Simple ways for the govt to save money.
Discussion
I've been reading about creating 'wealth taxes' on another thread. I've got some simple ideas how the government could save money by implementing legislation the majority would surely support.
Firstly, everyone accepts that when parking your car in a pay and display council run car park or space, you will face a fine or court appearance, if you overstay the time you have paid for. Thus people generally pay for a ticket in the first place and pay the fine if they are late. Why don't doctors surgeries charge people who fail to turn up for appointments or are say 15mins late? My GP surgery state each week 60 plus people fail to attend appointments, minimum. Why aren't people held to financial account for that? Apparently same goes on at hospitals with people failing to attend for booked operations. This must cost the nhs a tidy sum in wasted resources and could easily be reduced with a fine system. Society already accepts this with regard to parking a car. Surely the reasonable would accept the same principles in the NHS?
Secondly and remaining on an NHS note, why is food free for those in hospital? The food served in very poor. So much so I had family bringing food in for me from outside. I appreciate many don't have that luxury but- you would have to pay to feed yourself whilst at home so why should you be fed cost free on the nhs?
Would allowing outside firms to provide hospital food not increase standards and choice and relieve the nhs of running a catering arm? Seems insane that once admitted to hospital all your grub is free.
My final idea stands to save the most money but would also be most difficult to implement. There is a massive problem in London and I suspect across the UK with regard to council and housing association tenants sub letting their properties. The London boroughs are well aware of the problem but have neither the resources or inclination to robustly identify exactly who is living in properties they own. It's massively lucrative to sub let and penalties in the event you are caught seem slim enough not to be a deterrent. Perhaps making people aware that if they are found out they wouldn't be eligible for a council property for a decade might focus the morning mind.
How do we save money fairly without punishing the sensible?
Firstly, everyone accepts that when parking your car in a pay and display council run car park or space, you will face a fine or court appearance, if you overstay the time you have paid for. Thus people generally pay for a ticket in the first place and pay the fine if they are late. Why don't doctors surgeries charge people who fail to turn up for appointments or are say 15mins late? My GP surgery state each week 60 plus people fail to attend appointments, minimum. Why aren't people held to financial account for that? Apparently same goes on at hospitals with people failing to attend for booked operations. This must cost the nhs a tidy sum in wasted resources and could easily be reduced with a fine system. Society already accepts this with regard to parking a car. Surely the reasonable would accept the same principles in the NHS?
Secondly and remaining on an NHS note, why is food free for those in hospital? The food served in very poor. So much so I had family bringing food in for me from outside. I appreciate many don't have that luxury but- you would have to pay to feed yourself whilst at home so why should you be fed cost free on the nhs?
Would allowing outside firms to provide hospital food not increase standards and choice and relieve the nhs of running a catering arm? Seems insane that once admitted to hospital all your grub is free.
My final idea stands to save the most money but would also be most difficult to implement. There is a massive problem in London and I suspect across the UK with regard to council and housing association tenants sub letting their properties. The London boroughs are well aware of the problem but have neither the resources or inclination to robustly identify exactly who is living in properties they own. It's massively lucrative to sub let and penalties in the event you are caught seem slim enough not to be a deterrent. Perhaps making people aware that if they are found out they wouldn't be eligible for a council property for a decade might focus the morning mind.
How do we save money fairly without punishing the sensible?
Saving money is easy... but it make you unelectable.
Labour for instance.
1/ Cant be arsed getting out of your bed. have lots of money
2/ We will tax everyone... but give you lots of state aid type money... we will call it "benefits"
It is very very easy to make a lot of the population totally reliant on "benefits"...
Then when another government wants to stop it and say..."Companies should pay a decent wage..."
The uproar is " Me Benefits... what about me benefits"
If you look at a lot of very poor countries... the young place a huge amount on education to better themselves - and have a strong work ethic.
The fact is here.... we can import millions of people who really want to work.
We have plenty of people who are capable of working... but really cannot be arsed, as the system provides for them to a degree that it is not worth their while.
I am of a view of a complete overhaul of the benefits system. It should only ever be a temporary safety net, unless you are so disabled you cannot work, or dedicating your life as a carer that you cannot work.
For a Political party to adopt these view just makes them totally unelectable for the points above..
Labour for instance.
1/ Cant be arsed getting out of your bed. have lots of money
2/ We will tax everyone... but give you lots of state aid type money... we will call it "benefits"
It is very very easy to make a lot of the population totally reliant on "benefits"...
Then when another government wants to stop it and say..."Companies should pay a decent wage..."
The uproar is " Me Benefits... what about me benefits"
If you look at a lot of very poor countries... the young place a huge amount on education to better themselves - and have a strong work ethic.
The fact is here.... we can import millions of people who really want to work.
We have plenty of people who are capable of working... but really cannot be arsed, as the system provides for them to a degree that it is not worth their while.
I am of a view of a complete overhaul of the benefits system. It should only ever be a temporary safety net, unless you are so disabled you cannot work, or dedicating your life as a carer that you cannot work.
For a Political party to adopt these view just makes them totally unelectable for the points above..
The issue for many with having to pay for meals in hospital is just that: paying for meals. At home you can benefit from 'bulk' buying, I work with a few people who feed themselves for around £1 per day quite comfortably. The stress of having additional financial burden (or simply not eating well because you can't afford it) at a time when resting is crucial may not be particularly beneficial.
On the flip side, you could argue that medication should also be paid for. If I go to the docs I pay per item by way of a prescription fee, but go to hospital...free.
If you really want to make money just gradually but significantly increase taxes on tobacco and alcohol. It would be painful for a while but long term would probably do an awful lot of good.
On the flip side, you could argue that medication should also be paid for. If I go to the docs I pay per item by way of a prescription fee, but go to hospital...free.
If you really want to make money just gradually but significantly increase taxes on tobacco and alcohol. It would be painful for a while but long term would probably do an awful lot of good.
Amnesty on minor criminal records. Hold down a job for three years, get your record wiped. Off benefits for good, and your kids most likely. We can't afford to make people unemployable for daft things they did when young. To render someone unemployable for nicking jumper from Primark, having a bit of weed on them, or getting in a scuffle on a Saturday night is silly. And expensive.
Or we could close tax loopholes. That might get a bit too easy and obvious though.
Or we could close tax loopholes. That might get a bit too easy and obvious though.
hand outs /benefits need changing so they cant all have sky tv and smoke like a chimney , fine feed and shelter people but it warms my wee seeing them all sitting there watching sky tv and smoking
i overlook some housing association places (yay) and the first thing you see pull up on move in day is the sky van lol
i overlook some housing association places (yay) and the first thing you see pull up on move in day is the sky van lol
steveo3002 said:
what about self imposed injuries
why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
Perhaps the rugby players have paid into the NHS. If we start with rugby players, then what about DIYers, those attacked by their pets, those who have much more risky pastimes, such as cycling, motorcycling? why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
I think that covers my list of self-inflicted wounds that required A&E visits apart from those suffered at work.
steveo3002 said:
what about self imposed injuries
why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
What about the cancer sufferers who smoked, drank, etc., that caused their own cancer??why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
steveo3002 said:
what about self imposed injuries
why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
I broke a leg in a motorbike incident (totally my fault), was I on the same waiting list as Bob who had lung cancer? Were we being treated by the same person?why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
Anyway, I've paid my taxes which allows me access to the NHS in such a case and had never been a burden on the service before (thankfully) so why shouldn't I be treated?
Both the OPs suggestions would probably cost more to administer than they generate. The late appointment REALLY pisses me off though, I work in the NHS and it's the only thing patients do that properly does my head in.
You got 4 weeks notice for a 30min appt and that's not long enough to do a thorough job as it is, it IS NOT OK to rock up ten minutes late without a care in the world /angryface/
You got 4 weeks notice for a 30min appt and that's not long enough to do a thorough job as it is, it IS NOT OK to rock up ten minutes late without a care in the world /angryface/
Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 10th February 09:09
Stop overseas aid
Leave the eu
Spend less on making prisons comfortable
Stop public sector final salary pensions
Stop out of work benefits once you've been out of work 2 years unless severely disabled, not just a bad back
Cut the cap on benefits
There should be a national benefits website where you can log on and see who gets what benefits and that would stop benefit fraud as people would report neighbours
Stop having as many soldiers overseas
Reduce wages for new public sector jobs
Stamp down on legal aid for trivial matters or for stupid cases eg our soldiers being sued
No benefits for the under 25s
No free house for people eg rent paid, it should be enough for a shared house only
I'd also operate a voluntary additional tax whereby people that go on about wanting to pay more tax can do so voluntarily eg Jeremy Corbyn but others that don't want to don't have to.
It really does boil down to cutting benefits and benefit fraud though, whichever way you look at it. There are too many benefits. Why if you're retired and happen to have a bad back to you get the state pension, a motability free car, disability living allowance, potential pension credit, council tax benefit, attendance allowance and your partner can claim carers allowance? Why is that person any different to a regular retired person without a bad back that just gets the state pension?
Why can families breed children that they have no intention of paying for? The child should be taken off them during working hours to go to a school, club, nursery etc and during those hours the parent should work - even if it is cleaning council owned property or something.
The trouble is, our answer is to tax us some more instead but it's got to the point where you're better off not working and having kids than getting up at 5am, dealing with stress at work and worrying about bills.
Leave the eu
Spend less on making prisons comfortable
Stop public sector final salary pensions
Stop out of work benefits once you've been out of work 2 years unless severely disabled, not just a bad back
Cut the cap on benefits
There should be a national benefits website where you can log on and see who gets what benefits and that would stop benefit fraud as people would report neighbours
Stop having as many soldiers overseas
Reduce wages for new public sector jobs
Stamp down on legal aid for trivial matters or for stupid cases eg our soldiers being sued
No benefits for the under 25s
No free house for people eg rent paid, it should be enough for a shared house only
I'd also operate a voluntary additional tax whereby people that go on about wanting to pay more tax can do so voluntarily eg Jeremy Corbyn but others that don't want to don't have to.
It really does boil down to cutting benefits and benefit fraud though, whichever way you look at it. There are too many benefits. Why if you're retired and happen to have a bad back to you get the state pension, a motability free car, disability living allowance, potential pension credit, council tax benefit, attendance allowance and your partner can claim carers allowance? Why is that person any different to a regular retired person without a bad back that just gets the state pension?
Why can families breed children that they have no intention of paying for? The child should be taken off them during working hours to go to a school, club, nursery etc and during those hours the parent should work - even if it is cleaning council owned property or something.
The trouble is, our answer is to tax us some more instead but it's got to the point where you're better off not working and having kids than getting up at 5am, dealing with stress at work and worrying about bills.
Foreign diplomats owe £82million in London congestion charge (circa 2014) - maybe we could collect some of that?
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-28309405
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-28309405
Derek Smith said:
steveo3002 said:
what about self imposed injuries
why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
Perhaps the rugby players have paid into the NHS. If we start with rugby players, then what about DIYers, those attacked by their pets, those who have much more risky pastimes, such as cycling, motorcycling? why should the fools that choose to run around playing rugby /other dangerous sports get treated straight away while theres cancer sufferers on a long waiting list
I think that covers my list of self-inflicted wounds that required A&E visits apart from those suffered at work.
Not sure what the difference is.
FredClogs said:
Foreign diplomats owe £82million in London congestion charge (circa 2014) - maybe we could collect some of that?
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-28309405
Maybe the charge should be scrapped?...http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-28309405
jonah35 said:
Stop overseas aid
Leave the eu
Spend less on making prisons comfortable
Stop public sector final salary pensions
Stop out of work benefits once you've been out of work 2 years unless severely disabled, not just a bad back
Cut the cap on benefits
There should be a national benefits website where you can log on and see who gets what benefits and that would stop benefit fraud as people would report neighbours
Stop having as many soldiers overseas
Reduce wages for new public sector jobs
Stamp down on legal aid for trivial matters or for stupid cases eg our soldiers being sued
No benefits for the under 25s
No free house for people eg rent paid, it should be enough for a shared house only
I'd also operate a voluntary additional tax whereby people that go on about wanting to pay more tax can do so voluntarily eg Jeremy Corbyn but others that don't want to don't have to.
It really does boil down to cutting benefits and benefit fraud though, whichever way you look at it. There are too many benefits. Why if you're retired and happen to have a bad back to you get the state pension, a motability free car, disability living allowance, potential pension credit, council tax benefit, attendance allowance and your partner can claim carers allowance? Why is that person any different to a regular retired person without a bad back that just gets the state pension?
Why can families breed children that they have no intention of paying for? The child should be taken off them during working hours to go to a school, club, nursery etc and during those hours the parent should work - even if it is cleaning council owned property or something.
The trouble is, our answer is to tax us some more instead but it's got to the point where you're better off not working and having kids than getting up at 5am, dealing with stress at work and worrying about bills.
Good ideas like these don't win elections.Leave the eu
Spend less on making prisons comfortable
Stop public sector final salary pensions
Stop out of work benefits once you've been out of work 2 years unless severely disabled, not just a bad back
Cut the cap on benefits
There should be a national benefits website where you can log on and see who gets what benefits and that would stop benefit fraud as people would report neighbours
Stop having as many soldiers overseas
Reduce wages for new public sector jobs
Stamp down on legal aid for trivial matters or for stupid cases eg our soldiers being sued
No benefits for the under 25s
No free house for people eg rent paid, it should be enough for a shared house only
I'd also operate a voluntary additional tax whereby people that go on about wanting to pay more tax can do so voluntarily eg Jeremy Corbyn but others that don't want to don't have to.
It really does boil down to cutting benefits and benefit fraud though, whichever way you look at it. There are too many benefits. Why if you're retired and happen to have a bad back to you get the state pension, a motability free car, disability living allowance, potential pension credit, council tax benefit, attendance allowance and your partner can claim carers allowance? Why is that person any different to a regular retired person without a bad back that just gets the state pension?
Why can families breed children that they have no intention of paying for? The child should be taken off them during working hours to go to a school, club, nursery etc and during those hours the parent should work - even if it is cleaning council owned property or something.
The trouble is, our answer is to tax us some more instead but it's got to the point where you're better off not working and having kids than getting up at 5am, dealing with stress at work and worrying about bills.
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