Living standards fall as unreliables rise

Use evidence-based analysis to develop policy solutions. Remember evidence-based policy? It's the antithesis of simplistic, sloganised, impractical, 'in your dreams', ideology. Current government policy announcements often sound more like oft-repeated religious mantras.

Start with an objective audit of what's gone wrong. If we don't understand why things have gone wrong in the past, how can we possibly fix them in future? Ignore the past and you'll be forced to re-learn history's lessons.

Encourage 'frank and fearless' advice. Once, that was what the 'official family' was required to deliver. We can't know what in-confidence advice is provided today. Indeed, we shouldn't, lest that constrain the advisers.

But I worry:

Frank and fearless?
Do I dare?
Just tell me what
you want to hear.

may be where we're going.

If these lessons are absorbed, maybe we can start boosting living standards once more.

And, on the way, using reliables, keep the lights on.