Do you believe Mrs May?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Basil, and the change to flt lt pay scales where the GL flt lt, whose pay had been frozen at 6 years of increments, were aligned with SL who had increments to 38, but suddenly limited to 6 years, so everyone on 6+ immediately jumped to the previous top rate 
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New Op-Ed in the Times today suggesting far too many SO's and not enough concentration on lower ranks
"Every new Policy or military challenge brings a new Two Star HQ and staff"
"Every new Policy or military challenge brings a new Two Star HQ and staff"
The problem is that the country is f**ked from decades of underfunding and selling off the family silver to keep things going.
The ONLY thing that will save us is an increase in tax across the board in order to replenish the coffers and allow us to properly fund the police, NHS, Armed Forces, roads, etc etc etc
But which party would ever commit to that as a policy since they all consider it to be taboo to raise taxes? And would any of us vote for them if they did?
Instead we are wasting what parliamentary time and effort there is available trying to cut ourselves off from the rest of Europe and commit slow-motion economic suicide just because we don't like Brussels telling us what to do FFS!
Things are just going to get worse so get used to it.
The ONLY thing that will save us is an increase in tax across the board in order to replenish the coffers and allow us to properly fund the police, NHS, Armed Forces, roads, etc etc etc
But which party would ever commit to that as a policy since they all consider it to be taboo to raise taxes? And would any of us vote for them if they did?
Instead we are wasting what parliamentary time and effort there is available trying to cut ourselves off from the rest of Europe and commit slow-motion economic suicide just because we don't like Brussels telling us what to do FFS!
Things are just going to get worse so get used to it.
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You'll have to do better than that.
"The Tory ‘strength and stability’ message has been undermined throughout the campaign. The manifesto launch was a disaster. The foxhunting thing [pledging a vote on bringing it back] has cut through a lot more than people think. That plays into people’s concerns about the Conservative party – the party of the establishment, country estates, and quite vicious and nasty. It was not necessary. An absolute own goal.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...neral-election
And what was that thing that finally scuttled the vile witches [opinion based on her "successes" as Home Sec] hopes again????
Ah yes, even more TAXATION. Which neatly brings us back to your earlier, lamentable, post 65 above...
"The Tory ‘strength and stability’ message has been undermined throughout the campaign. The manifesto launch was a disaster. The foxhunting thing [pledging a vote on bringing it back] has cut through a lot more than people think. That plays into people’s concerns about the Conservative party – the party of the establishment, country estates, and quite vicious and nasty. It was not necessary. An absolute own goal.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...neral-election
And what was that thing that finally scuttled the vile witches [opinion based on her "successes" as Home Sec] hopes again????
Ah yes, even more TAXATION. Which neatly brings us back to your earlier, lamentable, post 65 above...
Ah yes, even more TAXATION. Which neatly brings us back to your earlier, lamentable, post 65 above..
Mods
Please close this thread and any other reference to Brexit!
A lot of us here have served together, flown together and attend reunions together. This subject is threatening to tear us apart; there are plenty of forums elsewhere including comments sections in the press where Brexit can be discussed.
Please, please everyone keep Brexit off these pages.
A lot of us here have served together, flown together and attend reunions together. This subject is threatening to tear us apart; there are plenty of forums elsewhere including comments sections in the press where Brexit can be discussed.
Please, please everyone keep Brexit off these pages.
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There is an unpleasantness running through this thread which is more suited to Jet Blast. And all brought about by references to Brexit. Even some old hands who are usually more tempered with their remarks are fuelling the unwelcome debate.
As per my Post No 74 earlier, I agree with the likes of Brian and Harry. Mods please close it down.
And well said Newt - HNY.
As per my Post No 74 earlier, I agree with the likes of Brian and Harry. Mods please close it down.
And well said Newt - HNY.
Back to trusting Mrs May then - she insisted that the immigration figures should include the 100,000 foreign students studying in UK because, in her words, 'few of them went home at the end'.
This has now been proven utterly false and the real figure for students overstaying their visas is actually 5,000.
With disingenuous remarks (or blatant lies if you prefer) like that, how can she be trusted with the Armed Forces welfare and future?
This has now been proven utterly false and the real figure for students overstaying their visas is actually 5,000.
With disingenuous remarks (or blatant lies if you prefer) like that, how can she be trusted with the Armed Forces welfare and future?
Originally Posted by [email protected]
And your solution to the parlous state of our country is...............?
I suspect I know the answer - large chunks being spent on pensions and social security. I'm not going to debate the rights and wrongs of how a civilised society funds its pensioners and vulnerable, but I think we seriously missed a trick when North Sea oil & gas came on stream not to do as the Norwegians did and set up a sovereign wealth fund. That might have at least mitigated some of the issues of unfunded spending commitments.
That ship has sailed, but with a degree of intelligent thinking surely there must be some other mechanism we as a nation can tap into to provide the government with an income stream beyond taxation that can help arrest the constant erosion of institutions and capability.
I think they tried that with the selling off of council houses and utilities - nothing left to sell so it is more borrowing or more taxation..........
Perhaps stop rewarding the housebuilders for banking land, not building truly affordable housing and doing a pretty poor job of the houses they do build.
Something else Mrs May isn't to be trusted on! (There, just kept on topic)
Perhaps stop rewarding the housebuilders for banking land, not building truly affordable housing and doing a pretty poor job of the houses they do build.
Something else Mrs May isn't to be trusted on! (There, just kept on topic)
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[email protected]
Do you believe everything you read in the Grauniad?
You have fallen into that old left wing trap, tax more is the answer. As Melchett has already pointed out the budget is massive, most of it already goes on Social Security and the NHS (pensions, other welfare and Health i.e. 52% of total spend for fy 2017-2018). The tax rates rates are already fairly punitive in the UK. If you think that the likes of Philip Green will pay more, then dream on.
'Only the little people pay tax.' And, I feel I pay more than enough thanks. There are still many in our society taking the Social Security system for a ride.
Do you believe everything you read in the Grauniad?
You have fallen into that old left wing trap, tax more is the answer. As Melchett has already pointed out the budget is massive, most of it already goes on Social Security and the NHS (pensions, other welfare and Health i.e. 52% of total spend for fy 2017-2018). The tax rates rates are already fairly punitive in the UK. If you think that the likes of Philip Green will pay more, then dream on.
'Only the little people pay tax.' And, I feel I pay more than enough thanks. There are still many in our society taking the Social Security system for a ride.
And you have fallen for the standard Telegraph/Sun/Mail trap
I am far from being a Grauniad reader and a very long way from being left wing but what is your answer?
The country is broke and in debt, there is nothing in the war chest and we are, shortly after 2019, going to have to stand on our own 2 feet in the world with a crumbling infrastructure and failing NHS.
Mrs May's magic money tree is compost and everything in the country has been cut and cut again (for good reason - to try and reduce the debt).
Our tax levels are not punitive by any stretch of the imagination but our debt levels, both personally and as a country, are ridiculous as we struggle to keep the economy 'growing' by getting people to spend more.
I don't have a utopian solution but unless something changes, the dystopian future will seem very bleak by comparison.
Unless Mrs May sorts her life out, there will be a general election this year and comrade Corbyn will get in and try to spend his way to the promised land - I'd rather pay a bit more tax thanks.
There are still many in our society taking the Social Security system for a ride.
The country is broke and in debt, there is nothing in the war chest and we are, shortly after 2019, going to have to stand on our own 2 feet in the world with a crumbling infrastructure and failing NHS.
Mrs May's magic money tree is compost and everything in the country has been cut and cut again (for good reason - to try and reduce the debt).
Our tax levels are not punitive by any stretch of the imagination but our debt levels, both personally and as a country, are ridiculous as we struggle to keep the economy 'growing' by getting people to spend more.
I don't have a utopian solution but unless something changes, the dystopian future will seem very bleak by comparison.
Unless Mrs May sorts her life out, there will be a general election this year and comrade Corbyn will get in and try to spend his way to the promised land - I'd rather pay a bit more tax thanks.
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While that is undoubtedly true in some cases, it must be remembered that the largest part of the SS budget is paid out to people who are in work but not earning enough to survive so the taxpayer is compensating for the employer who is not paying a genuine living wage. The wealthiest employers are getting wealthier, often benefiting from a good supply of cheap overseas labour and "trickle down" simply does not work as those at the top are keeping hold of the money.
Originally Posted by [email protected]
I think they tried that with the selling off of council houses and utilities - nothing left to sell so it is more borrowing or more taxation..........
Perhaps stop rewarding the housebuilders for banking land, not building truly affordable housing and doing a pretty poor job of the houses they do build.
Something else Mrs May isn't to be trusted on! (There, just kept on topic)
Perhaps stop rewarding the housebuilders for banking land, not building truly affordable housing and doing a pretty poor job of the houses they do build.
Something else Mrs May isn't to be trusted on! (There, just kept on topic)
And that's the problem - flogging off utilities is a one time thing. Once they are gone, that's it - it's like selling the goose rather than the egg. Hence my comment about missing the boat on North Sea oil / gas; whilst not infinite, it was at the time offering a damn sight greater sustainability in terms of income generating potential. And is exactly what I would expect from politicians with no strategic vision and only an eye on the news & election cycles.
I'm certainly no bleeding heart liberal, but a living wage strikes me as a reasonable idea in this day and age; as noted by Vendee and Basil, too many of our illustrious private sector organisations like to pay more attention to share holders than they do employees, the result being very low pay and the state having to step in with social security measures and therefore reduced spending on other areas (like the RAF .. just to keep things relevant!)
I know the hard line capitalists would probably have a field day with such fluffy and compassionate thinking, but our expectations of social responsibility from all sectors of society are increasing. We aren't there yet, but in future I think those companies that are most successful will be the ones doing the right thing as well as the correct thing. In contrast, companies arguing for unrestrained growth at all costs will be seen to be arguing for, in economic terms, the same mechanisms by which cancer exists.
Melchett01 - agreed and it is those very hard line capitalists with no social conscience whose greed has got us to where we are now.
I know Victorian working conditions were outrageous but at least many of the big businesses built homes for their workers.
We might get somewhere in this country when we start doing things because they are the right things to do, not the cheapest/most profitable/most career advancing/best spun for the media.
I know Victorian working conditions were outrageous but at least many of the big businesses built homes for their workers.
We might get somewhere in this country when we start doing things because they are the right things to do, not the cheapest/most profitable/most career advancing/best spun for the media.
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Money Creation
One of the underlying problems with the economy is the creation of (new) money. A good introduction can be found at (I cannot post URLs), search for:
bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2014/money-creation-in-the-modern-economy
It is shameful in the extreme (malfeasance in public office?) that successive governments have rescinded their sovereign duty to control the money supply - they now only issue 3% of the total supply, that is the coins and notes.
bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2014/money-creation-in-the-modern-economy
It is shameful in the extreme (malfeasance in public office?) that successive governments have rescinded their sovereign duty to control the money supply - they now only issue 3% of the total supply, that is the coins and notes.