to be fed up of hearing 'I've worked hard for my money'

[newbluesofa]

Lots of chat on MN recently about taxes on high earners. So heard lots of 'we have this money because we work bloody hard for it' and honestly I'm sick of it and think the people who say it are selfish.

Nurses work incredibly hard, long shifts, difficult job. Carers provide absolutely essential service, again shift work, difficult hours, difficult job. Teachers provide essential work, I know multiple teachers and they all devote evenings, weekends, school holidays to the detriment of their own families. All of these jobs also have huge emotional tolls. So 'I've worked hard for my money' means nothing to me, because a lot of people work a lot harder for a lot less.

We paid enough thank you very much.

I find it crazy that anyone can earn, say, £400k. Crazy.

It's not hoarding. Do you not understand how intangible assets work?

The device you are probably using to post was created in part by a billionaire.

But I'm told that socialism doesn't work so ... Like in my ideal world, we would all have enough and I guess earn similar. Nobody needs a private jet, or a pool, or multiple holidays. But then I think everything would be a little grey and I wouldn't be able to watch Rivals on Netflix and then I get a bit stumped as to what the answer is.

I don't know anyone on over £40k. £100k seems obscene to me. But if they earn it then fair play.

Nurses and teachers are now warned going in they won’t earn much. The hope is that their work is rewarding in itself

im going in academia (currently applying for a PhD) because i want to do it, not because im delusional and think it will pay (it won’t!) but my boyfriend is going into finance because for him, he’d be content with the role and pleased to earn good money. I currently work as a food delivery driver as a part time gig and the pay is equal-ish (still not fair but by uk standards) to the amount of brain power it takes - which isn’t true for all jobs but it is for mine

It was a choice we made so that my husband could pursue his high earning career - just like a nurse knows she has to work night shifts - it doesn't make the sacrifice any less.

Yes, I am a product of the welfare state. I believe in the welfare state. I am happy to support a welfare state that is fair and genuinely helps those in need. But I do resent the welfare state in its current form and how bloated and ridiculous it has become. I also resent paying an unfair share of tax to support it. As a household we pay about £15,000 more in tax than an equivalent earning household just because of how the income is split - madness!

We are normal people, this is not an insignificant amount of money for us.

It absolutely is hoarding. Minimum wage workers/those on benefits put far more back into society than billionaires. And they also created, in part, the device I'm using to post.

Why do you mention intangible assets, I fail to see how they are relevant to the discussion.

Seems to me you don't understand how they create or have wealth. Most UK billionaires are self made. They create businesses that employ many people. I've never gotten a job from someone on benefits. Lots of billionaires invent new stuff and products. Like the vacuum I bought!

But why are you blaming the welfare state for that split rather than policy?

I'm not - I'm saying I resent paying an unfair share towards it!

Añd lots and lots of minimum wage workers supported by the state that you don't want to contribute to because you think it's all only you doing the hard work.

This is the issue with your rhetoric.

You are not working in a vacuum.

No, I don't care how they got wealthy, it does matter, they don't need billions, or even 1 billion. It wouldn't make a difference to their lives to spend it, pay their employees more, or give it to charity. They are hoarding it.

As someone who can only work part time and probably earn less than £14k a year I do as well 😭🤣

Totally agree. Also, valuing 'hard work' for its own sake is a nonsense.

Billionaires are mostly destroying the planet and exploiting their workers

I think the most valuable work often doesn't have a price that is paid.

And I think the upper middle earners know that which is why they fight so hard to retain access to the elite.

But you said nurses and teachers "are not exposed to any risk". That's not true. If you meant "the employers of nurses are extremely unlikely to go bust" that is not the same as "not exposed to any risk".

I note how you downplay the life and death decisions that nurses have to make by saying that everyone has a risk of making a wrong professional judgement. Yes, but for most people's jobs, that isn't a life or death matter is it? I notice that you ignore my point about nurses' risk of being assaulted at work.

I vividly remember the company my dad working for going bust in the late 80s. It was one of two times I ever saw him cry. I also know that he didn't make life or death decisions, nor did he ever get assaulted at work.

The whole reason we can communicate in this way us due to a dirty rotten socialist who wanted us all to have access to anything anyone says.

Most of would still not be able to participate had he not been a socialist

Everybody's wealth rides on the backs of others sacrifice.

What about the mental work? How can being a lawyer not be extremely taxing?

Really? I found my department store job boring and easy. There was very little to it tbh.

You must have been a poor sales assistant, as I had a jolly working in a busy store in London..

It's theirs. Who are you "DressOrSkirt' to impose an arbitrary wealth cap? I'd understand but disagree with the case for a wealth tax (of around 2%). I'd understand and agree to change illegal evasion and tighten loopholes on avoidance.

They can't just give "all" their wealth away. They can give lots away (many do and have charitable foundations). They don't just have billions in cash under the mattress or stored in a bank vault.

And we all know what happiness and wellbeing such devices have brought to the world...