I am way more concerned about tax evasion. It's a bit like vigorously pursuing shop lifters while turning a blind eye to murder. But that's the way the establishment has always manipulated the masses.
I dont disagree about the wealthy doing what they can to avoid paying the dues they should. But it is to be fair a complete separate argument. If they did pau fairly this type of discussion wouldn't happen. But similarly you can't ignore the total workshy "spice *****" It may not be anywhere near the costs between them and the government use it to divide and conquer etc. At the end of the day. Neither are right
I'm more concerned about rape than either of them but as my point was about one particular thing I think I'll stick to discussing that. There is no excuse for benefits fraud
Bang on. Dare to criticise work shy benefits cheats and people automatically assume you support tax evasion. I must be a rare breed who has this magical ability to dislike both
You're not. Really you're not. You're funding people in the city who lost all our money and are still in charge of our money. You're funding billions and billions of debt rather than than the two or three quid a year it would cost you personally to fund people who have decided they can't be bothered. Honestly mate, it really is that simple in terms of economics. Don't be drawn in. But don't listen to me. I take drugs. I'm the scum of the earth. I work and pay for my drugs. But I take them because I didn't vote for this world, I ******* hate it, and I won't be part of it. No TV licence, no TV, no fake news, no facebook, no Twitter, no social media, just love and honesty because that's all that matters.
But surely we are all still funding it. We might also be funding everything you said on a larger scale but we are still funding those who fraudulently claim to be seeking work even if it only worked out at 1p per person. I too have no twitter or Facebook. I have a TV which I generally use for light entertainment shows rather than hard hitting things with agendas. I like things who I like things and try my best to let others enjoy what they enjoy. I just really really hate it when other people's behaviour causes me problems due to selfishness.be that on the Internet, at work or at home.
Rape is a different issue altogether and has no place in this discussion. We are debating financial crimes. And the scale of financial crime relating to tax evasion totally dwarfs benefit fraud. But keep peddling Daily Mail-type crap if it keeps you happy.
I've said many times on here I hate tax evasion. Now we've clarified that we both agree on that what are your thoughts on benefits fraud?
It's a fair point, you are. It's just that to any individual it's minuscule, next to nothing. There are some arseholes, but most people aren't arseholes they're trying to get on. So, as a society, we just decide that about 1% are arseholes and the rest of us just get on with it. We pay for them, but as they don't get much and as 99% of the rest of us are paying for them, to any individual it's bugger all. Where as the amount lost in the financial crash of 2008 is more than we all earn in a decade it is significant.
Again trying to be fair. ST has already acknowledged the tax evasion point above when I said neither are right. Its the type of argument I was referring to in devide and conquer. We all probably realise that neither are right. Hopefully
My concern is that the state's resources are disproportionately targeted at one type of financial crime. The Daily Mail (owned by tax 'avoiders') and the Daily Express (owned by tax 'avoiders') and The Sun (owned by tax 'avoiders') are part of the establishment and make a pretty good job of focusing on shop lifting (benefit fraud) while the murderers go free. And the masses lap it up. Yes, shop lifting is a crime. But on the same scale as murder?
More than half of households receive more than benefits than they pay in tax. Given that that money also has to go on health, defence etc people are going to get nowhere near covering their state pension. https://www.cps.org.uk/publications/the-progressivity-of-uk-taxes-and-transfers/
I'm not disagreeing. I'm only pointing out that none of them are right. Different scales and like you point out well is that the media have a lot of sway but the money men paint that picture
The unemployment rate is around 4.5%. Full employment is defined at 3% because obviously churning means a certain no’s are moving jobs etc. So technically of everyone on JSA only a tiny minority are really playing the system.
At the risk of being caught by someone fishing - there really are bigger fish to fry So how much is JSA -don't look it up I'll tell you £57.90 up to age 24 - £73.10 25 and over .................. And how much do MP's claim for a breakfast...let's take a random Tory ....IDS he claimed £39 for one (that's un(e) ein(e) 1 >0<2 meal) So before you bleat about the cost ....put it into perspective please. Oh and by the way - this country is not full of them to (directly) quote you Personally I've been unemployed for 3-4 years (but not claimed a penny on benefits, although I can claim 6 months JSA) The big city gamblers aka the banks, cost this country big, big time. The media though blame this on the Labour Party
There are people who are too lazy to turn up. But there are many and various circumstances. I've seen people so nervous about finally getting an interview after being out of work for so long that they don't have the courage to go at that last minute. People who are suffering from depression and low self-esteem for whom taking a particular job only re-inforces their sense of low self-esteem. People frightened to enter new environments and meet new people. People who are anxious and full of self-loathing that they have convinced themselves they are not worthy of having anything good happen to them and shy away. All kinds of mind games, which definitely take a hold when you are talking about unemployment. Like most situations in life, there are layers of complexity that can't be just treated with a black and white approach. Best to keep an open mind.