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Journal Cyberdyne's Journal: A clue is born... 11

Journal by Cyberdyne
Promising comments from the top - he doesn't have the power to implement it, of course, but should have some influence.

After my last JE, I found myself losing service entirely for around ten minutes during a journey - starting right in the middle of a mid-size city. Oh, that wonderful legacy technology...

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A clue is born... More

A clue is born...

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    • Not terribly accurate, FWIH - one key difference is that most countries do not make the UK's mistake of having an entirely tax-funded system - and disturbingly close to the same belief that the NHS would be fine if only the government poured another (insert ever-increasing sum here) into the same old structure. Allowing a "choice" between identically-funded alternative "mini-NHSes" might make some improvement, but would be a long way short of actually fixing the underlying problems and indeed from copying t

      • Not terribly accurate, FWIH - one key difference is that most countries do not make the UK's mistake of having an entirely tax-funded system - and disturbingly close to the same belief that the NHS would be fine if only the government poured another (insert ever-increasing sum here) into the same old structure. Allowing a "choice" between identically-funded alternative "mini-NHSes" might make some improvement, but would be a long way short of actually fixing the underlying problems and indeed from copying

  • FTA:
    "We could afford our workers to make an identifiable contribution towards health care - not one hidden in national insurance and taxation."

    So now he wants to create a whole department for identification? Let the worker do his job and go home. Why should he be tied down doing all that paperwork? When I pay a tax, that's part of the service I expect. The tax doesn't have to be hidden. Just state what percentage goes to what service. That a system can be so easily abused says more about the fallibility of
    • So now he wants to create a whole department for identification?

      No. Where taxes are collected by a department other than the Inland Revenue, it's generally for sound structural reasons - car tax, for example, is collected by the DVLA since that's the body responsible for registering cars and drivers.

      Why should he be tied down doing all that paperwork? When I pay a tax, that's part of the service I expect. The tax doesn't have to be hidden. Just state what percentage goes to what service. That a system c

      • Once you reach that level of government employment and welfare dependency, votes flock instead to tax and spending increases...

        I see your point. I forgot to add that people will also vote themselves a bigger govt check, through subsdies and welfare, etc. Well, you know what I'm saying. People are greedy. This is just one way of demonstrating how all alike we are. One group wants to pay low taxes and wages and meddle in the personal affairs of others, and the other wants govt freebies and to meddle in the pe
        • Well, you know what I'm saying. People are greedy. This is just one way of demonstrating how all alike we are. One group wants to pay low taxes and wages and meddle in the personal affairs of others, and the other wants govt freebies and to meddle in the personal affairs of others, also. What's the difference between the two? Effectively none.

          That's where I disagree strongly. It's the difference between me wanting control of my wallet, and you wanting control of my wallet. To me, one is theft, the other i

          • That's just it. I don't want to control anything. I do however think it's wise to look after the welfare of your neighbors as you would your parents just because it's the right thing to do. I wouldn't force you to do it, but I might disparage you for not doing it. Would you rather not have the services your taxes pay for for? the roads? the lights? the water? One of the things about being a good person is at least making a feeble effort to care for those who aren't so lucky. That doesn't require tolerating
            • Would you rather not have the services your taxes pay for for? the roads? the lights? the water?

              Two of those three aren't funded by taxes at all, the other is funded by its own dedicated taxes (on car ownership and fuel) which run at a handsome profit to the government - none receives money from general taxation revenues. Even healthcare is funded almost entirely (all but GBP 4bn, this year) from the National Insurance revenues, rather than income tax. You should also avoid suggesting the postal service -

              • Sounds like your system, like too many others, is needlessly complex. A simple, single consumption tax on all business transactions, including retail and paychecks(a worker should negotiate his net pay anyway, I'm not concerned with how much the total cost of employing me is. I only want to know what I take home when the day is done), collected by the corporations as a minor cost to maintain their charter, and by the self employed, I suppose, would be in order here(there). Reasonable user fees(which is real
                • Sounds like your system, like too many others, is needlessly complex. A simple, single consumption tax on all business transactions, including retail and paychecks(a worker should negotiate his net pay anyway, I'm not concerned with how much the total cost of employing me is. I only want to know what I take home when the day is done), collected by the corporations as a minor cost to maintain their charter, and by the self employed, I suppose, would be in order here(there).

                  It's not that complex - and the e

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