To think we are ALL assisted by the tax payer in some way

[CordeliaStarling]

Im fed up of hearing people moaning about families who they perceive to get too much aid from 'the taxpayer'

I can't believe there is a single person in the UK who doesn't receive any kind of help or use a service that is funded by the tax payer.

I guess so, but I think the Dail Heil is referring to those who are assisted without actually contributing, which in reality is pretty much no-one, but that wouldn't sell newspapers to people like my mother

Meaning i guess we are all assisted by the taxpayer not you are BU. Sorry didn't make self very clear then.

Yes I completly agree.

It bugs me when people slag off benefit recipients but see no comparison in them using state education, health care, social care, etc

Well we all benefit to some degree - in having a safety net there. But the whole point of our tax/social security system is that those who need more get it?

Child benefit
NHS
Fire service
Police

Are the ones that come to mind first but I'm sure there are tonnes more services. Everyone must surely use or feel the benefit of at least one of them.

Rubbish collection, roads, libraries, emergency services, street lighting, schools and on and on. We all benefit. Society is a good thing

YANBU at all.

I am probably a net contributor to the system at the moment (kids are in private schools and I have private healthcare through work) and we will shortly lose child benefit.

However, I watched both my parents die of cancer and the thought of people having to struggle to find the money to get medical treatment at such a difficult time fills me with horror. So the NHS alone is a good enough reason for me paying my taxes. Who knows maybe one day I'll need it.

yes, but some people pay a lot more for the things than others in terms of tax. for some its a net gain, others a net loss - ie they pay more in tax than the services would cost to buy. families come in all shapes though - so i think thats a bit irrelevant.

Every time I don't get diptheria I thank the taxpayer.

And every time I don't get e-coli from something in a restaurant.

And every time I interact with a person who has had an education and therefore can read and write.

And every time I move about the world in any way at all.

Its the taxpayer that pays for all those things, so wow wee that we get to use them!

There are two sorts of households: those who are net beneficiaries of taxation and those who are net contributors to taxation. The latter are in the minority.

Almost all adults are also taxpayers.

Of course we do, without state support it would be each person for themselves and it could well cost those who 'have' much more to protect their assets overall than it costs to pay to a social fund to cover the basic needs for all.

I am quite glad I don't have to

a) shovel my own shit away
b) pay for night soil people to do it
c) deal with the shit of people who couldn't afford it

Don't confuse the consumption of state-supplied services and being a net beneficiary of taxation. They are two very different things.

People forget that it is not just individuals who benefit from state support, it is society as a whole.

Even if someone e.g. has children at private school, they still benefit from the fact that everyone else's children are educated - they will interact with these people, possible employ them or receive services from them.

So even people who can't see that they benefit directly should accept that they benefit indirectly.

And the Daily Fail can fuck off.

possibly, not possible

badtime - that is the reason that net contributors to taxation revenue accept to pay tax in good grace. They don't need to be even more grateful!

It's like Obama - business/job creators don't do it on their own. They have the state infrastructure.

I'd add that I see no reason why people who are Job Seekers, can't/shouldn't do some community work as part of their contract.

I've family members who turn nocturnal, getting up at lunchtime only on signing on day. Apparently, they are meeting all the requirements on them, and get their housing benefit/ council tax reduction - and attend courses when required.

More than 18 months without work; and of course, nothing useful on the CV, poor timekeeping, depression, personal image issues... none of which makes them an ideal first choice [particularly if you compete for entry level jobs against 18 year olds, who can work for less...]

Bonsoir - exactly right.

All individuals move through phases of being a contributor and beneficiary of taxation and social structures. Sometimes at the same time.

I'm glad we have laws in this country, to ensure that ensure people get treated fairly when they do business.

Yes and you could argue that even the chavs/feckless contribute as they pay tax on ciggies & vodka, unless they buy the illegal stuff.

Fair treatment is very important for business. Why would you invest otherwise?

Being dim, I just read 'the taxpayer' as a lazy way of saying that the particular wheeze is being publically funded.

If I am not misaken, I am under the impression that the personal income tax collected by the govt doesn't even cover the social bill .... So Effectively no-one is paying anyone to lie about ...