The poor should pay more tax.

[Ned]

[quote] It's the sort of theory a seven year old would come up with when asked how society could solve poverty: "Just give everyone jobs with lots of money, Miss, and if they don't get jobs with lots of money we can tax them till they do!.....and send them to bed with no supper!"[/quote]

Sounds like an ideal policy for the coalition to me. The ideal partner for their "spend millions tackling largely irrelevant benefit fraud while ignoring tax evasion". You'd best ring them up and suggest it.

[one eyed jack]

Does climbing the ladder to success also include people who rob others, drug dealers, people who sell illegal weapons and other dodgy acitivities? Because that could be a case in court where those people said:

"But your honour, I was poor and only trying to better myself. Think of all the tax I can contribute to the government now m'lud"

At least we can say Jordan and jade Goody (bless her soul) were ok then

[Sam Slater]

Yep. So bitter I want the poor to keep what little money they have! Have you ever heard of psychological projection, PH?

Good job on defending your 'theory', btw. You've clearly thought it through and shut me right up!

[one eyed jack]

Just got back in from the West End where I saw a poor person sitting with his dog.

He did murmur something which I thought was asking for money and between me and my sister we gave him a few quid (well you aint gonna get shit at West End prices for a pound are you)

I thought of this post and felt I wanted an answer to why he was homeless. He did smell a bit ripe, had a years out of date mobile and despite the smell wasnt too badly turned out and admitted to me that he was evicted because he lost his job then regaled me with joyous rapture that he is moving into a new flat courtesy of Westminster Council on Tuesday.

He was down on his luck but seemed more cheerful that someone not only gave him a few bob but actually had a chat with him.

The most hurtful thing he said was people walking past, sneering at him and some caling him "scum"

That was a man who would obviously like to do better for himself but is so poor all he has to live for every day is staying alive by finding enough money to get something to eat.

He didnt strike me as being too divvy either but it looked like he didnt have much choice.

Lets face it, in this rat race called society there always has to be winners and losers.

This bloke seemed more happy that he had a place to move in on Tuesday. Lifes little breaks I guess.

I see how some rich people have lost everything and be stripped of their dignity so much they woukld rather kill their daughter, wife, animals and burn their own mansion down.

Sorry what was it you were saying again about the poor paying more tax? Cos that guy clearly didnt have any money but what me and my sister gave him

[Dick Moby]

I was in Russia a couple of months back and most of the beggars were ex-soldiers (at least they wore a uniform).
Like you, I stopped and slipped one a few bob, then I shook his hand.
To see the smile it put on his face made my day. It wasn't the money but the handshake.
Apparently there is no support for troops if they are injured/maimed so I suppose begging is their only option.

[one eyed jack]

He is not liable for tax if he has no job.

So you mean the ones who havent made it to the breadline and with actual low paying jobs should pay more tax then?

How are they to better themselves from this if they are constantly enslaved to the system?

Maybe the rich should be taxed more to make up for the short fall from the poor

[Sam Slater]

I don't think you've read my posts, PH. Either that or you're just unable to comprehend them.

You live in PHland and run PH Supermarkets. In PHland there are 4 regions with each region having 10 PH Supermarket stores. Each store employs 25 checkout assistants and 25 shelf stackers with a general manager. On top of that each region has a regional manager. You with me so far?

Now, you pay your regional managers ?100,000pa, your store managers, ?50,000pa and your regular checkout assistants and shelf stackers ?15,000pa. In PHland the checkout assistants and shelf stackers pay the most tax, with the store managers less so and the regional managers paying the least. Right? Since regional managers pay the least tax, but get the highest wages those jobs are highly sought after, and according to you the higher taxes for the regular workers will mean they're applying themselves much harder to get these higher paid jobs...............all's rosy in PHland...................or is it?

You have 2000 regular employees, 40 store managers and 4 regional managers. How, PH, do 2000 low-paid, high-taxed workers, plus the 40 store managers 'apply themselves' to all get one of the four regional manager positions? You being good a business an' that might be able to tell bitter, underachieving Sam, how 2040 fits into 4? These poor workers can fucking apply themselves as much as they want, work their fingers to the bone and pray to whichever deity they please but only 4 of them will get the top jobs and 40 others the next one down.

Again, I'm sure you've already worked it out and you're laughing at my ignorance. I can only apologise and beg you to enlighten me.