The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Sizzle, Yes, but Beef, Too

"Sizzle, Yes, but Beef, Too" (2005)...Thomas Friedman: "The strong British economy that Mr. Blair and his deft finance minister, Gordon Brown, have engineered has led to spending on health and education - as well as on transportation and law and order - that has increased 'much faster than under the Conservatives,' The Financial Times noted on Wednesday. 'The result has been numerous new and refurbished schools, dozens of new hospitals, tens of thousands of extra staff and much new equipment.'"
And these improvements, which still have a way to go, have all been accomplished so far with few tax increases. The vibrant British economy and welfare-to-work programs have, in turn, resulted in the lowest unemployment in Britain in 30 years. This has led to higher tax receipts and helped the government pay down its national debt. This, in turn, has saved money on both interest and welfare benefits - money that has been plowed back into services, The Financial Times explained."