AIBU to believe rich people should contribute much more?

[marcusian]

A bit tongue in cheek, but given that its almost impossible for poorly paid workers including care workers and nurses to strike, and that the government have given people earning over £100K a massive pay rise, what other ways could the most wealthy be made to pay?

My idea: - a new LUXURIES tax (think 50% VAT) on things ordinary people cant buy, like superyachts, airplanes, £10K+ dining tables, a box at wimbledon, £500+ handbags, £100+ football boots!

AIBU - No - they should pay more and heres my ideas how they should do it!
AIBU - Yes - leave wealthy people alone, its not their fault

This is one of the problems that all governments need to look at as it has been going on pre Conservatives...it causes resentment when people who work see governments paying people that choose to make living off the tax payer a life style choice....Gone are the days when benefits were there as a safety net to help people until they were back on their feet.
Idealy companies would pay a decent living wage but I'd rather my taxes went to help top up a family where one/both parent's work, rather than someone who's chosen to bring children into the world with absolutely no thought of getting a job ir giving anyway of funding them.
But we'll never have a government that has the balls to announce that it's going to put a stop to hand outs to those who can contribute but choose not to.

And people wonder why Labour has such an uncouth reputation

Well, quite.

My brother is now retired but worked for over 30 years in the City in finance and private wealth management. The number of people with 'Uncle Crispin's' he worked with was vanishingly small. There was simply no place for people who weren't extremely competent at their jobs.

I can't remember where I heard the tale, but there used to be a border crossing in Eastern Europe where the railway track was littered with packaging from luxury goods (I'm not talking £10k handbags, just ordinary things like TVs). Students who'd been living abroad would buy these goods to take home to their families but to avoid being charged at customs would dispense with the packaging and knock a few dents into the merchandise to make it look as if they'd had it years. There was a reason for waiting until the frontier to chuck the box out of the window, probably to avoid sales tax which isn't due for goods being exported.

The point is that if you hike taxes up to ridiculous levels, people will just find a way to avoid paying. What gets the Treasury more revenue? 50% of nothing or 20% of quite a lot?

Wow imagine actually typing this and outing yourself as totally and utterly self obsessed and devoid of empathy like this? Amazing 😂

You are aware how the conservatives are funding their policies? They have gone with low tax /high spend so its all borrowing. the national debt is the biggest its been for a rather long time.

Id rather borrow some money to then own a railway and a wind farm, than borrow some money to pay profits to shareholders of companies owned outside the uk.

This.

Well, most of it is sheer luck. Luck what family you were born into for a start. Don't anyone come on and tell me they are from a poor background and you're now earning megabucks because you're the exception.

Plenty of poor people work their arses off but are going nowhere. And many well paid people do very little so no, it's not just hard work. It's mostly luck.

@Eeiliethya

I didnt say you should pay more. I doubt you're making what bezo is. I also don't think you should pay less though.

@Kissingfrogs25

I didnt say everyone should earn the same

🤷‍♀️

I find it so upsetting that people cant get NHS treatment or cant afford to keep warm. I would pay more tax in the hope it prevented people suffering and find it shocking that seems so unpopular. Not everyone can be high earners as we need all different jobs covered.

Interesting. It's the opposite in my experience. Most are rich via family money/inheritance and generally never worked hard in their life.

@Topgub you are laughable.

50k as a starting wage? Get real and stop living in cloud cuckoo land.

Next you'll be saying how no-one deserves high salaries... oh wait, no, you've already gone there 🤦‍♀️

just because you can't comprehend the value others can generate for themselves and others (hence being paid it) doesn't mean deserve it.

I really struggle to understand how people like you can't see how you'd be better using your energy developing yourself and working with others on the collective good instead of using it to spout vitriol and rubbish whilst scheming new ways to take what isn't yours.

The conservatives have screwed over the most vulnerable people in our society, the disabled and elderly. Thank goodness they are on their way out. Truss has no hope of winning the next general election

Interesting. It's the opposite in my experience. Most are rich via family money/inheritance and generally never worked hard in their life.

Absolutely this. They may work hard too but they certainly got all the advantages of a privileged upbringing and all the contacts, right accent etc to get their jobs

@Topgub
I wish I was earning what Bezos earns 😆.

I don't want to pay less. I'm happy with the set-up, even before the recent change to income tax and I also fully support that those on higher incomes pay more tax 100%.

I also think that employers should pay everyone a decent living wage.

I do try in my own way to give back, I donate to a food bank and have charity direct debits to a local hospice and local cancer group that sends families affected on holidays and provides counselling.

I eat at local restaurants often, buy presents from Etsy to support little businesses, I had my curtains made by a local lady. Whack my tax up even further and I would have to tighten the belt and I wouldn't be able to do that.

@ExpectMore

People like me?

You know nothing about me other than I think wealth inequality needs to be tackled.

What a horror I must be, eh?

🤣

So you believe that there is no concept of wealth creation?

That there’s only a finite amount that is generated and recycled.

You can of course create more wealth you know.

Or are you saying that that’s not the way one thinks when they’re used to having other people’s money directly handed to them via taxes.

@Eeiliethya

Walking advert for trickle down eh?

Rather it trickle down than be swallowed by the shit show that is the public purse 🤷🏼‍♀️

"Don't anyone come on and tell me they are from a poor background and you're now earning megabucks because you're the exception."

It's quite common in immigrant communities and they often have quite a few disadvantages including encountering racism. It shows that the opportunities are there if people want to take advantage of it.

What do you think would happen if all the carers, cleaners, rubbish collectors, nurses, teachers, hospitality staff, etc all decided to "work harder" as you say and get better jobs/find different ways of earning money what kind of society would that lead to?

Don't worry you won't have to wait long to find out as it's already happening, be careful what you wish for I guess. Hope you don't ever have any elderly relatives or any kids that go to school or that you ever need medical treatment or anything cleaned or cooked or brought to you or taken away and disposed of properly.

Leave them be. They're not responsible for other people's families.

What and who determines 'rich'? That's the issue. Earning over 100k? Over 700k? We're a one income household of 66k and we struggle. Our food budget a strict £50 a week. No room for luxuries. Even though 66k sounds a lot to many people it doesn't go far for a family of 4 living in my area. We aren't entitled to any benefits. Not even child benefit. The current economic crisis has hit us as hard but I'm not waiting for other people to bail us out.

Why should the wealthy pay more than they already do to supplement other people? Why are rich people held more responsible than rhe families who can't afford their lifestyle?

I'm a single parent on £90k and pay just under £2,500 in tax and NI per month. My household income is less than a married couple on £45k each and I don't receive child benefit.

This ! All of my friends expat friends have worked extremely hard and made many sacrifices. One of my friends employs more than 60 people - moved here 20 years ago with nothing. The opportunities are there if you want to take advantage of them.