Economics as a lever

[Outis]

The whole world is feeling economic pressure and is worrying about the future.

Tariffs, trade barriers, Brexit, the threat of war leading to increased defence spending even doubling or trebling for NATO members.
I was reading an economics review for the UK and it highlighted a lof of serious problems they are facing. The defence budget is set to double, they're having to pay to save the steel industry including the government looking to pay to replace furnaces costing billions that wasn't budgeted for, schools literally crumbling with roofs falling in and a history of underfunding, the healthcare system unable to provide some basic healthcare and waiting lists and bed shortages with an aging population meaning there is no solution to the problem, the prisons are full and they're having to build new prisons and release prisoners early dispite having the largest prison population in London, the roads and public infrastructure is massively underfunded with pot-holes in roads and trains not running being among the most popular talking points in the country, bin-men striking in Birmingham and much more.

The current government came in and said there was a massive hole in the finances, there's just no money in kitty and then they got hit with new spend after new spend, there's real economic problems. The UK isn't alone in this, it's the same for most countries to one degree or another.

When the economics doesn't work then decisions have to be made, priorities shifted and it's society that influences that. So one approach we can take is to push the economic arguments that impact maps and non-maps without focusing on map issues specifically, but presenting a factual case to society.

- Defence
- Healthcare
- Prisons
- Pensioners
- Education

Rank in order or spending priority. Few would put prisons at the top.
Present the factual background for each.
Defence, the increase in conflict, Russia threatening Europe, NATO unsure of itself, terrorism etc. People complain about the army shrinking and shrinking, so for defence there's a commitment to massively increase spending.
Healthcare, out of control waiting lists, many basic services unable to be provided, not enough beds or hospitals, more nurses and doctors needed, patients having to stay on trolleys in hallways or unable to get treatments, a system on the brink of collapse and an aging population meaning there is no answer in sight.
Prisons over capacity, the biggest prison population in Europe, people being locked up for victimless crimes such as looking AI generated porn so not even real people.
Pensioners having their winter fuel allowances cut, benefits cut, having to decide day to day whether to eat or heat their homes.
Education, schools literally falling down and kids not getting the education they deserve.

Ask the man in the street if they had to choose, cover the heating bills for 10 pensioners over winter or lock up one person who looked at an AI generated picture, how would most answer? There is real empathy and national pride towards healthcare systems, education, defence prowess and protecting the elderly who are respected and loved. I think there's a case for presenting economic arguments that challenge the way spending is being used as a war on maps.