to ask all of the 1% here (anyone earning over £20'000) what you are doing to help the 99%?

[ethnicalMarion]

If your earn over 20k in the UK you are part of the 1%. Aibu to think that this 1% should be helping the 99% of the world more?

According to the government figures I've seen, the top 1% earn £160,000 each.

And income it a perfectly valid measure for judging who should be contributing rather than receiving, it's what the tax and benefits system in the UK uses, after all.

We bring in more than 20k a year and are living month to month

These threads never end well....

According to the government figures I've seen, the top 1% earn £160,000 each

That's the UK, not the world.

Earn over £20k and just about manage to pay the bills and put something aside for contingency so no spare cash here.

1%???? Thats not right.

I used to give to charity shops until i was told by a someone i knew who worked in one that proceeds went into paying for retail qualifications for some of the staff.

Also they used to pester me about gift aid, but no one could explain in detail how it worked. All i know is its something to do with my tax. I always say im not a tax payer now.

Within the UK, I mean.

Income alone means nothing.
Someone earning £20k/year in the UK is not better off than someone earning half of that in a country where salaries, house prices and food are four times cheaper.

If you are going to start a debate with figures, then make sure you give all the information necessary.
£20k per year, per month?
1% of the UK, the world?

sigh you stats are wrong... but I will answer anyway.

1. I pay tax
2. I volunteer over 15 hours a month
3. I donate to charity

What is "enough" help in your eyes? Do I meet some kind of criteria? Things like this really piss me off.

Cross posted with lots of you.

What MrsRoger said

Get tae fook

The OP has a valid point, but this will not go well, because people who believe in distribution are predominantly those who coincidentally will be beneficiaries. Telling nearly everyone they should be giving money away is likely to make you quite unpopular. Don't know why.

I'm not doing anything.... my hard earned money goes on my family. Perhaps pose your question to million/billionaires and those with off sure bank accounts.

people who believe in redistribution

shore even

What are you doing then op?

Some more info in your opening post would have helped. So you mean globally? There are lots of uk based charities who work and give to the third world. 20k is not a huge income in the uk.

When DH was working overseas he elected to pay full tax here as we lived here rather than living as an expat. We pay full tax, no sneaky schemes & try to buy local supporting independent retailers whenever we can. I work for a charity & have waived my salary. I volunteer with other organizations and support charities such as First Story & IntoUniversity which try to encourage academic achievement in poorly performing schools. We also give anything we no longer use to charity shops rather than selling it on eBay or at car boot sales. DH gives his time freely to Oxfam helping them develop policies. I also go shopping & pay lots of VAT. Enough?

Does she have a valid point? Get tae fook with nobs on

Someone earning £20k/year in the UK is not better off than someone earning half of that in a country where salaries, house prices and food are four times cheaper.

Even if it were as simple as actual cash income, the OP point would remain overall valid, just mitigated a little be this. But then take into account that a family with two school-age children will be receiving 10K-12K of free NHS coverage plus 10K of free education, so there real income is 40K a year...

What do you do to help others?

This is difficult because it's relative: you could be struggling in the UK but rich beyond avarice in other countries, whilst on the same income.

However, to answer your question I:

• use my vote in a way which I believe is beneficial (in the sense that development aid & support is an election promise) and some parties are more aware of world & uk poverty than others (that's putting it kindly)
• I sponsor a child in a developing country
• I am a monthly giver to a charity that provides medical services in developing countries across the world and wherever people can't access healthcare because they can't afford it
• I respond to all DEC campaigns. Always.
• I try to be a responsible shopper (although my god that's complex when you start weighing up issues like is it better to have a ridiculously low wage providing food/services to the UK, or no wage at all if those contracts are ended because UK shoppers don't buy)

What do you do?

I earn almost 20k and dp earns just over 10k. We haven't got a mortgage and are scraping the barrel every month. We have 2 dc too. I guve 2.50 to cats protection each month but I am afraid that's it.

OP means globally in which case she is right in that regard.