Awol

apart from Kazakhstan what other countires have done a VAT cut ? most seem to be talking about increasing VAT , indeed some already have Out of interest Tony are the other countries making cuts in VAT groaning under the same massive tax burden we are? If not they've probably got a lot more wiggle room than us.

that's quality ..... I bet inside his brain a little voice went D'oh as he said it I think people accept that the Government cannot (nor should they) protect every individual from every conceivable circumstance, economic or otherwise. What really grips me is the PM's complete inability to accept responsibility for anything, ever. Blair was a weasel, but at least he was a decisive weasel. Brown is vaciliating, weak and slimy and as the polls are again reflecting, many many others agree.

Gardner?

Ian(Drat), what do think of Balls' comments in light of the moaning at Osborne for saying considerably less last November?

Maybe, but when Osborne suggested we were in the shit at the back end of last year Labour couldn't stop shrieking that he was talking down the economy. How do Ball's comments square with that? Maybe the new tactic is to preach that the end is nigh then hope people are grateful when the sky doesn't fall in?

This, but we do need to sort an awful lot of stuff out pretty quickly.

And straight in at number one with a new entry , replacing The French at the top of the hit list after a stay of 38 years is Snowychap He's not joking..

Interest rates cut again to new lowest ever level, now at 1%. As previous cuts have made little/no difference, is this now just deepening the problems of savers without creating any actual economic benfit?

If someone is a poor worker they get sacked mate, so yes there is a disincentive to fail.

Exactly, but bonuses per se are no bad thing at all. No way could I get the same level of work out of my people if there wasn't a tangible financial reward over and above their basic salary to aim for. Why should they?

So if I work hard, put in extra hours etc to meet my targets and get my bonus am I just being greedy? It sounds like this is maybe a wee bit of jealousy on your part and you actually resent people doing well for themselves. Please correct me if I'm wrong though..

Ian I don't disagree with you that banks have screwed up but as Tony said to blanket them all as removed words is very silly. To then advocate even more tax on a select group (which i assume is completely illegal anyway) seems like an equally barking proposition to me. That is unless you mean that all bonuses paid to the work force of UK Plc should be subject to higher tax?

Why not 100%? Nothing like 'incentivising' people..

Because it is? Care to share some sort of contribution to this thread? Right, and more ridiculous than accusing Gringo of points scoring when he was in fact raising questions that - for supporters of Gordon Brown - were difficult to wriggle away from? "Ridculous post Jon" isn't really very constructive, Ian.

Eh? :? People are allowed to criticise the abortion currently in power in this country I believe - for now at least. Also no need to make personal cheap shots is there?? Several alternative proposals to borrowing this country into 30 years of debt have been put forward, for example direct lending by the BoE to business to keep SME's that are otherwise sound, running. Fact is no one is saying this a UK only problem, but pointing out that Brown's assertion we are best placed to recover being in direct contradiction of the IMF and other international bodies is fair cop. Here's another one: "British jobs for British workers". Oops.

Elect VT!!

V for Vendetta. Bring it on.

My apologies. I have a problem with ex-pats slagging the place off. My Dad included. I'm not an ex-pat yet and having fought for my country I feel I've earned the right to pass comment on it, whether you agree or not. I'm out.

On that point Ian I think are you are absolutely right.

I didn't threaten you with violence Clarry. I think our opinion of each other is mutual but a coward I am not. Edit: nevermind

Yes, In April i'm moving to the Middle East for the next five to ten years. Hopefully after that my own country will be in some sort of order and if not I'll be joining Mr Rogers in NZ. Coward. Really? Maybe wanting to have a family in a safe environment is actually sensible and not cowardice, however I'll be in London soon so feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss this in person. Or are you another very brave internet warrior Clarry?

Yes, In April i'm moving to the Middle East for the next five to ten years. Hopefully after that my own country will be in some sort of order and if not I'll be joining Mr Rogers in NZ. Sounds very attractive, how did you get involved in that? Job offer? Yep, fortunately for me my company are taking a kicking in the current UK market and my Director has agreed that an office out here (Oman) will give us a lifeboat over the next few years. I volunteered to get it up and running. It's fair to say the locals have greatly changed my views on many things and reference Rob's thread, you don't get people getting kicked to death out here. Good luck though mate, I hope the worst doesn't happen.

Yes, In April i'm moving to the Middle East for the next five to ten years. Hopefully after that my own country will be in some sort of order and if not I'll be joining Mr Rogers in NZ.

Indeed. Who removed the perfectly fine regulatory powers from the BoE, created the FSA and then refused to give it any teeth? Answers on a P45 to clueless of Downing Street please..

Last Valentines day I kissed her first.