a pretty broad list! How do you think those things would work without the government?
	That's my point. It would all work better if the government kept its fingers out of it. We should be more like the States where people are left to themselves.

Is Britain's economy highly dominated by government in comparison to other countries, like the USA?

	Like I said, the Americans know a thing or two about hands-off government.
			Fine, if you're prepared to accept low wages, job insecurity and very little in the way of a social "safety net".
	Yes, but I bet they've got more jobs.

Is the American economy as "dog-eat-dog" as this suggests?

	Don't like the sound of being poor in America.
			Couldn't agree more.
	But what's the alternative? I can see the Continentals being worse than we are for interfering.
			You'd better believe it! Although I'm not sure they'd appreciate the 'interfering' tag. You'd certainly expect to pay more in income tax in many Continental European countries.

Do people in other European countries pay more income tax than people in the UK?

			I expect you'd quite like to have public transport to rival the French, German or Dutch system, wouldn't you?
	You don't expect me to use trains or buses do you! But it's a high price to pay, isn't it, 60% income tax? Back to the bad old days in my opinion.
			That was a top rate of 60%, which I don't think you'd be looking at paying, now would you?!

What is a "sensible" rate of income tax?

	But like I said, it's not all about tax. It's like they can't stop meddling in every aspect of life.
			You're going to have to give me some examples!
	OK. You try running a business when in the last four years you've had to change your pay levels to make the minimum wage work, bring in paternity leave, and handle the Working Families Tax Credit.
			Blimey! It sounds like you're running M&S, not Honest John's Bookies.

Is there any evidence of greater regulation under New Labour? If so, what's going on?

But where's it all going to end and why should I pay for it?

So there you go: any government that doesn't believe in leaving everything to the market, is bound to be regulating more. This one is no exception.

What is the likely direction of government social policy?

Mind the shop for us!

So, it's a move to America for you then!