Blair is failing on global warming

Originally Posted by MarkuisMellvile

Compromise slightly Aaron.

The Green Party may not be perceived as a viable governing party here, but the yellow party are (apart from being led by a ginger Scot!)

Don't the Lib Dems just want to hike up taxes and increase the size of government still further?

Since when has that ever worked?

[MarkuisMellvile]

Originally Posted by adi

Don't the Lib Dems just want to hike up taxes and increase the size of government still further?

Since when has that ever worked?

Transparent taxation is fine, and the LD do want to raise revenue by taxing more heavily above £100k income. If you keep all of your income below £4700, 80% of your income between £4700 and £60000, 60% between £60k and £100k, and half of what you earn above £100k then you're still rich and living comfortably, so why not contribute your share?

50% tax on income over £100k is what they put in their draft manifesto yesterday, and it doesn't mean you only keep £50000 of your £100000 does it!

Other than being led by Charles Kennedy, the LD aren't likely to achieve a majority in the commons because the electorate (by and large) want something for nothing. The Lib Dems are the only party being honest about better services costing a little more.

I've heard no mention of the 1p in the pound on income tax in general this year, but if paying it resulted in better healthcare, education and welfare services for England and Wales then I'll support them

Originally Posted by MarkuisMellvile

Transparent taxation is fine, and the LD do want to raise revenue by taxing more heavily above £100k income. If you keep all of your income below £4700, 80% of your income between £4700 and £60000, 60% between £60k and £100k, and half of what you earn above £100k then you're still rich and living comfortably, so why not contribute your share?

50% tax on income over £100k is what they put in their draft manifesto yesterday, and it doesn't mean you only keep £50000 of your £100000 does it!

Other than being led by Charles Kennedy, the LD aren't likely to achieve a majority in the commons because the electorate (by and large) want something for nothing. The Lib Dems are the only party being honest about better services costing a little more.

I've heard no mention of the 1p in the pound on income tax in general this year, but if paying it resulted in better healthcare, education and welfare services for England and Wales then I'll support them

Most British people already pay 50% of their income in tax. When you add things like VAT, national insurance, income tax, inheritance tax, council tax etc. etc. the burden on many families is very large already. If you look at the last budget I think the total raised by the Labour government was over £600 billion. This works out to over £10,000 for every person in the country!! I'm sure many would not mind this but services aren't improving.

Centralised government has never worked and it probably never will. The thought of having so much power in the hands of someone like Tony Blair makes my skin crawl.

[MarkuisMellvile]

Originally Posted by adi

Centralised government has never worked and it probably never will. The thought of having so much power in the hands of someone like Tony Blair makes my skin crawl.

Local taxation and devolved government is a major part of Lib Dem policy.

Wouldn't you rather pay income tax to your local government, which was then spent on the essential services you need in your area, than continuing to pay indiscriminate council tax to the Local Authority, on top of the money you pay the treasury, the destination of which is unclear (other than whitehall and the defence budget!)?

Wouldn't you rather pay income tax to your local government, which was then spent on the essential services you need in your area, than continuing to pay indiscriminate council tax to the Local Authority, on top of the money you pay the treasury, the destination of which is unclear (other than whitehall and the defence budget!)?

To be honest I'd rather not pay my money to any organisation if thats the only organisation that provides me with essential services. Monopolies are bad in the private sector and they'd bad in the public sector.

I'm uneasy about the control government has over our lives. We're supposed to live in a democracy. How about giving us some power back over our own lives?

[MarkuisMellvile]

Originally Posted by adi

How about giving us some power back over our own lives?

Short of total anarchy, devolving control to local people is as good as it gets, and only the Lib Dems are championing that as progress.

Originally Posted by MarkuisMellvile

Short of total anarchy, devolving control to local people is as good as it gets, and only the Lib Dems are championing that as progress.

How would it result in anarchy?

[altyfc]

Originally Posted by MarkuisMellvile

Compromise slightly Aaron.

The Green Party may not be perceived as a viable governing party here, but the yellow party are (apart from being led by a ginger Scot!)

Are they? I don't see them being in office come the next election myself...

Aaron

[MarkuisMellvile]

Originally Posted by adi

How would it result in anarchy?

If no organisation had control of your life, the individuals running things are part of an anarchic system. No authority = anarchy.

Originally Posted by altyfc

I don't see them being in office come the next election myself...

Nor do I, but there is no practical reason why they shouldn't be. The same wass being said of the Tories months ago, but they now seem to be kicking the government (and gaining support) at every opportunity. It is, however, the Lib Dems that have taken Brent East and Leicester South from Labour in recent by-elections. Watch Hartlepool to see how Jody Dunn does at the end of the month.

As a football supporter (presumably) you support your team through the good times and the bad. Your support is one motivating factor that drives your team to succeed.

If the same is true of politicians, then it follows that those of us eligible to vote (and even those not yet old enough) should continue to voice their support for the aims of the party or parties they hope to see elected.

If no organisation had control of your life, the individuals running things are part of an anarchic system. No authority = anarchy.

Ok, there would be a lack of political control but anarchy? All the other areas of life (not controlled by government) go pretty smoothly. A definition of anarchy is "Absence of any cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose"

People will always have standards and principles but instead of forcing people to adopt the standards/principles of a government they could adopt standards/principals for themselves.

Nor do I, but there is no practical reason why they shouldn't be. The same wass being said of the Tories months ago, but they now seem to be kicking the government (and gaining support) at every opportunity. It is, however, the Lib Dems that have taken Brent East and Leicester South from Labour in recent by-elections. Watch Hartlepool to see how Jody Dunn does at the end of the month.

This is a great example of what's wrong with the current political system. I bet if you asked most residents of West Hartlepool what they knew about Jody Dunn they'd be able to give you very little. Compare the way people vote (and the knowledge they have about candidates) with the way organisations hire employees. The difference in information is staggering and yet we are each MP's employers.