Definition!

[TheBoatman]

It appears that our esteemed chancellor as decided to take Mr Middle England man or Mr average to the cleaners when it comes to fines of any type.

My question is “ what is your definition of Mr Middle England man or Mr Average.

Mine is anyone who is claiming benefits will be safe from this edict, which would include all ethnic minorities, illegals, Irish travellers (Pikeys), burglars, murders, rapists and general riff-raff! All the rest, including law abiding citizens are fair game or classed as Mr Middle England Man.

What’s your definition?

For the sake of political correctness where you read Mr also include Ms, Mrs or what ever.

We may need to define the difference between “working class” and the “rest” here. I for one consider myself as working class as I actively have to physically work for a living, but realise that Gordon’s interpretation may not match mine as I also run my own company. I.e. he considers me as middle class because I run a company but ignores the fact that I also have to get down and do it with tools every now and then!

Politicians P**s me off!

Peter.

PS.
I had a call from the local (Lab) MP’s office today inquiring after my two youngest daughters, I informed the caller that they had moved away from home until after the next general election, He was speechless<s>

 

[Shakey]

With the fines comment, I assume you're referring to the possibility of fines being related to income.

It's my understanding that this happens in Scandanavian countries and I think it's generally a good thing.

What's the point of fining a millionaire £200, when the same amount could cause immense hardship to someone else for committing the same crime. In practical terms it means one law for the rich and one for the poor.

Your further comment about those who seem to be safe from this edict, well, I think you've summed up what the many law abiding and tax payers in this country think.

The EU Human Rights laws are just being abused, the only people who benefit are the lawyers, and look who's one of the beneficaries - Ms Cherie Booth!

 

[FullCircle]

If you cant afford to pay the fine - dont do it in the first place!
If some berk hits my car with his and has no insurance, he should be fined the same as everyone else. Cant afford to run the car? Then sell it.
Making it cheap for scallywags is no answer, but I agree that millionaires are not affected by small fines. Of course we have a phalanx of millionaires queueing up to trash the town centre on a saturday night, and they may be crooks and thieves in a different sense but get prosecuted for such.
I think we have enough laws (as this Government has introduced more in their time than anyone else, very industrious of them) and we have laws to recover ill gotten gains.

We should all get a criminal record, as you stand a fair chance of being barred from applying to be an MP or a Traffic Warden, among other things.

Return of Capital Punishment anyone?

 

[sailorman]

YES -scroats form an orderly queue /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Viking]

[ QUOTE ]
.
It's my understanding that this happens in Scandanavian countries and I think it's generally a good thing.

Here in Norway. for example. Drinking and driving. Lose of license for one year. one month jail and one month salary. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Stemar]

The one month's salary fine for drink driving sounds fair enough for "honest" folk, but the ones who will really benefit are those on benefits and no (declared) income - they'll pay next to nowt and make it up in a couple of cash jobs.

What do we do with the "cannon fodder"? If you jail 'em guess who pays to kep 'em in jail - the Hilton would be cheaper, rent on their house & benefits to their families.

I reckon the best thing would be a punishment battalion doing all the jobs my council says they can't afford to do, like maintaining roads and schools. (They can afford the 5 star refurbishment of the town hall though./forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)

Sorry nurse, rant's over, I'll come quietly/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[ubuysa]

I pretty much agree with your definition and I share your despair. The really sad thing is that it's Mr (and Mrs) "Middle Class" who either by their action or inaction at the next election will allow this bunch of liars and crooks to continue to fleece us.

My solution? I'm leaving the country, yes really. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[moodycruiser]

So what defines the people who can't afford it? I reckon there's people on the Dole that are earning more than, or as much as me by the time you take their black market income into consideration, but they'll be fined at a reduce rate :-(
Seems there will be a certain economic class that will be laughing their heads off !

 

[BustinAround]

[ QUOTE ]
Making it cheap for scallywags is no answer

[/ QUOTE ]

They're not talking about making it cheap for scallywags as far as I can tell, just more expensive for ruperts. Hopefully it might have some affect on the people who are so rich they can afford to park on the double yellows down bond street to go to their favorite boutique. Fixed fines basically mean that if you can afford to pay, you can break the law.

So people with black-market jobs might benefit, but surely that means you should clamp down on black-market jobs rather than not implement a well founded law?

 

[Bergman]

Not entirely clear about how new system is going to work 'cos thats what happens now.

A fine is based on seriousness of offence and on weekly disposable income.

Basically 3 levels 0.5 x DI - 1 x DI -- 1.5 x DI

Pretty crude but it appears to work after a fashion. Biggest problem is actally collecting fines.

Most commonly done by attachment of benefits but still lots of people don't pay.