1% tax bill. I'm on a winner!!!!!!

[yoshie]

I have no problem with high earnings, but I do when it means others have to without completely or compete in a job market where only the minimum wage is available.

It's fine to look after yourself, be successful and get rewarded, just not right to step on others on your way up or crush those beneath you when you get there.

I agree with the do unto others comment, however only private firms generate wealth.

Example; tax from local restaurant £50 goes to Gov, Gov pays Police wage £50, Policeman takes wife to said restaurant spends £50. £50 back in till, take account what it cost to put food on plate. Gov, Gov jobs do not create wealth it only spends money generated by private firms. It can print more money but this cause inflation and solves nothing.

Now the minimum wage, there is a cracker. It creates unemployment.

I run a firm and guy A wants a job, I give him a skills test and his ability production rate is worth £5 and hour to me. The Gov say I must pay £7 sounds good and charity is a good thing.
What private firm can afford on going charity?
How do less skilled get a start on the ladder?

The minimum wage policy is discriminating against the low skilled/less able.
The very people it is supposed to help

[Albannach]

If thats what you would do with the money then thats your choice, I'd prefer to invest in our kids, look after our pensioners and our disabled folks and not think it's ok for the super rich to have billions hidden away from the tax man that has been earned on the wages of tax paying brits.

I don't. As you know, my kid is one of the layabout scum I'm talking about, there's no way on this earth I'd invest any more in him. Pensioners; the only ones I know are my parents. They have insurance to pay for their care and we can sell their house, if needed.

If I could, I'd avoid paying tax too. But I can't, so I pay the full whack.

[KERRSURF]

Personally, I don't give a toss who has and who hasn't got money. So long as I can do what I want with whatever I get, I'm happy. I would (actually do) object to lazy scumbags getting my money to pi$$ up against a wall. If I had my way, those who have never worked, in this country, would get absolutely nothing from the state.

So......when your out of a job (could happen easily) and you can't find work (qualifications mean #### all, look at out graduates) and the Gov cut your money to a pittance, even though you worked hard and payed your dues you still won't be looked after, and all the while a select few drown themselves in lifes luxuries because regardless of economic circumstances they are untouchable.

That financial model can only mean a poor end for everyone.


Who will be buying Top Shop clothes when we can't afford bread?

[Albannach]

If I had my way, those who have never worked, in this country, would get absolutely nothing from the state.

So......when your out of a job (could happen easily) and you can't find work (qualifications mean #### all, look at out graduates) and the Gov cut your money to a pittance, even though you worked hard and payed your dues you still won't be looked after, and all the while a select few drown themselves in lifes luxuries because regardless of economic circumstances they are untouchable.

I have worked and paid taxes for 33 years, I made the distinction in my post. I have also saved and prepared for retirement/unforeseen circumstances. I don't need their help, but, should the worst happen; I'll take everything I'm due (which won't be much because I'm not a scumbag/layabout/scrounger/junkie/lesbian...). We live here, we have to accept what 'they' do to us. If we don't like it, we can move somewhere else.

[KERRSURF]

I don't. As you know, my kid is one of the layabout scum I'm talking about, there's no way on this earth I'd invest any more in him. Pensioners; the only ones I know are my parents. They have insurance to pay for their care and we can sell their house, if needed.

If I could, I'd avoid paying tax too. But I can't, so I pay the full whack.

Ok, it's hard to remove yourself from personal circumstance but as a wider issue the wealth enjoyed by a very select few is not justifiable when it has been stolen from the Gov because of poor tax law or because they have exploited workers.

Brian, the minimum wage protects workers with low skills. It may hurt employers a bit (not the big employers, but perhaps the smaller business man) but it removes the sweatshop mentality and makes the desire for immigrant workers less palatable (language barriers, work visa's etc) and encourages tax revenue.

[yoshie]

Ok, it's hard to remove yourself from personal circumstance but as a wider issue the wealth enjoyed by a very select few is not justifiable when it has been stolen from the Gov because of poor tax law or because they have exploited workers.

Brian, the minimum wage protects workers with low skills. It may hurt employers a bit (not the big employers, but perhaps the smaller business man) but it removes the sweatshop mentality and makes the desire for immigrant workers less palatable (language barriers, work visa's etc) and encourages tax revenue.

On the minimum wage I totally disagree mate, firms look for workers worth the minimum wage. They don't take lower skilled allowing them to develop into role, with increasing wages commensurate with improvement.

[KERRSURF]

I have worked and paid taxes for 33 years, I made the distinction in my post. I have also saved and prepared for retirement/unforeseen circumstances. I don't need their help, but, should the worst happen; I'll take everything I'm due (which won't be much because I'm not a scumbag/layabout/scrounger/junkie/lesbian...). We live here, we have to accept what 'they' do to us. If we don't like it, we can move somewhere else.

Thats not right.

We 'accept' what 'they' do to us.

I think the idea that the big boss says jump and we ask how high has gone.

If we don't start looking at this farcical credit approach to life and start making decisions on whats really important we will never move forward.

I'm not suggesting capping earnings or letting people get rewards for the work they do, just to stop all the cheating and greed at the top. Make anything top heavy and it will soon fall over.

[yoshie]

We need beer and a quiet pub corner to debate this properly

[Albannach]

Thats not right.

We 'accept' what 'they' do to us.

No we don't. We tried to change things at the last election, and we got well and truly shafted. They lied, got in, then stuffed us more. So we do have to accept it, because it doesn't matter who is 'in', they'll do us over anyway.

As for this Austerity pish, when we don't owe anyone anything and we're as rich as Qatar, will we pay 11ppg for petrol and no tax? I think not.

[KERRSURF]

On the minimum wage I totally disagree mate, firms look for workers worth the minimum wage. They don't take lower skilled allowing them to develop into role, with increasing wages commiserate with improvement.

A person with any skill base has a set value to an employer.
If we leave it to the employer to decide what that's worth then very few worker would ever actually be paid what they are worth to that employer. Businesses are about profit.
To survive in a world economy that has countries like China making inroads into nearly every aspect of business it's crucial that employers can afford to fight them off but it's a poor economy that makes profit on the sweat of underpaid workers because you only get wealth distributed to the people who own those companies.

If you give 5 million people a pound they will most likely spend that pound and the economy has that money put back in.

Give one guy 5 million pounds and he won't spend it as quickly. Ok, he might go off and invest, start a business but the turnover will be slower and he might just fail completely.

[Albannach]

We need beer and a quiet pub corner to debate this properly

In plastic tumblers; just in case

[Albannach]

And the best of it is, we're all within 2 miles of each other, we can do this any time!

[yoshie]

A person with any skill base has a set value to an employer.
If we leave it to the employer to decide what that's worth then very few worker would ever actually be paid what they are worth to that employer. Businesses are about profit.
To survive in a world economy that has countries like China making inroads into nearly every aspect of business it's crucial that employers can afford to fight them off but it's a poor economy that makes profit on the sweat of underpaid workers because you only get wealth distributed to the people who own those companies.

If you give 5 million people a pound they will most likely spend that pound and the economy has that money put back in.

Give one guy 5 million pounds and he won't spend it as quickly. Ok, he might go off and invest, start a business but the turnover will be slower and he might just fail completely.

Alan, the only system that has ever worked in the history of the developed world is a free market economy. You know I agree with the fair and equal elements of socialism however, the pound going back in is an example of capitalism the only system that allows democracy and government to be funded.

I still say we need Beer and pub atmosphere

[yoshie]

And the best of it is, we're all within 2 miles of each other, we can do this any time!

We could always discuss, "whits rang with my truck it dinny soond o that gr8 dudes andd dudets"

[Albannach]

We should move in next door to each other? That would be a hoot...