[Archived] Election

[broadsword]

Jim sticks by his beliefs. What is so wind-up about that? Because you disagree with his views? Jim thinks Brown's done as good as he can and that the country has been better off under Labour than the Tories. People should debate it but cut out the personal insults.

Fine, but could someone let Jim know that the personal insults need to be cut out?

Jim obviously knows his stuff, but is so biased and one-eyed it's not true. He is Alastair Campbell's rebuttal machine incarnate. Like some kiddie's toy where you pull the string and it says a Labour manifesto pledge or some smear on the Tories.

You can tell he's a party android because of his insistence of labelling me a Tory boy even though the last time I voted Tory was 18 years ago.

[Hughesy]

Anyone know what the parties plan to do about un-employed people - I mean the lazy people, i.e. those unemployed for over say 12 months??

[berkshireblue]

Den have you thought about it this way? Say a person leaves a substantial amount of money to their children. These children then spend the money on a house, maybe a brand new car, perhaps a new kitchen or decide to start a new business.

This is the sort of thing the economy needs to recover and get us out of the financial mess we are in. I think new 'wealth creators' pumping money into the economy is far better than taxing it.

RVR you hit the nail on the head exactly

We want people spending , pumping money into the economy

No doubt you will get the usual left wing abuse on this view

[broadsword]

Channel Four News on IHT

It's basically a Labour smear. Only 3% of estates are liable for IHT anyway. The very wealthy can afford to avoid this tax. It seems more likely that it is there to benefit the middle classes who've benefitted from rising house prices.

[JAL]

Anyone know what the parties plan to do about un-employed people - I mean the lazy people, i.e. those unemployed for over say 12 months??

None ! theres a been a bit of cheap talk about creating jobs without providing any sustance to the attributed comments by that I mean how could Gordon go on record and say hes going to create jobs when in fact after the election he and any of the other elected parties will have to cut public sector jobs.

Branding people lazy because they are unemployed is a lazy, ignorant comment Hughesey, not everyone is priviledged enough to be in your position.

[only2garners]

All the chat above about inheritance tax seems to suggest that if we don't do as the Conservatives want and increase the threshold to £1m then millions of ordinary families will lose all they have saved up. The current threshold is £375K, after which you are taxed at 40%. Most people with an estate worth over £375K have a significant proportion in property, most of the value of which has been gained just by owning for a decent while. My house, by no means expensive, is worth roughly 6 times what we paid for it 25 years ago.

On top of that, anyone with a bit of nous can plan to move their wealth to their descendants (or anyone) and so avoid most inheritance tax anyway.

The Tories' proposals will only benefit a very small number of very rich people - is this really the message any fair government wants to give in a situation where we all know everyone will have to manage with both severe public spending cuts and higher taxes? And do you really expect that this group of rich people are all going to invest their tax windfalls in the UK economy rather than buying a nice villa somewhere warm?

Anyone know what the parties plan to do about un-employed people - I mean the lazy people, i.e. those unemployed for over say 12 months??

Well apparently, according to one of Lord Ashcroft's big posters at the end of my road the tories are going to take their benefits away, despite the fact that that is already the situation.

[SouthAussieRover]

That is not enough, it's just a silly soundbite. Explain please......

......... nah never mind it doesn't concern you.

Eins,zwei,drei and a click of the heels.

Just voted, Gordy!

[Hughesy]

Branding people lazy because they are unemployed is a lazy, ignorant comment Hughesey, not everyone is priviledged enough to be in your position.

Obviously their are differing reasons, illness or whatever - im just talking about the lazy, Jeremy Kyle watching lot - who dont want to work, no matter what . Not branding all those out of work as lazy - just mean those lazy ones that never have/ never WANT to work.

Im 26 & I know alot of people who went to my school, who still do not work! To me, that is pathetic - unless they have a valid excuse.

[Sandiway Blue]

None ! theres a been a bit of cheap talk about creating jobs without providing any sustance to the attributed comments by that I mean how could Gordon go on record and say hes going to create jobs when in fact after the election he and any of the other elected parties will have to cut public sector jobs.

Branding people lazy because they are unemployed is a lazy, ignorant comment Hughesey, not everyone is priviledged enough to be in your position.

That depends on if you have over 1/2 a dozen households within a minutes walk of your house whose occupants are claiming benefits without any intention of working...

(and in all fairness its probably nearer a dozen!)

[SouthAussieRover]

RVR you hit the nail on the head exactly

We want people spending , pumping money into the economy

No doubt you will get the usual left wing abuse on this view

Being Gloucestershire born and having lived there for a few years I take umbrage at your views.

It's the likes of you Berkshire and fellow Home Counties type who pumped your cash into areas away from London,inflating house prices beyond the reach of locals and turning parts of the countryside into holiday villages.

For that reason alone you can stick your right wing views up your wotsit.

[koi]

Hughesy is referring to the 'Kyle' generation. That section of society that can work but wont work, we all know them, we all see them. All they are doing is taking resources away from those who really need it.

I don't think anyone has the answer. You can threaten to take their benefits off them but it doesn't work, there's too many loopholes and too many willing to point that out. The other problem is who wants to employ them? not me that's for sure, I've been there done that and it can ruin your business. There are other social and criminal issues with removing benefits from people.

I don't know the answer. You certainly have to make it as unattractive as possible for those who are able to work but wont. I am certain you need a much wider approach than just monetary penalties, how and where you start is the difficult part. I'd start with taking daytime telly off air for anything other kids educational programmes. Countdown of course would allow to be aired from 3.30pm to keep the oldies happy.

I'm joking of course, I really think that if someone doesn't want to work they shouldn't be made to do. We should all take home the same pay regardless of our position in society. Up the revolution, eh Jim.

[tcj_jones]

I'm off to vote now. I want Labour to stay in power, but they have no hope in Orpington. The town has been a Tory stronghold my whole life, but the Lib Dems are catching and I think they have a slim chance of taking the constituency. I don't want the Tories in, so I'm gonna tactically vote for Lib Dem.

[london-rover]

orpington is just down the road from me!

il be voting bnp as a protest vote as i dont want any of them 3 in power there all cocks!

[berkshireblue]

Being Gloucestershire born and having lived there for a few years I take umbrage at your views.

It's the likes of you Berkshire and fellow Home Counties type who pumped your cash into areas away from London,inflating house prices beyond the reach of locals and turning parts of the countryside into holiday villages.

For that reason alone you can stick your right wing views up your wotsit.

SOuthAUssieRover

You take umbrage at the fact that people spending drives the economy - strange

It would save you from looking an idiot if you got your facts right before mouthing off about a complete stranger

Firstly I am not a Home Counties type - Born Great Harwood, Lancs - unlike you

Secondly I live where I live because I want to, it is not a holiday home nor a holiday village my son goes to local primary school - thank you and me buying my modest dwelling has not inflated house prices - you are showing bigoted ignorance

Finally if Brown has made this country so great why do you live in convict land?

[SouthAussieRover]

SOuthAUssieRover

Finally if Brown has made this country so great why do you live in convict land?

Why, thankyou Berkshire.

That little riposte of yours sums you up.

You are indeed a Blue Berk from the Shire

I thank you Victor.

Now waste your right wing abuse on someone who cares

[Clitherover]

il be voting bnp as a protest vote as i dont want any of them 3 in power there all cocks!

smart...

[berkshireblue]

Why, thankyou Berkshire.

That little riposte of yours sums you up.

You are indeed a Blue Berk from the Shire

I thank you Victor.

Now waste your right wing abuse on someone who cares

I think you ll find you started this abuse for no apparent reason hence your avoidance of any mention to my reply or answering any questions

I am glad you took my bait of convict land, which is taken from a well known barmy army cricket song, incidentally I doubt they are all blue berks...

The fact you took the bait makes me laugh, you started this so I ll happily end it and while you are wiping the tears when Gordon hails the taxi also take your sh*t stars off our flag

[only2garners]

I think it's taking benefits away from those people who refuse jobs that they could take. I think that's fair. Money's tight, times are hard - beggars can't be choosers if they want 'free' benefits. On the TV debate I thought I heard Brown say a similar thing. Labour also want to do the following (taken from BBC):

- Guarantee employment or training to those out of work for six months or more.

- Guaranteed job placement for those unemployed for more than two years.

How they will do that I'm not sure - probably through public sector jobs.

I can't see what the Lib Dems want to do.

Sorry - it was my poor post. I understand that the Tories propose to take benefits away from those who refuse to take a job. My point is not that that policy is wrong but that it is already the situation.

[SouthAussieRover]

I think you ll find you started this abuse for no apparent reason hence your avoidance of any mention to my reply

I am glad you took my bait of convict land, which is taken from a well known barmy army cricket song, incidentally I doubt they are all blue berks

The fact you took the bait makes me laugh, you started this so I ll happily end it and bye the way take your sh*t stars off our flag

I think you are the the one who started the abuse on this thread in relation to my friend Jim Mk2.

Im glad Saint Margaret gave you the ability to afford a coucil house in Bourton.

[berkshireblue]

I think you are the the one who started the abuse on this thread in relation to my friend Jim Mk2.

Im glad Saint Margaret gave you the ability to afford a coucil house in Bourton.

Ah that explains it all - A friend of Jim Mk2 - Tweddle dee and Tweddle dum of the socialist world

Why did you chose South AUS over Cuba?

PS Thanks to Maggie council houses now come with gates - Pull

PPS Do you enjoy living in a Liberal controlled city?

[RibbleValleyRover]

Looks like a lot of these polling stations are being swamped by young people suffering from Cleggasm. Wonder if we might see a shock result and the vote Clegg get Brown might occur?

[Hughesy]

Hughesy is referring to the 'Kyle' generation. That section of society that can work but wont work, we all know them, we all see them. All they are doing is taking resources away from those who really need it.

I don't think anyone has the answer. You can threaten to take their benefits off them but it doesn't work, there's too many loopholes and too many willing to point that out.

Exactly......they really annoy me!

Perhaps suspend their TV licences, and ban them from buying alcohol??

[American]

Pound is down 2 cents against the dollar today, most of it in the past couple of hours, methinks a hung parliament is expected.

[thenodrog]

Only 3% of estates are liable for IHT anyway. The very wealthy can afford to avoid this tax. It seems more likely that it is there to benefit the middle classes who've benefitted from rising house prices.

benefit the middle classes? I take it you mean ensnare.

It's true though as the rules regarding trust funds are changed frequently so that only the very rich can afford to utilise them as an option.

[TugaysMarlboro]

I'm 22 and it's my first time voting and i'll say one thing, and one thing only.

The day I vote Conservative, is the day my heart stops.