Let's Get Political!

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Feels like the entire way the economy runs is a giant Ponzi scheme. We’re getting scammed!

Bring basic services back under government control - water, energy, transport.

[Jimmy HaveHave]

The country is over populated with too many spongers bleeding us dry.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Yeah. It’s all his fault.

[Outletred]

There are too many people in this country not contributing but taking everything out including use of public services

Just ask yourselves what proportion of the working age adult population are net contributors in terms of tax/NI- or they pay more than they get back in benefits/consume in public services. Bet it’s not a high proportion and there’s the problem.

I don’t include pensioners in that as yes they need more from the NHS for example but have worked for up to 50 years

[BambooToTheFuture]

There are too many people in this country not contributing but taking everything out including use of public services

Just ask yourselves what proportion of the working age adult population are net contributors in terms of tax/NI- or they pay more than they get back in benefits/consume in public services. Bet it’s not a high proportion and there’s the problem.

I think sometimes it is easy to only judge tax on earnings but tbh, there are also plenty of ''hidden'' taxes in every day purchases. Like fuel, it might not be a ''tax'' that it deducted from our income and it is of course a lifestyle choice {a pretty popular one} for method of transport but we all know the tax on that is passed onto the consumer. Like wise with many foods too. So many people are probably paying a tax offset that they don't really consider.

Let's also not get too much into energy and other household utilities. Yes, I have a fair idea of how the energy industry works but we shouldn't really be creating a divisive argument amongst the masses {I'm alright jack vs super scroungers vs average joe}; not when these companies are making astronomical and frankly obscene profits. This is something any government could change and I don't buy that it would deter investors. They're making shitloads as it is. Time to tighten the belt on that area, especially when many of the aforementioned masses, actually are genuinely struggling, or having to make conscious choices when it comes to heating their households.

Any relative austere times to a national economy should never pit society against each other, they should in fact be uniting as a consensus but I do think there is a societal issue in this country where mini ''class'' divides are created amongst ourselves across society. Yet in reality, there is not a lot between these perceived ''classes'' other than who has a better credit rating or something.

In the main, and I don't know the complete data, but I think there are something like 25 - 30 million UK taxpayers. Paying anything from 20 - 45 percent income tax on anything over c13k GBP. I would say there's probably not a massive minus when it comes to what people put in to what they take out. There will be some outliers either way for sure, but most average/healthy/boring lolz people will probably put in more than they take out.

I don't agree with your opening statement though but I would be happy if you were to provide a paper/journal link that backed it up. Especially when disregarding pensioners and people non-adults with the focus primarily on working age individuals.

Here's a couple to back up my thoughts that we definitely pay in more than take out over the course of a lifetime:

https://ifs.org.uk/news/more-nine-ten-individuals-pay-more-taxes-they-receive-social-security-over-their-lifetime

https://ifs.org.uk/publications/redistribution-lifetime-perspective

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

That’s why there were hoping Covid would take out a few more pensioners than it did.

[mystical_goat]

I don't agree with your opening statement though but I would be happy if you were to provide a paper/journal link that backed it up. Especially when disregarding pensioners and people non-adults with the focus primarily on working age individuals.

Here's a couple to back up my thoughts that we definitely pay in more than take out over the course of a lifetime:

https://ifs.org.uk/news/more-nine-ten-individuals-pay-more-taxes-they-receive-social-security-over-their-lifetime

https://ifs.org.uk/publications/redistribution-lifetime-perspective

Great reply. I was also going to ask for some sources from Outletred but I'm pretty sure it's just an opinion with no basis in fact.

[Ginginho]

That's exactly what the elite and government want you to do.
Blame those less fortunate.
Instead, focus your ire on the tax dodging billionaires who are the real problem.

[Jimmy HaveHave]

Bernie Ecclestone is a prime example😁

[Nemo]

Budget day, last budget before the election would normally be giveaway day for whoever the government of the day are trying to buy a few votes.

Not a huge amount in it, another cut to National Insurance, but no rise to income tax thresholds which feels like it'll probably balance out for most earners. Otherwise a bit of fiddling at the margins. Main winners I suppose are motorists with an extended cut to fuel duty, but that tax has been not rising as it's meant to for about a decade now so not sure people will really notice. Anyone see anything interest in it?

[Wobbly Bob]

Rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

The extra £400 odd increase in annual beer allowance is welcome.

I guess that they'll look to cling on until October time now & hope that "the plan" will save them.

We appear to be a stagNation.
Not alone in that though.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

What needs addressing is Council Tax. Was reading about getting away from it being based on the house but on disposable income of the inhabitants. 3% was the figure used, so an annual take home of £30,000 would be £900 per year, £100,000 would be £3000. More you have the more you pay. Seems fair.

[Nemo]

What needs addressing is Council Tax. Was reading about getting away from it being based on the house but on disposable income of the inhabitants. 3% was the figure used, so an annual take home of £30,000 would be £900 per year, £100,000 would be £3000. More you have the more you pay. Seems fair.

Isn't that... income tax?

I think there's a lot to be said for tax simplification, but there needs to be some tax on wealth as well as on income.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

This is the article

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/01/local-democracy-disposable-income-council-tax

[Bob's Orange]

Budget day, last budget before the election would normally be giveaway day for whoever the government of the day are trying to buy a few votes.

Not a huge amount in it, another cut to National Insurance, but no rise to income tax thresholds which feels like it'll probably balance out for most earners. Otherwise a bit of fiddling at the margins. Main winners I suppose are motorists with an extended cut to fuel duty, but that tax has been not rising as it's meant to for about a decade now so not sure people will really notice. Anyone see anything interest in it?

I saw Tory MP Gullis stating on twitter yesterday that we could all enjoy being £16.50 better off every time we fill up the fuel tanks on our cars. Yippee