March for the Alternative-26th March

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

...and then you backtrack and edit out your comment about me being an 'idiot'.
In future,at least when you post total drivel have the bollocks to stand by your opinion,even if it is complete nonsense.
A safe journey home to all those who protested today.

Go to hell Nij, you posted in very poor taste then backed it up with your hatred for an institution. It was idiotic, but after 5 mins reflection I decided everyone can be a prat at times so decided to take it out. Calling you an idiot for justifying the potential death of an innocent third party based on their job is not drivel and I have the bollocks to stand by that, maybe I shouldn't have given you the benefit of the doubt before.

Difficult task,given that hell doesn't actually exist.
I would suggest that the next time you retrospectively edit your posts and somebody points it out,you take it on the chin,refrain from throwing a hissy fit reminiscent of a petulant ten year old,and see the irony of sending me vaguely threatening PM's requesting that I 'grow up'.
Rest assured that one of the many things I can live without is the 'benefit of the doubt' from you.
If you want to discuss any issue with me,then fine - i'm up for that.
But you may find it helpful for future reference to preface your comments with 'in my opinion' now and again,rather that assume that everyone in the universe automatically ascribes to your worldview,and possibly even entertain the fanciful notion that they could even be right.
I look forward to more constructive debates with you in the future.

 

[law74]

it remains a mystery to the silent majority as to why the government baulk at demanding that their targets (banks, Top Shop etc.) pay their due taxes like the rest of us.

*** Edited for accuracy ***

Name them and shame them (& then use other companies that put something back into the economy).

A couple of months ago I called for the Trade Union movement to organise a leafleting campaign against the companies that were evading - avoiding paying their way in society, yesterday in Belfast I was handed a leaflet sponsored by NIPSA and the PCS giving details on the worst of these companies, did anyone in London see the leaflet?

 

[Skashion]

Thatcher's electoral success can be summed up very easily. The electoral spectrum shifted slightly rightwards towards the end of the 70s. Many traditional Labour supporters thought the unions were running riot. Thatcher was initially extremely unpopular, especially because of cuts and the huge rise in unemployment, but Labour rather than recognising a slight readjustment towards the right was necessary went leftwards, resulted in split, creation and the strength of the SDP. Because of the way the electoral system works, the SDP were not rewarded with seats and Thatcher picked up huge swathes of seats despite losing votes - and she lost votes even despite the immense personal boost she received from the Falklands.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Has anyone else noticed that all the trouble makers seem to be very middle class, and in some cases upper class, same goes for many top socialists in this country, seems they have a guilt complex.

I once went to an SWP meeting and not one of the members had ever done a days work in their lives most were sociology students and were very middle class.

It always struck me as rather strange (in the 80's) that the working class were quite right wing (many voted Tory) and whilst those that vowed to free them were all middle class

How true this is. From what I have seen over many years the majority of those screaming for justice for the workers are those who have never actually done any. It's easy to understand why thousands of public sector workers were protesting; their jobs are under threat and they naturally want to avoid this.
What irritates onlookers to these events is cosseted, comfortable posh boys like Dave Gilmour's prick of an offspring, who will never have to worry about having to do a real job, taking offence at 'cuts' on behalf of whom they perceive to be the downtrodden masses.
I also, many years ago attended a SWP meeting and, without exeption, all speakers were either 'students,' some about 35 years old, and middle class sons/daughters of bankers, solicitors etc. The genuine working class never attend or usually get involved as they are too busy trying to put food on the table.

 

[BimboBob]

Did everyone have a great day out in the big smoke?
A picnic, a bit of music and a stroll. A nice way to spend a saturday.

Will have had no effect on anything at all but hey, a good day out, right?

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

it remains a mystery to the silent majority as to why the government baulk at demanding that their targets (banks, Top Shop etc.) pay their due taxes like the rest of us.

*** Edited for accuracy ***

Name them and shame them (& then use other companies that put something back into the economy).

A couple of months ago I called for the Trade Union movement to organise a leafleting campaign against the companies that were evading - avoiding paying their way in society, yesterday in Belfast I was handed a leaflet sponsored by NIPSA and the PCS giving details on the worst of these companies, did anyone in London see the leaflet?

Tax evasion and tax avoidance are two different things. There are rules and regulations and as long as you meet those rules then you are entitled to minimise your tax liability.

You have a personal allowance don't you? That's tax avoidance.

 

[law74]

Tax evasion and tax avoidance are two different things. There are rules and regulations and as long as you meet those rules then you are entitled to minimise your tax liability.

You have a personal allowance don't you? That's tax avoidance.

PB, you and I both know only too well the diference between evasion and avoidance and what is legal, though not moral. Gideon last week announced some changes to taxation that will close some of the loopholes that massively rich use to get out of paying their FAIR share back into the public purse, but he didnt go far enough, and these changes should IMHO be fast tracked through parliament into the statute books, and vigorously enforced by HMRC.
Those on the march yesterday were not all public sector employees, but many many people that rely on the public services that we all to one degree or another rely on, and many from the private sector whose jobs rely on trade and business from the public sector and their employees.

There is a better Fairer way

 

[sir malcom]

Hijacked again by the great unwashed,Water cannon could cleanse the scruffy layabout scum.

 

[SWP's back]

the rich avoid paying taxes, hence the economy of this country loses upwards of 9 billion pounds whereas the poor still pay tax even on thier benefits VAT for one, for someone who states they are intelligent you really are thick.

Treating "Economy" and "Government" as synonyms. Interesting...

Anyone one else see the hypocrisy of ernesto calling everyone else thick?

 

[law74]

Did everyone have a great day out in the big smoke?
A picnic, a bit of music and a stroll. A nice way to spend a saturday.

Will have had no effect on anything at all but hey, a good day out, right?

Time will tell just what an effect it has on government policy, but it has focused the mind of the electorate on what the cuts actually mean & that there is a BETTER FAIRER WAY.
Discussion and debate on here, this mornings andrew marr show, the Politics show, all talking about tax evasion and tax avoidance by the extremely rich, and with the lib-dems coming under mounting pressure about their seeming change in economic policy, it will be very interesting to see their policy after the May 5 referendum on AV.