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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Hypocrite Socialists
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
Anybody else notice that Tony Benn's will was published earlier this week and he used a fair few tax loopholes to avoid inheritance tax and thus leave more of his millions to his children.
Tony Benn.
Once more, that was Tony Benn.
Fookin' hypocrite. But they all are of course. Want to redistribute everyone else's cash except their own.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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dyfrig
Blue Scarfed Menace
# 15
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Posted
Always took TB with a pinch of salt - seemed to be constatnly trying to equate any political crisis with something obscure that happened in 1931, didn't quite realise that requiring people to join unions was as bad as not allowing them to join unions, and everything seemed to be about him - as the Week Ending sketch had him say, "Thish propozhal hashn't got a word in it about Shocialishm, and of courshe one very vital factor izh completely overlooked - me."
Posts: 6917 | From: pob dydd Iau, am hanner dydd | Registered: Apr 2001
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
dyfrig, where have you been keeping yourself?
Wait, it's not the "welcome aboard" thread. What was it, oh yes, just something spouted by Comrade deano. Like, we didn't know that the self-appointed poster boy for socialism was filthy rich.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
And he's reappeared on a Thursday, just as his sig. prophesied he would. Well, sort of.
Long time no see Mr Dyfrig. Have you met Deano yet? We like him; he's funny.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
How many socialists would willingly hand money to this government, or the Labour Party for that matter? Both committed to prestige high-tech projects and making rich people richer still.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
We like him; he's funny.
Though he does have a severe case of Socialism Envy.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Ad Orientem
Shipmate
# 17574
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
How many socialists would willingly hand money to this government, or the Labour Party for that matter? Both committed to prestige high-tech projects and making rich people richer still.
Good point.
Posts: 2606 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2013
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
It might be worth noting that the "loophole" (it was actually nothing of the sort) around the inheritance of Benn's house arose from the fact that Benn's wife part-owned the house during her lifetime and bequeathed her share to their children.
I'd have been more ready to call him a hypocrite if Benn - a vocal supporter of women's rights - had assumed the house belonged entirely to him, or had assumed that he would have inherited his wife's share when she died.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
It depends on how you define a hypocrite, and how you define socialism. I wouldn't think that many of the Labour top brass are remotely socialist, so they are not really hypocrites. If you follow Mandelson's edict, they are perfectly happy with the rich getting richer, and perhaps, want to join them!
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
It also depends how you define a "loophole".
Are we talking here about doing something terribly clever that the drafters of the law didn't think of, so as to be within the letter of the law but craftily avoid its intent? Or are we just talking about making use of rules and exceptions to rules clearly laid out in the text? Because the latter ain't a loophole in my book.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
It also depends how you define a "loophole".
Are we talking here about doing something terribly clever that the drafters of the law didn't think of, so as to be within the letter of the law but craftily avoid its intent? Or are we just talking about making use of rules and exceptions to rules clearly laid out in the text? Because the latter ain't a loophole in my book.
Great, so nobody need worry about those perfectly legal offshore tax AVOIDANCE schemes, or large multinationals taking advantage of perfectly legal tax AVOIDANCE schemes.
Morality over paying tax is secondary to following the letter of the law. Good. I'm happy with that approach.
I don't know why most people on the ship make the mistake of switching them round though, and putting morality over legality. I wonder if it depends on whoever is avoiding the tax using the loopholes. If BP uses them its morality first legality second, but if the darling of Socialism Tony Benn uses them, legality trumps morality.
Hmmm. Now, where is my dictionary? I want to look up the collective noun for a grouping of hypocrites. Oh, here is... A shipload!
[ 30. October 2014, 14:35: Message edited by: deano ]
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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Penny S
Shipmate
# 14768
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Posted
If Benn's wife's share of the house went to his children before his death, then surely they would not benefit from the aggregation of the two allowances against inheritance tax which would apply if her share had gone to him?
Posts: 5833 | Registered: May 2009
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
It also depends how you define a "loophole".
Are we talking here about doing something terribly clever that the drafters of the law didn't think of, so as to be within the letter of the law but craftily avoid its intent? Or are we just talking about making use of rules and exceptions to rules clearly laid out in the text? Because the latter ain't a loophole in my book.
Great, so nobody need worry about those perfectly legal offshore tax AVOIDANCE schemes, or large multinationals taking advantage of perfectly legal tax AVOIDANCE schemes.
Morality over paying tax is secondary to following the letter of the law. Good. I'm happy with that approach.
I don't know why most people on the ship make the mistake of switching them round though, and putting morality over legality. I wonder if it depends on whoever is avoiding the tax using the loopholes. If BP uses them its morality first legality second, but if the darling of Socialism Tony Benn uses them, legality trumps morality.
Hmmm. Now, where is my dictionary? I want to look up the collective noun for a grouping of hypocrites. Oh, here is... A shipload!
No, you twat. Orfeo quite clearly defined the distinction he was referring to - it's between paying tax as the draughters of the law intended, with all the exemptions they intentionally put in, and finding a clever way to go against their intentions by exploiting a weakness in the draughting or wording thereof. You twat. I know I've already called you a twat, but felt it needed saying twice.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger:
So Tony Benn's actions have annoyed Deano.
He keeps on giving, even from beyond the grave.
No. Not annoyed me. I plan on paying as little in tax as I can possibly get away with, but I'm not bothered about anyone calling me names about it.
Why would I get annoyed about someone using the same loopholes as I do.
Oh and Karl, stop splitting hairs, it's unbecoming of you.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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Caissa
Shipmate
# 16710
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Posted
When the revolution comes, I hope all of the wealth is redistributed. There is no economic justice under capitalism.
Posts: 972 | From: Saint John, N.B. | Registered: Oct 2011
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
When the revolution comes, I hope all of the wealth is redistributed. There is no economic justice under capitalism.
Silly, silly man. There's not supposed to be economic justice under capitalism. Given the way that the legal system is then set up to support capitalism, there's bugger all justice full stop.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
When the revolution comes, I hope all of the wealth is redistributed. There is no economic justice under capitalism.
Yes but in the revolution the wealth (and therefore power) will be redistributed from the few who have it now, but let us have a vote at least, to the few who will have it then - let's call them the "nomenklatura" for want of a better word eh? - but who wont give us a vote at all. Because they will of course know what is best for all of us. Like they always do.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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Arethosemyfeet
Shipmate
# 17047
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger:
So Tony Benn's actions have annoyed Deano.
He keeps on giving, even from beyond the grave.
No. Not annoyed me. I plan on paying as little in tax as I can possibly get away with, but I'm not bothered about anyone calling me names about it.
Why would I get annoyed about someone using the same loopholes as I do.
Oh and Karl, stop splitting hairs, it's unbecoming of you.
Oh fuck off you deliberately obtuse cretin. Drawing a distinction between the letter and spirit of the law is not splitting hairs, it's pretty much the definition of how to conduct your tax affairs in an ethical manner. You know that, you're just a sad little troll. Get back under your bridge!
Posts: 2933 | From: Hebrides | Registered: Apr 2012
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Ricardus
Shipmate
# 8757
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Posted
![[Axe murder]](graemlins/lovedrops.gif)
It's all right, deano. Some day you'll find someone to love you.
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Then the dog ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. -- Tobit 11:9 (Douai-Rheims)
Posts: 7247 | From: Liverpool, UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
Paying tax ≠ redistributing money.
At least not in the way people think of. Redistribution of money should be to make things fairer, more just, and to provide needed services. Often, taxation is redistribution to some entity, industry or corporation to serve some strategic end. Like drilling for oil.
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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
\_(ツ)_/
Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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Fr Weber
Shipmate
# 13472
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Posted
I didn't realize Rush Limbaugh's show aired in Britain.
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"The Eucharist is not a play, and you're not Jesus."
--Sr Theresa Koernke, IHM
Posts: 2512 | From: Oakland, CA | Registered: Feb 2008
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger:
So Tony Benn's actions have annoyed Deano.
He keeps on giving, even from beyond the grave.
No. Not annoyed me. I plan on paying as little in tax as I can possibly get away with, but I'm not bothered about anyone calling me names about it.
Why would I get annoyed about someone using the same loopholes as I do.
Oh and Karl, stop splitting hairs, it's unbecoming of you.
Oh fuck off you deliberately obtuse cretin. Drawing a distinction between the letter and spirit of the law is not splitting hairs, it's pretty much the definition of how to conduct your tax affairs in an ethical manner. You know that, you're just a sad little troll. Get back under your bridge!
The letter is the law, the spirit is the morality behind the law.
Who, between Tony Benn and BP, is obeying the letter and who is obeying the spirit of the law?
Seems both are obeying the letter. Neither obey the spirit. Only one is a hypocrite. Only one is a Socialist. Turns out they are both one and the same.
Let's put it this way, I'm morally more comfortable I have shares in BP than in Tony Benn! At least one doesn't pretend to be only interested in money, but openly admits to it!
[ 30. October 2014, 20:11: Message edited by: deano ]
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
It also depends how you define a "loophole".
Are we talking here about doing something terribly clever that the drafters of the law didn't think of, so as to be within the letter of the law but craftily avoid its intent? Or are we just talking about making use of rules and exceptions to rules clearly laid out in the text? Because the latter ain't a loophole in my book.
Great, so nobody need worry about those perfectly legal offshore tax AVOIDANCE schemes, or large multinationals taking advantage of perfectly legal tax AVOIDANCE schemes.
Morality over paying tax is secondary to following the letter of the law. Good. I'm happy with that approach.
I don't know why most people on the ship make the mistake of switching them round though, and putting morality over legality. I wonder if it depends on whoever is avoiding the tax using the loopholes. If BP uses them its morality first legality second, but if the darling of Socialism Tony Benn uses them, legality trumps morality.
Hmmm. Now, where is my dictionary? I want to look up the collective noun for a grouping of hypocrites. Oh, here is... A shipload!
Just when I think you can't be any more idiotic, you jump to conclusions about what I've said that have absolutely nothing to do with what I've actually said, just so you can manufacture a bit of outrage about the utterly loony slightly-left-of-centre.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
The letter is the law, the spirit is the morality behind the law.
Well, I'm glad you've cleared up the last 6 years of my professional working life for me. I was so confused about it, thank you.
I shall just stop asking my clients what it is they're trying to achieve as a policy objective, because apparently that doesn't come into it. It's just about "morality". Which of course we all know when we see.
[ 30. October 2014, 20:48: Message edited by: orfeo ]
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
As a matter of interest, can anyone provide a link or two of times when Tony Benn advocated a reform to the law to increase inheritance tax (by either increasing the rate, or by removing the exemptions that he, and an awful lot of other people, used)?
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:
It might be worth noting that the "loophole" (it was actually nothing of the sort) around the inheritance of Benn's house arose from the fact that Benn's wife part-owned the house during her lifetime and bequeathed her share to their children.
I'd have been more ready to call him a hypocrite if Benn - a vocal supporter of women's rights - had assumed the house belonged entirely to him, or had assumed that he would have inherited his wife's share when she died.
I don't know anything about the facts of the case, but if what you're saying is accurate then we are left with the apparently startling proposition that no inheritance tax is payable on something that is not inherited.
If deano has a problem with that, he is a bigger fan of government revenue-raising than I realised. Perhaps we should charge him a television licence without caring whether he actually has a television.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
deano ... is a bigger fan of government revenue-raising than I realised.
As I said, Socialism Envy.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
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Posted
I'm unsurprised that Deano is morally comfortable with holding shares in BP which claimed to be doing oil well drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in a safe fashion. Except that it wasn't. At least he recognized the hypocrisy.
It will be amusing if his BP stock takes a dive when the BP deal with Putin for the arctic oil goes south. Deano will have gone to great lengths to get ripped off by the corrupt communists.
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
Funny.
I'm waiting to see what Bob Crow leaves his children in his will. Shares in Wonga.com probably.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
Presumably the same as everyone else leaves their children - the sum total of all he has, less anything he decides to specifically give to someone else. So, if he has shares in Wonga.com they get them.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
Benn did give up his title but in common with most faux socialists (some of us are the real deal), he made sure to keep his cash. It has a rich and honourable tradition in the Labour Party (Wilson, Attlee, Gaitskill and so on).
He wasn't as popular amongst the working class as he liked to claim: a lot could see through the "man of the people façade."
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
Benn did give up his title but in common with most faux socialists (some of us are the real deal), he made sure to keep his cash. It has a rich and honourable tradition in the Labour Party (Wilson, Attlee, Gaitskill and so on).
He wasn't as popular amongst the working class as he liked to claim: a lot could see through the "man of the people façade."
Which is why a lot of the working class are voting for Mr. Farage's party. Good them working classes aren't they?
Oh and Alan, nice little avoidance of the issue there. Dropped the shoulder and away you went. Sweet.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
Oh and Alan, nice little avoidance of the issue there. Dropped the shoulder and away you went. Sweet.
You'd better do some work on figuring out what "the issue" is, then. If your objection is to what someone OWNS, such as shares in Wonga.com, then it's got precisely zero to do with inheritance.
You can't take any of it with you go. What people will inherit from you is exactly what you owned - no more and no less. Mr Benn's children cannot inherit from him what they already own or inherited from Mrs Benn. And if someone who owns shares in cigarette companies and arms manufacturers dies, then someone else is going to inherit shares in cigarette companies and arms manufacturers even if the second person absolutely abhors cigarette comapnies and arms manufacturers.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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The Phantom Flan Flinger
Shipmate
# 8891
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
quote:
Originally posted by The Phantom Flan Flinger:
So Tony Benn's actions have annoyed Deano.
He keeps on giving, even from beyond the grave.
No. Not annoyed me. I plan on paying as little in tax as I can possibly get away with, but I'm not bothered about anyone calling me names about it.
Why would I get annoyed about someone using the same loopholes as I do.
Oh and Karl, stop splitting hairs, it's unbecoming of you.
Oh OK - I just thought that calling someone a "fookin hypocrite" was an expression of annoyance. Apparently not.
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http://www.faith-hope-and-confusion.com/
Posts: 1020 | From: Leicester, England | Registered: Dec 2004
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passer
Indigo
# 13329
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
Benn did give up his title but in common with most faux socialists (some of us are the real deal), he made sure to keep his cash.
He gave up his title??? How inconsiderate! I thought he just gave up his seat in The Lords.
Will no-one think of the children?
Posts: 1289 | From: Sheffield | Registered: Jan 2008
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Ricardus
Shipmate
# 8757
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Posted
Why is deano acting so gleeful about the rise of Mr Farage? A few months ago he was assuring us that UKIP would be totally overwhelmed by Mr Cameron's masterful political manoeuvrings.
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Then the dog ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. -- Tobit 11:9 (Douai-Rheims)
Posts: 7247 | From: Liverpool, UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMark:
Benn did give up his title but in common with most faux socialists (some of us are the real deal), he made sure to keep his cash.
He gave up his title??? How inconsiderate! I thought he just gave up his seat in The Lords.
Will no-one think of the children?
Well, he wanted to. Obviously he either didn't consult his son fully, or his son exercised his right to a change of mind
quote:
I am asking that the Stansgate peerage which was created for a special purpose, having now served that purpose, should be allowed to lapse completely and for all time – preserving no privileges for the future. This is the united view of the whole family including my wife, my eldest son, my brother, my mother and was shared by my beloved father.
(Tony Benn, 1961). Link thingy for those who expect that sort of thing, even in Hell
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ricardus:
Why is deano acting so gleeful about the rise of Mr Farage?
Because his reasoning skills are somewhere between those of a ferret and those of a newt.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
That's being somewhat unkind to ferrets and newts
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
I thought newts were more Ken Livingstone's territory. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Presumably there have been champagne socialists ever since the term "socialist" was coined. It's a fact of life, Deano - get over it.
[ 31. October 2014, 15:00: Message edited by: Piglet ]
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
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Posted
Tony Benn's hypocrisy and 'champagne socialist' credentials have been known for decades - if you go back to the original Beyond the Fringe you'll find a very good send up of his ilk.
What was always puzzling was that his tender conscience (and desire to serve) meant he gave up the 'pretensions' of his Viscountcy - but not the several million quid that went with it. Moreover a lot was held in Switzerland so no tax there either.
Similarly, the Miliband father's original will was altered (re-written top-to-bottom would be more accurate) so that as much as possible was kept free of the taxman.
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Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
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Callan
Shipmate
# 525
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Posted
This is bad, why?
I see a moral obligation to pay my fair share of tax. I don't see a moral obligation to leave my expenses off my tax return. If the point of left-wing politics, be it social democratic, socialist, green, neo-syndicalist happy tree party or whatever was just to say that we should give more money to deserving causes then one could just set up a standing order for a home for distressed tortoises or whatever. If, on the other hand, you think that at least some of society's problems stem from an imbalance between the rights and duties of owners and workers then you are hardly going to do much to rectify matters by quixotically paying more Capital Gains Tax than you are legally obliged to.
Personally, I had rather be thought a champagne socialist - someone who enjoys the good things in life and thinks that they ought to be rather more widely distributed, than the sort of Tory who, to paraphrase H. L. Mencken is haunted by the knowledge that somewhere, somehow a poor person is getting an even break.
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How easy it would be to live in England, if only one did not love her. - G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 9757 | From: Citizen of the World | Registered: Jun 2001
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
Champagne socialists (or fine claret socialists, like Roy Jenkins) are more understandable than working class Tories, who really are your turkeys voting for Christmas.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
That's being somewhat unkind to ferrets and newts
Half a ferret, then.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
I earn a good wage, well above average. I am grateful for it. I am grateful for the things I can do because I have disposable income.
I also believe that it's perfectly right and proper that I may considerably more tax than a person who earns less. I think it's perfectly understandable that there are various bits of assistance and benefit that I'm not entitled to on account of my income, and have no problem with some of my money being used to fund those things for other people.
The two are not incompatible.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Sober Preacher's Kid
Presbymethegationalist
# 12699
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
Tony Benn's hypocrisy and 'champagne socialist' credentials have been known for decades - if you go back to the original Beyond the Fringe you'll find a very good send up of his ilk.
What was always puzzling was that his tender conscience (and desire to serve) meant he gave up the 'pretensions' of his Viscountcy - but not the several million quid that went with it. Moreover a lot was held in Switzerland so no tax there either.
Similarly, the Miliband father's original will was altered (re-written top-to-bottom would be more accurate) so that as much as possible was kept free of the taxman.
The Viscountcy of Stansgate was created in 1942. It was a nice title, but I thought Tony Benn came by his money by being his father's designated heir by will; the viscountcy is an entirely separate thing entirely.
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NDP Federal Convention Ottawa 2018: A random assortment of Prots and Trots.
Posts: 7646 | From: Peterborough, Upper Canada | Registered: Jun 2007
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
... and eye of newt
[and, I've no idea why that quick response to orfeo spent 5 minutes floating around cyberspace]
[ 31. October 2014, 22:39: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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ExclamationMark
Shipmate
# 14715
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by deano:
[QUOTE]Which is why a lot of the working class are voting for Mr. Farage's party. Good them working classes aren't they?
Why Deano, they're following the example of their "betters."
Some are voting along with many of the "landed gentry" - the latter being the place where racism is at its most intense and pervasive.
Again its an honourable British tradition - the "Upper Classes" being so right wing that they're off the scale. Lord Halifax would've had Hitler in in 1939 and anyone of Jewish extraction out: some members of the "Royal" family shared/share such views. As with Benn, the type is far from extinct.
Posts: 3845 | From: A new Jerusalem | Registered: Apr 2009
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