to not understand why the government couldn't just raise income tax?

[emkana]

I guess that wouldn't help with all the savings that had to be made (or so we're told), but why no tax rise at all?

German newspapers very critical of measures btw, saying it will kill the already ailing British economy.

Really Golly?

Tell me, do the rich make there money out of thin air or do they employ folk on piss poor wages to help make their vast profits?

their obviously [hblush]

GMM the top 1% may pay 24% of taxes, but how much do they own? Who makes their money for them (working for them, spending goods and services)? A lot of their money went on bailing out the banks. A lot of it is going on funding two wars. You cut money going to the poorest members of society, you cut money going to the richest members of society, as the poorest have to spend nearly (if not all their income) thereby reinjecting it into the economy and into the pockets of the richest who make their money through selling stuff and services.

Below what income do you believe the scrounger mentality exists?

I take it the "certain income" below which the "scrounger" mentality kicks in is circa your family's income, GollyMissMolly?

And here's me wondering if my job might be judged to be one of the non-jobs in the "bloated" public sector.

The Germans are, as usual, correct in their assessment. But, very few have been able to demonstrate the long-term thinking the Germans do when it comes to financial matters, which is why they perform better financially consistently in post-WWII era.

MsHighwater everyone knows that the public sector employs people to do jobs that serve no real purpose or benefit to society. My brother does one.

Nick Clegg does another...

I think the Deputy Prime Minister is in charge on constitutional reform. This is quite important.

Are you sure? I reckon he just chooses the biscuits for cabinet meetings [hgrin]

@ hubbly

Many Germans also have a greater sense of societal responsibility.

This is not as common in the UK, as evinced by many posts here.

On the contrary, Golly. Even early 20th centry history shows us this.

But continue to demonstrate your bigotry and hateful views.

Here, here's some more rope.

Mwhine, benefits agencies do make it hard. Last year my aunt's DLA (one of the benefits earmarked for drastic cuts) was suspended as SS needed to investigate her case further. The amount of upset, worry and indignity she felt was obscene. She felt she was being treated like a fraudster and criminal for 3 months, while a solicitor (family member) helped her with form filling and represented her in the appeal hearing.

Eventually her DLA was restored to her. 6 weeks before she died of the terminal cancer which was the reason she was on DLA.

Wish I had seen your post back then, so I could have passed on your advice for her to "get a job".

Your post and those of GMM show an astounding lack of knowledge, commonsense, compassion to which the only reasonable response is FUCK OFF.

Golly I think you should be ashamed of that last post

Should be ashamed that I find the holocaust appalling and that saying German's had social responsibility before the 20th century when they murdered so many is offensive. Mmmm

Why would I do that, Golly?

To demonstrate I'm as entrenched in hatred and spite as you?

It wasn't me that was entrenched in hatred! And spite, I couldn't give them the time of day until someone like you utters such hypocritical twaddle.

So every single German, including those here today, are responsible for that, Golly?

By that token, I can blame every single person in the UK today for the genocide and atrocities that took place in Africa when Britain went in there and carved it up with no regard for tribal lines and then took people to sell into slavery (together with other European countries).

Believe it or not, not every German who was alive during WWII (a great many are no longer living) were aware of what was going on.

And believe it or not, too, tens of millions of them were not alive then and/or came to Germany as immigrants themselves.

MY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CAME ON THINKING GERMANY WAS SO SPECIAL AND TALKING THE HIGHER MORAL GROUND!

PLEASE!

Your posts, all of them, come across as very hateful towards those you see as less deserving than yourself.

Ironically, this type of mentality is often shared with those who participate in acts of genocide.

Interesting.

Do carry on.

Well you should know!

I did not such thing, Golly. I said I agreed with their assessment of the budget and mentioned on cultural point that has consistently appeared to me on visits to the country.

But now you are screaming at me.

GMM, I find it interesting that you prefer to comment on German history than answer the questions put to you about the bones of your post. Do you normally respond to arguments against your elitist fuckwittery by invoking the deaths of millions of people?