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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2012 18:01:33 GMT -1
The real wealthy are not the target of this govt. NOR the bliar Govt., It is the middle income people who are targeted. Last year some very wealthy companies paid NO tax at al but their stall mostly were on mini mum or part time wages. These Multi National companies ARE the danger NOT the wee guy like rolo's husband knocking his pan in for his own company nor the small business, it is the huge monopolies who suck the profit from us and AVOID it off shore that is who should be targeted. Working for yourself in a small business is the hardest job of all, there is no back up and you make all the decisions and if you fail, your family and yourself lose and there is NO Govt., help and that for small business people is harder than the generational unemployed who are happy to be unemployed and believe the state owe them a living. When a small business person fails there is a high incidence of suicide too, many times overlooked by the Govt and press. I have more time for the self made person who works hard than all the financial immigrants put together. Again, couldn't have put it better myself, Bormes. Oz is right, we DO need entrepreneurs and being Scottish, it's part of our genetic makeup. But HMRC is punitive towards the small business as you rightly say while the likes of Vodafone get away with registering their business outwith the UKE. Yes, Oz, I know that Vodafone and Topshop etc employ thousands of people, but they also make HUMOUNGOUS profits and evade tax. This is NOT RIGHT Where we are just now, a personal example, is that Mr Rolo's small company is competing in a market where the commissioner plays suppliers off against each other to drive prices down to the point where margins are pretty non-existent. This means companies that do right by their employees, paying market rates with ever-increasing overheads, are making very little money, if at all. While HRMC are HAMMERING these businesses into the ground, demanding tax paid upfront on the basis of company accounts from two or three years back which bear little resemblance to the current scenario. Trust me, I know a bit about this...and I know that skilled, hard-working people are being truly punished while Bigger Fish get away with total abuse of the system.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2012 18:12:09 GMT -1
What people like nota and myself find hard to bear is that I still pay my taxes in UK even though with a French address and French wife we could dodge a significant amount, nota pays his taxes in UK too and we detest the idea of multi nationals paying NOTHING in the UK that is NOT right there must be a way for them to pay SOME tax. We mqanaged better before Thatcher opened the gates for uncontrolled greed and continued and pushed farther by bliar. And again, Bormes, an example of the very best of bliddy decent Scottish values. You COULD dodge tax but you choose not to. Because you invest in your country and I'd hope that's how the majority of Scots feel. We have huge issues of real deprivation in parts of Scotland, some of this is historic--- for all sorts of reasons. Our challenge is to turn this around in the next few generations so that every child has the opportunity of a decent education, that we strive to lift people out of poverty and support ONLY those who genuinely can't contribute through illness or disability. It's a heart thing We need to look after our own and if it means a penny or two more in the pound in tax, those of us relatively better off really, REALLY wouldn't grudge it.
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Post by bormes on Oct 12, 2012 15:44:52 GMT -1
In fairness rolo, we have an agreement with Eu countries and although we continue to pay our taxes in the UK (As our money is earned there) it is much better to have changed to pay in France and in fact any other Eu country as the Uk has a "reciprical" agreement in place. Perhaps we are stupid paying more than we could however it is just a decision we made 10 years ago. Not sure if I would rush back for treatment of a serious illness though, the waiting times here are days or maximum weeks, only would go back for family reasons I think?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2012 18:55:29 GMT -1
Why is it that the French health system's so much more efficient than ours, do you think, Bormes? Is it generally just much better funded or is it that, the UKE in general isn't exactly known for the good health of its people, therefore putting a higher burden on the NHS? Anyone that's been to our local hospital will have seen clinics queued out on a daily basis. It's not unusual to have to stand and wait your turn. Mind you this is partly due to the installation of Big Chairs, cutting the space down by half. This pandering is due to the fact that so many 'customers' can't fit on ordinary size chairs Go figure! ;D
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Post by bormes on Oct 12, 2012 19:45:34 GMT -1
French system means one has partial private insurance, they mainly have a better diet than most scots, they smoke less harmfull cigs and they drink less harmful alchohol and binge on it less. They also do not have a " I am owed this" attitude that bliar particularly brought about with the reliance on the state.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2012 20:05:32 GMT -1
Something to do with the 'French Paradox', which is much researched, Bormes?
Apparently 'rich' foods, a modicum of fags, plus daily but moderate wine consumption yet seemingly far fewer health repercussions. Very similar to many Mediterranean countries.
One theory is that it's the lack of junk food and ready made products full of additives, sugars and other chemicals.
Although in recent years over in Cat, you notice the subtle change in supermarket offerings. 10 years back you'd never have seen a ready-meal there. But not so now----though still comparatively much smaller in area than here, where in most supermarkets it's FRESH produce that takes up the least space.
The fruit/veg, meat and fish markets are still WAY busier than the hypermarkets like Carrefour though.
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Post by ozneil on Oct 12, 2012 20:20:18 GMT -1
Here I had a bladder stone removed, not life threatening just bloody annoying. I was operated on the same week as it was diagnosed I was told in UK it could take up to 18 months wait. Is that true?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2012 21:15:49 GMT -1
Here I had a bladder stone removed, not life threatening just bloody annoying. I was operated on the same week as it was diagnosed I was told in UK it could take up to 18 months wait. Is that true? No.
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Post by ozneil on Oct 12, 2012 22:09:17 GMT -1
Here I had a bladder stone removed, not life threatening just bloody annoying. I was operated on the same week as it was diagnosed I was told in UK it could take up to 18 months wait. Is that true? No. How long??
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2012 23:38:25 GMT -1
Depends.
Are you talking about everyday NHS customers or those who pay out for private health insurance?
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Post by ozneil on Oct 13, 2012 2:28:48 GMT -1
Depends. Are you talking about everyday NHS customers or those who pay out for private health insurance? Both
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Post by bormes on Oct 13, 2012 7:11:09 GMT -1
A couple of my friends have waited months and their Doctors tried all sorts before actually having them in for an Op. One from Glasgow was 8 months and the other from Inverness was 3 months. Privately it could have been from days to perhaps a couple of weeks.
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Post by ozneil on Oct 13, 2012 19:48:55 GMT -1
strictly speaking in may case it wasnt an operation. They inserted a hyper sonic thingy and blasted the stone into small fragments , took about 4 hours I think. Suirgeon said I had a huge one. I was quite flattered till I realised he was referring to the stone
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2012 17:57:50 GMT -1
Depends. Are you talking about everyday NHS customers or those who pay out for private health insurance? Both Well the NHS prioritises urgent operations and yes, there is a longer waiting time for non-urgent procedures. Cancer surgery for example, usually within the month (or less) in Scotland, going by the examples of (too many) friends and acquaintances. Private patients would generally be about the same for urgent or less, and quicker for non-urgent, that's what you're paying for after all. What we definitely need to improve on is the waiting time to see a consultant, this can often be 2/3 months which, if it turns out to be something serious needing surgery, is a very bad thing. As Bormes says this would be days in private health schemes. Something I've mentioned before, about abuse of GP appointments. Our practice posts on its noticeboard the number of no-shows every month, it varies between 70 and 90, ffs! It would be good if patients had the courtesy to cancel thus freeing up the appt for someone else. I know this frustrates my GP friends no end and appealing to patients' better nature hasn't worked: so our practice is being pro-active to tackle this and has just amended its policy to allow for fewer appointments and a daily open surgery because of it. It does mean you'll have to wait a little longer on the day-- but you're guaranteed to be seen. Round of applause to them.
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