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Rich Poor Double Standards

30 replies

MardyBum99 · 01/04/2026 18:47

So it’s OK for a national newspaper to give advice about legally avoiding tax on £100k, but any time a poor person claims what they’re legally entitled to in welfare support it’s framed as scrounging, gaming the system or somehow immoral. Funny how 'playing by the rules' only seems respectable when you’ve already got money.

www.thetimes.com/article/552b3f61-533a-4e4c-bc3b-00377e6bcd50?shareToken=28d531a54e79604cbacffe4a6350c27e

OP posts:
MardyBum99 · 01/04/2026 22:36

Snorlaxo · 01/04/2026 21:06

You know the answer to this- they are catering to their desired readership. They want their readers to be the types of people with this dilemma or who could have this dilemma through a friend or family member’s situation.

Yes you're right. The headline itself is engagement baiting.

OP posts:
ExOptimist · 01/04/2026 22:39

Well most Times readers are AB demographic so highly likely to have £100k to invest.

anonhop · 01/04/2026 22:59

edwinbear · 01/04/2026 20:37

I paid £65k in tax this year, I pay that amount most years. I’ve got £50k in premium bonds and max out my ISA every year. I’m paying VAT on DC’s school fees. I get no personal tax allowance, no personal savings allowance. If I can shield a bit of my savings from paying even more tax, damn right I’m going to do it. I’ve paid my fair share.

Quite right. Also, these aren’t “naughty loopholes” that the newspapers shouldn’t talk about. They’re designed like that and fair for everyone.

anonhop · 01/04/2026 23:09

Morriba · 01/04/2026 20:12

Money makes money and the rich close ranks to protect themselves. That's understandable. What's ludicrous is the lickspittles defending them. Chances are they're never going to be rich - very few are, statistically. But these chumps believe the bullshit - that all you have to do is work hard, that rich people are the same as poor people except they just happen to have money, all the pseudo- moralistic nonsense that protects the UK class system, monarchy, landowners and so on.

But generally, if you work hard & make choices with the goal of financial security in mind, you can create a comfortable life. Choices like working hard at school, getting the best paid job you can, forfeiting getting nails done/ clubbing/ holidays in your 20s, living at home or in a flat share. There are exceptions of course, but imagine this:

Even without a high paying job, if you live at home ages 18-23 & save £1k per month (minimum wage is about £1,700 take home so this allows some for housekeeping & spending), you’d have £60k. Buy with a partner who has made similar choices- £120k deposit on your first flat at 23 years old. Keep building earning power & equity through your 20s before you have kids in your 30s & you’ll be set up and stable for life. The kind of life where you & your kids might find in a few decades, that you have £100k you want to shield from the taxman.

Before people come at me, I know not everyone can live at home etc, but a lot of people can. Maybe if you’re in a flat shade, you extend this timeline a bit. A lot of people earn more than this minimum wage example etc too. These things aren’t “the rich closing ranks” or conspiring against you. They’re literally just common sense choices.

My point is that self discipline with hard work & curtailing spending are good characteristics and should be ENCOURAGED, not punished with punitive taxes.

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