NedKelly

You are being very negative. Things will be much more positive when Gordon Brown gets elected for another term.

slapphead_otool

Mate, I don’t want to harp on about this (and I don’t want the mods threatening to ban me) but my opinion is this:

The OP clearly said: “Positive attitude makes money”

If you want to prove to me that they didn’t, then please go ahead.

You might want to throw in your interpretation of Backagens comment , but its just your interpretation. No more and no less.

I didn’t respond to your interpretation, and to be honest I don’t give a flying fig about your interpretation of what someone else clearly wrote. You may recall that you have already doubted my reading/comprehension skills – do I really need your interpretation of what other posters quite clearly write?

So: Backagen wrote: “Positive attitude makes money”, and that is what I am responding to.

In my opinion this is incorrect. I would say “Positive action makes money”.

Having a positive attitude about losing 10Kg wont make it happen, but running 15k each morning with a 35Kg pack sure will.

Do you agree?

slapphead_otool

And for the record, some of that positive action for the UK might include:

1. Downsizing the defence force to that of a local “self defence only” capacity – probably 50,000 personnel total. Possible merger with France or Germany.

2. Dramatic cut back government spending, especially in the welfare areas.

3. Increase the retiring age to 68

4. Increase income tax by at least a further 10%

5. Stop all migration, except where the applicant will clearly make a strong financial contribution to the country (strong being at least 3x that of a comparable current citizen)

6. Charge annual tax on overseas British Passport holders (they may not ever have been to the UK, and pay no tax, yet use the services of the citizenship).

7. Reduce corporate tax and provide incentives to overseas companies to open in the UK.

8. Remove all minimum wage restrictions, and make industrial action over pay illegal

9. Cut back on the EU contribution (Did Blair undue the agreement made by Thatcher?)

10. Enforce compulsory tertiary education – or no benefits.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

My views in red mate.

slapphead_otool

Wooops yes, the income tax bit is misleading. I meant increase the income tax revenue by 10% - not stick a further 10% on tax, which would just persuade people to stop working at all.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Right, that's fair enough then.... and something they should already be planning... though nobody will own up to it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

slapphead_otool

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...rs-rights.html

Sad, sad, sad........

Think positive.

slapphead_otool

UK's contribution to EU budget to double by 2013 – study
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2007...fx3801653.html
“The study, based on recent estimates, says the UK will make net annual contributions of almost 6.5 bln stg in the years 2011 to 2013, double the average figure from 1997-2006, reflecting a smaller rebate and weaker receipts”


Place in EU 'to cost UK 60% more'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8219344.stm
“The UK's net contribution to the European Union will rise by almost 60% next year, the Treasury has said. The cost of membership will rise to £6.4bn - equivalent to about £260 per UK household - from £4.1bn in 2009/10.”

Think positive......

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I should be shocked... the real sad thing is that I'm not.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

... worth every penny !!

slapphead_otool

Which is exactly my point. Nice positive thoughts don’t fix this sort of crap.

Positive action does.

No one seems to care in the UK anymore. Even my parents seem to have given up.

Haranguing people on this site for being doom and gloom merchants doesn’t fix things, methinks some people would do better lobbying for action in the UK than popping up all over an expat site picking arguments.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Agreed.

I can see some merit in the 'positive thought' angle. At the start of this latest downturn I postponed having a new kitchen installed. I decided to keep my hands in my pocket because I was unsure of the coming storm.... if everybody had kept those positive thoughts going that we had before the GFC, I would have still have had that kitchen installed twelve months ago. My little decision, the result of 'negative thoughts', is just the sort of action that deepens the downturns.... but I would agree that you can't just think your way out of a deep shithole, you need to start climbing.

MartinLuther

"3. Increase the retiring age to 68. Almost certainly going to happen"

What do you mean "almost certainly"? The plan is already being executed.

MartinLuther

What services are they? I don't think I'm entitled to any services any more (above and beyond what any tourist could get) despite the humongous amount I paid in tax when I was there.

Just in case you're referring to the state pension. Remember that is something that is specifically paid for, so is not a gift of the state.

MartinLuther

I don't know if it is still true but the UK used to pay less than Germany and France.