socialism in America.

[tomorton]

Its very hard to see defence expenditure as the reason for poor public services in the UK when it amounts to about 2% of our GDP or about 6% of central government expenditure.

Trident may / may not be the most appropriate weapons system but it seems very possible that it was military (including nuclear) strength which deterred Soviet expansion into western Europe during the Soviet era.

 

[Humpy]

Its very hard to see defence expenditure as the reason for poor public services in the UK when it amounts to about 2% of our GDP or about 6% of central government expenditure.

Trident may / may not be the most appropriate weapons system but it seems very possible that it was military (including nuclear) strength which deterred Soviet expansion into western Europe during the Soviet era.

It has been estimated that total costs over the 20 year likely life of 4 Trident subs will be about £200 billion.
Not an insignificant sum for a small country.
Besides the fact that none of them are likely to ever go into serious action because of the retaliation.
If the UK wasn't leaving the EU perhaps they could have shared costs.

 

[dealmaker]

UAW gained 15,000 members in 2017
Total membership in the UAW rose 3.6 percent year-over-year to 430,871 in 2017, marking the eighth consecutive year that the union saw an increase in total membership, according to an annual filing with the U.S. Department of Labor. The union's one-year new-member growth is the highest since 2010 and up 21 percent from a low of 355,191 in 2009.(Automotive News)

 

[tomorton]

UAW gained 15,000 members in 2017
golly gosh.Total membership in the UAW rose 3.6 percent year-over-year to 430,871 in 2017, marking the eighth consecutive year that the union saw an increase in total membership, according to an annual filing with the U.S. Department of Labor. The union's one-year new-member growth is the highest since 2010 and up 21 percent from a low of 355,191 in 2009.(Automotive News)

Gosh.

So........?

 

[Humpy]

High time the wealthiest paid a reasonable amount of tax.
Their holdings overseas would probably tell much upon investigation. Tax dodging small islands etc. could be forced to reveal all.

 

[tomorton]

High time the wealthiest paid a reasonable amount of tax.
Their holdings overseas would probably tell much upon investigation. Tax dodging small islands etc. could be forced to reveal all.

If you're thinking we need to raise more tax revenue to allow higher spending on improved public services, I would be with you.

But I suspect what you really want to see is redistribution of capital from those who have earned it to those who haven't.

 

[Sig]

If you're thinking we need to raise more tax revenue to allow higher spending on improved public services, I would be with you.

But I suspect what you really want to see is redistribution of capital from those who have earned it to those who haven't.

That's an interesting viewpoint. You have no problem then, I take it, with a 100% inheritance tax because a rich kid by accident of birth didn't "earn" anything?

 

[tomorton]

That's an interesting viewpoint. You have no problem then, I take it, with a 100% inheritance tax because a rich kid by accident of birth didn't "earn" anything?

You take the meaning of "earn" too literally. I mean it is capital which they got legally. That could be by salary, inheritance, investment, gambling or any other legally endorsed means.

 

[Sig]

You take the meaning of "earn" too literally. I mean it is capital which they got legally. That could be by salary, inheritance, investment, gambling or any other legally endorsed means.

So why does the kid who by accident of birth have rich parents deserve anything, as opposed to the kid born in West Virginia to a heroin addict? I didn't use the word "earn" lightly and neither did you, it carries the strong connection that the recipient somehow worked to get it and or deserves it. Like the kids of the person on welfare haven't "earned" anything.

 

[tomorton]

So why does the kid who by accident of birth have rich parents deserve anything, as opposed to the kid born in West Virginia to a heroin addict? I didn't use the word "earn" lightly and neither did you, it carries the strong connection that the recipient somehow worked to get it and or deserves it. Like the kids of the person on welfare haven't "earned" anything.

The child has the right to inherit what their parents left them (assuming their parents got what they had legally). The child should be able to expect that the state will uphold that right. The fact that one child inherits more than another is no concern of the state.

That said, any person unable to care for themselves has the right to expect that the state will help them. This naturally will exclude your kid who by accident of birth had rich parents: it will always remain their duty to pay taxes to support those less fortunate.