C_J Then, you have to ask, what is the point in democracy or self-governance anymore?
We might as well just all throw in the towel and be bonded serfs to the technocracy/tech oligarchy.
Until, perhaps, they realise that extreme supply-side economics and thoroughly gutting the middle class is short-termist as it provides less consumer demand for their products.
C_J I think the problem is that unless you can get every single country to sign up to the same tax regime (nigh impossible), they will just transfer their operations to wherever is cheapest. This means in practice that anyone signing up is effectively just agreeing to kill off all the well-paid tech jobs in their own country, which would be madness.
I agree and disagree, it depends on how much hardship you are willing to endure for tax equality, and how much belief you put in other countries following your lead. Dave’s example of the recent Australian publication laws regards tech companies has some comparable elements. They struck out on their own, ahead of any other country, and have made it work (early days I know).
Consider how Thatcher was happy to fuck the miners, admittedly a very different industry, which in many ways is hardly comparable, but there was political will, and as such, change was foisted upon us. If there was any political will to have true tax equality they would make the changes, and it wouldn’t be seen as ‘madness’. My point is not a comparison of those industries, just that change happens when the people in power want it. We have the leverage against foreign companies, as we can refuse them our market, or in Googles case we can ‘turn them off at the plug’. Something which as a now Brexiteering Britain First country we should do anyway, think how many British companies could fill that gap??? No?
Amazingly, the ‘maverick like Trump’ in this country was Jezza. He was actually up for some genuinely lefty polices, but unfortunately we all thought he looked like a creepy geography teacher, so we decided to laugh at every suggestion he made and then believed Murdoch’s lies about him being anti Semitic.
Liking the cut of Amps’ jib here.
Also, if you think that the government have allocated £22 billion for test and trace (over £4 billion spent so far), and spent £5.5 billion on bullshit PPE contracts and procurement, then I don’t think anyone should be putting their hand in their pocket to shore up NHS pay. The government have the money, they just don’t have the will. They are actively choosing to not pay them. They see nothing but the cash value in anything.
Seeing the NHS as a charity is very slippery slope, essentially a Tories dream, if the general public came to see it as such, then privatising it would be so much easier.
The NHS is one of the few things I’ve come to see as ‘Great’ about Britain, we really should collectively see the value in it, even if it is less than perfect.
As a system the NHS needs massive reform. I think things may have tightened up recently but it was an absolute free for all for so many years without correctly recharging other countries for treating their citizens.
When I was in Spain a few years ago and my son, who was a baby at the time came out in a rash all over his body and needed medical attention the first thing we were asked for was our E111 cards before they would treat him (rightly so imo)
This is how the other countries in the EU have operated for years - recharging the costs back to the home country of the citizen but we have never really implemented this properly in the UK (or at least we hadn’t for a very long time). Whether this was down to incompetence/ lazyness I have no idea
Some ugly discussion in here, especially that Wal.
Kinell. It was one example of how the system is not being managed properly. Not blaming anyone other than saying the system is at fault. So get fucked with your bollocks Wally you fucking wand
The real issue is that people are living longer and living fatter. There needs to be a massive, massive push to incentivise healthier eating and getting more exercise.
Surely no can disagree with that one right? Why is the govt. not interested in pursuing this?
bosstrabs Then, you have to ask, what is the point in democracy or self-governance anymore?
We might as well just all throw in the towel and be bonded serfs to the technocracy/tech oligarchy.
Until, perhaps, they realise that extreme supply-side economics and thoroughly gutting the middle class is short-termist as it provides less consumer demand for their products.
Keep the vibe / bants at the afters a little lighter than this Dave.
But you know that.
C_J There needs to be a massive, massive push to incentivise healthier eating and getting more exercise.
Surely no can disagree with that one right? Why is the govt. not interested in pursuing this?
Er, pretty sure there is. Although it’s all coming from the ‘Nudge Unit’ which those on sink estates aren’t going to take any notice of anyway.
I agree on the sugar tax. Restrict the number of high street bookies and pretty much ban fruit machines while you’re at it - some paternalism that would do some good. The raiders of the working class’ household finances.
That is also a major factor, CJ - down to the Government
C_J The real issue is that people are living longer and living fatter. There needs to be a massive, massive push to incentivise healthier eating and getting more exercise.
Been on the chocolate all day.
Though running 5 times a week means I can eat what I want and still stay in top top nick.
Wally. The most aptly named username ever
Old-Dutch the first thing we were asked for was our E111 cards before they would treat him
Lunacy.
We have the worst, most profit-driven system of care imaginable here in the States. We still treat people before asking questions about reimbursement. It’s not like, “yeah that spear in your head looks cumbersome but what about paying us to get it removed?”
I think we probably need to decide on this board whether we want politics threads to be a discussion where a number of alternative viewpoints can be accommodated, or just deteriorate into an angry partisan slanging match.
And I say that as someone who is totally guilty myself of needlessly calling someone a cunt.
