Thank fuck he’s uneluctable too as that would hit a lot of us contractors so hard in the solar plexus it would destroy the industry.
It’s nice to see some refinement of the term “unelectable”. Does it mean “promising to implement policy that’ll fuck me up personally?”. It seems to, which is amusing in the light of Twitter being regarded as an untrustworthy source of public opinion.
Thanks for spelling out the details of Smith’s tax policy. It seems to be a neat trap for those that would prefer to avoid the 50% tax rate he’s talking about. The criticism of that was that people would find other ways to stop the money from getting to the government. The extra tax on investments and dividends would mitigate somewhat.
I don’t think Cherts is right in that such a move will destroy the IT contracting industry. People still need computing. Many programmers aren’t fit to be let loose on normal jobs. It’ll continue, but people may make less (and I suspect tax accountants will make more).
And here lies the problem - the higher the tax rate the more people will work to avoid paying it, be it through some loop hole or moving money offshore. There was a study in the US some years ago that determined that the optimum tax rate was 42-3%. Above that people would either actively avoid tax or would not work as hard as what was the point if you have to hand the majority of over to the government.
We have a top rate of 45% (47% if you included NI) that is significant and high enough. Corporation tax is low and probably could be raised, although given where we are with the Brexit, reducing the attractiveness of the UK to business, might not be the smartest thing to do. IHT is tax I totally disagree with, although I am not sure what he would have planned for that - if be backs out the recent changes then he will recapture most of middle earners due to the value of the house in the estate - that won’t be popular. Capital gains tax is also low at 20%, I would reverse that change - the is entrepreneurs relief on the first £10m of lifetime gains so a lower rate isnt strictly necessary.
They would be better off simplifying the tax system. Scrap Employees NI and roll that into the tax rate, you would gain 2% to 12% on unearned income (but this will piss off the grey vote). Have one (or a band) of tax rates that is applied to all income regardless of how it is earned. Cut back on the reliefs and allowances. Reduce the exceptions. You will remove the opportunity to find ways around the rules.
With regards to contractors - tough shit. They have been taking the piss for over a decade - very few are “in business”, most of their limited companies are tax avoidance vehicles.
It’d just mean I’d have to use a more dodgy accountant in all honesty.
I had already said Smith was unelectable, so don’t worry about it being to do with anything bordering on personal finances.
And if you seriously hold Twitter as an accurate example of public opinion then unfortunately I don’t think we can really trust your judgement.
Originally posted by @Chertsey-Saint
And if you seriously hold Twitter as an accurate example of public opinion then unfortunately I don’t think we can really trust your judgement.
Ok then.
Where would one more readily get a source of online public opinion that is better than Twitter? (a purpose built platform for sharing opinions)
In your impeccable judgement, of course? 
Some “Smithereens” looking absolutely entranced.
Twitter just amplifies the shouty people
Sorry Bear. YouGov is very decent at what it does, but its ultimately an on-rails experience.
I can comment, for example, on whether I think 210K a week is excessive cash for a footballer, but there’s nowhere for me to share my anagram findings.
How representative can that be? 
And btw, if anyone thinks I constrain myself to left opinions, you’d be wrong. Just as important to know what the other side is saying about you, feasible on Twitter but not so much on YouGov. So I do check out Tory tweets, the Smith camp’s stuff, and I’m a closet fan of order-order. Even though it’s a clear outrider, and full of Tories, they can be funny cunts - and represent a swathe of opinion that I’m guessing people think I’m not seeing.
What is it with Owen Smith supporters looking terminally miserable? Have they just heard his real views on the NHS?
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Same thing can be said of all media.
It fans the flames, doesn’t start the fire.
Originally posted by @pap
Sorry Bear. YouGov is very decent at what it does, but its ultimately an on-rails experience.
I can comment, for example, on whether I think 210K a week is excessive cash for a footballer, but there’s nowhere for me to share my anagram findings.
How representative can that be?
And btw, if anyone thinks I constrain myself to left opinions, you’d be wrong. Just as important to know what the other side is saying about you, feasible on Twitter but not so much on YouGov. So I do check out Tory tweets, the Smith camp’s stuff, and I’m a closet fan of order-order. Even though it’s a clear outrider, and full of Tories, they can be funny cunts - and represent a swathe of opinion that I’m guessing people think I’m not seeing.
You can see what a load of individual cunts are saying, no doubt, but i dunno how you can ever claim a concensus. I think ur twitter researches are confirmation bias.
Even if that’s true, so what? How different is that from someone that buys the Daily Express or Mail everyday, or Bazza searching the ends of the Internet for stories that back up his agenda.
Does one have to constantly consider the source and intent of the author, questioning it? Of course, but that doesn’t invalidate my own, independently developed opinions on stuff, banged out at length here.
I approach all of this with my own ideological bias and worldview, as everybody does. There’s really no getting away from that. However, one of the most important things that Labour has to do to win a GE is understand what the country wants and needs. You can’t achieve that by constraining yourself to one strand of opinion.
ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has nominated #JeremyForLabour.
“Harold Wilson famously said, ‘The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing’, and the Labour Party lost its way when it forgot that. Jeremy is the democratically-elected leader of our party, we believe he will win again, and I wish people would spend less time undermining him and more time turning our collective fire on the Tories.” - Mick Whelan, ASLEF general secretary
We was discussing reasons why twitter is flawed tool for judging public opinion. Me using my Gut Feelings, and Barry using anything, are just as bad, but that don’t let you off the hook, you stupid pap!
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Interesting article Flahute.
Your usual context in the post, sadly.
So facts aren’t good enough for you?
Facts are fine, if that’s what they are. As the article itself claims at the bottom, polls haven’t been that reliable lately. I’m more than happy to see those for what they are, which is why I praised the article.
Your characterisation of the socialist case was crap, and strawman.
Pap, as per usual, you’ve been so insanely obsessed with one position what you cannot fathom that your rigid world view isn’t shared by the vast majority despite the facts to the contary.
You never have been able to which is why you are the biggest strawman of all.