To think every single person in the country actually a tax person.

[ClementineKelandra]

When you buy food you pay tax.

When you buy clothes you pay tax.

Even if all you buy is vodca and fags you still pay tax.

Sick of hearing taxpayers this and taxpayers that. We're all tax payers!

A banker might be a net contributor, assuming they hadn't structured their affairs so as to minimise their tax bill. But they not only do far less for the country than a doctor, they are part of an industry that is actively harmful - not only causing the financial crisis but engaging in rip off and scandal after rip off and scandal (LIBOR rigging is merely one of the most recent).

Meanwhile a doctor not only saves lives but contributes to the economy by restoring good health as much as possible, so that patients can go back to living their lives, running businesses, earning money, running supermarket check outs or essential services such as transport, caring for the vulnerable, and whatever.

The public sector worker in this case does far more for the economy and society than the 'net contributor'.

And look at it over a lifetime - as a child the banker will have consumed NHS and educational resources (even in private education, charitable tax breaks and the cost of educating his or her teachers adds up). As an elderly person, especially in the last few months of life, they will cost the NHS a hell of a lot - private medical insurance does not cover everything. If they play rugby or ski they are likely to require A&E which is one of the most expensive parts of the NHS. And so on and so on.

nonmifairidere I agree with you entirely and in the same people still shop at Amazon but avoid starbucks or similar because they are principled!!

Love how seasicksal seems to think public sector workers are just another form of scroungers. I'm guessing she actually wants her children taught, her bins emptied, her hospitals cleaned and house fires put out? Paying those workers seems a fair exchange for their skills, not just some bonus handout.

I do too. Was a bit by the tax grabbing public sector bit.

Hmm

I am a higher rate tax payer in the private sector and although I have a DC get no tax credits and he isn't at school yet. So I am pretty sure I am a net contributor

But....even though I work for the private sector, a lot of the income the company generates (about 40%) comes form the public sector, although it does that by getting them money back from a public sector company...

So now I am very confused :)

We do all pay tax though, one way or another