Whitey Grandad

I have been self employed for 30 years. Every penny I have earned has been down to my own efforts. I have worked extra hours and weekends and holidays in an attempt to make a little extra for my family and give me something for my old age. Now I am recovering from a heart attack and bypass operation and I am lucky that it wasn't a lot worse. Would it have been worth it if all my extra efforts had gone to the government to waste? Certainly not. I know many people who will lose their child benefit if they get a pay rise so it's not worth their time. I know plenty of cases where people have refused promotion because of the extra hours and responsibility. Repeat until you're blue in the face: tax is a disincentive.

And I thought you were a young 'un. ;-)

You cannot be serious.

That would be confusing wealth with earnings.

So stop paying them.

Absolutely no I don't. There should be a flat rate of 20%. Increasing them for the higher earners is a major disincentive to self-advancement.

That's a convoluted argument. PAYE is only a fraction of tax revenue and you have hypothecated part of it. This is an example of how we can reduce spending instead of stealing perceived wealth.

You're obsessed by this wealth thing. You see something of value and want it for yourself. Somebody else has something and you don't and you want to steal it from them. There is nothing wrong with wealth.

Slum landlords? Please explain. If you're paying a mortgage it's usually to buy a property.

Do they steal it, or offer something in return?

Or a heart attack maybe? ;-) I wasn't advocating no taxation, just something more reasonable. 20% is plenty.

Neat. American spelling cunningly slipped in! Cool.

Why call it redistribution? Very little money goes from the poor to the wealthy, it's all one-way.

Because it's part of the tax structure, just as much as tax-free allowance, and it would cost far more to remove it selectively from those deemed unworthy.

No problems. I have been watching this route for the possibility of spending a week at lake Garda, when the doc gives the ok.

17:50 tomorrow I believe. Saturdays only.

Yes please, bite his hand off. Just make sure you don't touch his legs.

But that's what happens now?

Congratulations. From now on your life will not be your own, but that's ok. You'll be the daddy, head of the family, paterfamilias. You will suddenly be responsible for clothing and feeding all of you and not just yourself. It will be the most rewarding experience of your life. Remember to enjoy every moment of their growing up. Very soon they will have grown out of sandcastles on the beach and you'll be lying awake wondering what time they'll come home. Then one day they'll be looking after you. Don't be too busy working, make time for your family, nothing else is more important. Good luck!

Taxation is legalised daylight robbery. Stop spending and wasting and we could all keep more of what we earn.

I can go to that. When is the next round?

Yes, international weekend, innit.

Come on, ketchup.

According to the Daily Mail he has done his ankle ligaments and could be out for three months.

We shall know by tomorrow midnight. I can wait.