Unbelievable Jeff

Because the NHS is overworked and underfinanced as it is, and it's not something that's going to change anytime soon. Surely the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the pool so those that can't afford it have a better service. It's all about being unselfish and doing what's best for those that don't have the options that others have.

So who's coming on Tuesday then? Meet at the Wheatsheaf after work - I'll probably be down there from about half 5.

No, I don't think it is. What I am saying is that this shouldn't be done by taxatio, hell I'm not even saying it's a legal thing, all I said was I think those that can afford should feel a moral obligation to pay for Private Healthcare to leave the NHS for those that need it. The 45% tax rate should be returned to 50% though.

I think the problem is that context is difficult to convey on a board as we all have our own way of interpreting what is written - it's easier to convey context in real life. In relation to your use of it, I know that your use of it is more of a ****take than anything else, and as such isn't meant in that way. However, I still hate the word and its connotations.

Hate the word...If you don't want to be infracted don't use it Turkish. And report others who do!

Not sure fire, police etc would work as well. Schools though...

Fair enough. All I am trying to do is come up with a way to ease the burden on the NHS.

Well, the 45% rate is too low. I think healthcare should be free for those who can't afford private healthcare.

And that's my point. I think everyone should. However, I would say a number of people, even on this thread, don't even though they could.

And I have no problem with that? I never said those that couldn't afford it shouldn't have access to free healthcare?

Have you read any of my posts about this? I never said it was a policy, I said I think morally people should pay for private healthcare.

Why do you say that?

As said it's a moral obligation I feel people should have. If you don't think you can afford it then fine, but it's based on your conscience and what you feel you can spend.

But I don't currently, as it's not something you notice. You can't see the tax you pay going into a specific services. I get more satisfaction from the fiver of food In put in the food 'trolleys' at Tesco every week.

In relation to what? Paying for your own healthcare?

No, because i think you should get something in return, you pay for private healthcare and you tend to get a better service, whereas through taxation you get no additional benefit.

Don't know. This isn't a policy, just an opinion that if you have a decent disposable income you should pay for private healthcare to take the burden off the state.

By the way, I didn't say it was a legal obligation, I said moral...

Basics, food, shelter, heating. In my opinion if you have over £1000 disposable income after those then you can afford a private healthcare plan.

Where someone has the disposable income to cover it. The savings in the NHS could cover the drop in benefits we've seen in this parliament...

As an aside, I also believe that those who can afford it should have a moral obligation to pay for private healthcare instead of using an already underfinanced and overworked NHS.

It's not an insurance per se, more an upfront payment for services rendered, and if not used, refunded.

A lot of employers already pay out in the form of private healthcare. It's about a duty of care to keep their workforce healthy.

Long term sick or disabled would be covered by the government if unemployment, as I said abov, or businesses if employed.

No, it's an insurance. Effectively the business pays a premium per year per employee (say £500) and if that person doesn't use the NHS then it gets refunded. Not sure if this is better taken from the employer or the employee as I am sure the business would see it as a kind of tax and remove it from the wage pool, or whether they would promote healthy living of the workforce and actively promote this.