Page 12 | If you were the PM what would you do to fix the mess we are in?

HoppingKangaroo · 2022-08-28T18:59:38+00:00

Just that really, if you were the prime minister what would you do to help fix the country and the cost of living crisis.

absolutelyanythingwilldo · 30/08/2022 15:01

Blossomtoes · 30/08/2022 13:07

None of that applies to the individual. Want to try again?

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Well I have to say, I didn't think the definition of productivity would be the controversial part of my suggestion.

At an individual level, a person would be producing or providing a product or service that is of value to other groups or individuals. That productive work is rewarded with a transfer of value to the producer in the form of money.

If there's no productivity, then it's just pushing money around.

Blossomtoes · 30/08/2022 15:13

If there's no productivity, then it's just pushing money around

That would be most jobs in banking and finance, then. That’s literally what they do. My tax contribution may also be just pushing money around, it benefits the economy nonetheless.

Of course it’s not the most controversial part of your suggestion. The most controversial part is too ridiculous to even discuss, I doubt even you seriously believe it.

TheEggChair · 30/08/2022 16:17

EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 13:40

I'd legalise the personal ownership of firearms. This would raise a fortune in taxation because hardly anyone who wants one is allowed to have one at the moment. This could be a real growth industry because as more people bought them, others would feel the need to buy them for their own protection. At the beginning I'd limit ownership to those over 25, to see how things went.

Someone competing with the euthanasia lady for most batshit suggestion 😂

😂😂 We'll need to start handing out medals soon for the most batty ideas.

TakeTheOffPisteRoute · 30/08/2022 16:27

Dotjones · 30/08/2022 12:06

No doubt some of these ideas will be controversial or even offensive to some/many, but looking at things objectively the current system is so broken and offensive itself that I don't think we could sink much lower no matter what we do.

I'd bring back hanging, not just for the most serious crimes but for low-level repeat offenders. This would save a fortune in the long run in terms of the cost of running prisons and the justice system. There would be no right of appeal, a straightforward process of execution shortly after conviction.

I'd freeze prices at their 2019 levels to end inflation. Whatever something cost in 2019, that's what it costs going forward.

I'd ban anyone worth more than 500K from holding political office or being in a senior position in a company or other organisation.

I'd change the tax system so that anything over 50K per year is taxed at 99%.

I'd do what I originally typed this paragraph but then deleted because objectively speaking it's probably too offensive to be posted here.

Over time, I'd reduce the cap no longer explained in the preceding paragraph by a million or so every year.

I'd legalise the personal ownership of firearms. This would raise a fortune in taxation because hardly anyone who wants one is allowed to have one at the moment. This could be a real growth industry because as more people bought them, others would feel the need to buy them for their own protection. At the beginning I'd limit ownership to those over 25, to see how things went.

I'd introduce a national community service scheme for young people. They'd be forced to work in community schemes for a few years and could not be released until they've performed satisfactorily for a set period of time.

Trade unions and strikes would be banned, to be replaced by a guaranteed minimum income of 20K per year, with a guaranteed 5% payrise every year. Company owners would not be allowed to make staff redundant, if they do they face imprisonment (if it's their first offence, or execution for repeat offenders).

I'd scrap the TV Licence.

"I'd ban anyone worth more than 500K from holding political office or being in a senior position in a company or other organisation."

So pretty much any homeowner with even a half-decent pension then? How would this work?!

I'm not sure you've thought any of your ideas through nor what you're currently smoking....!

stopitstopitnow · 30/08/2022 16:31

absolutelyanythingwilldo · 29/08/2022 22:52

Prisoners can work while incarcerated. Plus there's the whole maybe they're innocent thing. Happens more than we like to admit apparently.

The 70 age limit is fair and applies to everyone.

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You're going to have to put the retirement age down and the pensions up then ( many over retirement age continue to work due to poor pensions)....or are you going to have the hangman wait outside their place of work on their last day,

absolutelyanythingwilldo · 30/08/2022 16:52

Blossomtoes · 30/08/2022 15:13

If there's no productivity, then it's just pushing money around

That would be most jobs in banking and finance, then. That’s literally what they do. My tax contribution may also be just pushing money around, it benefits the economy nonetheless.

Of course it’s not the most controversial part of your suggestion. The most controversial part is too ridiculous to even discuss, I doubt even you seriously believe it.

No, although we call it pushing money around, finance and banking is generally resource allocation which is a service required by the employing company. If it didn't need doing why would the job exist?

EtnaVesuvius · 30/08/2022 16:53

TakeTheOffPisteRoute · 30/08/2022 16:27

"I'd ban anyone worth more than 500K from holding political office or being in a senior position in a company or other organisation."

So pretty much any homeowner with even a half-decent pension then? How would this work?!

I'm not sure you've thought any of your ideas through nor what you're currently smoking....!

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Er, they want us to all have guns because everyone else has one. That’s a clue!

TheEggChair · 30/08/2022 16:54

I hope you never become PM @absolutelyanythingwilldo unless you're Liz Truss in disguise then we're really up shit creek without a paddle.

Fabvegetablegrower · 30/08/2022 17:02

Plantstrees · 30/08/2022 14:09

@Unphased

The main benefit other than free trade (which would also help the economy) is freedom of movement. The NHS, hospitality, construction and other industries are short of staff. If we want a healthy economy we need workers!

As an isolated island with a diminishing working age population we are going to need all the help we can get. EU workers were a net benefit to the Treasury and the loss of income/productivity and spending are significant. We are not quite in the dire straits of Japan but we will still have a major problem if we close our doors to immigration.

Exactly this it's the truth that no one dares mention.

absolutelyanythingwilldo · 30/08/2022 17:07

TheEggChair · 30/08/2022 16:54

I hope you never become PM @absolutelyanythingwilldo unless you're Liz Truss in disguise then we're really up shit creek without a paddle.

Depends what you are optimising for. If you are wanting to maximise productivity and minimise suffering then this is a good policy.

If you are optimising for length of life at all costs then the current system is what you'll get.

TheEggChair · 30/08/2022 19:55

Yep, you're Liz Truss in disguise!

Unphased · 30/08/2022 20:02

Plantstrees
How would that help the cost of living crisis right now?
You do realise the more people/workers we have the more we need, it’s like a whirlwind,
we were told there were 3 million Eu citizens here over 6 million applied for settle status.
a lot went home due to Covid and not wanting to stay, these have been replaced and more with the Afghanistan refugees, the Ukraine refugees and the boat people.
with the looming recession, many people will unfortunately lose their jobs, staff shortages caused mostly by Covid, will be a thing of the past, so no we don’t need more people

Unphased · 30/08/2022 20:05

Plantstrees
we haven’t closed are doors to imagination, it just requires a visa now same as people from none EU regions, nothing wrong in that of someone wants to come here and work

HeddaGarbled · 30/08/2022 20:13

a lot went home due to Covid and not wanting to stay, these have been replaced and more with the Afghanistan refugees, the Ukraine refugees and the boat people

That’s untrue.

HeddaGarbled · 30/08/2022 20:29

The biggest increase has been from Nigeria, India & the Philippines on skilled work visas. Doesn’t fit your narrative though, does it?

HeddaGarbled · 30/08/2022 20:34

Never let the facts get in the way of your prejudices.

Unphased · 30/08/2022 20:34

HeddaGarbled
min what way is it untrue?

Unphased · 30/08/2022 20:36

HeddaGarbled
what narrative?

Plantstrees · 31/08/2022 17:10

@Unphased The statistics show that non-EU immigrants are less productive.

If you were the PM what would you do to fix the mess we are in?