What do you think of the 5% tax hike for those earning more than £150k - good or bad?

[soapbox]

????

Yep. In exactly the same way that suggesting that objections to wealthy nay-sayers to fair taxation is jealousy and envy is also a meaningless generalisation...

I don't generalize the diagnosis of envy. That is for you, personally.

Don't go letting Cilla off the hook, now, Bella. She has A Lot to answer for. Allegedly.

Let's examine this proposition:

"The rest of us have worked out that when we meet our maker, the value of our lives is measured in how much we loved not how much we took."

How about the value of our lives being measured in how much we have contributed to society? To prove the ridiculousness of your statement I am going to cite Elizabeth Taylor. She loved an awful lot ...

Oh come on. I was just poking fun at them (the rich). Of course I don't think they're all sad and shallow. But neither are people earning 12 grand all just envious.

Is nobody going to trade economists' bon mots with me?

DESK, Wilf? Why? Why photos?

I do love that Galbraith quote though.

And 'loved' can have the broadest meaning can't it?

People contribute to society in lots of different ways- those that volunteer to improve their communities etc
Giving up a little more money is the least you can do

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.?
Churchill

If you have paid in taxes for the provision of one doctor, or three nurses, have you made a greater or a lesser contribution to society than the doctor or three nurses?

Discuss

Habbibu! I have not attended to my profile for ages. But there was a thread, almost as erudite and interesting as this one, a while back about desks. It may even have been started by me, perhaps? Or someone equally interesting .

I think it should be a classic but MN probably don't share this view.

It was Cod's fault with her 'what do men have in their bedside drawers' thread.

I miss her. She'd be on here telling all the bankers to fuck off.

well am not really sure where to start with that one quaddro

To start with though, the winter of discontent was not caused by an 87% tax on the richest in society. It was caused by applying a 5 % (?ish) limit to pay increases for pretty much all workers.

The strikes that affected day to day life were not caused by this tax because the people who actually do the work in society do not earn enough to be taxed at the highest rates. Stockbrokers and investment bankers were not seen marching on parliament chating "the workers/united/will never be defeated", but if they had gone on strike, would anyone really have noticed?

so why do most rich people walk less and drive more polluting cars? hmmm?

I don't pay 40% tax and nor am I eligible for tax credits. I do pay 30%+, mind you, if you include NI.

Well, you could argue that the doctors pays for part of her own wages from her own taxes. So less?

It is also a myth that all rich people drive flash cars and wear designer clothes

One of the richest (self-made) people I know drives an S reg Renault Megane Espace and wears tshirts and jeans of a non designer variety.

I think you have probably made an equal contribution. However those on public sector wages have not only contributed by doing the work but have willingly scarificed the chance to earn a higher wage so perhaps they are less self motivated.

less motivated by self interest that should be.

less motivated by self interest that should be.

What does he spend his money on, then, CD?

There was an article in the Ecologist claiming the wealthier you are, the less you walk or take public transport and the more pollution you produce.

oh rofl at TSAP...

Wine mainly (of which I drink at least 10%)

Oh and he bought a vineyard last year

(are you seeing a theme here?)