EPTOn December 09 2011 10:00 Iyerbeth wrote:
I'm not sure no would be a strong enough term to express my opinion on those changes, but I clicked it for lack of a stronger worded opposition. Here are some notes on why:
+ Show Spoiler +
I'm not sure no would be a strong enough term to express my opinion on those changes, but I clicked it for lack of a stronger worded opposition. Here are some notes on why:
+ Show Spoiler +
On December 09 2011 09:16 Zaros wrote:
Expenditure
Privatise National Health Service (NHS) - Provide a subsidy for anyone earning less than the new 2nd highest rate of income tax.
The NHS whilst already suffering major budget cuts in a bid to force quality down and sell it off piece by piece to the private sector is already having privatisation bids have a terrible impact on healthcare. PFI initiatives are already the biggest single cause of NHS related debt, and a for-profit system will only further reduce care whilst driving up costs. We can already see the result of private healthcare and insurance in the US and whilst it may only be a matter of years before we end up there here, rushing towards it would eradicate all hope of keeping a free at the point of use, universal healthcare system.
We should instead immediately remove the private sector from the NHS, cut debts to PFI scheme's and invest in jobs and training throughout hospitals in the UK.
Reduce all Benefits levels by 15% (see VAT tax reduction)
Provided that benefits were increased and reduced in line with VAT to result in the same spending power this may be acceptable, but current benefit levels are already too low with most cash issues arising from the poorly written legislation and failed economic policies of creating jobs, not from those on benefits being over paid. At a time with the highest youth unemplyment rate in the history of our country we should be very careful about penalising those with no options.
Cut university funding to all "bad" universities (Any universities that firms regard degrees as effectively pointless and a college course would be just as good(potentially leave only 120 universities across the UK))
All university education should be free. End fee's and ensure there are enough quality positions for everyone.
Evaluate all government advice/charitable agencies/organisations with regards to reducing funding up to and including a 100% reduction.
Such a vague statement it's impossible to oppose, but it would depend on the results of the evaluation.
Look into part privatisation of education.
NO. For-profit education is a truely terrible idea. Education should be independant, of a strict quality and free for all.
Increase science research and development spending by at least 100%.
I'm not expert enough to know the results of this for jobs and opportunites in the UK, and I wonder if you are?
Evaluate all religious,cultural and recreational funding.
Again, evaluation is fine if it is with a goal to improving services and value for money without cutting services or jobs.
Evaluate all employment,enterprise and environment spending.
Another vague "evaluate" that could not be judged until after propsals were made.
Cut all European Union Funding.
I'm not a fan of the EU, but this is actually insane. Cutting innapropriate funding is one thing but to decide to basically cut all ties with the EU is to leave the UK with little to no trading options and a potentially politically hostile environment in which to try to secure stronger growth.
Increase Defence budget by approximately 50%
There is no reason for such an increase, we don't need to be spending more money on imperialist conquest. Better care for returning soldiers and their families, but I'm not convined by your seemingly random number, nor am I intimately familiar with the UK defense budget allocations as it stands, or that simply throwing 50% more money at them will help.
Tax
Reduce Value added Tax (VAT) to 5% from 20%
Scrap all fuel duty
Various Income Tax Changes - No one pays tax below £20,000 a year.
£20,000-£35,000 10%
£35,000-£75,000 20%
£75,000+ 30%
Scrap National Insurance
Increase Taxes on alcohol, tobacco and betting.
New Tax on legalised drugs at 60% (see Laws and regulation)
Reduce corporation tax - Main rate to 15%
- Small profits rate to 5%
- Special rate to 10%.
Half all capital gains taxes.
Reduce inheritance tax to 35%.
Double all Stamp duty rates but provide 0% Stamp duty for first time buyers.
5% Tax break for all new nuclear power stations.
These tax plans are so regressive as to be almost confused with an attempt to wipe out the poor by way of starvation and lack of services. 5% VAT, no National Insurance (on top of your earlier plan for priavte education and healthcare????) with tax on things most likely used by poorer members of society whilst providing massive tax breaks to the rich? The same rich who already owe more in tax than every form of benefit fraud put together several times over? The only thing that would be universally helpful is the fuel duty plan which in itself would be extremly short sighted.
Laws and regulation
Legalise many currently illegal drugs on the advice of doctors such as cannabis with strict regulation and a new 60% tax on all of the newly legalised drugs.
Price control of all products directly affected by fuel duty for one year to enforce a reduction in price.
This would be redundant as if the prices were to rise steeply they would do so at the end of that year anyway, but most likely competition would in this instance force prices lower either way. The only way to ensure constant fair prices is to nationalise the industry.
Legalise Personal piracy for a product that has been released for one year or more.
Set up the Nuclear Power Regulatory Comity (NPRC) to inspect all nuclear power stations every year for safety and to decide on any future regulation.
This would be redundant based on current inspection and safety guidelines.
Merge all U.K. Competition authorities into one organisation and relax monopoly regulation.
Preventing monopolys is a good thing, even in capitalist societys.
Ban smoking and Drug use in all non-private areas (including cars.)
New government Rule - Magic Formula - The British Government may only run a budget deficit in recessions or extreme economic circumstances.
Given the way that most government spending works that would be interesting to see attempted. Not that I'm against the idea in principal though.
Semi-Legalise Polygamy - Must marry all at the same time/place as to not deceive.
Hardly the most pressing issue but if people are desperate for it (is anyone?) then I imagine it oculd be looked in to, remembering to consider all the taxation, housing and family issues that would arise.
Other
Leave the European Union but promote free trade and immigration with all "friendly" countries. (Free trade should be the neutral/default position)
As someone who doesn't support the EU (which is run almost entirely against the best interests of the people of Europe) simply leaving is completely the wrong call.
Seek invasion of Iran through the UN Security Council with NATO to remove the nuclear threat.
There is currently no reason to invade Iran.
Attempt to extend "Parliament Life" to eight years with a referendum after five years.
All politicians should be subject to recall if they're no longer representing their voters sufficiently. 4-5 years is already too long, 8 years should be out of the question. So no.
More actively Persue Tax evaders
With your plan to reduce taxes on them by so much and at the same time serve massive sections of public jobs up for free profit, you just might not have to chase them anymore.
So those are my current policies so would you elect me?
I would actively fight against your election on those policies.
Expenditure
Privatise National Health Service (NHS) - Provide a subsidy for anyone earning less than the new 2nd highest rate of income tax.
The NHS whilst already suffering major budget cuts in a bid to force quality down and sell it off piece by piece to the private sector is already having privatisation bids have a terrible impact on healthcare. PFI initiatives are already the biggest single cause of NHS related debt, and a for-profit system will only further reduce care whilst driving up costs. We can already see the result of private healthcare and insurance in the US and whilst it may only be a matter of years before we end up there here, rushing towards it would eradicate all hope of keeping a free at the point of use, universal healthcare system.
We should instead immediately remove the private sector from the NHS, cut debts to PFI scheme's and invest in jobs and training throughout hospitals in the UK.
Reduce all Benefits levels by 15% (see VAT tax reduction)
Provided that benefits were increased and reduced in line with VAT to result in the same spending power this may be acceptable, but current benefit levels are already too low with most cash issues arising from the poorly written legislation and failed economic policies of creating jobs, not from those on benefits being over paid. At a time with the highest youth unemplyment rate in the history of our country we should be very careful about penalising those with no options.
Cut university funding to all "bad" universities (Any universities that firms regard degrees as effectively pointless and a college course would be just as good(potentially leave only 120 universities across the UK))
All university education should be free. End fee's and ensure there are enough quality positions for everyone.
Evaluate all government advice/charitable agencies/organisations with regards to reducing funding up to and including a 100% reduction.
Such a vague statement it's impossible to oppose, but it would depend on the results of the evaluation.
Look into part privatisation of education.
NO. For-profit education is a truely terrible idea. Education should be independant, of a strict quality and free for all.
Increase science research and development spending by at least 100%.
I'm not expert enough to know the results of this for jobs and opportunites in the UK, and I wonder if you are?
Evaluate all religious,cultural and recreational funding.
Again, evaluation is fine if it is with a goal to improving services and value for money without cutting services or jobs.
Evaluate all employment,enterprise and environment spending.
Another vague "evaluate" that could not be judged until after propsals were made.
Cut all European Union Funding.
I'm not a fan of the EU, but this is actually insane. Cutting innapropriate funding is one thing but to decide to basically cut all ties with the EU is to leave the UK with little to no trading options and a potentially politically hostile environment in which to try to secure stronger growth.
Increase Defence budget by approximately 50%
There is no reason for such an increase, we don't need to be spending more money on imperialist conquest. Better care for returning soldiers and their families, but I'm not convined by your seemingly random number, nor am I intimately familiar with the UK defense budget allocations as it stands, or that simply throwing 50% more money at them will help.
Tax
Reduce Value added Tax (VAT) to 5% from 20%
Scrap all fuel duty
Various Income Tax Changes - No one pays tax below £20,000 a year.
£20,000-£35,000 10%
£35,000-£75,000 20%
£75,000+ 30%
Scrap National Insurance
Increase Taxes on alcohol, tobacco and betting.
New Tax on legalised drugs at 60% (see Laws and regulation)
Reduce corporation tax - Main rate to 15%
- Small profits rate to 5%
- Special rate to 10%.
Half all capital gains taxes.
Reduce inheritance tax to 35%.
Double all Stamp duty rates but provide 0% Stamp duty for first time buyers.
5% Tax break for all new nuclear power stations.
These tax plans are so regressive as to be almost confused with an attempt to wipe out the poor by way of starvation and lack of services. 5% VAT, no National Insurance (on top of your earlier plan for priavte education and healthcare????) with tax on things most likely used by poorer members of society whilst providing massive tax breaks to the rich? The same rich who already owe more in tax than every form of benefit fraud put together several times over? The only thing that would be universally helpful is the fuel duty plan which in itself would be extremly short sighted.
Laws and regulation
Legalise many currently illegal drugs on the advice of doctors such as cannabis with strict regulation and a new 60% tax on all of the newly legalised drugs.
Price control of all products directly affected by fuel duty for one year to enforce a reduction in price.
This would be redundant as if the prices were to rise steeply they would do so at the end of that year anyway, but most likely competition would in this instance force prices lower either way. The only way to ensure constant fair prices is to nationalise the industry.
Legalise Personal piracy for a product that has been released for one year or more.
Set up the Nuclear Power Regulatory Comity (NPRC) to inspect all nuclear power stations every year for safety and to decide on any future regulation.
This would be redundant based on current inspection and safety guidelines.
Merge all U.K. Competition authorities into one organisation and relax monopoly regulation.
Preventing monopolys is a good thing, even in capitalist societys.
Ban smoking and Drug use in all non-private areas (including cars.)
New government Rule - Magic Formula - The British Government may only run a budget deficit in recessions or extreme economic circumstances.
Given the way that most government spending works that would be interesting to see attempted. Not that I'm against the idea in principal though.
Semi-Legalise Polygamy - Must marry all at the same time/place as to not deceive.
Hardly the most pressing issue but if people are desperate for it (is anyone?) then I imagine it oculd be looked in to, remembering to consider all the taxation, housing and family issues that would arise.
Other
Leave the European Union but promote free trade and immigration with all "friendly" countries. (Free trade should be the neutral/default position)
As someone who doesn't support the EU (which is run almost entirely against the best interests of the people of Europe) simply leaving is completely the wrong call.
Seek invasion of Iran through the UN Security Council with NATO to remove the nuclear threat.
There is currently no reason to invade Iran.
Attempt to extend "Parliament Life" to eight years with a referendum after five years.
All politicians should be subject to recall if they're no longer representing their voters sufficiently. 4-5 years is already too long, 8 years should be out of the question. So no.
More actively Persue Tax evaders
With your plan to reduce taxes on them by so much and at the same time serve massive sections of public jobs up for free profit, you just might not have to chase them anymore.
So those are my current policies so would you elect me?
I would actively fight against your election on those policies.
Thank you for your input, we clearly have different economic ideologies especially about the NHS, with the leaving the EU, I would try to keep the free trade and immigration with these countries which you seem to have missed me saying, and i would see no reason for them not to accept as it benefits those countries to have free trade.
About my tax reductions i would say they are more progressive..., VAT is a regressive tax and so reducing it by 15% is progressive, then noone paying tax up to £20000 is incredible progressive for todays standards so i dont really see your point here. Yes im letting the rich pay less tax but the rich at the moment barely pay tax because of smar accountants, so I'm giving them less of an incentive to avoid paying tax.
The defence budget will be used to provide all military personal the proper equipment which they lack at the moment and provide better after care, with the remainder of the budget increase going to whatever the ministry of defence feels it needs.
For the parliament life, you must think that politicians dont have short term policies also i have stated a referendum after 5 years on whether not there would be an early election which is the same as now so polticians would be accountable and also the government would still need a majority anyway or there could be an election after 1 year.
But i fear you are of a different ideaology than me and you do not like the free market so its hard to debate with you.
