Calcuklating the Cost of Government (nb)

[tcm]

Politicians come up with budgets that are nothing of the sort. So how much money would you really need to run the UK?

frexample, they spend £2billion on roads. There are (10million?) kids so school fees each year for each of them cost bout more or less than 10 grand, 100 billion. Healthcare for 60milion er £1500 ish, another £90billion. Decentish combined armed forces - should be able to cause some damage but stay out of trouble for £20billion. Bit of democracy, wheels of government, rented offices in whitehall another billion. £223 billion. Oh yes there's emptying the bins, and policemen too. Erm, 100,000 coppers say, each on 30k, that's 3billion, plus some trunceons (but no swish cars mind). So, 230 billion all in. Ish

So, um this wd mean no income tax and no council tax as i think it can all be done from corporation tax and VAT. I think? Help needed.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talbot]

The largest cost is always for people. Your figures only show the wages and thus take no account of through life costs (e.g. Nic pensions etc) or equipment and building requirements so I think your calculations need a bit of work even if Guy Fawkes had the right idea {smile]

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

in america they have a calculation which works out the % of income the government takes in all taxes and translates it into how many days of the year you work to fund the government before getting any for yourself. that in turn translates to a date when the money you earn starts to become yours, somewhere around the middle of july i think, last time i saw the figures.

i think a similar scheme here would be a good way to expose all the stealth taxes they keep hitting us with.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

In America there also used to be a rule of thumb. The amount of fiscal revenue was in an adverse proportion to the rate of tax; ie, if you lower taxes you generate higher activity and consequently higher earnings with a consequent increase in tax revenues.

I wish somebody could explain this to the French.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[david_e]

What about the profit we will make from Iraq, will that not offset costs?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Government Spending Myths & Legends

When a Minister stands up and says he'll spend 10 million on a road project it's a mythical figure.

For a start if the money gets spent up to half of it can come back to the government in tax and contribution. Much of the rest trickles down into the economy reducing unemployment, supporting local business etc. Then we find that, having committed to this spending and getting the headlines, they either don't do anything or they bring in a private partner to share the cost. We then get to pay again and again out of revenue, through the generous longterm partnership agreements, for a capital project that was claimed to be funded properly at the outset.

Government spending is all smoke and mirrors and it hides the fact that the cost of government is out of proportion to it's attainments.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Birdseye]

Re: Government Spending Myths & Legends

Dont bother doing the caklculations. You will only upset yourself and you do not have the slightest ability to affect the situation. Remember, you are not a citizen - you are a subject.

Met an interesting chap in a boatyard in Tenerife this winter, He lived mostly in Andorra - no income tax, capital gains tax, just 4 % import duty to finance basic government. Spent the winters in the Canaries. Couldnt help but think that if it was not for my wife's irrational attachment to our two kids we could do the same. Skiing in the winter, sunshine, money to spare

Does anyone know if there are marinas in Andorra?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

It's already done here, tax freedom day I think it's called, getting later and later each year!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Basically the problem is that the UK does'nt earn enough money .. our GDP / Capita is a lower than most of our european neighbours but yet we wish to play with the big boys thus necessitating a huge defence spend. Oh France's GDP /capita is 30% higher than ours .. its very interesting looking at the statistics to see how we compare internationally ..and in most cases it does not flatter us!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..