I was under the impression that the vast majority of unemployed were in our urban centres. I hadn't realised they could all trace their roots back to the pit villages devestated by the coal mine closures...
Poll: Which party will get your vote in the General Election?
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I was under the impression that the vast majority of unemployed were in our urban centres. I hadn't realised they could all trace their roots back to the pit villages devestated by the coal mine closures...
Getting rid of Kennedy was a huge mistake in my opinion. If it was Kennedy and Cable, there wouldn't be a better choice to vote for. I'm not sure how Charles would bear as a prime minister, but I would be more than happy to find out.
I dislike Nick Clegg so much, I really don't know who to vote for. :/
From experience people who are completely obstinate (yourself) over this issue are usually absolutely and utterly clueless regarding the Economics behind such policies, the implications and only want to 'bash the rich' because they are jealous or have some petulant, militant hatred for the wealth of others which is somewhat a trifling matter.
Some of Martin Wolf's reasons to 'bash the bankers' may be fair and I can completely understand why people think they are tossers and should be punished, and maybe they should. The fact is, the populist Economics of trying to do so is rotten and flawed.
If the Government introduced a tax on footballers. The talented players would all leave and play for European clubs. Guess what, the financial sector is exactly the same.
Banks will find ways around it. The Government admitted they are only predicting the tax will raise around £500 million which is a negligible amount. It is further regulation in a market which generates over a quarter of Britain's corporate-tax revenue, which has enabled the Government to keep taxes down for the rest of us. It encourages individuals (who are completely mobile in this sector) to simply pack their bags and move elsewhere. It discourages foreign investment, it ruins the conditions that make London a hub of international finance. It hinders the recovery of Economic growth. A long term result could be that tax revenue drops so hard the Government lose revenue and have to raise taxes on the rest of us. All this in the name of satisfying core voters and people like yourself.
So yes, Bankers are tossers, and they didn't help avoid the recession but trying to punish them is futile and Government regulation is not the answer so lets quit being jealous and worry about more important matters.
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Caporegime
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I'm only 18, thus my first time to vote, but I'm disgusted by the amount who want the Tories, or an extremist party such as the BNP.
I'm more shocked by the amount of people not wanting to vote.
I'm more shocked by the amount of people not wanting to vote.
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Any reason why?
Caporegime
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Tories look after there own, business etc, yes, that's well and good, but about us, the normal people? We'll be even more screwed.
You could take some personal responsibility and look after yourself? Novel concept I know!
Any reason why? Other than their racist policies pretty much everything else is unworkable populist rubbish.
Caporegime
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/Facepalm.
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Even if we allow the premise that all parties are essentially offering unworkable populist rubbish the only other things that the BNP offer are a racist membership policy and a lot of somewhat unpleasant views on immigrants.
Really if you want to vote for a party without believing their policies to be good then why not vote for one without this additional dimension.
Firstly, under Labour the gap between the rich and the poor has expanded quite substantially. They have thus failed their core vote, supposedly the working man.
Secondly, if 'business' is doing well, the economy is doing well and we all do well. In simplest terms, if entrepreneurs and big firms are doing well, they pay more in tax which enables the government to spend more on public services, more helping the poor and it also enables them to keep tax rates low for all of us. Secondly, people like bankers on huge incomes tend to, funnily enough, spend their income. Lets think of an example, a banker might chose to extend their house. This creates demand for builders which means someone is earning an income through this activity. They might go to fancy restaurants, creating demand and employment for waiters/waitresses or chefs. It is government regulation which destroys and interferes with these market mechanisms which automatically redistribute wealth, and historically we have seen time and time again that when governments become too large and indulge in too much regulation, everybody suffers, and it's ALWAYS the poor who get it worse.
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Without looking back to two decades ago, how have you been able to tell this with the Tory party as it now stands?
You sound like the stereotypical case of mimic mine father.
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Your right there mate , wait till they get their hands on VAT again, their past chancellors have increased it twice so be prepared for 20% or more,
History of UK VAT, Google is your friend
Cameron is like a smarmy version of Harry Enfields 'Tory boy' ??
Sums up some of my thoughts plus I cannot stand how "smarmy" david cameron actually is
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Did you vote for Tony Blair?
Have you actually seen David Cameron talk to normal people (i.e. watched his Cameron Direct videos), or are you making snap judgments about an entire shadow government based on one guy?
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Historical rates dictate nothing.
What part of any Conservative speech, pledge or comment has led you to believe this will be the case?
The Tories always cut income tax but raise less obvious taxes like VAT or NI contributions.
Do people here remember prime minister John Major, prior to the 1992 election, promising not to raise either of those?
Guess what he did, just after he won the election?
Oh and don't forget we have the Tories to thank for the fact our electricity and gas bills have VAT applied to them. They never used to, because VAT is supposed to be for luxury goods, not the essentials of life. And if it wasn't for the opposition, it would be full rate at 17.5% because that's what the Tories wanted to do. Never forget that.
Do people here remember prime minister John Major, prior to the 1992 election, promising not to raise either of those?
Guess what he did, just after he won the election?
Oh and don't forget we have the Tories to thank for the fact our electricity and gas bills have VAT applied to them. They never used to, because VAT is supposed to be for luxury goods, not the essentials of life. And if it wasn't for the opposition, it would be full rate at 17.5% because that's what the Tories wanted to do. Never forget that.
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