Are you a good citizen?

Mistermeaner

All the left vs right type debate, evil Tories, evil landlords, darn baby boomers, expensive pensions, selfish migrants etc talk that goes on here I think its safe to say almost everyone has a view about how things should be run in general. We all vote if we want to so have a limited influence on the wider running of the country but what we can all control is our own actions.

On this basis do you think you are a good or bad citizen , or neutral?

Are you a nett contributor or nett taker economically?

What things do you do / not do that have a positive or negative impact on society that isn't purely economic?

My preconception is that most of the left leaning folk have great morals about what society should be doing and providing but strangely it is always someone else who should be paying more tax to fund it.


For my part as a hrt payer I think I'm a nett contributor (isn't the cut off 36k?) . I am employed in private sector so take nothing out. I pay my tax via PAYE so no fiddling. I've not been a doctors for years or set fire to my house or caused any crime. I pay my council tax. I receive no benefits of any kind. I'm a good consumer buying tatt but not so much as to be in debt. I am mortgaged on a house but fully occupied on basis its 2 bed and there is 2 of us here. I have 1 kid so he is a cost to educate but if we each have just 1 kid that's surely the optimum for cost vs benefit? I have a private pension so hopefully will be financially independent long into my old age. I keep fit and healthy so as not to be as burden to the NHS. I give old clothes and toys to charity but not money. I don't do any voluntary work but don't really have the time anyway.

I reckon I'm pretty much the model citizen . My carbon footprint could be better I guess though.

westernpromise

I'm a massive net contributor.

Personally, just as there is a lifetime limit on pension fund value, I think there should be a lifetime limit on PAYE of say a million quid.

martinthebandit

As a point if order, in the UK we are not citizens as we don't live in a republic, we are 'subjects'

Generali

I reckon I'm a net contributor overall.

As I have kids I'm probably just about a net taker financially however I also do quite a bit of volunteering (Scouts, soccer and school). I was definitely a net taker when I had cancer just because it's so expensive to treat.

I think that being a good citizen goes beyond being a net taxpayer though, it's also about whether you try to leave the world a better place when you go to sleep than when you wake up.

padington

How many animals were incarcerated and killed for your pleasure ? How much pollution did you create ? How many hearts broken? How messed up will your children be one day? How many problems did you make for those more stupid or weaker than you? How much social value or social loss does your job make? When you had lots of power, did you wield it for good or bad ?

It's a tough question, personally I think I have lots of improving to do and would have some concern for those that appeared to think they didn't.

MPD

Mistermeaner wrote: »

I have 1 kid

So reducing the future working age population. Where does the future growth come from?

It all comes down to how you look at it.

Financially I am a net taker, same as any other public sector worker. I wouldn't do this job (or any other) if I didn't believe I was socially a net contributor.

BobQ

I have been a net contributor for the past 35 years

wotsthat

Being a good citizen has little to do with money.

Is the world a better place for you being in it?

I can say yes most days.

Mistermeaner

wotsthat wrote: »

Being a good citizen has little to do with money.

Is the world a better place for you being in it?

I can say yes most days.

I would say that it has an awful lot to do with money. Not everything but an awful lot.

Can I have some of your money if its not important to you. That would make you feel good by making me feel good and the world will be as better place.

BobQ

wotsthat wrote: »

Being a good citizen has little to do with money.

Is the world a better place for you being in it?

I can say yes most days.

I agree it is about more than money

wotsthat

Mistermeaner wrote: »

I would say that it has an awful lot to do with money. Not everything but an awful lot.

Can I have some of your money if its not important to you. That would make you feel good by making me feel good and the world will be as better place.

I'm more than a net contributor but as I think 50% is squandered I'm not getting much of a glow. Also, it's mandated so how can I make out being a net contributor is 'good' - I have no choice.

Yesterday I picked up some McDonald's wrappers when out walking - felt better about that than the money I waste on a bunch of rent seekers to be honest but don't kid yourself that means I'm not bothered about enriching myself.