right_freds_dead Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 a simple life demands simple things. food, shelter. living in the rather tax pricey UK you would think our basic needs would be sensibly met. but oh no. this is the UK. we cant seem to get anything fair or right anymore. they say houses at at a premium and land is scarce. yet i drive past mile after mile of open land housing nothing more than a handful of grubby sheep which are supposed to be worth only £17 according to subsidy claiming farmers...? they say theres now a water shortage. yets its rained here for almost 3 weeks solid. the ground is sodden and were part way through a miserable wet winter. and there telling me theres a drought ? wtf ??? 2nd class is back in style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mushroom Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 a simple life demands simple things. food, shelter. living in the rather tax pricey UK you would think our basic needs would be sensibly met. but oh no. this is the UK. we cant seem to get anything fair or right anymore. they say houses at at a premium and land is scarce. yet i drive past mile after mile of open land housing nothing more than a handful of grubby sheep which are supposed to be worth only £17 according to subsidy claiming farmers...? they say theres now a water shortage. yets its rained here for almost 3 weeks solid. the ground is sodden and were part way through a miserable wet winter. and there telling me theres a drought ? wtf ??? 2nd class is back in style. You asking for responsive efficient Government then? I can remember way back during drought, in the 70s I think, saying to Mrs. Mushroom that if drought was to become increasingly prevalent why were desalination plants not being planned. You want to build on those lovely green fields! Shame on you, they're for, umm, looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murpaul Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 You want to build on those lovely green fields! Shame on you, they're for, umm, looking at. Is there anything more boring to look at than acre after acre of rapeseed or cowpats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 (edited) Freds: Your new avatar is very classy; interesting juxtaposed against your personality, if you don't mind me saying so. Anyway. I have always felt there are "two Britains": The "on show" Britain, so to speak, and the "but everyone knows what the deal really is" Britain. The former incorporates ceremony and tradition; the "public face". Put the Queen, the political system and the BBC in here for example, along with all of our Margot and Jerries. Also put the housing market VIs with their "house prices don't go down" and "well you're on the housing ladder, congratulations!". The latter incorporates all the home owners who are now crapping themselves that their precious houses MIGHT just have gone down an smidgenette over the past year. Also put here the 7% of first time buyers who are actually buying. "I can't believe I'm doing this because I know it's likely to go tits up I just don't want to think about it and am going to go ballistic at you if you say anything that hints this might be the case". This is the unspoken-truths Britain. Britain is Great. Hence "Great Britain". Edited February 24, 2006 by megaflop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 The "on show" Britain, so to speak 'Potemkin Britain', you mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
right_freds_dead Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 Freds: Your new avatar is very classy; interesting juxtaposed against your personality, if you don't mind me saying so.Anyway. I have always felt there are "two Britains": The "on show" Britain, so to speak, and the "but everyone knows what the deal really is" Britain. The former incorporates ceremony and tradition; the "public face". Put the Queen, the political system and the BBC in here for example, along with all of our Margot and Jerries. Also put the housing market VIs with their "house prices don't go down" and "well you're on the housing ladder, congratulations!". The latter incorporates all the home owners who are now crapping themselves that their precious houses MIGHT just have gone down an smidgenette over the past year. Also put here the 7% of first time buyers who are actually buying. "I can't believe I'm doing this because I know it's likely to go tits up I just don't want to think about it and am going to go ballistic at you if you say anything that hints this might be the case". Britain is Great. Hence "Great Britain". i fell for this flag waving gushyness once, and proudly proclaimed on a continental flight from the usa about how 'prince charles' had an estate somewhere over where we were flying. what an idiot i think later as i cant buy the land i stand on for less than an exchange of a lifetimes worth of time. give me a flag and ill wave it. i am the suicide king...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 i fell for this flag waving gushyness once, and proudly proclaimed on a continental flight from the usa about how 'prince charles' had an estate somewhere over where we were flying. what an idiot i think later as i cant buy the land i stand on for less than an exchange of a lifetimes worth of time. give me a flag and ill wave it. i am the suicide king...... Don't die Fred, we like you really! With respect to my model, I would say that as a nation, I believe we uphold the "first vision" at the same time as accepting the second. This is why we are a compassionate nation, that is gracious in defeat. As a collective we will accept our house price crash with the same gentlemanly manner as we accept England losing a footballing contest. This is also why our young generation must have faith... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Without_a_Paddle Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 a simple life demands simple things. food, shelter. living in the rather tax pricey UK you would think our basic needs would be sensibly met. but oh no. this is the UK. we cant seem to get anything fair or right anymore. What % of the population are starving? What % of the population don't have a roof over their head? You don't even have to DO ANYTHING in the UK and this country will provide these benefits for you. If you get sick you can go to a doctor/hospital. Even if you are unemployed. If you are unemployed the state GIVES you money to live on. When you are a kid the UK gives you a FREE EDUCATION. When you are old you get a pension. All courtesy of the taxpayer. So that's food, shelter, benefits, education and health sorted, so what else do you want to moan about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Won'tGetFooledAgain Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 When I was unemployed I got job seekers allowance - hardly the socialist utopia you would try to sucker me with Without_a_Paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ʎqɐqɹǝʞɐɥs Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Freds: Your new avatar is very classy; interesting juxtaposed against your personality, if you don't mind me saying so. Mingers one was better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
since the beginning Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 What % of the population are starving? What % of the population don't have a roof over their head? You don't even have to DO ANYTHING in the UK and this country will provide these benefits for you. If you get sick you can go to a doctor/hospital. Even if you are unemployed. If you are unemployed the state GIVES you money to live on. When you are a kid the UK gives you a FREE EDUCATION. When you are old you get a pension. All courtesy of the taxpayer. So that's food, shelter, benefits, education and health sorted, so what else do you want to moan about? I agree - However infuriating not being able to afford a house is - there are worse plights. Large amounts of people in India, China, Africa, South America struggle more. The west is still far richer than the the rest of the world however much we complain. The Great Economic Levelling should put pay to that though. (src. Dr Bubb) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Without_a_Paddle Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 When I was unemployed I got job seekers allowance - hardly the socialist utopia you would try to sucker me with Without_a_Paddle. I'm not a socialist. This country is a SOFT place to live courtesy of millions of taxpayers like me. When people like RFD come on here and say "it's not enough, I want more" then I simply inform them of the facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
last ninja Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 This country is a SOFT place to live courtesy of millions of taxpayers like me. Why is it always the worst scroungers who come out with this line? You pay some tax once and use it to justify all kinds of egregious behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandylegs Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 What % of the population are starving? What % of the population don't have a roof over their head? You don't even have to DO ANYTHING in the UK and this country will provide these benefits for you. If you get sick you can go to a doctor/hospital. Even if you are unemployed. If you are unemployed the state GIVES you money to live on. When you are a kid the UK gives you a FREE EDUCATION. When you are old you get a pension. All courtesy of the taxpayer. So that's food, shelter, benefits, education and health sorted, so what else do you want to moan about? That’s just an apology for mediocrity. I pay taxes; I want them to be spent more efficiently. If I only have one finger stuck up my nostril and you have two then I suppose I’d better just get on with it and count myself lucky eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 I pay taxes; I want them to be spent more efficiently. I'd be happy if the government just took my taxes and spent them on drink, drugs and loose women. It's the fact that they take all this money and use it to screw up my life that really, really annoys me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugalista Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Why is it always the worst scroungers who come out with this line? You pay some tax once and use it to justify all kinds of egregious behaviour. LOL you have hit the nail on the head last ninja. On this thread we have Without a Paddle saying: This country is a SOFT place to live courtesy of millions of taxpayers like me. But, here is a recent example of Without a Paddle's attitude to paying taxes: http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/ind...pic=24191&st=0# Do you declare all your income to the taxman? Does anyone? What a giveaway. frugalista Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smell the Fear Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 i fell for this flag waving gushyness once, and proudly proclaimed on a continental flight from the usa about how 'prince charles' had an estate somewhere over where we were flying. what an idiot i think later as i cant buy the land i stand on for less than an exchange of a lifetimes worth of time. give me a flag and ill wave it. i am the suicide king...... Fred - I'm sure you could afford a huge piece of land. Several acres no doubt. But you wouldn't be allowed to build on it. Maybe if you built an eco-friendly underground bunker you might get away with it? Especially if it is in woodlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob monkhouse Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 (edited) a simple life demands simple things. food, shelter. living in the rather tax pricey UK you would think our basic needs would be sensibly met. but oh no. this is the UK. we cant seem to get anything fair or right anymore. they say houses at at a premium and land is scarce. yet i drive past mile after mile of open land housing nothing more than a handful of grubby sheep which are supposed to be worth only £17 according to subsidy claiming farmers...? they say theres now a water shortage. yets its rained here for almost 3 weeks solid. the ground is sodden and were part way through a miserable wet winter. and there telling me theres a drought ? wtf ??? 2nd class is back in style. Ummm...you live in salford right? Perhaps substitute sheep for scrotes. Edited February 25, 2006 by bob monkhouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xurbia Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 What % of the population are starving? What % of the population don't have a roof over their head? You don't even have to DO ANYTHING in the UK and this country will provide these benefits for you. If you get sick you can go to a doctor/hospital. Even if you are unemployed. If you are unemployed the state GIVES you money to live on. When you are a kid the UK gives you a FREE EDUCATION. When you are old you get a pension. All courtesy of the taxpayer. So that's food, shelter, benefits, education and health sorted, so what else do you want to moan about? I moan about it too. We all do from time to time. It's natural to want better things and things could be better. Usually the government sort it out for us. It's best to vote with your feet and **** off to a different country if you don't like it..... see how things are done elsewhere. Besides now we've got all these soap-dodging illegal-immigrant *uckers here there should be a a few spare beds going elsewhere on the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 (edited) Fred, your last avatar was your best one........as it's how we all imagine you really look! .............................Well, a cross between him and Janice Battersby from ''Coronation St'' Edited February 25, 2006 by Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munro Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I agree - However infuriating not being able to afford a house is - there are worse plights. Large amounts of people in India, China, Africa, South America struggle more. The west is still far richer than the the rest of the world however much we complain. The Great Economic Levelling should put pay to that though. (src. Dr Bubb) This is only part of the story. Yes, there are many people in the world in utter poverty and I'm not denying that. But it's too facile to judge them in blanket terms as "poor" because they don't have the stuff that westerners take for granted. Someone on benefits in slum housing in the UK is, on paper, better off than an African villager in the middle of nowhere. But quite often the African has higher levels of well-being, because they live in a cohesive society where people and extended family look out for one another. And the disparities aren't so great, so in comparative terms they don't feel so poor. I read a while ago about some Africans who went to Glasgow and were horrified by the deprivation experienced by the unemployed; sitting around all day with nothing to do and nowhere to go, with no hope, no self-esteem, and with little if any social infrastructure. It's not all about money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bart of Darkness Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Fred, your last avatar was your best one........as it's how we all imagine you really look! .............................Well, a cross between him and Janice Battersby from ''Coronation St'' Naahh, I always liked the Lewis Collins one, that's how I imagine Fred to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bart of Darkness Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Do you declare all your income to the taxman? Does anyone? I do and I resent tax evading spongers like WaP who think they're entitled to a free ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I'm looking forward to living back in UK, seeing miles of open green land housing sheep. Home is where the heart is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Without_a_Paddle Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 LOL you have hit the nail on the head last ninja. But, here is a recent example of Without a Paddle's attitude to paying taxes: "Do you declare all your income to the taxman? Does anyone?" What a giveaway. frugalista I think it is true that hardly anyone declares all their income to the taxman. Have you ever done an acquaintance a favour in return for cash? If I help out a colleague or neighbour and they pay me £50 as a thanks should I include this income on my tax return form? In theory I should pay 40% tax on that £50. Do you think EVERYONE includes these small amounts? What about the thousands of people who buy and sell goods on Ebay for a little extra cash? You can't get taxed on selling your own s/h goods but if you start buying to sell on ebay then that is different. Frugalitsa have you EVER been slipped £50 for doing someone a favour? Do you log this and tell the taxman every time? Frugalista you took my quote from a thread about claiming tax relief on repairs and maintenance to a BTL to minimise the monthly tax bill. Even if the LL DIDN'T claim tax relief (ie. DIN'T claim 10% for wear and tear and DIDN'T claim/do any maintenance) the tax bill would only come to £400 a year in the example given. We're not talking major tax fraud here. I do and I resent tax evading spongers like WaP who think they're entitled to a free ride. Ah yes Bart of the £42pw council flat who was on income support getting a free ride courtesy of the taxpayer. I hear you are still in that flat. paying £42 per week rent when you are now self employed and able to SAVE £15k per year. Don't you think it's time you moved out and let someone (on income support?) live in your subsidised flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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