<human>: I am certainly no expert on economics or politics. I have a grasp that i would say is better than the layman, and I am literate in these areas; there are concepts that I understand and I enjoy learning more about them but something has struck me and horrified me in turn. It is leaning towards conspiracy theory, a term I don't like as it has so many negative connotations, but its an apt term, and I realise how insane my idea might sound.

Would you put it past the government, or any group of people in power, to orchestrate a credit crunch? I mean, from my basic understanding the credit crunch didn't just appear out of thin air; it was caused by a slow erosion. If the media were to uncover the conspiracy that the credit crunch was orchestrated with a deficit in mind, would you believe this?

I say this because in my own country we are facing cuts, cuts that some consider are haphard and potentially damaging. However, the excuse is that in the long run they will help. It got me thinking that a deficit is a perfect boogeyman. It is intangible, can't be touched, can't be seen. It can be used to excuse any sort of behaviour.

In Britain, the measures our government is taking is meant to reduce the deficit over 5 years. However, in 5 years all kinds of ideas can be introduced as a means to end deficit, no matter how crazy it might sound. And once in place it becomes legitimized by the deficit.

So

Give me a shortened version of the text
<bot>: Would you put it past the government/elite group to orchestrate a credit crunch in order to bring about a deficit? Something that can be used to enact and legitimize otherwise unthinkable legislation.