We have to...


We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit
We have to cut the deficit.

And so the cuts begin,
A race in vain for us to gain unsustainable growth
That half a million newly jobless know they surely cannot win.

But, we have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to.

So why do Tory benches cheer as all true Liberal's fears are realised?
Surely this awful situation,
Which apparently, is all of Labour's making,
Should bring forth painful cries and tears to mournful eyes
As it leaves the weakest and the poorest more at risk,
And our vulnerable fringes even more marginalised.

Still, we have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut.

The mantra now is everywhere, but who exactly put it there?
And really, tell me do they care, who's hurt?
I guess it's silly to suggest,
Since this stems from over fed bankers self interest,
Maybe it's them who should invest, to save us.
But no, in fact it's our welfare state that's to be bled,
Our thin veil of civilisation which they choose instead,
Far too quickly for us to maintain any modesty, to divest.

As, we have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut back.

Ever met an educated, homeless Tory?
Or one, who thought their own rate of benefit was too high?
What has Cameron ever sacrificed to the greater glory,
Other than a few fighter planes that fewer of us would ever choose fly?

Yet, we have to cut the deficit,
We have to cut the deficit,
We have to cut the deficit,
We have to cut back NOW!

Because if we wait too long,
A golden opportunity to reform will perhaps have gone.
So kick aside the needs of our union,

And sing Dame Thatcher's favourite song,
(sung to the Tune of God save the queen)
We have's just HAVE to cut,
Because we WANT to cut,
Forgetting those who have not, cannot be wrong.

As, we have to cut the deficit.
We have to cut the deficit,
We have to cut the deficit,
We have to cut back NOW!

Don’t we?

A passionate poem that makes some good points. Actually we do have to cut the deficit, to do a favour to the next generation. But there are real doubts about the speed and the method chosen by this government. Its targets are, to some extent, ideologically driven - something it disguises, and which you highlight. The country may yet wish it had voted Labour. The Labour Party has to take some responsibility for heading itself up with an un-electable leader.

@Dave Actually we DON'T have to cut the 'deficit', we have to change society and end the capitalist system, that's ACTUALLY what we have to do.

The Bullingdon Bully Boys



One of them rules London, another the whole country,

But what *on earth* do they know about financial austerity?

Toffs who dressed for fun in £1200 pound penguin suits,

Now stomp on our disabled and our pensioners in hand made hob-nail boots!

They say the country's in a mess and that it is a crying shame,

But their daddies were in banking so they look elsewhere for blame,

They can chase foxes no longer but they still prey on live game,

The thrill of hunting social safety nets for them is just the same.

Yeah our problems stem from scroungers sure,

But once the banks have had their fill,

Dave states 'We're all it together', it seems however that now, as ever,

It's our disadvantaged and the poor,

Who will finally foot the bill!

*On earth* was originally an anagram of the initials of French Connection UK but I was taking 'care not to offend'!

We have to, like, indulge in radical politics with appropriate posturing because, like, we are poets and, like, the Tories are,like, evil, man.

Or we coould all just GROW UP!

Here's my offering - I've followed Mark's advice and am "taking care not to offend" in the last stanza, though it rather "messes" up the look of internal rhyme!

Went down well at the Poetry Cafe in London when I read it a few months back!

Cuts

Cuts, cuts, cuts...
No ifs; no buts...
But do they have the guts
To put
Their money where their mouth is?
I doubt it.

They maintain the pretence that expense
Must be slashed
As cash for defence
Needs to last
As there's no barrier
To the cost of an aircraft carrier.

The crass dash
To slash cash fast
Is just a slap-dash
Rash mish-mash
Of underhand con-tricks
From this lib-dem-con mix.

No matter what this yellow-blue blend
Of fellow-fools intend:
The country's f***ed, my friend;
They won't buck the trend
For in the end
They'll spend, spend, spend.

Steve some of us were radical first and only became poets later!

That's pretty obvious from the standard of the doggeral on offer here.

I wanted to say that but not being able to spell doggeral prevented me.

Here here! I can't abide someone else's politics rammed down my throat in the name of poetry...

Er, it's actually spelt 'doggerel'; unless it's sweet dogger-all you mean?

Julian - you've trodden on my joke!

Isobel I think rammed down your throat is inaccurate and illogical suggestion. you chose to read the clearly labeled thread.

Thanks to Mr Regan, perhaps like the other Steven you misplaced an a, just in your name.

Mr walling if you must be mean buy a dictionary (or employ spell check) first.

Seems that the idea these cuts were to far and too fast is becoming more mainstream, even if my writing isn't!

Spending what you haven't got
Means leaving nothing in the pot,
And there's irony enough to savour
In the thought that we'd be "saved" by Labour!!

Opera rate

Our tastes too expensive
our pockets not deep.
The stalls are far cheaper
but the dress circle steep.

Fiscally revolting
(to the tune of 'coming round the mountain')


The Greek people they have had it up to here,
With those ‘haves’ that say these times must be austere.
Forbes’ list shows the same old picture
The poor pay up - the rich get richer
Publishing financial crimes without a fear.

The Parisian Republic's gone berserk,
I mean, growth through spending... that could never work!
Forget the post-war Marshall plan
(Or that one used in Japan)
'cos some see cuts unending as recession’s perk.

For the Greeks to leave the Euro is a wrench
As even while they're a’bolting they must retrench.
Oh...
From Maggie T to Merkel,
Seems the EU’s turned full circle
So...
Let's all be fiscally revolting, like the French!

By the way, does this quote have any resonance with my original post?

"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." A. Hitler

I guess for Mr Newberry the repetition was unnecessary!