this makes me sick

SiD the Turtle · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:21

Missing.String said:
I'm seeing a lot of complaining here, but no action...

Don't take this as a hostile reply, but what action would you like see?

The main way we force through change in this country is through the power of the vote, but we can't exercise it yet.

Destination · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:21

Personally I just think it is ridiculous that we spend almost as much on social security each year as we do on health and education combined. Cut out the spongers and suddenly you can have twice as many hospitals. Brave govt to try that one.

Missing.String · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:24

SiD the Turtle said:
Don't take this as a hostile reply, but what action would you like see?

The main way we force through change in this country is through the power of the vote, but we can't exercise it yet.

I don't particularly care what people do; it just seems like people think that complaining that will change things, without backing up their words.

Greenlizard0 · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:24

SiD the Turtle said:
Interesting. At the risk of going off on a tangent look how much money we would save if we didn't have an NHS, or have social welfare!

P.S. I'm pro NHS before anyone has a go

Hadn't realised that benifets were more than the NHS.

Get lazy chavs out to work. :/

Destination · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:27

Actually one thing which has no doubt changed.

1 in 20 of the pounds collected is spent paying off debt, was spent paying off debt we already had. Its a shame we didn't get rid of the national debt when we had the good times, this wonderful excess, as no doubt that figure will increase with all the increased borrowing.

Back then ridding ourselves of existing debt could have saved 5% a year, wonder just where that debt % stands now following the recession hitting home.

Fegruson · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:30

"Europe should set an example and do more to meet the target by committing up to $175 billion -- with the UK ready to provide up to an additional $11 billion, taking our total contribution to over $26 billion," Darling wrote.

Crikey! That's a few bob.

mattheman · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:33

Hikari Kisugi said:
Personally I just think it is ridiculous that we spend almost as much on social security each year as we do on health and education combined. Cut out the spongers and suddenly you can have twice as many hospitals. Brave govt to try that one.

No we dont infact we spend less on jsa, most of the money goes on bussiness that support the unemployed. The figure for unemployment is 4.5 billion, the rest goes on private companies, child care allowance tax credits etc...

Cosimo · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:35

meghatronic said:
The point is, why give MORE in a recession?

The world financial systems have to be repaired, markets also need to be secured. The IMF requires extra funding to help do this. You can’t wait for a global recession to end before you can do this, if you do you may end up with total collapse. An extra 6.8 billion pounds is just a drop in the ocean compared with what has been sunk into our economy so that it can recover, so why not?

meghatronic · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:38

simulatorman said:
The world financial systems have to be repaired, markets also need to be secured. The IMF requires extra funding to help do this. You can’t wait for a global recession to end before you can do this, if you do you may end up with total collapse. An extra 6.8 billion pounds is just a drop in the ocean compared with what has been sunk into our economy so that it can recover, so why not?

As Britain is such a small player these days - as frequently gets pointed out by almost everyone on OcUK and the world.

Destination · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:42

mattheman said:
No we dont infact we spend less on jsa, most of the money goes on bussiness that support the unemployed. The figure for unemployment is 4.5 billion, the rest goes on private companies, child care allowance tax credits etc...

Intersting, it would be nice to see a proper breakdown of the Social secuirty figures and exactly where that massiv slicce of pie goes then. Anyone got such figures? What do these private companies do exactly? Do you mean charitable govt donations?

mattheman · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:42

simulatorman said:
The world financial systems have to be repaired, markets also need to be secured. The IMF requires extra funding to help do this. You can’t wait for a global recession to end before you can do this, if you do you may end up with total collapse. An extra 6.8 billion pounds is just a drop in the ocean compared with what has been sunk into our economy so that it can recover, so why not?

well india gets a nice sum, they have a space program and we dont.

mattheman · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:44

Hikari Kisugi said:
Intersting, it would be nice to see a proper breakdown of the Social secuirty figures and exactly where that massiv slicce of pie goes then. Anyone got such figures? What do these private companies do exactly? Do you mean charitable govt donations?

i'll try and find it, saw it a few weeks ago, it goes on companies that are linked to new deal, and other related contracts, contracts that have been outsourced over the years. your looking at 1 billion in unemployment payments and 2-3 in businesses that profit from it.

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_welfare_spending_40.html

Hatter The Mad · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:48

Oh no, £1.20 a tank more. I might have to remortgage my house.

malfunkshun · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:50

Hatter The Mad said:
Oh no, £1.20 a tank more. I might have to remortgage my house.

Doesnt sound much but iirc government spending is at or around 50% of GDP, overall taxation cannot be far behind for any great length of time.

mattheman · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:53

mattheman said:
i'll try and find it, saw it a few weeks ago, it goes on companies that are linked to new deal, and other related contracts, contracts that have been outsourced over the years. your looking at 1 billion in unemployment payments and 2-3 in businesses that profit from it.

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_welfare_spending_40.html

Samueltastic · 31 Aug 2009 at 13:58

It's going to cost me about an extra £10 a year to fill up my car, as i only use a tank odd each month really as my work is about a 5 mile round trip, so it will hardly effect me which im quite glad about. its the people who have 150 mile odd round trip or more which will feel it a bit. Although it doesn't seem a lot its still adds up in the end.

Cosimo · 31 Aug 2009 at 14:00

mattheman said:
well india gets a nice sum, they have a space program and we dont.

Well they most probably need/deserve it (emerging markets/economy).

We belong and contribute to the European Space Agency, so we do.

fornowagain · 31 Aug 2009 at 14:01

zpos said:
Come Jan and when VAT is potentially restored to 17.5%

Yeah I wonder, what's the chances of it going right to 20%?

Atomic · 31 Aug 2009 at 14:05

Hatter The Mad said:
Oh no, £1.20 a tank more. I might have to remortgage my house.

Is that every time you fill a tank? Each day, week, month or year?

Whilst it may not mean much to you it will mean much to hauliers and businesses that need vehicles for their business. I work at a vehicle recovery company and this year we've all had a 10% wage cut and any increase in the duty of fuel will not help things. Any costs have to be passed on to the public / our customers and it will be similar situation all over the country.

There are people out there on low wage jobs who need a car to get too and from work and how their going to be that much more out of pocket. Whilst it may not seem much - that bit more they have to pay means that little less to spend in retail or other things.

Public transport is hardly an option as that too it getting very expensive.

dangerstat · 31 Aug 2009 at 14:10

Atomic said:
Is that every time you fill a tank? Each day, week, month or year?

Whilst it may not mean much to you it will mean much to hauliers and businesses that need vehicles for their business. I work at a vehicle recovery company and this year we've all had a 10% wage cut and any increase in the duty of fuel will not help things. Any costs have to be passed on to the public / our customers and it will be similar situation all over the country.

There are people out there on low wage jobs who need a car to get too and from work and how their going to be that much more out of pocket. Whilst it may not seem much - that bit more they have to pay means that little less to spend in retail or other things.

Public transport is hardly an option as that too it getting very expensive.

Whilst I have some sympathy, unfortunately the only people I ever hear complaining about this are the ones complaining about it in the pubs spending £3 on a pint, whilst planning to go and watch the footy at the weekend costing them about £80.

The truth is all but the *really* hard up can afford this without a problem. Granted I do feel for some of the haulage type companies.

If it's such a problem for you, get rid of your broadband connection, that'll save you enough pennies to afford quite a few £1.20's?

If this was a 10% increase in income tax, I'd understand all your arguments but an extra £1.20 on a tank of fuel, give me a break, jeez.