Mark Thomas: It's the Stupid Economy

I've been listening to the Mark Thomas podcasts for the last few months, which discuss the state of the economy, the inequality of taxation (i.e. the rich pay accountants to get out of it, and us mugs at the bottom pay for it - or they just move to Switzerland and only come to the UK to test a fast car and winge), and how in his words the UK is "up a Creek called Shit". The podcasts feature interviews with a range of people who actually know what they are talking about, and are worth listening to. All kinds of interesting snippets come up, such as the fact that the Inland Revenue rent their building from a company registered offshore, who therefore do not pay the IR any tax. Only this government could manage that.

We went to see his show at The Stables last week, and it was a thoroughly entertaining evening. The general premise of the show revolves around him creating a People's Manifesto: each audience comes up with a policy, and he tries to push it through (within limits: the fluorescent additive in dog food to make glow in the dark dog crap, to help avoid nasty nocturnal night-soiling of your shoes, did not make it in).

Milton Keynes opted for:

To replace organ donor cards with an opt out scheme. It will automatically be assumed that people consent to donating their organs on death and those who do not wish to do so should carry a card or sign a register to indicate their wishes.

Much as I like this, I prefer Huddersfield's:

Margaret Thatcher should pay for her own funeral.

...although that does spoil my wish to see her to be shot out of a cannon into the Thames...

The shows look like they will be a run up to a Radio 4 programme, so I look forward to hearing the full range of often weird and sometimes wonderful suggestions. We met Mark after the show for a book signing and were pleasantly surprised that he's actually a nice bloke, very chatty, and happy to rant with the wife about banks. It's also nice to find someone who is passionate about correcting injustice. His website is worth a look through, and if you get the chance to (and have something to say about the current state of affairs), go to the show.