Consensus warning

THE ESRI report detailing the enormous damage to our economy and society of monetarist austerity from now to 2014 highlights the dangers of an unthinking cosy consensus.

It was a similar attitude that led to light regulation, low income tax, no wealth tax, Anglo, the building bubble, “go and commit suicide”, “turning the corner”.

and Lisbon II (where the consensus had to be ‘encouraged’).