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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think most people would like us to live in a communist country?

345 replies

wannaBe · 24/01/2012 14:05

"landlords shouldn't be allowed to rent for more than x amount of money."

"People shouldn't be allowed to sell their houses for more than a certain amount of money."

"People shouldn't be allowed to earn more than a certain amount of money (I'm talking salary here not benefits)."

This isn't a thread about who is better off and who can afford to do what - that's been done to death elsewhere.

But do people really think we would be in a better place if we didn't live in a free economy and where we were dictated to by the state how much we could and couldn't earn/whether we could or couldn't sell our house etc? really?

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 26/01/2012 16:59

I'll pass that on glitters Wink

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:00

Orm - please change your name to Et Al.

OrmIrian · 26/01/2012 17:01

Or maybe 'woman in crowd' perhaps.

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:03

Or

CommieBarstardEtAlinCrowd

tethersend · 26/01/2012 17:05

To paraphrase Paul Simon; I'll call you Et and you can call me Al.

allthatglittersisnotgold · 26/01/2012 17:06

ooh Hully, I'm suprised my messge to you regarding paying your bin men as much as your NHS services and doctor doesn't trouble you?

There is no need to descend into sarky remarks aimed at me. Et al refers to all on this thread who feel the same as OrmIrian and yourself, and clearly I'm not 6 and paying NI unless I'm particularly generous with my pocket money, so less of your personal sarky remarks please, it reduces any of the weight of your arguments.

PrincessTamTam · 26/01/2012 17:07

Yes Hully, I too would be very interested to hear that defended...

PrincessTamTam · 26/01/2012 17:10

By 'that' I mean half the population of the USA unable to buy food!!!
Ooops late post confusion...(blush)

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:18

Ok, I'll rephrase it.

You sound like someone of around six.

And I can't be bothered wiht your NI thing because it's nonsense.

alemci · 26/01/2012 17:25

Hully how do you measure the poverty in the USA. Is it relative as in GB.

How do you think people managed before the welfare state was introduced. Most people got by. People were poor but they were generous and didn't expect all the things we do today.

allthatglittersisnotgold · 26/01/2012 17:25

"And I can't be bothered wiht your NI thing because it's nonsense."

Hully I apologise, I really do. If I'd have known I was talking to someone who couldn't have a reasonable conversation or not put an argument under the umbrella of "nonsense" then I wouldn't have put my point across. I bid you farewell and hope that you find someone who can explain to you how your council tax and NI work, and why one is bigger than the other.

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:28

How do you think people managed before the welfare state was introduced. Most people got by. People were poor but they were generous and didn't expect all the things we do today.

What like a roof over their head? Medicine and something to eat?

What weird planet do you live on? Do you know ANYTHING?

dear lord. Aneurin Bevin will be rolling in his grave.

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:29

I forgive you, glitters. Bye.

Peachy · 26/01/2012 17:34

Alemci I know how dad managed before the welfare state

he ate hedgehogs, illegally poached for salmon and when he turned 5 spent his days with a wheelbarrow carrying groceries and coal for a few pence so he could eat.

Absolutely what I want for my kids! ds4 is three now, he can go and poach us summat for tea.

foglike · 26/01/2012 17:38

This is becoming a "Let them eat cake" thread rapidly.

And we all know what happened there?

Hullygully · 26/01/2012 17:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

alemci · 26/01/2012 17:57

yes thanks for the insults Hully. But now the welfare state has become out of control and I am sure Bevan wouldn't be particularly enamoured with it now either.

and you don't have to use capitals. I can't be bothered either. It is never so black and white as you make out. Many shades of grey
bye

TheParanoidAndroid · 26/01/2012 18:00

There is no human nature. We are not naturally greedy and avaricious. WE are not Hobbsian savages, with nasty short and brutish lives. There is no human nature.
There has never been a communist society. This is painfully obvious with more than 5 mins thought, could you try and stretch to that, some of you?

Peachy · 26/01/2012 18:04

Indeed, what would [[http://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/01/10/exclusive-interview-william-beveridge-backs-spartacusreport/ Beveridge have made?}} I wonder

OOOh look someone got there first

Of course they have an agenda before anyone thinks I am some diim fucks who doesn't get that. Agenda does not mean valueless.

As for Bevan I like to think he would be glad that people don't live like Dad did now, and hopefully have a sense of pride.

TheParanoidAndroid · 26/01/2012 18:24

I'd say Bevan would be bloody delighted that people don't die from poverty like they used to in huge numbers.

PrincessTamTam · 26/01/2012 18:34

I think Bevan would be horrified at the prospect of his creation, the NHS, which has saved so many lives, being dismantled by this government, right under our noses... It's shameful.Angry

Peachy · 26/01/2012 18:37

Absolutely TamTam

For alst few months whenever I have passed the Bevan statue in cardiff have felt a need to turn around and apologise! Dh does it too.

OneLieIn · 26/01/2012 18:40

Yabfu

Communist state? Ever been to one.... ?

Food queues
Hardship
Poverty
No equality just a hidden underbelly of haves

Terrible

OneLieIn · 26/01/2012 18:42

I am sure Bevan didn't have in mind that it would become a megalith that wasted money, treated those who are not entitled for free and didn't always serve the needs of the people.

Yes it saves lives, but is woefully inefficient

hackmum · 26/01/2012 18:51

The OP asks: "But do people really think we would be in a better place if we didn't live in a free economy and where we were dictated to by the state how much we could and couldn't earn/whether we could or couldn't sell our house etc? really?"

There's a whole lot of stuff that the state now dictates, thanks to the efforts of reformers, some of whom were communists. So you can't send children up chimneys or down coalmines. You have to pay a minimum wage. You have to provide a pension scheme. You have to offer the same pay for men and women. You can't discriminate against an employee on the grounds of race or sex or sexuality.

And on and on it goes. Imagine what life would be like if we lived in a pure and unfettered free market. You don't have to work very hard - you could start by reading the works of Dickens.