Current Affairs The General Election

[peteblue]

I am in my late 60s and obviously missed the pill which turns you into a self centered right wing piss artist...dont fecking patronise me about "dumbed down" crap. you actually can 'help what you have done"...its called tolerance and care for others worse off than you.

But you see, that’s what I do. I do a lot of work for those worse off than myself and I don’t have a go at those that don’t. But that doesn’t change my opinion on what politicians should or should not do, nor unfortunately does it change my historical experiences which I share on here.

I am retired, I no longer direct great numbers of people nor affect careers and profit. So I spend my time helping people, because I remember where I came from. I can afford to do so, I don’t like golf, and apart from developing our village community and school through our pub, have little interest in other things. I have scaled down substantially, and am enjoying life more than I ever have.....you are apparently of a similar age, you need to just enjoy life....sorry patronising again....

 

[Blues Harp]

I can admit that with you I may seen condescending, and even patronising, but I’m not a twunt. I just happen to be someone who started with nothing, worked for 45 years across a huge range of countries and products and did oK.....if you do not like my views, I believe there is an ignore button....

I dont put people on ignore just because I may disagree with their views....I will continue to argue against your political stand and attitude. What annoys me is not your achievements in life...thats not the problem. Just your like of a right wing party "led' by a serial liar and charlatan whom you adore. OK ?

 

[Aberblue]

Are there any UKIP candidates standing in this Election? Not that I'd want to vote for them, I was just wondering.

 

[Blues Harp]

But you see, that’s what I do. I do a lot of work for those worse off than myself and I don’t have a go at those that don’t. But that doesn’t change my opinion on what politicians should or should not do, nor unfortunately does it change my historical experiences which I share on here.

I am retired, I no longer direct great numbers of people nor affect careers and profit. So I spend my time helping people, because I remember where I came from. I can afford to do so, I don’t like golf, and apart from developing our village community and school through our pub, have little interest in other things. I have scaled down substantially, and am enjoying life more than I ever have.....you are apparently of a similar age, you need to just enjoy life....sorry patronising again....

"I no longer direct great numbers of people, nor affect careers or profit" ..I have never done that..what I have done in my ever so humble opinion through my life is to actually improve the circumstances of folk who, as you say "those worse off than myself". You have only started doing this now you have retired ? In your village? Oh dear. Careers and Profit. Where did you come from ? Genuinely interested mate.

 

[Milkman]

Are there any UKIP candidates standing in this Election? Not that I'd want to vote for them, I was just wondering.

Asking for a friend?

 

[Agent Blue]

1) Taxing multinationals more is fine. But it doesn't raise hundreds of billions required for mass nationalisation.

2) Companies are taxed on profits, not turnover. Frighteningly some politicians ive heard recently don't seem to understand this basic fundamental point. Just because a corporate is huge doesn't mean they are profitable. Or maybe they are profitable, but they have losses which can legitimately be used.

3) The largest companies employ the most people. Targeting them disproportionately can risk people's jobs.

4) Nationalised industries tend to give poorer services than would be given in the private sector. A lack of competition can be very bad for the consumer. I'd argue the broadband sector needs some government aid of course, but more competition, not less.

5) Governments should never be reckless with people's hard earned retirement savings. Especially since most people pay into auto enrolment schemes, which are encouraged by government.

You can't seriously be arguing people's futures are irrelevant as long as we get some more free stuff. Nationalising industries and curtailing enterprise isn't part of my understanding of Capitalism either.

You moved the goalposts a little there you said "Nationalisation of a country's broadband is not something anyone should support." not mass nationalization.

1. I think taxing Google, Amazon et al at the appropriate rate will raise enough to nationalize the broadband industry.

2. Of course companies are taxed on profit and not turnover, but with Labour going public on national t.v. with their funding model for re-nationalization of the broadband industry, I suspect there will be some form of new legislation in order to tackle those multinationals and bililonaires who aren't paying the correct amount of tax.

3. Labour have already stated that NOBODY who is employed within that sector at the time of the change will lose their jobs.

4. I disagree that nationalized industries perform worse than private and would holincd up the example of the railways as a shining example of this.

5. As I mentioned earlier no investment is a 100% sure fire winner and the pension funds will just withdraw the money and invest in something else, I dont really understand your point about governments being reckless with peoples pensions when the arrangement is between the pension funds and the private companies. The actual pension fund has nothing to do with the government and the worst that can be said is that they will just have to find something else to invest in.

Sign of the times, nothing in life is guaranteed.

 

[AndyC]

Cockwomble?

I trust this is meant as a description and not an instruction ?

 

[summerisle]

And still two weeks to go.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You moved the goalposts a little there you said "Nationalisation of a country's broadband is not something anyone should support." not mass nationalization.

1. I think taxing Google, Amazon et al at the appropriate rate will raise enough to nationalize the broadband industry.

On this. The estimates are that Labour's broadband policy would cost £100bn. The big 5 tech firms last year made £107bn in profit globally, so even if you made the ridiculous assumption that you could tax their global profits, that would still only bring in a shade over £20bn (at the current 19% tax rate). As the bulk of the income of these companies comes from the US, the likely figure is going to be several orders of magnitude smaller than that.

In other words, just taxing Google, Amazon et al at the appropriate rate won't come close to giving the government enough to nationalise the broadband industry.

 

[Paris]

On this. The estimates are that Labour's broadband policy would cost £100bn. The big 5 tech firms last year made £107bn in profit globally, so even if you made the ridiculous assumption that you could tax their global profits, that would still only bring in a shade over £20bn (at the current 19% tax rate). As the bulk of the income of these companies comes from the US, the likely figure is going to be several orders of magnitude smaller than that.

In other words, just taxing Google, Amazon et al at the appropriate rate won't come close to giving the government enough to nationalise the broadband industry.

Then there's the inevitable job losses at companies like Amazon, the rise in cost for the consumer... I could go on.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Then there's the inevitable job losses at companies like Amazon, the rise in cost for the consumer... I could go on.

I can understand the desire to want companies who make a good wedge pay the appropriate tax, but this repeated notion that 'taxing the wealthy and the big corporations' is going to fund the several hundred billions worth of projects Labour want to do is utterly bonkers, and it's rubbish like this that causes people to think they're not conversant with reality.

 

[summerisle]

General election 2019: Police 'assessing' call for peerage claim probe

Calls grow for an inquiry into claims Brexit Party candidates were offered Lords seats to step aside.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Paris]

I can understand the desire to want companies who make a good wedge pay the appropriate tax, but this repeated notion that 'taxing the wealthy and the big corporations' is going to fund the several hundred billions worth of projects Labour want to do is utterly bonkers, and it's rubbish like this that causes people to think they're not conversant with reality.

Indeed. They've lost the plot.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Indeed. They've lost the plot.

Poor little Amazon..

Amazon halved corporation tax bill despite UK profits tripling

Revelation comes after US company posts record $2.5bn profit in most recent quarter

www.theguardian.com

And not forgetting Google it had a very difficult year.

Alphabet: Google parent's profits hit $9bn amid increased scrutiny

Company’s earnings rebound even as justice department announces antitrust review of major tech firms

www.theguardian.com

I'm sure the UK high street business owner has all the empathy in world for Jeff at Amazon, these are hard times, as it applies a measure corporate social responsibility to the communities which it generates meagre income and profit from...

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to charity. Here's how he currently spends his $122 billion fortune, from giant underground clocks to space exploration.

The billionaire said he plans on giving away the majority of his wealth to environmental causes and individuals who can help unify society.

www.businessinsider.com

I can understand the desire to want companies who make a good wedge pay the appropriate tax, but this repeated notion that 'taxing the wealthy and the big corporations' is going to fund the several hundred billions worth of projects Labour want to do is utterly bonkers, and it's rubbish like this that causes people to think they're not conversant with reality.

You've got Labours manifesto 2019? Can I have the link please can't find it at this time!

 

[tsubaki]

On this. The estimates are that Labour's broadband policy would cost £100bn. The big 5 tech firms last year made £107bn in profit globally, so even if you made the ridiculous assumption that you could tax their global profits, that would still only bring in a shade over £20bn (at the current 19% tax rate). As the bulk of the income of these companies comes from the US, the likely figure is going to be several orders of magnitude smaller than that.

In other words, just taxing Google, Amazon et al at the appropriate rate won't come close to giving the government enough to nationalise the broadband industry.

That is a pretty misleading post, Bruce. The £100 bn estimate came from the boss of BT making a verbal back of the fag packet calculation, and even then it was for the total cost over the entire period of its construction, not one year (which as you say is what the £107 billion is).

I’d also point out that connecting the entire country to fibre broadband would be something that would considerably and directly benefit the big tech firms.