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Original poster

Give us your suggestion - big or small - of where public money could be saved

141 replies

dotnet · 14/11/2010 13:05

Mine would be - turn heating down by 5 degrees fahrenheit - or a little more - in all our hospitals.

Sick people don't need to be cooked, it doesn't help - and if any patients really do NEED to be kept in a blazing hot temperature, have a few designated 'hot' rooms per hospital and turn up the radiator valves in there.

OP posts:
LookToWindward · 14/11/2010 19:51

Oh and my suggestion for reducing expenditure would be to massively simplify the taxation system - at the very least look to combine NI and income tax.

GrimmaTheNome · 14/11/2010 19:48

A lot of public money went up in smoke on Nov 5th/6th - sure some of that could be saved.

LookToWindward · 14/11/2010 19:43

"Make both tax avoidance and tax evasion illegal."

I take it you don't have an Isa? Or a pension? Or take advantage of work place contributions such as a child care vouchers or cycle to work schemes etc?

huddspur · 14/11/2010 19:24

I think the Government has got it broadly correct although I wouldn't renew trident or implement the married tax allowance.

I would also look at legalising cannabis and ecstasy and tax it

MumInBeds · 14/11/2010 19:23

Spend some of it, not all.

catinthehat2 · 14/11/2010 19:20

It's surprisingly difficult to get that STRICTLY REDUCE spending mindset goign though interestingly:

eg MIB says
Scrap that pointless married couple tax allowance. - REDUCE SPEND

Legalise all drugs to be sold under licence (with tax) but make more strict laws on abuses such as driving a car under the influence or disorder. Use some of this revenue for increased education on the dangers and rehab - BUT RAISE SOME TAX AND SPEND IT

I really think that is where a lot of the problem lies. SPB also did it reflexively above

MumInBeds · 14/11/2010 19:07

Scrap that pointless married couple tax allowance.

Legalise all drugs to be sold under licence (with tax) but make more strict laws on abuses such as driving a car under the influence or disorder. Use some of this revenue for increased education on the dangers and rehab.

StealthPomBear · 14/11/2010 19:07

good point, apologies Blush

newwave · 14/11/2010 19:06

Ok Cat.

Lets not decrease spend until:

All non doms including Ashcroft and Murdoch pay their share

All companies pay ALL the relevant taxes including Vodaphone.

Make both tax avoidance and tax evasion illegal.

Cancel Trident

Raise the top rate of tax on those "earning" over £200,000

Then lets look at saving money.

But thats not the Tory way is it? demonising the poor and pandering to the rich and powerful is the Tory way.

Not tribalism as such just knowing right from wrong unlike the tory filth

catinthehat2 · 14/11/2010 19:05

SPB - raising income tax not the same as saving public money tho'

"stop throwing good money after bad " yes, and if civil servants sign off contracts which make this happen they should be personally surcharged.

StealthPomBear · 14/11/2010 19:03

stop throwing good money after bad - as a general rule
Means test child benefit properly
Raise income tax

catinthehat2 · 14/11/2010 19:01

"The choice as to whether they will freeze to death, or starve to death will be entirely their own."

Blimey, that's 100 points. THanks, I'm doing well.

catinthehat2 · 14/11/2010 19:00

High scoring post there newwave.

No new suggestions about decreasing spend per the interesting OP but thanks for:

"poor pensioners will be dying of hypothermia again" 50 points

"Thatchers Britain" 75 points

general old hat tribalism - 25 points

Anyone else?

newwave · 14/11/2010 19:00

Consumer choice, tory style

May1808 · 14/11/2010 18:57

Not necessarially hypothermia. The choice as to whether they will freeze to death, or starve to death will be entirely their own.

newwave · 14/11/2010 18:55

Dont worry if the Tories have their way poor pensioners will be dying of hypothermia again as they did in Thatchers Britain, this will suit the Tories plans as pension money will be saved.