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

Then you must try harder!

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.

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.

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.

Or...not!

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

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

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?

They will have the good wheeze of workhouses next.

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?

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!

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.

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

Oh that bubble again!

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.

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

Yes, that bubble! Have you thought about it?

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.

You mean the bubble that is used as a lazy insult.....yes, there are a lot of them about.

fullfact.org/economy/guide-economy-taxes/

[grin

rosesarered Show that you are capable of an "outside the bubble" argument and you might even convince me.

Strangely enough daphnedil I don't come onto GN in order to impress or convince you ( or anybody else) saying that somebody is in a bubble is just a lazy insult, I could well say that you live in your own little bubble but it's a silly comment.

What is your definition of wealthy dj? That's a genuine enquiry by the way. You mentioned the millionaires in London so I was just using the term superwealthy to mean them.

Also by 'earned'. What qualifies as earned in an acceptable way to you? Again not being argumentative just trying to understand your thinking.

I thought there were some nurses and policemen in rosesarered's bubble
There are some in mine and their situations vary

It has never been that easy for single people to afford a mortgage unless they are/were on very high salaries. And often, behind a struggling mother, nurse or whatever occupation, is a feckless father who doesn't think his children are his responsibility and will either pay nothing towards their upkeep or the minimum he can get away with (often by lying about his circumstances).
A lot of poverty is as a result of family breakdown.