Wandering Off Topic

[Vertigo Swirl]

I have been accused recently of not understanding 'normal' people (which is rubbish by the way). Why would politicions understand and empathise with the poor? Norman Tebbit clearly didn't, expecting people to cycle off to find work after the government of which he was a part had destroyed their previous jobs. A few politicians appeared on TV living on benefits for a week, which they found difficult, but I don't think that helped them to understand the long-term effects of living on benefits.

Despite that, measures to help the poorest have been put in place with the rebate being given on Council Tax bands A-D. So they are using some of the millions they collect in taxes from the oil and gas companies to ease the impact on the poor. The government has to balance the interests of everyone, however, and that includes the interests of businesses which are having to charge higher prices.

So the empathy of politicians can't be reserved purely for consumers.

Politicians are elected by the constituents they represent.  If they can’t empathise with their issues and problems then they have no business being in politics. 
Measures to help the poorest have been put in place and will make very little difference, nearly everyone will be worse off despite these measures, so people who are struggling now will be struggling even more in 6 months time - fact.
I didn’t ever suggest politicians should have no empathy for businesses (“f..k business” Boris Johnson - though he clearly did, for a split second at any rate).   I appreciate that politics is a balancing act and a thankless task, but the country is now in a crisis situation, a crisis not being suffered by the ultra rich in this country, or the politicans running it, but by a large percentage of the men, women and children living in it.  Politicians are elected to help their constituents so they need to get on with it and do more to help.  IMO.  An effective opposition would be a start.  We’re slowly getting there after years in the wilderness (thanks Jeremy), but more action needs to be taken soon if not now before civil unrest and rebellion returns to the streets.

[Vertigo Swirl]

I think the Beatles were wrong when they said "All you need is love". Abba were closer; "Money, money, money"

So the solution is for everyone to find themselves a wealthy man?  I’m not sure there are enough of those to go round atm tbh but if you no one who is happy to shower me in expensive gifts and take me to Las Vegas or Monaco without expecting anything from me in return please forward his detail by pm.

[jassi]

A friend of mine was shocked the other day that the price of her dog food had risen by 50p.

I explained that inflation is approaching record levels, oil prices are high & will effect the price of everything & that European countries have excessive levels of debt, there's likely going to be recession, possibly a collapse the likes hasn't been seen in years, the biggest cost of living crisis in living memory & that the true value of our money is falling.

She said "they can always print more money".

I gave up trying to explain anything after that.

It'll soon be a dog eat dog world, or possibly dog eat owner world.

[G-Unit]

Without consumers the UK economy will collapse as that's what it's based on.

However, consumers have a limited amount of disposable income and if it has to be spent on essential such as fuel and food, it won't be available for less essential things.

It's inevitable that purveyors of such products are going to suffer and maybe go out of business.

Exactly. If consumers can't buy then producers can't sell. Our capitalist system needs both or it will collapse. If people can't consume and businesses therefore can't sell this affects the government's ability to help any of them as it's income shrinks due to loss of revenue from direct and indirect taxation.

Suggesting that empathetic government is the answer ignores the complex issues involved, sadly.

[Wonderfulspam]

It'll soon be a dog eat dog world, or possibly dog eat owner world.

Owner would have to eat dog, that already happens in socialist Venezuela.

[jassi]

Exactly. If consumers can't buy then producers can't sell. Our capitalist system needs both or it will collapse. If people can't consume and businesses therefore can't sell this affects the government's ability to help any of them as it's income shrinks due to loss of revenue from direct and indirect taxation.

Suggesting that empathetic government is the answer ignores the complex issues involved, sadly.

Very often it's not producers directly. Many UK sellers just sell on 'boxes' containing some foreign import without adding any sort of value at all. This actually weakens our economy unless there are corresponding exports to balance things up.

We do need a government that is more attuned to the needs of all  it's population and not just the top few percent

[Wonderfulspam]

Politicians are elected by the constituents they represent.  If they can’t empathise with their issues and problems then they have no business being in politics. 
Measures to help the poorest have been put in place and will make very little difference, nearly everyone will be worse off despite these measures, so people who are struggling now will be struggling even more in 6 months time - fact.
I didn’t ever suggest politicians should have no empathy for businesses (“f..k business” Boris Johnson - though he clearly did, for a split second at any rate).   I appreciate that politics is a balancing act and a thankless task, but the country is now in a crisis situation, a crisis not being suffered by the ultra rich in this country, or the politicans running it, but by a large percentage of the men, women and children living in it.  Politicians are elected to help their constituents so they need to get on with it and do more to help.  IMO.  An effective opposition would be a start.  We’re slowly getting there after years in the wilderness (thanks Jeremy), but more action needs to be taken soon if not now before civil unrest and rebellion returns to the streets.

There should be a billionaires tax of like 80% in this country, that way they'll take their investments & entrepreneurship elsewhere.  We don't want them creating employment here, they can sod off to China & do it thankyou very much.

[jassi]

There should be a billionaires tax of like 80% in this country, that way they'll take their investments & entrepreneurship elsewhere.  We don't want them creating employment here, they can sod off to China & do it thankyou very much.

Like Mr Dyson you mean ?

And then there are plenty of million/billionaires, who just move money around - usually beyond the reach of the Taxman.

[barrier]

Like Mr Dyson you mean ?

But some ones employed to get it to your door,a lot less than Dyson himself but more than those that make or assemble his over priced gadgets.

[G-Unit]

It'll soon be a dog eat dog world, or possibly dog eat owner world.

Or owner eat dog, although not me I hasten to add.

[Wonderfulspam]

Or owner eat dog, although not me I hasten to add.

I'm more a cat person.

[Wonderfulspam]

But some ones employed to get it to your door,a lot less than Dyson himself but more than those that make or assemble his over priced gadgets.

The plight of the poor Brits having to pay more at the tanning salon, while the 6 year old girl in Somalia spends 18  hours a day picking old circuit boards apart.

[jassi]

But some ones employed to get it to your door,a lot less than Dyson himself but more than those that make or assemble his over priced gadgets.

Yes, but that just redistribution of domestic wealth from the not so wealth to the even less wealth with others gouging  a chunk out along the way.

[jassi]

The plight of the poor Brits having to pay more at the tanning salon, while the 6 year old girl in Somalia spends 18  hours a day picking old circuit boards apart.

Tanning salon - if ever there was an unnecessary 'industry' that must be near the top  of the list.

[Wonderfulspam]

Tanning salon - if ever there was an unnecessary 'industry' that must be near the top  of the list.

When you really think about it, even a hairdressers is completely nonessential & outright vanity, but westerners would have panic attacks if they couldn't get their highlights done.