Income tax for pensioners should not exceed £4,000 per year.

(deep voice type thingy)

"Coming soon, to a forum near you, "Frank the truth behind the posts"

Starring Robert De Niro as Frank, Scarlett Johanssen as Ana, Judi Dench as Galen, and Victoria Wood as annodomini.

Will Frank overcome the bureaucracy that is Birmingham City Council? Will Ana discover Franks true identity as a super hero? Will Galen get an Emmy award for her song? Will Anno give a f...lip?

All these questions and more will probably not be answered in........

*Frank, the Peoples Crusader"

Brought to you by "I'm not rich, tax all the others" productions.

Oh Phoenix I am loving it daaaaaaahlink !

Not sure about Robert De Nero in the starring role though, I have Frank more like the Mr Carson character from Downton Abbey. Jim Carter I just googled him!

Can I pleeeeease be in the film as a very subservient shop assistant in one of the shops that call Frank by his name when he graces them with his London Money ?

I have the accent (natural Geordie therefore very lower class) all worked out and everything. I can even write my own lines if you like.

I was thinking about Good morning Mr Frank and to what do we owe the pleasure of your company on this beautiful morning ?

small curtsey

oh the financial times, yes I have it here for you

It's a small part I know but very worthwhile I am sure you will agree!

I have never thought Frank is male, rather a late middle-aged woman taking a daily potshot at what she perceives " Middle England" and then sitting back and watching us get "our knickers in a twist"

Its stopped raining and I am going to wash my car.
It is cheaper than taking it to a car wash and I can look out for any faults at the same time.

Frank

Oh come on Frank you can do better than that. Washing the car is hardly a major new story line for Phoenix's film is it?

Annsixty I agree with you! NO ONE can really be that crasss. Can they?
Judi Dench! My heroine! I'm very honoured!

phoenix, you've got me perfectly cast. I'm definitely a Victoria Wood lookalike.

Scarlett Johanssen! I'm flattered, phoenix (I think)...

annsixty, I think you're wrong. No middle-aged woman would be able to resist reacting to some of our more dismissive comments, and the potshots aren't exactly inflammatory (unless you take Frank's posts deadly seriously, that is! ).

He does sound like my mother. She never left a tip. Never offered to pay, wouldn't spend any money, insisted she was poor and left £500,000.

Before you think that makes me rich, it was divided amongst the whole family and the inland revenue got a very hefty chunk due to my father having died over 30 years previously!

Don't, don't! You'll only encourage him!

The fact that Frank totally ignores my comments reminds of when my son was going through a very "cocky" stage in his teens amd one of his school reports said something along the lines of "he isn't half as bright as he thinks he is".

People who earn more, should pay more tax, and they didn't pay it on their pension contribution, so pay it on their pension.

They should count their blessings that circumstances allowed them to earn well and pay into a pension, not all are that lucky, we rely on poorly paid workers to fulfill our requirements, shop staff, refuse collectors, care workers, childcarers etc - some of them 'lucky' enough to have workplace pension - average publci sector pension for women - £4k per annum !

Susie, I think there are very few people on Gransnet, who would disagree with you.

Ah, yes, but, you see, as Frank is washing the car and checking it over at the same time (like it Frank multi tasking, also shows that your character is not afraid to get in there with the turtle wax and the chamois leather, great, work that role baby!) he discovers that there is a large and suspicious looking package taped to the underside (cue dramatic music, camera cuts to close up of Frank's face., brow slightly furrowed, perhaps just a hint of a bead of sweat)

We can tell he's thinking. What is in the package? Is it a bomb? Is it drugs that the local Mafia are hoping that he might unwittingly transport to Edgbaston? Is it even.......... a large bundle of MONEY !

What should he do? Phone the police, phone the bomb squad, pay his council tax for the next 50 years?

If it is money than Frank can handle it, just treat it likely a slightly large London pension and everything's hunky dorey. But what if it IS a bomb?

phoenix - Frank would of course do the Right Thing. Whatever that may be....

He'd probably call a Social Worker.

Hi susieb755

Why should people who earn more pay more tax?.
People who earn more only use the same services.

Frank

Its my belief that Frank is a student who likes trying to get the wrinklies all worked up!

However, if he is real and bearing in mind he doesn't like his taxes paying for anyone else, can I apply to him for a refund for my taxes which paid for the education of his children (I don't have children myself and worked full time and paid taxes until my retirement).

HunterF - why not apply this throughout life then, not just pensioners?

Hi Sunseeker

People pay for their own education as my daughters are now taxpayers and saving for their own pension.
Also I am paying tax now and my daughters are likely to do so when they get their pensions.

Frank

Granjura

I agree with what you are saying.

Frank

Frank your daughters (if they exist) are paying taxes towards the education of their children, I am also still paying tax on my income so could even be contributing to the education of your grandchildren!

I am, almost speechless, Frank said:
'Why should people who earn more pay more tax?.
People who earn more only use the same services.'

This is where I lose my cool. I do not think I have ever read a more selfish, hard hearted Thatcherite statement on Gransnet before. The purpose of taxation is not just to pay for the services we consume but also to help those in society who for any reason are living in poverty.

I am very happy to know that the money I pay in taxation is being used to provide housing, education, medical care and all the other services that other people need and I am fortunate not to. The idea that any one should have such a selfish self centred view as to think that they should only pay for the government services they receive fills me with contempt.

I had better stop hear in case I stray into 'message reported and removed' territory

Flickety well said. Compassion is a foreign word here.