Why the reluctance to answer questions and face the real electorate ?

I don't think I have ever mentioned the "super rich". Of course, tax evasion schemes should be cracked down upon,but they're only one side of the equation.

I'm very much aware of the people I would target.

The "squeezed middle" is a term invented by people who don't want their wealth to be challenged and don't give two hoots about the society in which they live.

There arepeople in this country - right now - who have not "earned" the wealth which they now enjoy.

Yes, that bubble! Have you thought about it?

Developing a fair and progressive tax system is highly possible given the will to achieve it.

The actual percentage of super rich is very small. As ever the burden of massively increased taxation would fall on the squeezed middle. The London millionaires of which you speak should certainly pay their taxes.
I'm not talking about no taxes just the difficulty of finding a sustainable medium.

Oh that bubble again!

No, it's not ridiculous equating nurses with poverty. Try thinking outside your bubble.

I agree with you dj. The level of "benefits" has to be sustainable, if we don't want to become a third world country and/or return to a Victorian society. Do we honestly wantto see people with no legs with no home begging in the streets?

I have a real bugbear with the term "benefits". The massive welfare bill, which is so often quoted to claim that benefits are unsustainable. includes pensions and benefits to the elderly.

Do people honestly want to see the elderly dropping dead when their money runs out? People of working age have seen their benefits slashed. For example, JSA is only worth half the amount it was 20 years ago.

People need to try to understand Modern Monetary Policy before they accept every headline thrown at them by the mainstream media. Of course, there are "I'm alright Jacks (and Jills)", who just don't care.

If she had been nursing for a long time then she would have a good salary.
All public sector workers including nurses and policemen have had virtual pay freezes ( or low rises)Having both in my family, we are up to date on things, but nevertheless they do have good salaries, and our nurse bought herself a small house before she married DS.
I wish everybody would stop equating nurses with poverty, it's ridiculous!

Roses, the nurse said her pay slips showed that she had the same pay as in 2009.
Perhaps you should listen more carefully.

Many of the nurses in York live close to the hospital. A two bedroomed terrace house with a yard would be on the market for £150-200,000 in that area.
She had been nursing for 25 years.
A 3 bedroomed with a garden would be £250-300,000
I do hope she had a husband, because she couldn't afford a house near the hospital on that pay.
How much of a pay rise had May had in that time? I think it was £9,000 for ordinary MPs.
Can you justify that?

They will have the good wheeze of workhouses next.

Jane, you said that level of benefits isn't sustainable now.
So what, in your opinion, is?
If we reduce benefits, how many more children do you envisage living in poverty?
How many more families living in homeless hostels or B&Bs and using foodbanks?

You can't just say that that level of benefits is unsustainable and not expect to be picked up on it.

Why shouldn't the millionaires living in London pay a bit more tax to get people off the streets so they don't have to step over them?

There's no point trying harder when there is no reward. Isn't that what apologists for neoliberalism always claim?

Sorry there should have been a 'Jane' in there.

Or...not!

I wonder what the future generations would make of diaries similar to the mass observation one if we kept them today. They have provided a wonderful social history.

The nurse on the debate was not close to tears, and like all nurses earns a minimum of £21,000 to £30,000 and was just complaining that like a lot of public workers ,was only getting a small rise every year.Let's not go OTT and talk of descending into Hell.

It wasn't just that TM had no understanding of their lives, but she showed with her "no magic money tree" mantra that she doesn't understand economics.

Then you must try harder!

I expect we all want something for nothing . At the moment, there are some people in this country who receive a lot for doing very little - and they're not the demonised "benefit scroungers". They're the people who already have wealth and can sit back and watch their pile get even bigger.

Oh, what a shame RAR. I try so hard where you are concerned.

I agree that we are unlikely to live in Utopia Jane, although I doubt there would be any taxation if we did but, on the other hand we do not need to descend into hell either which is where the nurse who was so close to tears and the partially blind lady with mental health problems must have felt May was happy to consign them as she seemed to have no understanding of the challenges of their lives and how her government had added to them.

GGM2 just as I think your posts can't get any more condescending/ pompous/ po faced, ......they do!

Jane, I'm sure you wouldn't dream of not paying your plumber for a service provided.

Taxation is higher than it was 100 years ago, because as a country we receive more. The most expensive services we have received as a country are universal healthcare, pensions and education, which are how about half of the taxation received by the Treasury are used.

Somebody (can't remember which thread) said that she knew somebody from Tanzania who is shocked at what we receive. I Googled Tanzania and discovered that it has a life expectancy in the mid 60s, an illiteracy rate of about 35% and no meaningful healthcare, unless you're very wealthy. Personally, I prefer what we have here in the UK and it's because we've invested in society that we have a wealthier one.

We?

Agreed, GracesGran.
Roses, can you please tell us who on this thread, or any other political thread, or in your vast acquaintance of Labour supporters has said that they expect everything to be free?
I doubt whether you will find one person who thinks that.
We have all the figures we need to make our assessments.

I've just heard Mayhem say again that it is your party's intention to reduce taxes for ordinary working families. That makes me think that those who vote for her want something for nothing.
What figures do you base your faith in May on?