[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by jfman

Those aren't the sole options for resolving it.

I said 'wholesale reforms to redistribute wealth'- one or two measures wouldn't adequately resolve the problem.

We have one generation who sold off all the state assets for a low tax economy, who have accumulated wealth as a result and we have the other end of the spectrum paying for their own further education (unlikely to ever pay this debt off, so in effect an additional tax throughout their lifetime), struggling to get on the housing ladder, and who is having to pay taxes covering the interest for huge deficits and debts built up by previous generations.

It's not going to be sustainable to tell the second group that they are going to get punished again to cover the excesses of those who went before them.

A first step would be to break the triple lock on State Pension increases and link it to the CPI only - the triple lock is essentially a bribe to that part of the electorate anyway.

I'll be selective too in responding to your contribution.

Regarding the triple lock, it's the first time that a government has recognised the reduced ability of pensioners to stay abreast of inflation. True that many continue working into their seventies and beyond, but they pay tax on that which is obviously fair, and they'll pay tax on their pension increases if they are taking the pension.

On "redistribution of wealth", this usually needs a sledgehammer (of the Corbyn proposition) to bring into effect. That will result in a flight of capital and have the opposite effect of redistributing wealth. It would drain wealth and start a process of levelling everyone into penury.

We are a cog in the World's movement and farting around with the economic model/engine can be counterproductive.




---------- Post added at 08:11 ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 ----------

Oh - as regards the NHS:

It was fine until about 13 years ago when Gordon Brown got his hands on it. It was fine in the "Emergency Ward 10" days (Pre-Thatcher), when Matron ran the nurses and a Consultant ran the doctors. Now that it's full of managers, accountants and other "Yes Minister" apparatchiks, it is in a spiral of decline.

The NHS needs taking back to its original operating model. The guvmin needs to make a hypothecated contribution model (NI) that is graduated according to your highest tax rate.