Britain must have a 'grown-up debate' about tax increases...

[scooterscot]

So what's the problem?

You got me.

[PurpleGorilla]

The brutal truth is that no one wants to pay more tax. But we all want good high quality infrastructure and government services.

The UK is in a terrible mess, decades in the making. Blame on all sides.

[BrilloPad]

The brutal truth is that no one wants to pay more tax. But we all want good high quality infrastructure and government services.

The UK is in a terrible mess, decades in the making. Blame on all sides.

It was fine until 1990 when that idiot Major took over.

[PurpleGorilla]

It was fine until 1990 when that idiot Major took over.

It's not just the UK, the divide between the rich and poor is growing right across the developed world.

[BrilloPad]

It's not just the UK, the divide between the rich and poor is growing right across the developed world.

The gap between rich and poor has been growing since early 1930s. We need a depression.

Major started this tax by stealth malarky.

[PurpleGorilla]

The gap between rich and poor has been growing since early 1930s. We need a depression.

Major started this tax by stealth malarky.

Has it though? I would say the Divide started in the early 1980's under Thatcher. Financial de-regulation.

Feels like a depression is coming, which will make the 2008 crisis like a wet fart, compared to Ebola levels of Tulip.

[Maslins]

"The serious question to the electorate cannot be 'would you like us to tax someone who isn’t you to pay for you to consume more?', but 'would you be willing to pay more tax to consume more public services?'”

Basically a long, waffly, less catchy rip off of "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".

[PurpleGorilla]

Basically a long, waffly rip off of "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".

That's fine, as long as those running the country are not complete morons.

Credit to JFK, he set the vision for the country.

Where is the UK going? What is the plan? What is the vision?

Why put you hand in your pocket and pay more when you know it will be spent on Special Brew.

[northernladyuk]

Has it though? I would say the Divide started in the early 1980's under Thatcher. Financial de-regulation.

Feels like a depression is coming, which will make the 2008 crisis like a wet fart, compared to Ebola levels of Tulip.

Much as I don't care for Thatcher, I think globalisation is largely to blame. The Western working class used to benefit from the suppression of industrial production in colonies and certain other non-Western countries. This ensured less competition for industrial labour and captive markets for manufactured goods. This has unwound in the post-imperial era, and other factors such as economic reform in China have come into play at the same time. Other changes have included the ability to move plant overseas quickly, the ability to move labour quickly, containerisation etc. etc.

Together these factors have had a downward effect on living standards in the Western working class, and an upward effect on living standards in developing countries. These trends increase inequality within Western countries, but decrease inequality between Western and developing countries. This is good if you are Chinese but not so good if you are a Western worker.

[sasguru]

Much as I don't care for Thatcher, I think globalisation is largely to blame. The Western working class used to benefit from the suppression of industrial production in colonies and certain other non-Western countries. This ensured less competition for industrial labour and captive markets for manufactured goods. This has unwound in the post-imperial era, and other factors such as economic reform in China have come into play at the same time. Other changes have included the ability to move plant overseas quickly, the ability to move labour quickly, containerisation etc. etc.

Together these factors have had a downward effect on living standards in the Western working class, and an upward effect on living standards in developing countries. These trends increase inequality within Western countries, but decrease inequality between Western and developing countries. This is good if you are Chinese but not so good if you are a Western worker.

Globalisation can't be unwound. Countries that try protectionism e.g. through Brexit or Trump will simply end up poorer than they were.