The "talk about whatever you want" thread

[Yin Yang]

We will have City Council elections on wednesday March 16...

Town ?

All towns and villages in The Netherlands.

[Colin B]

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer [Rishi Sunak] is making an announcement today.

He is being urged to cancel [or postpone] the rise in National Insurance payments due in April, which will impact on all earners.

With income tax, the more you earn, the higher rate of tax you pay.

This is a fair & just system - the high-earners pay more than the low ones.

But with National Insurance, it's the opposite !

Higher earners pay less overall !

This is the current position [tax year 2021-2022] for those in category 'A' [most earners are in this group].

National Insurance.JPG

National Insurance [2].JPG

For high earners, their rate drops from 12% to 2% on earnings over £50,268.

Surely a logical step would be to apply the 12% to the higher earners as well, instead of their rate dropping to a measly 2% !

I've not read that anyone is suggesting this, which seems to me a fair & logical move to increase the government's 'take', without impacting on the majority of hard-pressed earners.

[John]

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer [Rishi Sunak] is making an announcement today.

He is being urged to cancel [or postpone] the rise in National Insurance payments due in April, which will impact on all earners.

With income tax, the more you earn, the higher rate of tax you pay.

This is a fair & just system - the high-earners pay more than the low ones.

But with National Insurance, it's the opposite !

Higher earners pay less overall !

This is the current position [tax year 2021-2022] for those in category 'A' [most earners are in this group].

National Insurance.JPGNational Insurance [2].JPG

For high earners, their rate drops from 12% to 2% on earnings over £50,268.

Surely a logical step would be to apply the 12% to the higher earners as well, instead of their rate dropping to a measly 2% !

I've not read that anyone is suggesting this, which seems to me a fair & logical move to increase the government's 'take', without impacting on the majority of hard-pressed earners.

I'm going to become a burglar, get caught, get put inside. Free accommodation, food, clothing, no tax to pay......

In the meantime, yep, life is going to get harder with rising costs. Crazy times.

[Colin B]

An update:

He's raised the earning point when National Insurance becomes payable from £9,564 per year to £12,570.

Good news !

But that sneaky drop from 12% to 2% for earnings above £50,268 per year remains !

So, the more they earn, the less they pay !

Why this tax should operate in the opposite way from income tax is a mystery...

[Colin B]

The Phoenix passing Gravesend.JPG

A 'super yacht' passes Gravesend today, with Tilbury Docks seen across the Thames in the background.

Why of interest ?

It's the 'Phoenix' !

[John]

The Phoenix passing Gravesend.JPG

A 'super yacht' passes Gravesend today, with Tilbury Docks seen across the Thames in the background.

Why of interest ?

It's the 'Phoenix' !

I hope you're looking after it since I handed it over to you.

[Colin B]

The Phoenix passing Gravesend.JPG

A 'super yacht' passes Gravesend today, with Tilbury Docks seen across the Thames in the background.

Why of interest ?

It's the 'Phoenix' !

I hope you're looking after it since I handed it over to you.

Indubitably

[Colin B]

From the BBC News website:

Lawns.JPG

Well, if you insist...

[John]

From the BBC News website:

Lawns.JPG

Well, if you insist...

I have been doing this on and off for the last year.

[Colin B]

I have been doing this on and off for the last year.

Join the club !

[Colin B]

I don't know if it's an after effect of Covid or Brexit or what, but some things have changed now.

My local NatWest Bank has returned to 'normal' with the tellers back in action.

Asking to withdraw £50 in fivers, the teller told me to draw the money from the machine [in tens & twenties].

Then return to his window with them when he'd exchange them for fivers !

When I asked the supervisor if it wouldn't be easier if he just gave me the fivers, she replied that yes, it would, but they can't do that !

Daft, I call it.

I should have asked: "Are you trying to make things easier for your customers, or harder ?"

[John]

I don't know if it's an after effect of Covid or Brexit or what, but some things have changed now.

My local NatWest Bank has returned to 'normal' with the tellers back in action.

Asking to withdraw £50 in fivers, the teller told me to draw the money from the machine [in tens & twenties].

Then return to his window with them when he'd exchange them for fivers !

When I asked the supervisor if it wouldn't be easier if he just gave me the fivers, she replied that yes, it would, but they can't do that !

Daft, I call it.

I should have asked: "Are you trying to make things easier for your customers, or harder ?"

I'd have pleaded fear of using cash machines, or fear of having my card swallowed, or that you feel vulnerable using the machine, or poor eyesight, or tiredness, or aching legs, or damaged knees, or laziness, and asked them to do it for me.

[Colin B]

I'd have pleaded fear of using cash machines, or fear of having my card swallowed, or that you feel vulnerable using the machine, or poor eyesight, or tiredness, or aching legs, or damaged knees, or laziness, and asked them to do it for me.

Ha ha ha !

Or they could have simply passed me the fivers the first time I requested them...

[Colin B]

I see Dolly Parton tried to decline her induction to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame as she felt she didn't earn it, being a country performer.

The organisers insisted that they would go ahead anyway.

Their reasoning ?

"Rock’n’roll is not defined by any one genre".

If that's the case, what's the point of having separate Halls of Fame for the various genres ?

[John]

I see Dolly Parton tried to decline her induction to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame as she felt she didn't earn it, being a country performer.

The organisers insisted that they would go ahead anyway.

Their reasoning ?

"Rock’n’roll is not defined by any one genre".

If that's the case, what's the point of having separate Halls of Fame for the various genres ?

Quite right. We should write a stiff letter of complaint.