General Election 2015

[AFCB_Mark]

Ideally you want to decrease your debt levels when the economy is growing, paying down what you owe whilst maintaining modest growth. And then ramp up borrowing when harder times hit in order to maintain levels of funding to your services.

We seem to do it the opposite way round in this country. Borrow shit loads when times are good and throw money on everything, and then when shit hits the fan we close the coffers and become more tight fisted than Steptoe and son.

 

[Alty]

Or cut tax loopholes, clamp down on avoidance/evasion, make companies pay decent wages etc.

Austerity isn't needed. A backbone is.

It's not as simple as that though, is it? Yes there's more we could and should do to tackle avoidance and evasion (I know there's a distinction but let's agree for now that stopping both is desirable). But a) it's not that easy and b) even if HM Treasury was to become much better at it, it wouldn't be a panacea. Our national debt is well over a trillion and rising.

I must confess I do find the hypocrisy of much of the British public quite irritating on this too. Amazon make no secret of the fact they pay next to no tax in the UK despite earning fuckloads. They have the cleverest tax lawyers around, making it very difficult for the Government to squeeze more out of them. But do you know what would work? A massive slump in sales due to the consumers refusing to purchase from them until they pay a reasonable amount into the public coffers.

Do consumers exercise that right? Very, very rarely. We (usually rightly) complain about our politicians. But when we have the power to change something by just slightly inconveniencing ourselves or paying an extra quid for our books in the short-term we neglect our responsibility and moan it's the Government at fault.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

It's not as simple as that though, is it? Yes there's more we could and should do to tackle avoidance and evasion (I know there's a distinction but let's agree for now that stopping both is desirable). But a) it's not that easy and b) even if HM Treasury was to become much better at it, it wouldn't be a panacea. Our national debt is well over a trillion and rising.

I must confess I do find the hypocrisy of much of the British public quite irritating on this too. Amazon make no secret of the fact they pay next to no tax in the UK despite earning fuckloads. They have the cleverest tax lawyers around, making it very difficult for the Government to squeeze more out of them. But do you know what would work? A massive slump in sales due to the consumers refusing to purchase from them until they pay a reasonable amount into the public coffers.

Do consumers exercise that right? Very, very rarely. We (usually rightly) complain about our politicians. But when we have the power to change something by just slightly inconveniencing ourselves or paying an extra quid for our books in the short-term we neglect our responsibility and moan it's the Government at fault.

Oh, I agree that it's not that simple but the stock response to any financial issues is to squeeze the bottom rather than cream off the top. It's a quick win and not very forward thinking. I wish someone had the balls to try and fix the system rather than putting more pain on people who are already struggling.

As for your second point, can you blame people? People are struggling so they try to buy things at the lowest possible price. In a utopian world, we'd be a bit more moral over where we shop but some people have little choice. I think the pressure needs to come from above rather than the consumer.

 

[Alty]

Oh, I agree that it's not that simple but the stock response to any financial issues is to squeeze the bottom rather than cream off the top. It's a quick win and not very forward thinking. I wish someone had the balls to try and fix the system rather than putting more pain on people who are already struggling.

As for your second point, can you blame people? People are struggling so they try to buy things at the lowest possible price. In a utopian world, we'd be a bit more moral over where we shop but some people have little choice. I think the pressure needs to come from above rather than the consumer.

Agree that the poor get a raw deal and that we need to change fundamentally our approach to the economy to make it fairer. Sadly I think it's naïve to believe that we can get by without any significant cuts to public spending. Much of which will of course assist those lower down the income scale. I mean, maybe it would work if we increased personal taxation significantly. But there's really not much appetite for that.

On the latter, I don't really buy the idea that people have to get their wares from Amazon because they're struggling. My Mum hates Tories almost as much as I do and regularly complains about tax dodgers in the abstract. But if you question her decision to shop with Amazon she just shrugs it off and says they're the cheapest and most reliable. She (despite living in Hull) is quite comfortable financially. I suspect a large portion of Amazon's other customers are too.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Agree that the poor get a raw deal and that we need to change fundamentally our approach to the economy to make it fairer. Sadly I think it's naïve to believe that we can get by without any significant cuts to public spending. Much of which will of course assist those lower down the income scale. I mean, maybe it would work if we increased personal taxation significantly. But there's really not much appetite for that.

On the latter, I don't really buy the idea that people have to get their wares from Amazon because they're struggling. My Mum hates Tories almost as much as I do and regularly complains about tax dodgers in the abstract. But if you question her decision to shop with Amazon she just shrugs it off and says they're the cheapest and most reliable. She (despite living in Hull) is quite comfortable financially. I suspect a large portion of Amazon's other customers are too.

I did say 'some' people. Expecting a population of people to act morally is very naive. It just won't happen. A handful will avoid Amazon (and others) but not enough to make a dent. This is why I said pressure should come from above. Forcing companies to pay their fair share is the only way it'll happen. Waiting for Joe Public to act as one is as fruitless as a Scotsman's diet.

 

[smat]

I don't buy from Amazon.

:giphy:

 

[SALTIRE]

Certainly make the 6 o'clock news more interesting!

Yeah it would stop them fawning over a useless non-entity of a kid.

 

[.V.]

http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/letter-potential-tory-voters.html?m=1

 

[Red]

Like the bit about IDS. Repugnant man.

 

[silkyman]

http://www.newstatesman.com/media-m...ries-havent-done-work-their-12bn-welfare-cuts

 

[Red]

They know that out of work benefits will be frozen. They'll tinker with benefits too like when they reduced the amount of ESA a person got whilst waiting for their work capability assessment. Changing thresholds is another tactic, thus cutting eligibility for benefits. These sort of things go under the radar unlike the wholesale slashing of disability benefits which people would notice. Smith is lying again.

The Tories must be champing at the bit to win the next election because the last 5 years of austerity which many people have accepted as being necessary has been the perfect smokescreen for them to impose welfare cuts that were ideologically driven. They'll be itching to carry the job on for another 5 years.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

FINAL POLLS!!! (with a couple to follow tomorrow morning)

BMG CON 34%, LAB 34%, LDEM 10%, UKIP 12%, GRN 4%
TNS CON 33%, LAB 32%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 14%, GRN 6%
Opinium CON 35%, LAB 34%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 12%, GRN 6%
ICM (interim figures) CON 35%, LAB 35%, LDEM 9%, UKIP 11%, GRN 3%
Panelbase CON 31%, LAB 33%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 16%, GRN 5%
YouGov CON 34%, LAB 34%, LDEM 10%, UKIP 12%, GRN 4%
Survation CON 31.4%, LAB 31.4%, LDEM 9.6%, UKIP 15.7%, GRN 4.8%
ComRes CON 35%, LAB 34%, LDEM 9%, UKIP 12%, GRN 4%\

Anyone want to have a go at a seat prediction? Think I'll give it a bash...

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

It's not the benefits that are the problem it's the ridiculous administration costs. We need to come up with a simpler mechanism to get the money to the right people. The citizens wage is a nice idea but pure fantasy when you look at the numbers.

 

[Red]

It's not the benefits that are the problem it's the ridiculous administration costs. We need to come up with a simpler mechanism to get the money to the right people. The citizens wage is a nice idea but pure fantasy when you look at the numbers.

Well, I think they've tried to address that by beginning to roll out Universal Credit. Whether or not it will cut admin costs remains to be seen. Do you mean the living wage? I've not heard of the Citizen's wage. The living wage is £7.85 per hour (outside London). I'm sure big companies could pay that and it would negate the need for the government funding in work benefits like WTC. Most people would rather not have to rely on benefits whilst in work, but for some WTC are essential.

 

[Alty]

Con 279
Lab 266
SNP 49
LDs 24
DUP 9
PC 6
SF 5
UKIP 4
SDLP 2
Others 6

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Well, I think they've tried to address that by beginning to roll out Universal Credit. Whether or not it will cut admin costs remains to be seen. Do you mean the living wage? I've not heard of the Citizen's wage. The living wage is £7.85 per hour (outside London). I'm sure big companies could pay that and it would negate the need for the government funding in work benefits like WTC. Most people would rather not have to rely on benefits whilst in work, but for some WTC are essential.

Citizen's income is what I should have said. It was an idea from the Greens to give everyone £74 a week or something like that regardless of what they earn.

 

[Abertawe]

My man Ed is gonna pull off the upset.

 

[Red]

Citizen's income is what I should have said. It was an idea from the Greens to give everyone £74 a week or something like that regardless of what they earn.

Well I'm wank at maths, but even I know that's un affordable. Tree hugging Commies.

 

[Red]

My man Ed is gonna pull off the upset.

If by that you mean winning with an overall majority you're probably the only person in Britain who believes that.

 

[Abertawe]

If by that you mean winning with an overall majority you're probably the only person in Britain who believes that.

When ze fuck was that suggested mr big bollocks?

Ed will be PM. Hopefully helped out by SNP, with Plaid & SDLP having a bit of a say too. Let the Libs rot.

 

[Red]

I hope your prophecy is fulfilled.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

I'm going to go with:

CON 277
LAB 269
LIB DEM 28
UKIP 3
SNP 49
PC 4
GRN 1
DUP 7
SF 4
SDLP 3
UUP 2
Others 3

Honestly not all that great with my Nat/NI politics so you'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit out on those...

 

[Veggie Legs]

Labour 274
Conservative 271
Lib Dem 31
UKIP 2
Green 1
SNP 48
PC 4
DUP 8
Sinn Fein 5
SDLP 3
Others 3

 

[Destruction]

Yurrrrrrrrs, day off as my school is a polling station.

Enjoy your voting day lads, I'll be having a nice leisurely soak in the bath (radox included), followed by a trip to the Trafford centre for a bit of dinner and shopping, then might take the dog out up the local fell this afternoon.

 

[Popeye]

When ze fuck was that suggested mr big bollocks?

Ed will be PM. Hopefully helped out by SNP, with Plaid & SDLP having a bit of a say too. Let the Libs rot.

SDLP? No thanks.

 

[Red]

Yurrrrrrrrs, day off as my school is a polling station.

Enjoy your voting day lads, I'll be having a nice leisurely soak in the bath (radox included), followed by a trip to the Trafford centre for a bit of dinner and shopping, then might take the dog out up the local fell this afternoon.

Don't forget to call in at the polling station on your way home.

 

[Dave-Vale]

I voted for the 1st time. I voted Green. Hopefully more people will do the same! However, my seat is a guaranteed Labour seat.

Would love to see Ed beat Cameron today. It's going to be close though.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...cher-and-the-poor-to-get-poorer-10230342.html

Please do not keep these in.

 

[TheMinsterman]

Got my votes in early for a change, first time I haven't voted Lib Dem's but the only way to send a message to them that I think they've completely fucked up is taking my vote away. Gone for Labour in the GE and Greens in the Council, there's a possibility we could see a swing to Labour here, only way to facilitate that is to get them another vote. I'd like to see Ed as PM frankly, he's more preferable to me personally than another 5 years of Tories.

 

[SALTIRE]

Just done it and put my X in we are a safe SNP seat here anyway but hopefully my vote will add to the majority. Had the Labour candidate on the phone to us the other day trying to push himself forward. If he's resorting to that it's a sorry state indeed in what used to be a safe Labour seat.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

While SNP winning most seats would be big news I'm surprised at the mass of coverage it has had as its not the battleground, end of day whether it be a Labour or an SNP seat it'll be the same government.....just them handful of 3-4 other Scottish seats matter.

2 areas will dictate this Election, firstly North of England battleground, there is I think from what I read 17-18 Tory/Lib Dem seats expected to go Labour......plus another 20 in and around London...........them 30-40 seats will decide whether its Tory or Labour, it is why I was surprised at the lack of clap-trap in Carlisle which is one of them seats.

Of course SNP taking Scotland will be good for them making a point as you say Saltire if it gets a big majority it will say a lot to Labour.