Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%
  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
You're not a racist, based on what I have read. You do have a problem with people who believe in the fairies at the bottom of the garden, or the more apocalyptic equivalents. So do I, but even these cretins are human and they can believe what they want as long as it's of their own free will, and they don't want to blow themselves up, and us with them.

Genuinely moving scenes at Munich station as many Germans not only handed out food etc to arriving refugees, but applauded them, For hours as train after train arrived from Austria. 8,000 into Germany today they reckon. I am not naive enough to think all Germans feel this way.
And with apologies for merging threads, your second para shows behaviour so much more important than hashtags on Twitter or waving banners at football. Lets' hope eh?
 
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There is certainly something about the Brits knocking the successful (though that is not unique to us). One of the things I like about working in the US (and there are many things I don't like) is the simple sense of optimism and delight in achievement you find there. It jolts me out of my default cynicism, curse of the British and does me good. If this cynicism is pissing off people like you who generate wealth for many more people than themselves we have serious problems. But on paper I don't think out tax system is harsher than any other western country and is milder than most. It's the price we pay for public services - my problem is the quality of what we are getting.

The hypocritical thing is, I am inherently as cynical anyone else. As regards our tax system, I think we lead the way on stealth taxes. Our headline income rates are by no means the worst, but for items such as inheritance tax, I think we are second highest Globally. Our wonderful stamp duty (or rather tax on people living south of Birmingham) trumps many other land taxes and applies where others may not (leases for instance). I also understand that the manner of tax enforcement in the UK is rather more efficient here than almost anywhere else with the possible exception of Germany. There is no denying HMRC habitually targets the low hanging fruit for harder enforcement which is, by and large, the middle classes.
 
The hypocritical thing is, I am inherently as cynical anyone else. As regards our tax system, I think we lead the way on stealth taxes. Our headline income rates are by no means the worst, but for items such as inheritance tax, I think we are second highest Globally. Our wonderful stamp duty (or rather tax on people living south of Birmingham) trumps many other land taxes and applies where others may not (leases for instance). I also understand that the manner of tax enforcement in the UK is rather more efficient here than almost anywhere else with the possible exception of Germany. There is no denying HMRC habitually targets the low hanging fruit for harder enforcement which is, by and large, the middle classes.

This government seems intent on trying to make the UK a tax haven for corporations. Corporation tax should be halved for SMEs, but doubled for banks, insurance companies and the like. We should be much tougher on collecting tax from multi-national companies. What's wrong with taxing multi-nationals on turnover rather than dubiously declared profits?
 
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You haven't said it, Congleton, but there's a common perception that tens of thousands of refugees are crossing numerous borders to get to the UK because we are a 'soft touch'. I don't believe this is the case. The family of the drowned Syrian child had the aim of getting to Canada because they have family there - perhaps many of those in Calais have family in the UK. For some it may be just the fact that they can speak English, but not German or French. I find it hard to believe that many would choose to come to a place as unwelcoming as the UK.
You should give them your house.
I am sure you will feel better for it.
 
This government seems intent on trying to make the UK a tax haven for corporations. Corporation tax should be halved for SMEs, but doubled for banks, insurance companies and the like. We should be much tougher on collecting tax from multi-national companies. What's wrong with taxing multi-nationals on turnover rather than dubiously declared profits?
If they do that then the multinationals will just set up where there is a cheaper tax regime. More companies will tap into the huge breadth of talent available for instance, in Eire like Google have.
 
If they do that then the multinationals will just set up where there is a cheaper tax regime. More companies will tap into the huge breadth of talent available for instance, in Eire like Google have.

They can set up wherever they like, but if they trade in this country they should be made to pay tax on the profits they make here.

Starbucks has some kind of nonsensical arrangement whereby their UK company doesn't have to declare any profit because their offshore operation charges a ridiculously inflated price for the raw material coffee.

Tax them on turnover. If they weren't actually making a profit, they would stop doing it, wouldn't they?
 
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Who the **** decided to merge and rename this thread?

That would be me. :emoticon-0128-hi:

We had two threads running concurrently spouting the same drivel. For some strange reason sku decided to start up another thread on the same subject that was already being asserted* on this one. ( *I would have used the word discussed but it appears that nothing is up for discussion.You're either in one camp or the other and is bordering on the Palovian. Goldie being the exception. ) Sku has posted yet another controversial thread and run away as he often tends to do.

The thread title can be changed if you want. Let me know what you want it changed to. I amended it to reflect how it had moved away from its original intention and the current topic that is now dominating it. Un-merging it is not an option though. This is primarily a QPR forum and threads that create the potential to divide our fans on political or social issues need be kept to a minimum. The football does a pretty good job of that as it is.
 
Is hurling like curling ?

No it is not. Any more blasphemy like that outta you & I'll report you to Nines. I'll let Max Moseley describe it to you:

"That corner of Galway [Clonfert] had some inspirational hurling players at the time. The sport is a sort of aerial hockey in which there's no restriction on hitting the ball in the air and you are allowed to catch it. It's extraordinarily fast and, since there was no head protection in those days, quite dangerous. I've always thought it the best ball game ever invented, and never understood why it did not achieve the international recognition of soccer, rugby and cricket."

Less than one hour to go Andy. I hope you have your 6-pack of Carling in the Cooler cos this is gonna be one hell of a spectacle
 
That would be me. :emoticon-0128-hi:

We had two threads running concurrently spouting the same drivel. For some strange reason sku decided to start up another thread on the same subject that was already being asserted* on this one. ( *I would have used the word discussed but it appears that nothing is up for discussion.You're either in one camp or the other and is bordering on the Palovian. Goldie being the exception. ) Sku has posted yet another controversial thread and run away as he often tends to do.

The thread title can be changed if you want. Let me know what you want it changed to. I amended it to reflect how it had moved away from its original intention and the current topic that is now dominating it. Un-merging it is not an option though. This is primarily a QPR forum and threads that create the potential to divide our fans on political or social issues need be kept to a minimum. The football does a pretty good job of that as it is.

Fair enough Nines, apologies for the aggressive tone in my post. I wouldn't agree with the 'drivel' description, though, and thought the 'blah blah blah' in your amended thread title a little disparaging.
 
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