It's good yes. The trouble is people with large amounts of wealth tend to spend disproportionate amounts on high status items. However they still spend very little on their everyday items. So that 89p two litre pack of milk or the 99p I paid today for nearly a kilo of leeks allows very little money for the producers. Consequently people are working in fields in freezing conditions for the best part of feck all.
But this isn't a conservative problem, it's a National problem. Was the same under labour, unfortunately there are jobs that don't pay very well in society.
Well he did go on a little missions to drum up trade with India around 2004, I'm sure there was plenty of agreements being made behind the scenes. The financial sector is a very difficult one, they need to be more strictly regulated I certainly agree with that, but you can't wipe out a whole entire industry, people need to look beyond the bailouts and bonuses, how much money do finance workers bring to the economy in taxes and general spending? It's a balancing act because the moment you crack down on them, they'll gladly pack off for Frankfurt or Paris and the money will go with them.
I used to work in a orchard near Sudbury when I was a kid, it was awful money but built character and taught me that I had to work for money. There was a fairground that used to come to Halstead every year and instead of going to school I worked on there when they were in town on the dodgems and walzer, that was hard work. Didn't get paid much at all depended on the nights takings. Lots of girls though....
The difference though is the polarity of outlook on this issue. The Tory view is that you exploit your labour force to the full by the denial of employment and union rights and by that method you keep your workers compliant. The opposite view which I (And evidently you) take is that it all works better if everyone is happy ,secure and well paid.
Yes what your have said is correct. But I have come the conclusion that Conservative is best for achieving that and you think it's labour. I've never been involved in a union, don't really see its relevance these days. I am 35 in August so I dont have the historical experience you have CT.
Another problem is that basic things that everyone needs become expensive, so people have to do two jobs just in order to have a roof over their head or turn the heat on in winter. I don't care if the rich have lots of money to spend on tack (footballers being an obvious case), but we should care if the poor don't even have the basic requirements to survive.
But, if allowing the more wealthy to pay less tax to help generate more jobs surely that's a good thing isn't it? Transversely if the rich get taxed too much they will simply up sticks and leave, then you may loose all the tax.
And housing is a key point here. Renting a very modest house costs £500 a month. Council tax and heating can easily add £200 to that. Someone on minimum wage will only take home just over £1000 . When I was a kid my dad paid 7/6d a week rent (37p) for our house. Not half his monthly income but more like 3%.
Yes, I don't get upset about it. I was a Labour Councillor for 14 years and had some good friends amongst the Tories.
I'd heard it mentioned, now it's confirmed, SN is ColuMike! I always knew it! Just kidding! Much as I'm not interested in politics, I'm enjoying the debate between Kemp and CT. That's how to disagree with mutual respect!
Regarding your comments concerning my pseudonym Colu Mike ,I would like to quote the honorable gentleman with the motor car avatar.
This thing about the rich leaving to avoid tax is something I have never really believed inasmuch as that being the only,or indeed the prime reason for doing it. It's like Myleene Claas kicking off over a couple of grand a year on a £2m shack. If you have that kind of dosh it's at worst a mild annoyance. These people spend more on a handbag or a pair of shoes. No their objection is a political one,they are Tories. I would like though to separate the One nation Tory from the Thatcherite. They are as different as New Labour is from Militant Tendency and only share the label "Right". JWM is a good example of the Thatcherite. The bloke is a jumped up Pox Doctor's Clerk with an inflated sense of his achievement.
The Budget announcement of the 'Help to Buy' ISAs annoyed me no end. It will essentially just end up driving house prices up further, as the prices will increase in tandem with the amount of 'rebate' people may get back from the government. There is absolutely nothing of any substance included in the Budget to address the lack of affordable housing. What annoys me most though, is all this constant rubbish about 'a strong economy'. What does that mean for the vast majority of the population? Sod all. It doesn't 'trickle down'. 'Smoke and Mirrors' public sector cuts will harm most people far more than a 'strong economy' will help them. Don't get me started on Thatcher and her 'free market-ism'. The unregulated free market has an awful lot to answer for.
Affordable housing is the big issue. The pensions debacle will ensure further upward pressure as wealthy pension pot holders enter the buy to let market. In addition a significant minority will get conned out of their money and then live in poverty. An ex employee of mine had a pension from BT and had an option of a lump sum and a reduced monthly cheque. I told him to only take the lump sum if he had an investment and not to fritter it away. He bought a brand new Mazda sports car and lost half it's value in two years. Now he is retired and hard up.
