What's with all the strikes?

lostinrates

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

It is difficult to argue that the well-off are heavily taxed. Income tax is far lower than in the days of Thatcher, particularly the top rate.

Humph I have no idea what total tax people pay. Frankly, I think paying tax on lots of things is a bit deceptive, not wrong deceptive just not...clear sort of deceptive. But I think there is a heavy tax burden on good, ''middle class'' earners. I don't argue its unfair, but what we can afford on a good income now is less than my parents, who were comparitviely lower good middle class (mainly public sector income) earners, could under Thatcher.

edit: actually no, thats not really what I mean, in many ways we afford more, just not in ..enduring ways. Real stuff is more, clutter and rubbish is far, far less..............

Sir_Humphrey

lostinrates wrote: »

Humph I have no idea what total tax people pay. Frankly, I think paying tax on lots of things is a bit deceptive, not wrong deceptive just not...clear sort of deceptive. But I think there is a heavy tax burden on good, ''middle class'' earners. I don't argue its unfair, but what we can afford on a good income now is less than my parents, who were comparitviely lower good middle class (mainly public sector income) earners, could under Thatcher.

edit: actually no, thats not really what I mean, in many ways we afford more, just not in ..enduring ways. Real stuff is more, clutter and rubbish is far, far less..............

I think the issue is that too much tax is regressive (hello VAT).

The higher rate of income tax kicks in at £43k, which is well into middle class wage territory. 20p basic rate is low. NICs taper off at high income levels.

lostinrates

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

I think the issue is that too much tax is regressive (hello VAT).

The higher rate of income tax kicks in at £43k, which is well into middle class wage territory. 20p basic rate is low. NICs taper off at high income levels.

I kinda like the idea of VAT, paying for what one uses. But I also like the idea its coupled with a varying income tax, so that people who earn more chip in a little more.
#

Srry humph, I'm not replying well, distracted a my end here...and a bit pointless conversation as I was only making a flip comment, its just your post spoke to me..both because I agreed, and disagreed. such is my head.

eta: I also think, personally, we pay a huge amount of tax gor what we have...but I guess everyone feels that when looking at their own tax!

custardy

lostinrates wrote: »

I kinda like the idea of VAT, paying for what one uses. But I also like the idea its coupled with a varying income tax, so that people who earn more chip in a little more.
#

Srry humph, I'm not replying well, distracted a my end here...and a bit pointless conversation as I was only making a flip comment, its just your post spoke to me..both because I agreed, and disagreed. such is my head.

i would rather have a VAT style tax where i can choose to pay
eg on luxury foodstuffs
falls down a but when you are getting battered with taxation on fuel to drive to your work

Masomnia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8586422.stm

Really bloody annoyed about this. Was going to go home for the Easter weekend and then back to uni to get my dissertation done. Don't know what I'm going to do now!

partlydave

Masomnia wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8586422.stm

Really bloody annoyed about this. Was going to go home for the Easter weekend and then back to uni to get my dissertation done. Don't know what I'm going to do now!

Ive already bought train tickets for 5th and 6th April. I emailed Virgin and they replied saying we have to wait till the strike is confirmed or otherwise. What are they going to do, wait till the 6th before they decide to give me a refund?:mad:

berkshirelady

Masomnia wrote: »

BA expected to go on strike soon, 270,000 council workers (ro thereabouts) on strike, British Gas workers to ballot on strike action... and now today I hear that railway workers are also considering striking.

I didn't exist in the late '70s, so don't remember, but from what I can gather it was a pretty tough time as pretty much everyone went on strike, and this I'm told tends to mean the end of the Labour government.

Labour may be gaining ground in the opinion polls, but if things carry on like this I can't see them looking favourable in the eyes of the public.

Time to stock up on candles??? :eek:

ahem, it's not council workers that have been on strike! we're all still at work. I think you mean workers from HMRC, DWP, Defra etc - members of PCS union?

custardy

berkshirelady wrote: »

ahem, it's not council workers that have been on strike! we're all still at work. I think you mean workers from HMRC, DWP, Defra etc - members of PCS union?

now now,no need to sully a good rant with facts

Masomnia

berkshirelady wrote: »

ahem, it's not council workers that have been on strike! we're all still at work. I think you mean workers from HMRC, DWP, Defra etc - members of PCS union?

I stand corrected.

Masomnia

custardy wrote: »

now now,no need to sully a good rant with facts

I wasn't ranting. Apart from about the rail workers just then; that was definitely a rant.