EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

Maybe. But on the other hand, anyone who's been in a long term relationship will tell you that it's the little things that piss you off the most.

If the left starts putting wet towels on the floor, I'm definitely done with it ;)

I guess you are right it's human nature, it's just so frustrating May / Farage and others exploit it and still do nothing to resolve issues.

the left, myself probably included, gets so bogged down in trying to do the right thing that it loses an awful lot of the centre ground to people who get bored of being told what to say and think all the time.

Christ yes! I consider myself pretty progressive and this irritates me. The "left" seems to have a knack (that the "right" doesn't) of alienating people who could be its allies in a lot of areas.

Basically - the right doesn't give a fuck. It knows the left doesn't like it, so doesn't base its policies or attitudes on it. Doesn't give a stuff for accuracy, facts, or even particularly for fairness. It distils complex issues down to very simple solutions and scapegoats.
The left tends to do the exact opposite, which means it loses the undecided.
I'm not sure what the solution to this is.

I'm not sure what the solution to this is.

holding yourself and your supporters to a higher standard was never going to be a vote winner, but it's still better than suggesting 'the left' should be more racisty in order win elections.

not that you are suggesting this in any way i hasten to add.

Perhaps the left should shut up about all this, unless somebody is so openly racist/sexist standing by and not saying anything would make you an arsehole/complicit and boil it down to fair economy.

Ultimately income is linked to:
Housing
Health
Education

Sort of like The Tories that only care about money, but instead of pushing the money to only their mates, push it in a way that benefits us all. That may mean higher taxes for a bit though...and trying to sell higher taxes in the UK is difficult it seems.

I can understand as you wonder if they aren't just being grabbed for weapons etc. So, it will require re-building trust with people as well, and actual hard cash for areas that need it, not some vague bullshitting.

The Tories have managed a 40 year sleight of hand,
reducing income tax, (most significantly for their high earning backers), whilst being complicit in the gradual increase in National Insurance,
and,
blatantly increasing VAT from 8 to 15%,(Geoffrey Howe, Thatchers 1st Chancellor),
15 to 17.5%, (Michael Heseltine's 'temporary' solution to the problem of Poll Tax not raising enough to cover the previous Rates, as the eventual Council Tax gave a discount to owners of larger properties, especially in London & the South East),
17.5 to 20%, George Osborne, to fund 'Austerity', in the same budget that the highest rate of income tax was reduced from 50 to 45%.

VAT is the best way to tax the rich. The problem is they apply vat to all sorts of shit you can't live without.

such as? not being sarcastic, would like to know. am aware of tampon tax etc.

A flat rate tax that everyone pays is the best way to tax the rich?

Just to confirm:

They did increase taxes, but in a way to help their mates?

Some people think wealth and land should be taxed as well, or even more radical inheritances is confiscated by the state.

The last one I'd say "good luck with that" but some people here live of the income of lands that were taken/earning/stolen hundreds of years ago.

Then there are the property speculators we all love to hate too ;)

You only have to look at the proposers of Flat Taxes,
let alone the lobbyists,
to realise that Flat Taxes are a great advantage to those on high incomes,
or with income-producing assest, (or both of course).

If you believe that flat taxes are 'the best way to tax the rich',
the rich have captured you,
or,
you are 'rich'.

Like the best magicians,
they distracted the electorate with the reduction in the lower rate of income tax,
while greatly reducing the higher rate income taxes,
reducing capital gains taxes,
reducing Corporation tax,
and
increasing national Insurance
and VAT, the consumption tax.

such as? not being sarcastic, would like to know. am aware of tampon tax etc.

Cakes and the Jaffa Question.

I guess he means it was originally intended to apply to luxury goods. The definition of luxury has slipped somewhat though.

VAT is the best way to tax the rich.

Taxing consumption and rich people consume more...
Though not as a proportion of their total income
So VAT is probably a regressive tax
(A-level economics)

VAT is the best way to tax the rich. The problem is they apply vat to all sorts of shit you can't live without.

This is the opposite of the truth - a flat rate of tax on goods that cost the same no matter what you earn has a significantly greater impact on the poor than it does on the rich.

i.e. a car costs £20,000, of which VAT is 20% or £4,000. If I earn £40,000/year then that's 10% of my (pre-tax) pay.

If I earn £400,000/year then it's 1% of my pay.

Therefore to buy the same basket of items the tax paid (as a percentage of my income) is way higher for the person on 40k.

VAT is a regressive tax, it's increased steadily as we have become increasingly unable to extract tax from corporations or high net-worth individuals, and also of course as we have reduced the amount of tax that we request from those with more money.

When VAT was introduced,
there were two levels,
8% as the General Sales tax
15% was the rate on luxuries, (I'm guessing wiki can tell you what the 1970's Civil Servants thought were luxuries, maybe 8-track tapes?),
Geoffrey Howe and Margaret Thatcher removed the lower rate, maybe in 1980, and we've all paid 15%, (or 17.5% or 20%) sales tax ever since.

I keep looking for secret rhymes in all your posts and find none. It's like trying to read Seamus Heaney in A-Level English Literature all over again.

Income tax is just that - a tax on income. The argument extends to inheritance, unless of course you make the rules

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/aug/11/inheritance-tax-why-the-new-duke-of-westminster-will-not-pay-billions

Politicians write the rules and policies on tax and then bemoan the loopholes they create. Dickheads. Fucking own it. VAT won't solve shit and won't level the playing field. It's the hypocracy that drives people nuts.

This.

When I am supreme ruler there will be no VAT, no council tax, no car tax (I know, there hasn't been since 193shutup), no fuel duty, no booze duty, nothing except income tax.

I might do something like a locally variable tax to replace council tax, but it will still be based on your income.

#votehef

Sorry, forgot that one. Inheritance will be added to your income, because it's income, and taxed accordingly. As will capital gains.

I hope this clarifies my position.

I might actually introduce 100% inheritance tax, but I think I'll bring that in after I'm elected as it probably wont be all that popular.

Apologies for causing any flashbacks.
School determined I was a 'scientist' so no Arts 'A'-levels for me.
I don't think I've consciously ever read any Seamus Heaney, (was it him that did the recent re-translation of Beowulf?).
I think it is a reaction to posts, (not necessarily on here), where an unpunctuated paragraph means the re-reading causes one to lose the gist of the meaning/tl:dr.

I might actually introduce 100% inheritance tax

#heftyout

What is the Hefty position on Land Value Tax:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_value_tax

as proposed by Henry George;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_George