What are your unpopular opinions?
Discussion
Voldemort said:
The Paralympics are a waste of time and money.
Nobody really cares if our disabled are faster/stronger/better than Australia/Japan/USA/etc disabled.
Nobody from the UK will be proud that we got a bronze in the T24 ladies slalom. Nobody knows what the different categories are for starters. And if we do ‘get a podium’ (hateful phrase) nobody will remember the name of the medalist in 12 weeks time let alone 12 months or 12 years time.
The vast cost of the event would be so much better spent for the benefit of all disabled people, not just the relatively few that we have sent to Korea.
You are entitled to your opinion, but I strongly disagree.Nobody really cares if our disabled are faster/stronger/better than Australia/Japan/USA/etc disabled.
Nobody from the UK will be proud that we got a bronze in the T24 ladies slalom. Nobody knows what the different categories are for starters. And if we do ‘get a podium’ (hateful phrase) nobody will remember the name of the medalist in 12 weeks time let alone 12 months or 12 years time.
The vast cost of the event would be so much better spent for the benefit of all disabled people, not just the relatively few that we have sent to Korea.
The Paralympics are for the benefit of all disabled people (not just the few that compete) as it gives recognition that a disability does not mean you cannot excel. It is also a benefit to wider society as it puts a different perspective and level of understanding on people with disabilities.
The same can be said about the Invictus Games.
The Selfish Gene said:
no for sure - it would (in my opinion) attract a better standard of candidate if they knew they were in for 500k per year................then the equivalent uplift in the lower ranks.
We need top CEO's running this business we call a country.
Way too many inept losers that have no idea in government at the minute.
It surely can't be right that middle IT Managers earn more than the PM.
I'd expect a few concerns over conflict of interest though. Plus their foreign policy and democracy skills may need a look at too.We need top CEO's running this business we call a country.
Way too many inept losers that have no idea in government at the minute.
It surely can't be right that middle IT Managers earn more than the PM.
The Selfish Gene said:
sorry - all my PMs are contract............500pd x 240 = 120k................
all before tax etc obviously
The ”etc” bit is the one most overlooked when comparing permanent vs contractor ‘pay’.all before tax etc obviously
How much would your 500pd contractor have to provision out of his company to get an equivalent pension to the Prime Minister?
lord trumpton said:
I'd expect a few concerns over conflict of interest though. Plus their foreign policy and democracy skills may need a look at too.
completely agree - maybe make it like Jury Service..........but for a year............so Richard Branson has to be PM for a year, and he has to backfill himself in his company 
or maybe something less simple!
The Selfish Gene said:
We need top CEO's running this business we call a country.
Despite the fact that every attempt to run a country like a business in the past has been a spectacular failure.A business has a mandate to increase profitability for shareholders and has to do this at the expense of clients. I cant see a business working where all of the clients are also shareholders.
Moonhawk said:
The ”etc” bit is the one most overlooked when comparing permanent vs contractor ‘pay’.
How much would your 500pd contractor have to provision out of his company to get an equivalent pension to the Prime Minister?
I'm terrible with Pensions - so I wouldn't even hazard a guess...........but if the PM is getting full salary pension, I'm guessing the 500pd PM would need to get paid 1000 pd ..............and park half of it until retirement age. 250/250 wouldn't be enough.How much would your 500pd contractor have to provision out of his company to get an equivalent pension to the Prime Minister?
That said 500pd, although not low.................is not high. I know 1k plus a day people, and it's more common that you would think.
Clearly - again - that's 1k to your company, of which you are an employee - so it isn't a straight 240k a year................before tax.
captain_cynic said:
Despite the fact that every attempt to run a country like a business in the past has been a spectacular failure.
A business has a mandate to increase profitability for shareholders and has to do this at the expense of clients. I cant see a business working where all of the clients are also shareholders.
can I have a break even company?? Non Profit even.A business has a mandate to increase profitability for shareholders and has to do this at the expense of clients. I cant see a business working where all of the clients are also shareholders.
We just have to get our ship, business, house (etc) in order and stop spending money on things that don't matter to US as a country.
The Selfish Gene said:
can I have a break even company?? Non Profit even.
We just have to get our ship, business, house (etc) in order and stop spending money on things that don't matter to US as a country.
I get that, I firmly believe that some government services are better corporatised (run as a corporation, under independent management with the govt as a the shareholder who only need to break even). In fact every govt needs to run an investment arm like this akin to what Singapore does with Temasek holdings that makes a profit.We just have to get our ship, business, house (etc) in order and stop spending money on things that don't matter to US as a country.
But I cant see a state run like a business working because the voters (shareholders) are also the source of income (taxpayers or clients). They'll want to pay less, but receive more value, in reality I think it'll just remove accountability until we end up as a corporate-run dystopia.
yeah agreed.
I'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big f
k off XLS.
What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the st.
I'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big f
k off XLS.What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the s
t.HantsSpeedDemon said:
Countdown said:
The Selfish Gene said:
It surely can't be right that middle IT Managers earn more than the PM.
Surely you mean 2nd-line support techs....?HantsSpeedDemon said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Their salaries are funded by the taxpayer as opposed to private company turnover. They are overall a drain on the economy as more taxation means less for companies to spend on expanding their business.The salaries of every job in the country are funded in one way or another by the Taxpayer/ Everybody either pays tax, or lives off the benefits provided by taxpayers. If the Public Sector didnt exist you would still have 90% of the services, except that each person would contract directly with the provider (eg you personally would buy your own medical care, security service, school fees etc etc).
The public sector is a comparatively efficient way of buying services in bulk. There are plenty of countries around that don't have a "Public Sector". They are all, without exception, 3rd world countries.
The Selfish Gene said:
yeah agreed.
I'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big fk off XLS.
What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the st.
I get your point, but the basics and sI'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big f
k off XLS.What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the s
t.t in your opinion being?IJB1959 said:
Senior Staff = 1st class travel, 5* accommodation, amongst many others.
Charities are exempted from business rates and receive relief on VAT and other taxes including donations. Rightly so, but not to help fund their preferred lifestyle.
Very few charities are exempted from business rates; most get 80% relief. VAT relief is on a limited range of goods and services. The main one you missed out from your list is corporation tax.Charities are exempted from business rates and receive relief on VAT and other taxes including donations. Rightly so, but not to help fund their preferred lifestyle.
Edited by IJB1959 on Thursday 8th March 14:16
Whose preferred lifestyle?
IJB1959 said:
I get your point, but the basics and st in your opinion being?
well the basics being, simply work out how much we are spending versus how much we are 'earning' or taking in.t in your opinion being?Cutting out all the s
t - anything additional that is currently unnecessary - not forever (in some cases) but whatever goes 'out' of the country.We are on unpopular thread so i'll bite.......starters
I'd temporarily stop all foreign aid
I'd temporarily stop all immigration and NHS tourism
I'd assess why the HMRC are spending so much money - and simplify that.
The Selfish Gene said:
yeah agreed.
I'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big fk off XLS.
What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the st.
That was Trump's plan. But then had to admit he had no idea how complicated it was.I'm a simple guy - I'd like to start with a big f
k off XLS.What's coming in, what's going out.....................
then go from there...........the same as you would do if it was a small business, or a household budget.
It feels to me like too many people hiding behind "it's complicated mate"
When it really isn't that complicated...................if you go back to basics and cut out all the s
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