Fuck it - the government will look me

[Phonicshaskilledmeoff]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the way our country is run. I love my country, but what on earth can I do to fix it? the Rachel reeves pension and stamp duty rumours have tipped me over the edge.

I believe 90% of our lives is the summation of our own choices. Bar (some of) our own (and families) health and tragic life events, there is very little we can’t choose in this country.

I’m not saying that the playing field is fair - I absolutely acknowledge that some groups face structural barriers that make good choices harder. Others are unaware those choices even exist. That’s where government should step in—not to equalise outcomes, but to equalise access to meaningful choice.

I think we all acknowledge that bad governments are ones that take away choices. This government, however is also taking away choice by incentivising bad choices. Policies should nudge people toward self-sufficiency, not make state reliance easier than self-reliance, or rewarding short-term decisions over long-term

Our Government should be working towards equitable availability of choice (not equal - see below) to make sure those choices are as easy and available to everyone. Policies should be in place to make sure people are encouraged to make the right choices.

I increasingly feel like I make the right choices and think what was the bloody point!

I’m going to wish I never paid into my pension soon and went on holiday instead! Should I just spend my money, move into a smaller house and quit my job. At this point I think I’d be better off.

Jargon Buster - EQUALITY - It’s assumed there is a level playing field and everyone gets the same resources. EQUITY - Everyone gets what they need to succeed, which may mean different levels of support.

So should the Tories have done austerity or not?

What policies would you actually like to see OP? I think people are missing the point because you haven’t said what you think the government should be doing. Personally I think ensuring everyone has access to housing is a huge one. Not just by building more genuinely affordable homes (not “affordable” as determined by developers when they’re anything but) but imposing a cap on how much house prices can rise by and limiting how many properties any individual can own. I don’t think many people would vote for that though.

As for your “I might as well just move to a smaller house and spend it” well, yes? I’m a high earner but I choose to stay in my one-bed London flat rather than upsizing, and I choose to stay doing slightly sporadic freelance consultancy at high rates than go full time, because I want my time to be mine and my money spent on as much travel as I can fit in. It’s never occurred to me to do it any other way and I don’t really understand the mentality of giving your whole life to work just to afford a bigger house and car that you never have time to enjoy anyway because you’re always working.

There is an expression we use round where I live which ran through my head when I read the OP's origninal post: "what are you on with?" which basically means I can't understand what you are talking about .

Maybe you should be more specific if you want to have this conversation. Worried how?

Having children as a woman certainly does edit your potential choices in ways you don't/can't expect before you 'choose' to have them, but it is not the only way that people are shaped by society. Just using a well worn expression like 'nanny state' shows me your are not immune to that.

What was the subject? Student loan debt is still a big number on the UK balance sheet.

Could the solution here be to encourage employers through tax incentives to train staff, through part time Uni, one day a week? They get you working, you pay tax and no further increase to student loan debt.

It would appear there is now saturation in the Grad marketplace and many students are doing a masters, simply because they can't get a Grad job.

The Result - increase in students personal debt, increase in Gov student debt, more competition for limited jobs. However we can't build affordable houses because there is a cost of scare tradesman. A London based construction worker will easily earn £50k p.a and usually it's on the job training so no student debt.

Ive mentioned these as the Op was looking for solutions, rather than a blunt instrument of raising tax.

Unfortunately parent of living in a free country is that you have to put up with stupid people voting in a Government that has broken the country before. So it will be this time, and we are all penalised

Totally agree. I'm stuck in a low paid job and treated like shit (and incidentally illegally) by my employer. I don't have the money to take them to Employment Tribunal though I'm sure I'd win if I could. I have multiple caring responsibilities and get fuck all help from the state. In terms of the caring the ONLY thing they do is make life harder for me and my family.

I routinely feel like a fucking idiot for behaving legally when all around me there are burglaries not even investigated let alone prosecuted. Tons of cars and vans on the road without MOT, tax etc which all get reported to my local FB group and police but nothing ever done. But I'm drowning in fees and taxes.

I feel like a total idiot for obeying the law when seemingly loads of people (the 1% and the general grifters) are getting rich off me and other decent people.

Why do you say you think life is 90% controllable and then proceed to describe all the ways in which is NOT controllable, with reasonable accuracy? Do you even believe what you're saying, OP? You shouldn't, it's nonsense.

Thanks for the "jargon buster" though 😂

Where are you planning to move to that offers you this choice?

I haven’t experienced it. I’m also not wholly oblivious.

My post is about equitable choice and a government supporting the right choices. For example - What choices could someone be provided with at aged 12 that would have changed their life.

Is it inevitable that the child of abuse then must live in a cycle of abuse and poverty. I don’t think so, but not unless they are given the step up and allowed to make those choices. Is it unreasonable to think we could break a cycle and that child could have choices.

Maybe I am naive in that I think a government should be driving equity so we all have the same access to make positive choices.

But I hear academics say austerity from the Tories was bad, they should have done stimulus

My understanding is it was the combo of austerity & low interest rates. The cuts to public service did not need to be so deep, there was no investment in anything. Private businesses also stopped investing because money was cheap so less need. People didn't notice their wages were not growing because housing was cheap & their house was going up in value. You need investment in infrastructure & people to facilitate future growth.

No I think it’s 90% choices…. Not controllable.

I think our government should be working towards equity to make sure that those choices are available to everyone.

You say ‘the government will look after them’, and I say it’s not the government doing that, it’s taxpayers. The government has no money - it’s ours.
I think it is pretty evident that as a world (not just our nation) we are all becoming more and more selfish. Taxpayer ‘handouts’ are going to stop, and quite soon I think. Governments that ‘give away’ taxpayer money rather than spending it on public services that benefit the taxpayer will stop winning elections. The State Pension is entering its final throes- “those receiving it now didn’t fight in World Wars; they can look after themselves” will become a prevailing attitude.

Anyone NOT planning to look after themselves into old age now, is in for a world of pain.

Should I just spend my money, move into a smaller house and quit my job. At this point I think I’d be better off.

Please can you demonstrate how?
I was made redundant in Sept. I have been unable to find work. I am a lone parent with a 16 yo at home. If I don't find work before my assets go below £16,000 I will be entitled to claim UC. It will not be enough to support my home (small mortgage) and child. I will lose my small home and my car and then I guess we'll be housed.
Yes the government will look after us and I'm glad we live in a country that provides welfare for those who are struggling, but in no single way will I bet better off. My future looks very bleak. I am 55 and have been working all my adult life.

The way the grooming gang survivors has been treated is a really good example of how the state treats some people very badly. One survivor, Jade, gave an interview with Maggie Oliver. She has never, ever received any NHS counselling (she's apparently been on a 'waiting list' for years). She got it through the Maggie Oliver foundation and now has recovered sufficiently to speak out. But the state has never, ever given her any means to make her life better after failing her so criminally as a child.

That's what I thought as well. Thanks.

You say ‘the government will look after them’, and I say it’s not the government doing that, it’s taxpayers. The government has no money - it’s ours.

You do realise that the them (poor) you're talking about were often tax payers?
I have paid all my taxes and I really hope if will be able to claim some support if I need it.

I wax talking to my teen yesterday about all the taxes we pay as citizens of this country and I swear even I was shocked at the stuff that was just in the forefront of my mind. I bet I only came up with a tiny portion of it too. It’s bloody depressing.

Income tax
Council tax
Stamp Duty
Inheritance Tax
Fuel duty
Car tax (current petrol and diesel)
VAT
Sugar Tax
Capital Gains Tax
Corporation Tax
Taxed on pensions on the way in and when drawing it down
National Insurance
TV license

Obviously this government then brought in a tax on private education and whatever else they are about to do. I’m sure I’ve missed loads that already exist.

I mentioned this on another thread earlier this week, but apparently only around 30% of us are net contributors to the state. Unsustainable.

Ha - I appreciate this isn’t a genuine question however I was looking. I haven’t a clue.

I used to think New Zealand was a good shout, but their cost of living has soared recently.

Why are you "worried about stamp duty"? (Also, why is it "weird"?)

If you're not moving, stamp duty has no impact on you.

As for downsizing for a smaller mortgage, well, that's a choice, no? Downside small enough and there won't be any stamp duty.

You're extremely privileged to even own a house. Being "worried about stamp duty" is the preserve of the wealthy.

The government wouldn't take what for care charges/inheritance tax?

Do you genuinely think the government should house elderly people who cannot live independently, for free, so their families (who aren't looking after them) can inherit their money? You think you should buy your own house with no tax, then be housed by the state so your kids can get their hands on your property.

Can you see the privilege dripping from your words?

And as for inheritance tax - only around 6% of estates pay it. Yet it seems to causes so much panic. You do know you only pay any IHT after your offspring have inherited £1m (if you're married and transfer the band of the first deceased, and if you leave your primary home to your offspring)? Is a million not enough for them then?
Have a heart for single people like me, with no kids - I can only leave £325k tax free. But I don't care, I'll be dead.

I can choose to spend down to that level, and then no tax is payable, so I might do that. There's a choice.

I'm afraid you've not given any examples of where you think the government has made policies that remove your ability to make good decisions. All the things you seem to be worried about are things that only the wealthy face.

Dubai?

When you put it like that it really is insane

I've always told my kids to work hard at school or else they'll end up in a shitty job unable to afford things

So what is a good cjoice versus a bad choice op?

Some might be sent to a private school as they are lucky enough to be wealthy. They might do better as the classes are smaller and have better contacts.

Some might not genetically inherited intellectual/ other abilities to succeeed no matter what walk of life they are from.

Some like me made choices but were beaten up badly and regularly by their mums so had cptsd.
Im making better choices now but I was on benefits in the past.

What are these choices you talk of?