Why do we send £400 million to Pakistan etc?
Discussion
Pesty said:
the bigger point is why didn't he let her on. Jobsworths like that are a pain she aint gettign any younger so she will definitely get a new bus pass so why deny her?
Probably scared of losing his job. I was told once by a bus driver that if an inspector catches a passenger without a valid ticket, then it's an instant suspension for the driver pending investigation. No leeway. Either it's valid or it's not.Would you risk your job? I'm going to be honest and say I doubt I would.
RedTrident said:
It really isn't aid. It's sweeteners. But then I'm all for the State to stop giving these out and let the Industries that benefit take care of their own bribes.
From what I heard Mr 10% is disbursing the money to PPP supporters with a view to winining next years elections. So I'm not sure if any of it is coming back to the UK at all.Chainguy said:
Probably scared of losing his job. I was told once by a bus driver that if an inspector catches a passenger without a valid ticket, then it's an instant suspension for the driver pending investigation. No leeway. Either it's valid or it's not.
Would you risk your job? I'm going to be honest and say I doubt I would.
ticket is different to a bus pass you get anyway after a certain age. she is entitled to free travel but you are probably right.Would you risk your job? I'm going to be honest and say I doubt I would.
Pesty said:
Chainguy said:
Probably scared of losing his job. I was told once by a bus driver that if an inspector catches a passenger without a valid ticket, then it's an instant suspension for the driver pending investigation. No leeway. Either it's valid or it's not.
Would you risk your job? I'm going to be honest and say I doubt I would.
ticket is different to a bus pass you get anyway after a certain age. she is entitled to free travel but you are probably right.Would you risk your job? I'm going to be honest and say I doubt I would.
Anyway, my Initial point made, let's get back on track. Why do we send £400 mill to Pakistan et al.
Pesty said:
Because we are stupid.
I genuinely wonder if there would be civil unrest from certain vocal groups in the UK if we stopped sending it.If so, does that fear help ensure the government pay up and shut up?
If a cartoon can send them into fatwa time, what would stopping their Uncles pocket money do?
Chainguy said:
I genuinely wonder if there would be civil unrest from certain vocal groups in the UK if we stopped sending it.
If so, does that fear help ensure the government pay up and shut up?
If a cartoon can send them into fatwa time, what would stopping their Uncles pocket money do?
It's highly unlikely that the average Pakistani will see any of the aid money.If so, does that fear help ensure the government pay up and shut up?
If a cartoon can send them into fatwa time, what would stopping their Uncles pocket money do?
For the small minority that DO see it, it's unlikely that they have any influence over the majority of UK Muslims.
There was an interesting chap on R4 news this evening from one of the US defence analytics firms. They were asking him about N Korea: "would you classify NK as the world's most dangerous state?". His answer: "Not even close. Out in front by a long long way is Pakistan. An already failed and bankrupt state, that's getting worse, is riven by internal factions, actively supports terrorists of all kinds, passively supports other illegal activity through an inability to police itself, has around 100 nukes and material for another 100, and no credible anti-proliferation authority."
So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
Countdown said:
Chainguy said:
I genuinely wonder if there would be civil unrest from certain vocal groups in the UK if we stopped sending it.
If so, does that fear help ensure the government pay up and shut up?
If a cartoon can send them into fatwa time, what would stopping their Uncles pocket money do?
It's highly unlikely that the average Pakistani will see any of the aid money.If so, does that fear help ensure the government pay up and shut up?
If a cartoon can send them into fatwa time, what would stopping their Uncles pocket money do?
For the small minority that DO see it, it's unlikely that they have any influence over the majority of UK Muslims.
I don't with your second. If, as is speculated, we provide 'aid' in return for intelligence and a quelling of potential terror plots, is it such a reach to think those playing that game from the Pakistan end have no influence over those in the UK whom would seek to travel to terrorism training camps and martyr themselves? No money coming in from the old colonials? Shall we turn up the wick somewhat?
Speculation I'll admit, but not outside the realms of possibility. Not by a long shot.
dhariwab said:
Aid to India is stopping in 2015
One thing that bugs me about this feckless govt is why wait until after the next election? Do this sort of stuff right now. Immediate cut.That goes for all proposed cuts. No soft landings, no dithering hoping the next govt can shoulder the blame or pull it so you can moan in opposition. If a cut needs to be made, cut it right now.
The country is broke. Piss arsing about as they are is not helping their popularity. Just get the knives out, start hacking at it and hope that properly stringent measures can make a fundamental difference to our position.
You won't get voted back in because the general public at all levels are self-centred idiots and we have reached critical mass of people "dependent" on handouts. But you're going to find it tough getting re-elected with your current fence straddling approach anyway. So at least try. The mettle of the country needs testing.
Chainguy said:
If, as is speculated, we provide 'aid' in return for intelligence and a quelling of potential terror plots, is it such a reach to think those playing that game from the Pakistan end have no influence over those in the UK whom would seek to travel to terrorism training camps and martyr themselves? No money coming in from the old colonials? Shall we turn up the wick somewhat?
Speculation I'll admit, but not outside the realms of possibility. Not by a long shot.
A very long shot and, if what you are suggesting is that the Pakistan Govt or the Pakistani military would implicitly or explicitly blackmail the UK into giving aid then completely outside the realms of possibility. Speculation I'll admit, but not outside the realms of possibility. Not by a long shot.
Countdown said:
Chainguy said:
If, as is speculated, we provide 'aid' in return for intelligence and a quelling of potential terror plots, is it such a reach to think those playing that game from the Pakistan end have no influence over those in the UK whom would seek to travel to terrorism training camps and martyr themselves? No money coming in from the old colonials? Shall we turn up the wick somewhat?
Speculation I'll admit, but not outside the realms of possibility. Not by a long shot.
A very long shot and, if what you are suggesting is that the Pakistan Govt or the Pakistani military would implicitly or explicitly blackmail the UK into giving aid then completely outside the realms of possibility. Speculation I'll admit, but not outside the realms of possibility. Not by a long shot.
Newc said:
There was an interesting chap on R4 news this evening from one of the US defence analytics firms. They were asking him about N Korea: "would you classify NK as the world's most dangerous state?". His answer: "Not even close. Out in front by a long long way is Pakistan. An already failed and bankrupt state, that's getting worse, is riven by internal factions, actively supports terrorists of all kinds, passively supports other illegal activity through an inability to police itself, has around 100 nukes and material for another 100, and no credible anti-proliferation authority."
So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
That's quite the statement given the damage the US has done to Pakistan in the past decade.So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
Newc said:
There was an interesting chap on R4 news this evening from one of the US defence analytics firms. They were asking him about N Korea: "would you classify NK as the world's most dangerous state?". His answer: "Not even close. Out in front by a long long way is Pakistan. An already failed and bankrupt state, that's getting worse, is riven by internal factions, actively supports terrorists of all kinds, passively supports other illegal activity through an inability to police itself, has around 100 nukes and material for another 100, and no credible anti-proliferation authority."
So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
Fair point. However US policy towards Pakistan has been short termist and hasn't really helped. So, a top candidate all round to be somewhere for UK taxpayers to send money that they themselves have had to borrow.
Victor McDade said:
Stop extra UK aid to Pakistan unless taxes increase, urge MPs
70% of their parliamentarians pay no tax at all.
A year and a half on it's gone from (quoting the bbc link above) "The report said Pakistan had a lower-than-average tax take, with only 0.57% of Pakistanis - 768,000 individuals - paying income tax last year. In comparable countries, the level is about 15%.70% of their parliamentarians pay no tax at all.
To:
"ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the federal government’s claims of widening the tax net, the country’s already negligible tax base has shrunk by a third by the end of the ruling party’s first year in power.
According to officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), only 550,000 people filed income tax returns for fiscal year 2013-14 by November 21 (Friday), the last date of submission. As many as 835,000 people had filed tax returns the previous year."
http://tribune.com.pk/story/795227/dismal-performa...
BlackLabel said:
Victor McDade said:
Stop extra UK aid to Pakistan unless taxes increase, urge MPs
70% of their parliamentarians pay no tax at all.
A year and a half on it's gone from (quoting the bbc link above) "The report said Pakistan had a lower-than-average tax take, with only 0.57% of Pakistanis - 768,000 individuals - paying income tax last year. In comparable countries, the level is about 15%.70% of their parliamentarians pay no tax at all.
To:
"ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the federal government’s claims of widening the tax net, the country’s already negligible tax base has shrunk by a third by the end of the ruling party’s first year in power.
According to officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), only 550,000 people filed income tax returns for fiscal year 2013-14 by November 21 (Friday), the last date of submission. As many as 835,000 people had filed tax returns the previous year."
http://tribune.com.pk/story/795227/dismal-performa...
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