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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Evacuation from Libya

152 replies

sweetgilly · 24/02/2011 21:35

AIBU to expect those individuals who accept high tax free salaried positions in hostile environments, to then meet the costs of evacuation should the need arise. Why should the British tax payer meet the costs?

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 05:17

SnapFrakkleAndPop

That is your opinion.

OP posts:
SnapFrakkleAndPop · 26/02/2011 05:18

Well if you do have some awareness of it then you're not demonstrating it on this thread...

BaggedandTagged · 26/02/2011 05:20

"They're not tax payers in any country at the time but they want to be rescued at tax payers expense."

Not true. They'd pay tax in Libya (c 18% I think). You generally pay tax where you are resident. It's very very difficult to be resident nowhere- a few people manage it (Fiscal nomads) but the restrictions are such that it's generally only worth the hassle if you are seriously rich.

Some countries (eg) UAE just don't have any income tax so if you live there, you don't pay tax, but that's not because of your residency status- it's just because you happened to pick a country that doesn't have the concept of income tax.

Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 05:20

Again, that is only your opinion.

OP posts:
EmmaBGoode · 26/02/2011 06:17

Given that there were virtually no commercial airlines flying out of Libya, how do you suggest the people got themselves out? And how long would it take them to organise it (as you suggested) via their insurance companies?

I don't think you are very bright. You've certainly given no thought to your argument.

jenga079 · 26/02/2011 08:17

Geeza, ignore her. I'm fuming on your behalf, but as someone else said, the op has not shown herself to be very bright. Perhaps she just doesn't realise how effing rude & inappropriate she's being. Grrrrrrr. Think I'm going to hide this thread to stop me fuming!!!!

geezakiss · 26/02/2011 08:50

Jenga, theres no need to fume on my behalf, its water off a ducks back.

TBH, because he has spent most of his adult life in the army he doesn't like the 'civvy' life, he likes being away and coming back. He loves the job he has now, it pays well, we have a nice life and the 'missing each other' keeps our relationship nice and fresh. Of course I worry about him but I also trust in that he knows more about the job and the dangers than I ever will and has good judgement. He was seriously depressed when on JSA and getting the door slammed in his face all the time. Its common with ex-military, once you come out the army you are just left to get on with it. Hes happy now and thats the main thing. Trolls People who start threads like this are clearly not happy and hate to see anyone getting a hand in life, of course if it came to them ever needing assistance then they would be the first ones to moan about any lack of help.

Niceguy2 · 26/02/2011 10:00

Hi Geeza

Luckily not everyone is as ignorant as her and many people including myself appreciate the service he's done for our country.

jenga079 · 26/02/2011 10:21

And breathe... Ok I'm calm now! You're a better woman than me Geeza. DP has just left the army & also considered contract work abroad. Luckily he found work here quite quickly (v specific trade so good jobs) but he's also finding civvie work 'strange'. I think he's praying for a call up with the reservists. While I hope he'll just stay put.

OP, he also says that any military personnel would rather be off to Libya to do what they're trained to (save lives, protect British citizens) than be on training exercises.

dizzyblonde · 26/02/2011 12:24

I think you shoud only be allowed to moan if you use no oil based products at all. Don't drive,use public transport, buy anything that has been transported using oil based fuel. Otherwise you are happy for people to work getting those products to you until the shit hits the fan and then they are suddenly money grabbing tax dodgers.

Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 20:09

jenga079

You have a peculiar way of interpreting things i.e. not agreeing with your opinion = not being very bright. Please explain what you mean, re, rude and inappropriate.

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 20:18

geezakiss

A troll is someone who deliberately starts a thread inorder to inflame. Looking at my innitial thread, please explain why you think I am a troll.

You appear to think I am anti armed forces, you are wrong. Indeed, I think the armed forces provides a platform for those in society who wouldn't necessarily be able to gain employment in real life. For example, those that are not accademic, perhaps low achievers etc. I really don't wish to be rude, but you yourself have stated that your DH made 92 applications for employment without success, didn't you.

I'm often amused when people like you make statements, re, "he served his country". I take it then this is what he told the recruitment officer when he went to join up. This is not 1914 you know. No, lets be clear, he joined up because he either was unable to gain employment in civilian life, wanted adventure, wanted to travel, wanted to make friends, but I can assure you it had nothing to do with serving his country.

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 20:21

Niceguy2

Maybe you are right in that I am ignorant. Please educate me. Why do you appreciate the service he's done our country? What service has he done?

OP posts:
A1980 · 26/02/2011 20:31

In the grand scheme of things, they're our citizens and they haven't always lived in Libya. They work and presumably they worked in the UK before they moved to Libya. So they have payed UK tax in the past and will pay UK tax again now that they're coming home. Swings and roundabouts and all that....

I just don't understnad why their employers didn't help with the evacuation. They can well afford to charter planes to and pay whatever Libya wants to charge them to land etc.

It's hardly fair that the full responsibility falls on the government. These people need to get home and the employers should help in such a crisis.

Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 20:36

Add message | Report | Message poster A1980

Thank you. What a thoughtout and balanced post.

OP posts:
jenga079 · 26/02/2011 21:37

Brilliant. You just answered your own questions: What is it that makes you 'rude and inappropriate'? Why do some people think you are a troll? Perhaps because of your completely unbelievable attitude to our armed forces and the arrogance and self-righteousness you display when discussing something you clearly know little about (have you listened to any of the arguments about why our government should be helping those stuck in Libya?)

DP and his friends most certainly do/did their jobs to serve their country (it wasn't the only reason they signed up but it was certainly a contributing factor). They are also highly intelligent, well qualified, incredibly fit young men and women who can find civilian work if that's what they wish to do.

As for your original message, I repeat what I've already said: many people trying to get back from Libya do pay tax here, and all of them are being asked to contribute to the cost of getting home.

Please don't bother responding to this message. I'm hiding the thread as I'd much rather be watching trash TV than getting irate here. (In fact, I'm quite ashamed of myself for getting drawn in!)

happiestblonde · 26/02/2011 21:39

of ALL the things I begrduge my taxes paying for, and there are lots, this is not it.

begonyabampot · 26/02/2011 21:48

sweetgilly (illnamed one) - your probably feeling really smug and clever but that post to geezakiss was downright bitchy and nasty and nothing to feel proud about. I'm glad i don't know you (or hope I don't).

Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 22:28

begonyabampot

You don't like the fact that I have a different opinion, tough. Deal with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetgilly · 26/02/2011 22:35

jenga079

PMSL, loving your work. I think the fact that I lived and worked in Afghanistan in the early nineties and then the Baluchistan region of Pakistan (yes, you get your atlas) does qualify me to understand the problems over there.

I have great affinity with the Afghans. I apologise if I get a little annoyed at silly comments, re, "He served his country", not in my name were thousands of innocent afghans, women and children slaughtered.

Now, I repeat myself. In what way have they served their country?

OP posts:
begonyabampot · 26/02/2011 22:35

you're welcome!

geezakiss · 28/02/2011 12:07

Sweetgilly

You don't know where else he has served and what good he has done. And you also don't even know what his new job entails him. I don't want to 'educate' you on what service he has done, neither does Niceguy or whoever, as it would be a wasted lesson due to the fact you are obviously so narrow minded and a bit of a twit.

If anyone has made a silly comment, its the one you made right at the start of this thread, i.e. your opening post.

The fact that you would begrudge a fellow human the chance to flee a hellhole based on their income shows what a sad sad person you are and you have all my pity. Your life must be so shallow and empty that something like helping Brits out of Libya in order to possibly save their lives would annoy you so much that you would start a thread about it.

And another thing, you keep banging on about how others should deal with your opinion - well tough shit, the majority of this thread thinks your opinion is shit too, so YOU deal with it.

Original poster
sweetgilly · 01/03/2011 06:59

geezakiss

PMSL. I rest my case. Funny how you keep banging on about how he has served his country, yet when pressed you are flummoxed,

Btw, i'm more than happy with my life very much, so much so, I do not feel the need to live my life through others, unlike you.

OP posts:
A1980 · 01/03/2011 09:52

Also seeing as they've now moved back to the UK prior to April 2011, I'm pretty sure this will compromise their tax status in the UK. As far as I know, now that they're resident in the UK again tax will be payable on their 2010-2011 salaries.

Perhaps that makes you feel better sweetgilly?

Niceguy2 · 01/03/2011 10:36

Maybe you are right in that I am ignorant. Please educate me. Why do you appreciate the service he's done our country? What service has he done?
Yes you are totally ignorant.

Geeza's son and thousands of others like him sign up to serve in our armed forces to defend our national interests, both foreign and domestic. Now I don't agree with the war in Afghanistan, or Iraq but that isn't the fault of the army. They go where they are told to.

And yes they serve our country because they train to defend it and act as a deterrence by being there to fight wars on our behalf....So you don't have to!

Let me put it another way. If a policeman stands guard outside a bank and it doesn't get robbed, do you consider him to be a waste of time and he's not served anyone?

As Churchill once said "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm"

So forgive me if I think you are being rather ungrateful for slagging off someone who provided the very protection & freedom you take for granted.

I find it incredible you can have this attitude. If you were in the US, you'd have probably been hunted down and beaten to a pulp by now as they are generally way more respectful to their servicemen to the point where they often get a round of applause on flights they take from all the other passengers.