The Brits have voted, and when that voting is combined with their parliamentary system and the strange bedfellows deal the Conservative party cut with the Social Democrats, the U.K. finds itself with a new Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Cameron, who has vowed to get the U.K. back on the path of fiscal responsibility, even if it takes a variety of painful austerity measures, has never, and will in all probability never have to, deal with anything remotely resembling an austerity measure himself.  He was born to the upper crust, educated in the finest and most expensive schools money and position can buy, and is clearly comfortable ruling from his pedestal of privilege.

Do as I say, not as I do, and all that.   Jolly good.  Can’t wait to see what happens when the first round of civil servant layoffs or pay cuts are announced.

Not to be outdone by that side of the pond, yesterday in NY state soon to be ex-governor David Paterson had no problem forcing an unpaid furlough on 100,000 state workers, while simultaneously granting pay raises to some of his top aides and appointees.  It’s not surprising.  The governor’s admitted to an affair (clearly an indulgence, rather than a display of forbearance), been accused of protecting a misogynist aide, and regularly parked himself squarely under various clouds of suspicion, rather than walking the straight, narrow road of self-discipline.

We mocked the chairmen of the automakers when they flew into DC in their private jets asking to drink at the public trough, and yet we continue to elect characters without character.

If in fact one gets what one deserves, then we need to tighten up our own acts as citizens, so that we deserve better.

UPDATE:  a Federal judge put a hold on the furloughs for state workers.  Turns out Paterson’s attempts at austerity are not only hypocritical, but may well be unconstitutional and therefore illegal.  At least the guy’s consistent.

                          

Examples:

1.  Failure is the price that’s paid by a poorly run company in a free market capitalist system, but these companies and the companies they support are too big to fail. Additionally, millions more will be added to the unemployment lines and a national deficit that already knows no bounds will reach an even greater level of obesity.

2.  Politically, we’re in a void for another couple of months, as all unpleasant, divisive, and crucial decisions (except, of course, bailing out the beloved banking and insurance industries) are put off until Barack’s hand leaves the Bible on inauguration day

The above thinking is all well and good, but the elephant in the room (or donkey, if you like), that isn’t being mentioned, is the high probability of severe civil unrest in Detroit should the car-makers be allowed to collapse under the weight of their own bad decisions.

This may well be followed by the newly unemployed taking to the streets without the structure and salaries that keeps much of the middle class’ discontent at bay. They will no doubt be joined by others who have been left impoverished by having lost jobs in other sectors of the economy, and still others who haven’t yet experienced being in the workforce, and have nothing better to do than embrace the mob mentality and contribute their fair share to the mayhem.

There will be white men, and there will be black men, united by impotent frustration and desperation. No doubt there will be an effort made to pin this unrest, should it come to pass, on an administration not yet in office, although their only sin may well be luckless timing.

This piece is not meant to incite, and it require hubris beyond that which even I possess to think that this lone observer can provoke anything more than a food fight at a birthday party.

It’s meant as a giant heads up, but again, I don’t think I’m the only one seeing this possibility. I think we’ll hear more about it in the days to come, once the ostriches get tired of eating sand.

Hopefully it ends here, in the speculative stage. Otherwise, from what I’ve read and seen, it’s going to make the riots of ‘67 look like a fine and proper tea party.