Council must decide: raise tax or cut benefits (From Bucks Free Press)
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Council must decide: raise tax or cut benefits
7:00am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By James Nadal
A RISE in council tax for everyone or slashing the benefits of some of the poorest in the district is the 'impossible' choice being weighed up by finance bosses.
The old system of council tax benefits is being axed and Government cuts mean Wycombe District Council will have £2.5 million less next year to pay for the new scheme.
Either, the current council tax freeze will have to be scrapped or about half of the 9,000 thousand people on the benefit will lose out by as much as £300 per year.
A rise in council tax would mean about £13 extra a year for the average band D property for whom the bill is about £1,400 annually currently.
Andy Green, Revenues and Benefits Service Manager, said: "It's a big decision, it's a dilemma for the council because it affects potentially everyone. We can't satisfy everyone.
“The choice is do we put up the council tax for everyone or do we reduce the amount of support we give people on the benefits?
“We are being forced into a corner.”
The council spends or pays out about £9.8 million per year on council tax benefits.
The prospect of the cuts is even bleaker because officials expect an even greater shortfall. The ten per cent reduction is based on Government forecasts on the number of people who will be on benefits in April 2013.
But council officials believe these figures are optimistic. The council will have to pick up the slack if figures prove higher than the projections.
Pensioners are excluded from the possible benefit slash.
Councillor Roger Wilson, Cabinet Member for Finance, said this means effectively the figure is already 20 per cent and believes the council may actually have to cover for a shortfall could get worse.
The ex-Marlow Mayor agreed with Mr Green that councils are facing an 'impossible' choice and said it does not want to be viewed as uncaring.
He said: "There are no winners out of the system at all. We will obviously look after the poorest as far as we can.
“The last thing we want to do is have people in our area who who are breadless. “This is what's been forced on us by the government.”
The council's preferred option is for all claimants of working age to contribute, plus a specific cuts in benefits for some groups.
Cllr Wilson urged residents to complete the survey, saying: "The screaming will only start when people get their bills so we need to get their views now.”
The Government is aiming to cut its current £4.8 billion annual council tax benefit bill by ten per cent and believes it will simplify a complex system and establish stronger incentives for councils to get people back into work.
Questionnaires must be completed by October 17 and the council must have its new system in place by January of have one imposed upon it by Westminster.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (114)
7:42am Tue 18 Sep 12
Bookermum says...
We both work in our house, and are already on the bread line!!! ... Where a lot (not all) if people on benefits are living much more confortably than we are ... It's not right!!
8:39am Tue 18 Sep 12
Flackwell says...
Yes I may get a holiday and a few more nights out, but to get those extras I'm funding a very similar lifestyle to those that can't be bothered.
The system is broken
9:20am Tue 18 Sep 12
wycombe_boy says...
9:29am Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
9:32am Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
9:36am Tue 18 Sep 12
A VOTER says...
The local council are constantly wasting taxpayers money. A prime example is the totally pointless ‘2012 celebration’ banners hanging from most lamp posts in the town, which actually says nothing of relevance to anyone, nor do they inform anyone of which (if any) celebrations or events they relate to. Thousands of pounds were spent (wasted) on designing, approving, printing and installing these pointless banners. This is only one small example of our councillors frivolous use of our money. There are many many more.
Time for local government to look inward and make cuts: – stop recruiting and let natural attrition reduce the staff levels. – Stop using consultancy firms, and start making decisions for which they have already sufficient decision makers within the local government.
9:38am Tue 18 Sep 12
Darren Hayday says...
9:50am Tue 18 Sep 12
QualityCare4all says...
As usual nothing is simple in this world.
Cut benefits and what happens? More need for social services and healthcare? More antisocial beahviour so more policing needed?? Who knows but we need to thing about the cosnequences.
What other services could be cut further?
Tough choices!
9:58am Tue 18 Sep 12
FH Leveller says...
I will agree with “A VOTER” though, efficiency savings should be made within the council as well.
Perhaps the poll should have offered a third choice: Cut benefits AND reduce council tax for all.
10:30am Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
11:00am Tue 18 Sep 12
sparky49 says...
11:05am Tue 18 Sep 12
john_b says...
11:08am Tue 18 Sep 12
A VOTER says...
It makes me wonder sometimes why I work so hard.
11:15am Tue 18 Sep 12
john_b says...
11:51am Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
What we need is a reform of local taxation - at the moment a widow living on her own pays almost the same as a family of young and middle-aged wage earners. If we had that it might increase the funds available to local government.
11:54am Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
12:04pm Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
Answer me this, what gives someone the right who has never worked or does the absolute bare minimum work that is then topped up by benefits to a similar level of pay to someone else who works hard also but gets no help, to then go out and have 3, 4, 5 or more children just because they know they will get help to pay for them when some people who refuses to go on benefits to decide to actually NOT have children because they cant afford it? How is that right? Let me say this, I know exactly whos children I would rather have brought into this world and its not someone with the mind set of some of the people who make a living on benefits.
12:28pm Tue 18 Sep 12
demoness the second says...
But the trouble is.. they will always know how to work the system and they will continue to do so.
It is the ones who have genuine need - the ones with cancer who cannot work, the ones who have horrible long term conditions, people with severely disabled children who depend on carers to help them, the elderly who need their meals on wheels, and community centres. And this is happening already nationally - there have been some horrific stories -someone with terminal cancer being told they are fit for work! A severely mentally disabled girl who needs 2 carers and who is doubly incontinent being told she can sign on and look for work!
They are the ones who will be affected.
And in the mean time the others will just carry on taking what they can and not giving back.
So although I think there are some pretty harsh things written here, I can see why people are getting frustrated. But lets not tar everyone with the same brush :(
I also agree with A Voter - lets look at council expenses as well :)
1:26pm Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
1:42pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ArnyP_HW says...
I guess I fall into the category of antisocial and freeloading because my household claim benefits.
But here's a perspective for you - my (full time) wage cannot support a family of 5 alone since my partner fell mentally ill 7 years ago and is not able to work so I'll take the help offered to make ends meet rather than see my children suffer, thank you very much.
Even with this help, my furniture is second hand and basic, I drink a couple of pints a week , I haven't had a holiday in 6 years, I have to beg in order to pay for my kids to go on school trips and have the basic text books etc that the schools now make the parents pay for.
I could go on but I think my point is made.
I have no doubt that there are people out there who abuse and hammer the system for what they can get and Dominic wotsis face will make another telly programme about them but that isn't me nor thousand of others.
Cut my benefits or increase the tax bill, either way it means I'll have to cut back on day to day expenses even further and I'll find a way to deal with it because I have to.
1:48pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
These are the people who got us into the unholy mess - and then they inflict cuts and taxes on the rest of us.
And make sure they are the least effected by what they do.
.
They are grasping , greedy , selfish , callous , uncaring people running this country - for a while now. Remember Tony Blair ? The mega-millilonaire who said there was 'no money in politics' ?
.
Well for such an a*** to make so much money , the ones who are good at it must be billionaires and more by now. Where's he keep it all ?
The ordinary tax-payer , benefit claimants , the incapacitated , the old , the young ARE paying to support these scoundrels just like the poor support all the top layers in almost every country in the world.
.
The politicians / bankers and their ilk are the ones who have stolen your money / assets and stashed it away (in property , art treasures , gold bars , antiques etc) and it just circulates around the top echelons as they swap things between themselves. No crumbs fall from the table.
.
These liars/cheats/crooks are the real Benefit Claimants - as everything benefits them. And they are the continuing source and cause of our financial problems - but like all liars and cowardly culprits they blame other people.
.
What ever happened to the courageous robust fair-minded English people and their progressive , reformist or even revolutionary spirit. Diluted and poured into the dust ?
.
This country has been in retreat under inept rule for the last few years and it will be work houses and Poor Laws next. Unless .......
.
You read it here first.
1:57pm Tue 18 Sep 12
A VOTER says...
I agree with you 100%
When does the revolution start?
2:04pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ArnyP_HW says...
2:05pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Stand up for England says...
2:09pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Slacker says...
Any one of you above can find yourself unemployed or out of work due to health reasons at any time. Rather than thinking about the minority who do not deserve it, think of your future and whether you may need that help or even a member of your family.
One day it may be you and then you will get really annoyed when workers complain of the "workshy"
2:15pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Milo The Dog of JBB says...
2:18pm Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
2:47pm Tue 18 Sep 12
miccles says...
3:34pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ArnyP_HW says...
3:38pm Tue 18 Sep 12
BucksComment says...
They have effectively cut the funds they give to the local authority and told them to make their own provision for benefit payments. This is without any tax cut to us.
So, we are now all being indirectly taxed more. Please remember this during the next national election.
3:56pm Tue 18 Sep 12
demoness the second says...
But let's face it, there are plenty of people who would not dream of doing that and because of them the people like yourself get tarred with the same brush.
I am a hard working public sector worker but because of the PS workers who do know how to "work the system" I get accused of all sorts.
It is how it is :)
I hope things get better for you soon.
4:32pm Tue 18 Sep 12
williamjames says...
WDC should cut all discressionary spend, reduce the number of staff employed and concentrate on delivery of the services required by staute. I am sure that the Council's Chief Executive, paid over £120,000 a year, could easily come up with the necessary cahnges.
BCC should take the same line. The first cut should be to the BCC Chief Executives grossley inflated salary.
Some of the svings could then be spent on the Police who we need.
4:33pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
As your great-great-great grandpa used to 'say' - "Everything that has a bark is not necessarily a dog or a tree". For instance 'Lord' Prescott comes to mind.
.
4:49pm Tue 18 Sep 12
FH Leveller says...
Did the bankers hold a gun to people’s heads and demand they take irresponsible loans they could never hope to pay back?
The bankers took advantage of lax regulation and loose monetary policy championed (in this country) by the socialists. Readily available credit with little accountability led to a boom fuelled by ever increasing spending and financed by debt. Everyone who voted for Labours Ponzi scheme shares some responsibility for this mess.
When a weak and ineffectual Tories did try to make a case for lower public spending they were shouted down by the usual suspects in the trade unions and media and hammered in the opinion polls.
5:02pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
"The rather comfortably well-off , pompous blustering part-time 'Socialist' and punch-up artist ' Lordy' (that's 'Lardy' really) 'I have loads of experience and so I know about things better than any of you inexperienced ordinary working proletarians who are just there to be made fools of by people like me.' Prescott.
.
What wonderful parents the 'Lard' must have had to have such foresight to give the 'Lard' such a long-winded but appropriate name at his christening long ago.
.
That's when he inadvertently drunk all the water in the font so would never have actually been christened at all if it hadn't been for his dear old Aunty Belle who just happened to have a drop of gin left in her small bottle she had smuggled into the chapel in her underwear.
.
Lardy had undeservedly such thoughtful relatives. All sadly gone now. And even his expensively coiffured wife hates him even though she is now (by default) a 'Laydee' - with all the attendant privileges - as befits those of such elevated status.
5:02pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Flackwell says...
perhaps not eh ?
5:27pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
'These scoundrels' have just be awarded further undeserved bonuses and pay increases by their own little gangs of thieves and robbers. 'These scoundrels' are totally unaffected by the privations , job losses, cuts etc inflict on the rest of the population - whether in work or not.
.
As the politicians say 'There is only so much to go round' - Well 'these scoundrels' make sure that they are not 'out of pocket' or any other way deprived. Have you not noticed that ?
.
So the divisive logic of our politicians (with whom you may agree) is to starve the unemployed and sick back to work and denigrate them at the same time . The old 'divide and rule' method.
.
Let me inform you - there is no work for them to do and there is not much forthcoming either - unless you believe the weasel words of any of our 'gainfully employed' politicians. There is a lack of 'work' in every country in the world - even Japan or Oz. Some countries have 50% + unemployment. Where are their jobs going to materialized from ?
.
What the politicians are doing is beyond Hypocrisy , Deception and Delusion or just Ineptness - it is beyond contempt.
.
They are the very people who caused the problems in the first place - that applies to all parties. If you want to believe what they say , that's your choice.
.
I do permit myself a degree of cynicism when it comes to politics and religion. I was not born this way ; it is what I have seen and experienced over recent years. So it just my perspective and will not force my views on anybody - unlike some dogmatic creeds insist on.
.
Regards and stand your corner but in a peaceful conciliatory way
5:51pm Tue 18 Sep 12
tigeran says...
6:07pm Tue 18 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
6:10pm Tue 18 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
6:12pm Tue 18 Sep 12
The Judge says...
THE COUNCIL ARE RUBBISH.....
JUDGE
6:47pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
There are now just too many people in this world and too few jobs to occupy them. It's not like 'the good old days' of full employment .
.
Look around you or even further afield for proof. Those days are gone - not to return - unless enforced poorly paid labour is brought in , but that's not the answer just a cruel transient fix. But I would not put our wonderful politicians to try it out to see what happens !!
.
What the politicians and their associates want is for the people at the bottom of the heap to fight each other for the lowest paying , lowest status , dead-end positions in our society . A society the politicians are fashioning to suit and benefit the people strutting about on the top of the heap of the now pile of rubble now rather ironically called British Society.
.
If that means shipping in more desperate people to compete for these jobs that's what the politicians will do - because it suits them - but probably not anybody else.
.
This the sort of thing that politicians do - the opposite of what people actually want or need. But the politicians and their friends are arrogant and uncaring in their own protected and invulnerable little worlds. Like the top layer in some 'unbelievable' futuristic Schwarzenegger film.
.
Or think they are - but things may change - usually with a lot of innocent people suffering in the meantime. That might just feasibly happen in the UK
9:36pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
If they increase council tax a minority of voters will suffer.
MAYBE they will compromise - volunteer librarians et cetera and reduced increases of council tax - already frozen for one year.
9:40pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
9:46pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
No one in the Conservative party objected at the time.
Our present situation is the result of both parties refusing to exercise any principle in overseeing the economy.
9:49pm Tue 18 Sep 12
disgruntledof Kingshill says...
9:55pm Tue 18 Sep 12
demoness the second says...
10:08pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
co.uk/business/2011/
mar/05/mervyn-king-b
ankers-bonuses)
10:11pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
And a lot of bankers were nothing better than cheats, liars and deceivers or self-deluded but highly paid idiots could run legalistic rings round ordinary gullible folk. Using big words and even bigger lies
.
It was not the brain child of just New Labour - although Blair and Brown did try at one time to claim credit for such rank stupidity - but the 'New Tories' under IDS and Cameron encouraged cheered and applauded all these wicked projects from the sidelines as the country was forced down the pan.
.
It takes a lot of highly trained lawyers and amateur accountants with lower grade degrees in PPE to make such an unholy mess of everything. And they are still at it.
.
However Mr Blair is thankfully (for him) out of it , while he sits on his ever-increasing mountain of wealth and ill-gotten gains and sinisterly cackles as he spends his spare time counting all the money as he gloats over it (and us) in the wee small hours.
.
All politicians were party to this deception - the same lot who cheated on their expenses. And all the bankers were 'in the know' ; it wasn't just the despicable greedy ratbag Fred the Shred. If some people cannot be seen the con tricks that were carried out by these scoundrels , then they are in denial for reasons best known to themselves.
10:19pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
10:30pm Tue 18 Sep 12
townraider says...
10:35pm Tue 18 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
11:20pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
The people with their hands on the steering wheel of this out-of-control control they call the Free Market are the ones who are driving us down The Road to Destruction.
.
We are mere dead weight / baggage to them - exploitable , now inconvenient and totally expendable.
.
These 'people in control of things' will be the cause of great suffering and despair- because we have given them (out of gullibility or by default) the ability to manipulate us. They are either crazy , deluded or perhaps just evil plotters from Hell with a Death Project for the human race - and perhaps with The English as a pilot project / starter scheme
11:21pm Tue 18 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
1:29am Wed 19 Sep 12
totteridge51 says...
6:23am Wed 19 Sep 12
williamjames says...
9:44am Wed 19 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
10:37am Wed 19 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
10:59am Wed 19 Sep 12
yog says...
It's why Labour was booted out for wrecking our economy.
11:07am Wed 19 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
I can't help thinking that the Conservative party and its city supporters don't come out of this with perfectly clean hands either.
11:17am Wed 19 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
11:52am Wed 19 Sep 12
FH Leveller says...
You envisage politicians wanting people at the bottom of the heap to fight each other for the lowest paying , lowest status , dead-end positions. The bottom of the heap is making a career out of state dependency. Where is the self-respect in that?
This isn’t about denigrating people in genuine need of support. The disabled deserve and need our backing, as do those who are committed to caring for them. People who have become temporarily unemployed through no fault of their own should be helped back into work. There are many instance when help is needed, but far too many when that help abused.
When politicians try to change the system they are accused of being out of touch and uncaring. Why become a politician? It’s a thankless task.
There’s much more money in banking.
11:56am Wed 19 Sep 12
tigeran says...
12:38pm Wed 19 Sep 12
Flackwell says...
1:35pm Wed 19 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
The politics of envy is poorly paid workers being envious of those on benefits, seeing them all as scroungers, who don't want to work, whilst forgetting that there is very little work out there. Instead of making them and those not born in this country into scapegoats, we should be getting angry at those who got us into this position in the first place, those who tell us that they know better than us, but have no idea about the basics of good housekeeping.
Don't forget that benefits will be going down now as the govt. is not going to raise them in line with inflation, it will be the children that suffer most. I'm not going to invoke 'godwin's law' but we know what kind of regime inflict sterilisation upon their poor.
1:36pm Wed 19 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
History of recent years proves that they can never be trusted. But if you are firm in the belief or want to believe they speak nothing but the truth then that's your choice.
.
I have reluctantly learned to be rather sceptical as I try vainly to match up the things they say , the things they do and what actually happens, I'm afraid
.
1:40pm Wed 19 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
The politics of envy is poorly paid workers being envious of those on benefits, seeing them all as scroungers, who don't want to work, whilst forgetting that there is very little work out there. Instead of making them and those not born in this country into scapegoats, we should be getting angry at those who got us into this position in the first place, those who tell us that they know better than us, but have no idea about the basics of good housekeeping.
Don't forget that benefits will be going down now as the govt. is not going to raise them in line with inflation, it will be the children that suffer most. I'm not going to invoke 'godwin's law' but we know what kind of regime inflict sterilisation upon their poor.
1:57pm Wed 19 Sep 12
tigeran says...
If you cant afford children then dont have them. Most decent working couples have to make that decision at one stage or another so I cannot see why the feckless are given the money to breed prodigious amounts of young.
2:00pm Wed 19 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
It's a funny old world that makes us subject to the whims and rule of the very people who got us in this fine mess in the first place.
.
A bit like handing over the all finances , authority and privileges of office of the bankrupted Chicago to Al Capone (and his deputy Bugsy Malone).
.
Still that's what people appear to want and voted for.
.
Mind you if there was only camel dung to eat, it is possible a lot of people would give it a go and swallow it down in apparent gratitude.
.
I'm afraid I would starve or go and look for a better food source. There must be something better than that - isn't there ? Please let there be something better than all this S**T we are being given.
6:18pm Wed 19 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
Could you please also provide proof that there are LOADS of fraudulent claims? I would concede some, but much like the figures for people who claim money for being disabled (about half to one % according to govt, figures) I believe the amount who claim but are not entitled to benefit, and the amount of benefit they get, is vastly overstated. I think it really depends on where you get your information from.
Again we argue over pennies, whilst those responsible take billions from our country.
7:28pm Wed 19 Sep 12
washondo says...
7:48pm Wed 19 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
sai-diva wrote:
J B Blackett wrote:
Cut politicians and bankers wages and stop their second , third ,fourth jobs including part-time highly-paid directorships where they attend for 1 day a year.
These are the people who got us into the unholy mess - and then they inflict cuts and taxes on the rest of us.
And make sure they are the least effected by what they do.
.
They are grasping , greedy , selfish , callous , uncaring people running this country - for a while now. Remember Tony Blair ? The mega-millilonaire who said there was 'no money in politics' ?
.
Well for such an a*** to make so much money , the ones who are good at it must be billionaires and more by now. Where's he keep it all ?
The ordinary tax-payer , benefit claimants , the incapacitated , the old , the young ARE paying to support these scoundrels just like the poor support all the top layers in almost every country in the world.
.
The politicians / bankers and their ilk are the ones who have stolen your money / assets and stashed it away (in property , art treasures , gold bars , antiques etc) and it just circulates around the top echelons as they swap things between themselves. No crumbs fall from the table.
.
These liars/cheats/crooks are the real Benefit Claimants - as everything benefits them. And they are the continuing source and cause of our financial problems - but like all liars and cowardly culprits they blame other people.
.
What ever happened to the courageous robust fair-minded English people and their progressive , reformist or even revolutionary spirit. Diluted and poured into the dust ?
.
This country has been in retreat under inept rule for the last few years and it will be work houses and Poor Laws next. Unless .......
.
You read it here first.Well said,whilst we argue over a few millions, the multi millionaires laugh. If all those super rich paid the tax due on their incomes, rather than using tax 'avoidance' schemes that are closed to the likes of us, it would pay the nhs bill, and leave change.
The politics of envy is poorly paid workers being envious of those on benefits, seeing them all as scroungers, who don't want to work, whilst forgetting that there is very little work out there. Instead of making them and those not born in this country into scapegoats, we should be getting angry at those who got us into this position in the first place, those who tell us that they know better than us, but have no idea about the basics of good housekeeping.
Don't forget that benefits will be going down now as the govt. is not going to raise them in line with inflation, it will be the children that suffer most. I'm not going to invoke 'godwin's law' but we know what kind of regime inflict sterilisation upon their poor.Well, not sure about steralization but I strongly believe a cap on the amount of children a person is allowed to have if they survive on benefits due to the fact they dont want to get a job (yes there are LOADS of them).
If you cant afford children then dont have them. Most decent working couples have to make that decision at one stage or another so I cannot see why the feckless are given the money to breed prodigious amounts of young.Only'Tigeran' could write a sentence beginning:
Well, not sure about steralization but ...
7:56pm Wed 19 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
om/watch?v=B96qKs4-E
I8
11:04pm Wed 19 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
8:38am Thu 20 Sep 12
Flackwell says...
9:11am Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
9:12am Thu 20 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
9:13am Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
tigeran wrote:
sai-diva wrote:
J B Blackett wrote:
Cut politicians and bankers wages and stop their second , third ,fourth jobs including part-time highly-paid directorships where they attend for 1 day a year.
These are the people who got us into the unholy mess - and then they inflict cuts and taxes on the rest of us.
And make sure they are the least effected by what they do.
.
They are grasping , greedy , selfish , callous , uncaring people running this country - for a while now. Remember Tony Blair ? The mega-millilonaire who said there was 'no money in politics' ?
.
Well for such an a*** to make so much money , the ones who are good at it must be billionaires and more by now. Where's he keep it all ?
The ordinary tax-payer , benefit claimants , the incapacitated , the old , the young ARE paying to support these scoundrels just like the poor support all the top layers in almost every country in the world.
.
The politicians / bankers and their ilk are the ones who have stolen your money / assets and stashed it away (in property , art treasures , gold bars , antiques etc) and it just circulates around the top echelons as they swap things between themselves. No crumbs fall from the table.
.
These liars/cheats/crooks are the real Benefit Claimants - as everything benefits them. And they are the continuing source and cause of our financial problems - but like all liars and cowardly culprits they blame other people.
.
What ever happened to the courageous robust fair-minded English people and their progressive , reformist or even revolutionary spirit. Diluted and poured into the dust ?
.
This country has been in retreat under inept rule for the last few years and it will be work houses and Poor Laws next. Unless .......
.
You read it here first.Well said,whilst we argue over a few millions, the multi millionaires laugh. If all those super rich paid the tax due on their incomes, rather than using tax 'avoidance' schemes that are closed to the likes of us, it would pay the nhs bill, and leave change.
The politics of envy is poorly paid workers being envious of those on benefits, seeing them all as scroungers, who don't want to work, whilst forgetting that there is very little work out there. Instead of making them and those not born in this country into scapegoats, we should be getting angry at those who got us into this position in the first place, those who tell us that they know better than us, but have no idea about the basics of good housekeeping.
Don't forget that benefits will be going down now as the govt. is not going to raise them in line with inflation, it will be the children that suffer most. I'm not going to invoke 'godwin's law' but we know what kind of regime inflict sterilisation upon their poor.Well, not sure about steralization but I strongly believe a cap on the amount of children a person is allowed to have if they survive on benefits due to the fact they dont want to get a job (yes there are LOADS of them).
If you cant afford children then dont have them. Most decent working couples have to make that decision at one stage or another so I cannot see why the feckless are given the money to breed prodigious amounts of young.Only'Tigeran' could write a sentence beginning:
Well, not sure about steralization but ... Sorry, I got bored after the "cut polititians....." dribble........
10:27am Thu 20 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
11:09am Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
11:50am Thu 20 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE
11:58am Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
1:34pm Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
3:33pm Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
You are missing the point - people are NOT taxed on the basis of what they earn at a LOCAL level - when were you last taxed by WDC on a PAYE basis - you paid rates based on where you lived didn't you?
3:48pm Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
3:55pm Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
3:56pm Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
4:01pm Thu 20 Sep 12
The Judge says...
JUDGE FOR COUNCILLOR....JUDGE FOR PM.
4:05pm Thu 20 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
It's all very well coming up with your lovely 'daily mail' style headline statements but what about the practicalities? What if a woman on welfare with kids becomes pregnant? What then? Forced abortion? Made to live on the street? You really don't think things through before you hit the keyboard do you?
Also I do wish you'd make up your mind, am I a 'pikey' living in a caravan, or am I one of the 'bleeding heart brigade' living in an 'ivory tower', or are you incapable of a reasoned debate without resorting to cheap insults?
I look forward to your response.
4:19pm Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
4:21pm Thu 20 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
5:07pm Thu 20 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
.
Did you know that Stalin , Mousy Dung , Pol Pot , Mr Gorbachov , Lenin , Trotsky , Mr Ceausescu etc paid No Tax at All.
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Mind you neither do the Saudi Royal family - but they do display their bountiful generosity by providing all their own indigenous citizens with completely free sand and colourful buckets to put it all in. All the tourists and guest workers have to buy their own
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And they have lots and lots of friends everywhere (as long as the oil lasts). And they are very religious too. And it is a really big family - I am sure there are no communists amongst any of them. Just as there isn't amongst all the people at the top in all those ex-Soviet countries.
5:26pm Thu 20 Sep 12
tigeran says...
Cant afford them? Too bad. I now await your response.
5:41pm Thu 20 Sep 12
loopsy says...
1:35pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
1:42pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
'Look after the unemployment, and the Budget will look after itself.' (Keynes.)
1:44pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
http://rortybomb.wor
dpress.com/2012/03/0
6/vsp-historical-tri
p-also-keynes-look-a
fter-unemployment-an
d-the-budget-will-lo
ok-after-itself/
1:44pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
http://rortybomb.wor
dpress.com/2012/03/0
6/vsp-historical-tri
p-also-keynes-look-a
fter-unemployment-an
d-the-budget-will-lo
ok-after-itself/
2:57pm Fri 21 Sep 12
tigeran says...
3:06pm Fri 21 Sep 12
FH Leveller says...
5:43pm Fri 21 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
Thanks for the lack of insults in your response. can I ask you a few questions before answering?
How would you impose a cap on the amount of children claimants can have?
According to the dwp £1.2 billion is claimed illegally, do you have any idea how much money is avoided by tax avoidance schemes?
Do you think it fair that a man who earns £1.2 billion, resides in this country, pays no tax here?
How would you prevent truthful claimants getting caught up in the 'witch hunt' that seems to tar all of the unemployed with the same brush as seems to be happening here,
Can you tell me of your experience of 'that type' of benefit claiment?
Ta.
Now in response to what you say,
Poverty is all relative, so in a society where everyone has a tv, fridge,cooker, phone is it fair to expect those on benefits not to have the same? I accept that there are benefit cheats, in all areas of society there will be people who buck the system(look at the bankers),and there are safeguards in place to prevent this already, but there is a danger of returning much hated 'means tested' benefit system,if you were unemployed or sick would you want an inspector coming round insisting that you sell you possessions?
What this policy, and many introduced by this and the previous govt. is doing is making people like yourself take their eye off of the ball.
Country in trouble? Blame those feckless workshy cheats, No money in the pot, must be down to those single mothers(remember that one). The money claimed by 'benefit cheats' pales into insignificance alongside the money used to bail out the banks. You are getting cross with the wrong people.
One other point, in one of your posts, you say that there has never been full employment, you're right, there needs to be a pool of labour for this system to work, at the moment there just aren't enough jobs to go round, graduates with huge debts are fighting for jobs cleaning toilets.
Would you be prepared to live on what you could claim on benefits?
7:23pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
7:35pm Fri 21 Sep 12
tigeran says...
You can never put a cap on the amount of children someone can have as some humans will procreate in abundance with no reponsibility taken or thought of, these are the feckless I speak about. Due to this, a cap on the amount of children someone will recieve benefits for could be implemented. You have more than 2, then you look after them out of your own pocket.
"Do you think it fair that a man who earns £1.2 billion, resides in this country, pays no tax here?"
No but I dont blame them as I think the rich are ripped of in this country (I am not a high earner by the way, far from it). I think you will find they DO pay tax but not necessarily on the whole earnings but it will undoubtedly be FAR more even then than any of us will pay in tax.
"How would you prevent truthful claimants getting caught up in the 'witch hunt' that seems to tar all of the unemployed with the same brush as seems to be happening here"
You never will but a huge reduction in benefits in key areas like the amount of children a family can claim bennefit for as I said above and other loop hole type areas claims can generate from would eventually weed out the serial claimers.
"Can you tell me of your experience of 'that type' of benefit claiment"
People close to me has been involved with families living on benefits of some sort or another for more than 30 years now, they have seen it all and believe me it is frightening to see how many there are and the mentality of these people. It really is on another planet. I am qualified to comment on this.
"Poverty is all relative, so in a society where everyone has a tv, fridge,cooker, phone is it fair to expect those on benefits not to have the same?"
Of course it is! You DONT need a tv, you DONT need a mobile, get a land line, you DONT need sky tv, I could go on with absolute non essentials but wont. Your statement there alone makes me question lotssof things about you!! You cant afford it? Tough luck, you wont die without them.
Yes I agree that the government use this as a distraction but my point is that benefits is used for all the wrong reasons and i also agree with you about the amount of jobs verse amount of people. The problem is everyone EXPECTS to have all the bling just like you showed you think they should whether they work or not and that is the problem, they want it all and the system allows it.
"Would you be prepared to live on what you could claim on benefits?"
What an absolutley ridiculous question! Of course not! As I have worked all my life, own my own house, decided on no more than 2 children, respect myself and care about where I live I would get absolutely squat all in benefits! I didnt decide to use it as a lifestyle from the start so I (and I expect you) are not 'in the system' and so are screwed if we ever need help!!
I am not against benefits, I just am horrified at the abuse of it. I am sure you know EXACTLY what I mean!!
9:37pm Fri 21 Sep 12
J B Blackett says...
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What all the politicians say are just weasel words to pretend otherwise. They have helped to in all sorts of ways to create the problems we now face
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And it's not just this in country ; it's all over the world. And there is no easy solution - not from the people who run the world at the moment anyway.
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But in the meantime everybody whether employed or not must be treated equitably and fairly. But I don't have much faith in the current crop of our politicians to do that ; their track record shows just the opposite.
.
10:17pm Fri 21 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
9:43am Sat 22 Sep 12
The Judge says...
WHERE IS OUR ICE-BANK MONEY AND WHY ARE THOSE IMBECILES WHO LOST IT STILL IN EMPLOYMENT?
JUDGE
10:48am Sun 23 Sep 12
bobby698 says...
Let's not forget the distinction between the type of benefits paid by the council and those paid by the Government, ie, DWP.
DWP pay the unemployed side of things which some, possibly misguidely, link to laziness and 'Jeremy Kyle' guests.
Bucks and Wycombe benefit include those which pay to support the elderly, disabled and young in our area. By support I mean to assist in vital equipment for those who need it such as the disabled and elderly. Do we really wish to put these people at the bottom of the pile?
I make no comment on my feelings for those who sponge the State benefit sytem; it's pretty obvious from some of the above comments what the general concensus is; but there is a bigger picture, which includes some very vulnerable people in our area who need our support.
I am not wealthy, however an extra one pound per month on my Council Tax bill will not harm me; provided it is spent on those who really need it.
10:59am Sun 23 Sep 12
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
2:21pm Mon 24 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
So what happens when a couple who have 2 children, who are on benefits and the wife falls pregnant? If the world was as you wish it to be,ie those on benefits live in poverty, then surely, even with the best will in the world, there will not be enough for the children to eat. Malnourishment will follow with all. So ddo we take the children away, with all the costs inherent in that? Do we force the unemployed to take contrception? What about their religious views.
I agree that there is a problem with some of those on benefits, but I think that it is blown out all proportion.
I resent any one who 'breeds' irresponsibly, If I have 2 children and use the rescources provided by my taxes to eduate and keep them healthy, why should I subsidise someone who has 5,6,or 7 children?Bearing in mind that the world has a finite amount of resources are they not being a bit irresponsible?
The rich aren't ripped off in this country, the rich run this country, so they make sure they aren't ripped off.
Amazon pay NO corporation tax in this country, and yet are responsible(in part) for the demise of many small buisinesses,by moving their operations to tax havens they don't pay vat either. Think how rich we would be if they paid their tax liabilities. In America, if you live in America, that's where you pay your tax.
So in your world you would be happy to see innocent people suffer just so that you can get at the few who buck the system.Have you seen how much damage the new system administered by ATOS is causing amongst the most disadvantaged in society?
So somebody you know tells you this, whilst I aknowledge that benefit cheats exist 'because you say so' is heresay. Why do you feel qualified are you a social worker? do you work in the benefit system?
I remember the same argument being used about fridges and phones when I was younger. I didn't mention sky tv.
I don't think so, if you were unfortunate enoughto be mane redundant, or lose you job through illness, would you be prepared to live at the standard you expect these people to? If you were instructed to would you sell your telly, mobile, car in order to get benefits? If people are on the social do you expect them to sit there with no tv ('cos they'll have to pay a licence fee) bare floors, no heating?('cos they can always chop logs eh?)
I think we both agree that benefits cheats are a problem, but I don't think that your methods are either fair, or will solve the problem.
9:28am Tue 25 Sep 12
tigeran says...
Life isnt fair and the problems are not solved now but it would put a lot more money back into the country. You can put obsticles in the way all the time and never reach an agreement.
I know you really dont want to believe it but it is not "heresay" it is fact. Sorry to break the news to you but you obviously are NOT as informed as me and are speculating. No disrespect but I dont think you have any experience of this at all from your posts.
4:16pm Tue 25 Sep 12
sai-diva says...
6:02pm Tue 25 Sep 12
tigeran says...
9:47pm Tue 25 Sep 12
GorillaGirl109 says...
1:57pm Wed 19 Sep 12
I’d love to know - have you made up your mind about sterilising the poor yet?
11:06am Wed 26 Sep 12
tigeran says...