I believe in two basic things, freedom and helping those that cannot provide for themselves.
I am more than happy to pay my taxes, if I felt they were excessive compared to the opportunities afforded by living here, I would leave (the UK) and go live somewhere else, it is a freedom that I have.
What I don't like is supporting those who can and don't want to. Someone easily capable of work is not encouraged to do so unless the pay is fantastic compared to the national average. Someone on £20k a year - $32,500ish, would have £1,330 in their pocket at the end of every month before expenses. Someone unemployed living in my area would be getting up to £275 a week in housing allowance, around £60 a week in unemployment benefits. On top of that, the individual would be saving £100ish a month on council tax. So that £1,450 a month or so against £1,230 (after council tax) earned by someone working on damn near the national average wage.
Is that the right way to encourage people to get employed?
You have all those taxes in Europe as well... In the UK - top tax bracket is 50%, 20% VAT (in effect sales tax), 5% tax on higher value properties (read - anything in a decent area of London where a family can live), interest on mortgages is not deductible and bills for everything are higher than in the US. Car tax is ~$750 a year for a typical American car (based on emmissions here). Council tax (paid by each household annually) ranges from around $1,000 a year to $4,000+ depending on what a property was worth 20 odd years ago. Petrol (Gas) costs around $2 a litre - roughly $8 a gallon. Need I go on? The only thing thats expensive in the US is healthcare (though anyone who can afford it goes private here as well) and education at College/University level - and the UK is going that way as well.
How is it "fair" to have some individuals paying in one year in tax what someone on lower income would not pay in a lifetime?
The system as it is is set up to quell social unrest and does a reasonable job of it
The wealth redistribution you are refering to is called "socialism" as far as I am aware, and I am not arguing against it, I am all for it. But please don't call it "fair".
Like the fact that its written in the fabrication of the last few thousand years called the English language (I assume you read that and not the "original")
Worship a god that manifests as a vandal? Fantastic... There is a difference between an atheist and an agnostic, there is a difference between a real scientist and one writing "research" for money... I dont believe in a god, i hope that there is something greater than humanity and a life beyond this one, but there is no way that I am going to join one of these mass cults going these days... the only reason they are termed religion and not cult is the number of followers.
Have you ever heard of a "tithe"? Just because youre not opressed enough by the catholic church as europeans were hundreds of years ago (some still chose to be now...) doesnt mean thats not the foundation of a religion.
I have nothing at all against religion, ones personal relationship with ones god/gods - my problem is, and always has been with organised religion... "lets go with the consens of some people who were born to somewhat similar people in general to my parents/grandparents and go to the same place of worship whenever" - if god is god, why do you need a translator?
iPad is fantastic with its battery life agreed, why cant the bastards do the same with the iphone? "slimmest smarphone" - bah, let me get by a day without needing a charger at home and at the office...
What apple have is a beautifully accessible user interface... hell, even my parents are considering switching to iPhone after almost 15 years with nokia after seeing my phone.
if i buy an iPad its for portability, not to use around the house... i have a tv/computer with wireless keyboard in the living room, laptop lying around, iPhone for personal, blackberry for worl... with internet for checking trivial stuff, anything more than trivial i feel i need to get out of bed anyway...iPad just to have around the home? seems like a waste
seriously? how the hell do you dress? i work in a professional environment, i cant wear stupidly baggy jeans with huge pockets/cargo pants... 9.7 diagonal screen is just not a possibility...
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I believe in two basic things, freedom and helping those that cannot provide for themselves.
I am more than happy to pay my taxes, if I felt they were excessive compared to the opportunities afforded by living here, I would leave (the UK) and go live somewhere else, it is a freedom that I have.
What I don't like is supporting those who can and don't want to. Someone easily capable of work is not encouraged to do so unless the pay is fantastic compared to the national average. Someone on £20k a year - $32,500ish, would have £1,330 in their pocket at the end of every month before expenses. Someone unemployed living in my area would be getting up to £275 a week in housing allowance, around £60 a week in unemployment benefits. On top of that, the individual would be saving £100ish a month on council tax. So that £1,450 a month or so against £1,230 (after council tax) earned by someone working on damn near the national average wage.
Is that the right way to encourage people to get employed?
You have all those taxes in Europe as well... In the UK - top tax bracket is 50%, 20% VAT (in effect sales tax), 5% tax on higher value properties (read - anything in a decent area of London where a family can live), interest on mortgages is not deductible and bills for everything are higher than in the US. Car tax is ~$750 a year for a typical American car (based on emmissions here). Council tax (paid by each household annually) ranges from around $1,000 a year to $4,000+ depending on what a property was worth 20 odd years ago. Petrol (Gas) costs around $2 a litre - roughly $8 a gallon. Need I go on? The only thing thats expensive in the US is healthcare (though anyone who can afford it goes private here as well) and education at College/University level - and the UK is going that way as well.
So someone on $1,000,000 would be paying $800,000 tax?
I believe emigration would be in order.
It's not "unfair".
How is it "fair" to have some individuals paying in one year in tax what someone on lower income would not pay in a lifetime?
The system as it is is set up to quell social unrest and does a reasonable job of it
The wealth redistribution you are refering to is called "socialism" as far as I am aware, and I am not arguing against it, I am all for it. But please don't call it "fair".
And you decided to respons as AC... Fantastic.
There's a time and a place for everything, moderators have already done their job
At least the US stock market went decimal...
Don't be so insulting to trainees!
toast!
Like the fact that its written in the fabrication of the last few thousand years called the English language (I assume you read that and not the "original")
Worship a god that manifests as a vandal? Fantastic... There is a difference between an atheist and an agnostic, there is a difference between a real scientist and one writing "research" for money... I dont believe in a god, i hope that there is something greater than humanity and a life beyond this one, but there is no way that I am going to join one of these mass cults going these days... the only reason they are termed religion and not cult is the number of followers.
Catholic church has historically had a 10% tax - a "tithe", to be paid by everyone in the congregation (or even not, lest they burn in hell)
Have you ever heard of a "tithe"? Just because youre not opressed enough by the catholic church as europeans were hundreds of years ago (some still chose to be now...) doesnt mean thats not the foundation of a religion.
I have nothing at all against religion, ones personal relationship with ones god/gods - my problem is, and always has been with organised religion... "lets go with the consens of some people who were born to somewhat similar people in general to my parents/grandparents and go to the same place of worship whenever" - if god is god, why do you need a translator?
Muslims and Americans (and their cohorts...) - thats a pretty good summary of most of it recently to be honest...
iPad is fantastic with its battery life agreed, why cant the bastards do the same with the iphone? "slimmest smarphone" - bah, let me get by a day without needing a charger at home and at the office...
Damn, wish that was available outside the US...
What apple have is a beautifully accessible user interface... hell, even my parents are considering switching to iPhone after almost 15 years with nokia after seeing my phone.
I love the interface, i hate everything else...
if i buy an iPad its for portability, not to use around the house... i have a tv/computer with wireless keyboard in the living room, laptop lying around, iPhone for personal, blackberry for worl... with internet for checking trivial stuff, anything more than trivial i feel i need to get out of bed anyway...iPad just to have around the home? seems like a waste
seriously? how the hell do you dress? i work in a professional environment, i cant wear stupidly baggy jeans with huge pockets/cargo pants... 9.7 diagonal screen is just not a possibility...
Can you type on an iPhone?
portable device against a large screen tv, genius arguement there...
ill be able to fit a 7 inch tab in my suit jacket pocket, ipad, no chance...
But its providing people like you with work...
Da
Unfortunately ill beg to differ... There are specs and real life versions of much higher reolutions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UHDV.svg
I quite like the taste of a pig raised on human flesh...