Page 2 | Companies and paying proper wages

Tea2cups · 17/04/2025 16:00

After the war, we did have an alternative, high taxes for the rich but in return there was plenty of social housing, a well funded NHS, grammar schools, free universities with grants and a proper safety net in the welfare system. There are companies and individuals with billions which they will never spend no matter how hard they try but unless Governments actually tax them very few will willingly hand it over to help the poorest in society.

An incredibly wealthy widow who was left a billion by her husband donated it all to a US medical school and that school is now able to fund fees for all their students in perpetuity. If we had an emergency tax of the super wealthy individuals and companies, I am talking the 0.01% of the population, and invested that money into our own sovereign fund, we too could help out out younger generations. Maybe this is pie in the sky, like something I read recently, " everyone has something to say about how the poor should spend their money but when it's the rich, they say it's their money they can do as they like!".

Original poster

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 15:44

Bjorkdidit · 17/04/2025 15:27

OP are you aware that the government also pays NMW for a lot of roles? It's not just private businesses. Earlier this month lot of civil servants and NHS workers needed a pay rise to bring their salary up to NMW.

Plus how do you determine what is a 'proper wage'? To earn the amount that people would need to earn to attain the lifestyle many expect, NMW would need to go up by 2/3/4 times. Then prices would rise and people would be no better off.

Or people with families would need to be paid more than the child free which sounds dangerously similar to illegal discrimination.

Or housing could be made cheaper but what about the people who have a mortgage based on current prices?

So not as easy as 'just paying proper wages' is it?

and yet society still managed to abolish slavery.

OP posts:

Original poster

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 15:43

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:45

So you know it should be different but don't have a single suggestion as to how?

Do you think that might be the problem?

Show quote history

all i know is people deserve to be paid a good wage and what they are worth.
we all clapped for the essential workers during covid and yet their pay levels are omg.

yet someone plays the stock market or investment banks etc and their wages are omg

OP posts:

Bjorkdidit · 17/04/2025 15:27

OP are you aware that the government also pays NMW for a lot of roles? It's not just private businesses. Earlier this month lot of civil servants and NHS workers needed a pay rise to bring their salary up to NMW.

Plus how do you determine what is a 'proper wage'? To earn the amount that people would need to earn to attain the lifestyle many expect, NMW would need to go up by 2/3/4 times. Then prices would rise and people would be no better off.

Or people with families would need to be paid more than the child free which sounds dangerously similar to illegal discrimination.

Or housing could be made cheaper but what about the people who have a mortgage based on current prices?

So not as easy as 'just paying proper wages' is it?

surreygirlzz · 17/04/2025 14:51

Come up with an alternative

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:45

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:37

im not sure but it does take the biscuits

Show quote history

So you know it should be different but don't have a single suggestion as to how?

Do you think that might be the problem?

Original poster

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:37

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:32

Yes, that's what happens, what mechanism would you use to change that?

Show quote history

im not sure but it does take the biscuits

OP posts:

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:32

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:26

prices have gone up alot more than wages have

Show quote history

Yes, that's what happens, what mechanism would you use to change that?

Original poster

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:26

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:19

It doesn't really help. Wages go up, prices go up.

Show quote history

prices have gone up alot more than wages have

OP posts:

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 14:19

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:08

but then why should people be paid basics wages while everything else rises in price ?

Show quote history

It doesn't really help. Wages go up, prices go up.

Bumpitybumper · 17/04/2025 14:14

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:08

but then why should people be paid basics wages while everything else rises in price ?

Show quote history

I agree with PP. Huge inequality has existed within enough societies over enough periods of history for us to conclude that this is driven by the human condition. We are intrinsically selfish. All of us. The vast majority of people that purport to care about improving equality are either those that would stand to gain personally from this or at the very least would not be expected to lose out from it.

Original poster

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 14:08

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 13:59

Societies have tried various over the years, what do you suggest? Communism, serfdom?

Even the ones that seem like utopia fall down in practice because people are essentially selfish and (especially) will stop at nothing to get the best for their DC.

Show quote history

but then why should people be paid basics wages while everything else rises in price ?

OP posts:

Dropcard · 17/04/2025 13:59

Swirlythingy2025 · 17/04/2025 13:54

if companies paid proper wages for the roles that people do most companies would not make enough profits so when is society getting a better economic model than capitalism ?

Societies have tried various over the years, what do you suggest? Communism, serfdom?

Even the ones that seem like utopia fall down in practice because people are essentially selfish and (especially) will stop at nothing to get the best for their DC.