I’m visiting London with my family and I’m struck by the discordance between what I see and what I’ve read about the economic situation in the UK.
What I’ve read are account of extreme economic stress that have required the new government, led by Conservative PM David Cameron, to impose extraordinary fiscal measures that will result in tremendous hardship. What I’m seeing is stores overflowing with people and shopping areas with sidewalks jammed with people carrying goodies for the holidays.
We visited a place that is popular among young people of my 16 year old daughter’s generation called Top Shop. There was actually a line to get into the store and three floors of avid shoppers.
In fact, what I think I’m really seeing is the economic divide that plagues the Western world these days. Some people, the people I’m seeing in the center of London, are unaffected by the recession. Those affected remain in the shadows, while the courageous politician impose economic austerity that they will likely never see.
Sad, very sad.