Jake,
" Not IMF by any chance? the same people who predicted that the UK would be the only country entering recession?"
What a stupid statement and so easy to refute. You only have to read this
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business /economics/article3716365.ece
or this
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/16 /imf-financial-crisis
or this from your (probably) least favourite rag
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-109926 3/IMFs-warning-Britain-Bailouts-need-double-pr event-economic-collapse.html#comments
I could go on and on ad nauseam, but it is so obvious that they DID forecast a global (Gord's favourite word nowadays) recession, not just one in the UK. I think most sensible people acknowledge this.
I have not singularly (or "singually" as you so eloquently put it) avoided answering any of your points. I agree that there was no alternative to bailing out the banks, but you should be asking why they were allowed to get into such a mess. What was the FSA doing?
As I pointed out originally, I am totally apolitical, although I admit to having a certain loathing for ALL politicians in general and this particular government specifically.