Don't blame me, I didn't vote for them. . . . .

I've been following this story on Radio 4 this afternoon. Seems to me a simple 'double fine' strategy. The only thing the Government seem to have missed is that they could increase their revenue even more if they decide to add a further special taxation on fines and compensation.

To follow the subject line, I'm not sure it matters. They're all as bad as each other.

The tax that REALLY shunts me at present is Death Duty. "Death" - "Duty" - ? Huh? Some may remember that a close relative of mine died recently. Having paid tax on everything he'd ever earned, then having paid tax on saving that money - the final everlasting insult, 800,000 quid of his estate is now going to the Treasury...

Martyn

in article l8BMb.3443$ snipped-for-privacy@news-lhr.blueyonder.co.uk, Exit at snipped-for-privacy@nomore.com wrote on 12/1/04 5:51 pm:

How much more of this crap are we supposed to take?

I didn't vote for them either... and never will.

Mother"

Personally, I'd like to see this Government impose more of these looney plans ... so that the majority of voters get p'd off with them and vote them out at the next general election.

Regards Steve G

Even better, vote libdem. They want to reform Council Tax with a local income tax, which on their figures would make my bill approximately 2 grand. Not to mention what they'll have off Mandy.

I might as well just have my salary paid direct to No. 11 and live on benefits.

Is there anyone you can vote for to pay less tax? I had my first tax bill this month and i don't like it! (I was a student before then). Before then I had never really realised how much tax you pay on everything. Tis extortionate isnt it! I reckon that including all the road tax and fuel over half of the money i have earnt since finishing uni has gone to the taxman.

Most of the other half is sitting in the drive... :)

They tax it before you get it, they tax it when you spend it, they tax it when you give it away on your deathbed.

And inbetween you get screwed anyway.

Alex

Do what I did? Might sound a bit drastic but I emigrated to Australia. Would not live in England if you paid me. I have a 110 and miles and miles of off road to drive in.

cheers 3LB

On or around Mon, 12 Jan 2004 17:51:13 GMT, "Exit" enlightened us thusly:

me neither.

"witness compensation"

WTF to sodding *witnesses* need compensation for? There's already a mechanism for compensating witnesses who appear in court for lost earnings etc., so unless this is to fund that, then they can shpx evtug bss.

Probably for "counselling" on account of the "horrific" experience of having to witness car crashes. FFS.

I get the impression that some people are doing bloody well out of all this counselling that every bugger's supposed to need for all and sundry things these days.

On or around Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:09:46 -0000, "PDannyD"

enlightened us thusly:

not to mention wasting 6 billion on wars in Iraq.

I see Bliar now says he's not sure that Iraq had WOMD. not, ISTR, what he said before. Toerag.

but yeah, death duty is a right sodding con. 's not as if the state does anything for you when someone dies, all the probate and other types of stuff and funeral expenses are paid by the relatives anyway, presuming there to be relatives.

On or around Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:12:58 GMT, SteveG enlightened us thusly:

they'll probably rig the election. Either that or promise the world and everything in it come election time, though it amazes me that anyone falls for that these days.

Not that the other lot are likely to be especially good, either, but IMHO they'd have a hard time being worse. This bunch of hypcorites are the worst government I can remember, including Mrs T. who at least wasn't a hypocrite.

On or around Tue, 13 Jan 2004 00:05:44 +0000, Mark Flint enlightened us thusly:

mind, there's a shortage of places that you can emigrate to with minimal qualifications or money, which are actually any better.

Quite fancy South Africa in a way. Dunno what it's like trying to relocate there though.

On or around Tue, 13 Jan 2004 06:58:48 GMT, "3Landerblue" enlightened us thusly:

I'd do that tomorrow if I could swing it. However, if yer haven't got a job, worthwhile qualifications, age or money on yer side, it's a darnsite more difficult.

True. I didn't vote in the 1997 General, as it seemed a waste of time, one bunch of idiots or another. In the 2001, I voted Tory, on the basis of anything to get the current lot of liars, twisters and hypocites out, not because I think they're better.

Alex

I'd agree that there's some very dodgy stuff going on with "counselling", but I'm reluctant to dismiss the possibility of a witness to some event needing a bit of help to deal with the effects. There's some big changes since WW2 -- the idea of a community or family has changed -- and I know people who admit it took years before they "got over it".

But this whole thing does look a bit like another instance of government-by-leak, where the politicians see how much people make a fuss before they get anything near Parliament, and it can make other extreme or silly ideas look sensible.

Though I don't see anything inherently wrong with people caught driving without insurance having to pay into a scheme to compensate victims.

I'd love to, it does look nice there! Got any jobs you can offer me? :)

Do you pay a lot less tax in Australia?

My Dad lives out there and reckons its about even (at least for a higher earner). Cost of living for certain key items is much less though (including petrol at just over half price). A lot depends on the exchange rate of course, which at the moment is not as good as it could be for expats.

Costs in central Melbourne (where my sister lives) seem to be almost as horrific as central London, but property further out is, by UK standards, almost for free.

If I didn't have unbreakable commitments looming in the UK (relative who will need long term 'care' once my parents are no longer able) I'd have gone years ago.

In message , David G. Bell writes

It's called consultation and listening, lack of which people have previously complained about. Seems politicians can't do anything right.