Privatisation And Tax

In 2013 the government is making it compulsory for companies to provide private pensions to everyone; individuals will be automatically subscribed (thereby receiving monthly deductions from their wages) unless they opt out. This has the long-term intention of phasing out state pensions, allowing the government to save money. But will people who take up the offer of a private company pension - or rather, don’t make the effort to opt out - therefore pay less tax as it will no longer be required to pay for the state pension scheme? … Doubtful. The Tories tend to only cut taxes for rich people and businesses. The extra money saved will probably be re-invested into ‘infrastructure’ projects that affect national and international trade rather than local communities. Rather than saving hard-working people a bit more cash, we will instead see further developments of a third runway at Heathrow and high-speed rail that will demolish a great deal of countryside. Don’t be deceived by David Cameron saying that he will stick to his manifesto pledge of no third runway; the two year consultation period would allow him to reconsider his position by the time the next election (and new manifesto) comes around. There is a chance that I’m being overly cynical, I do have bouts of that! But I don’t like the way that pensions are being forcibly privatised, it smacks too much of Thatcherism.

 

Done ... Over

The Olympics have finally drawn to a close … haven’t they? Well, if you watch the news channels, apparently not. Even now journalists are interviewing random people who are leaving the country via Heathrow airport to get their applauding opinions of London 2012; it is self-congratulation at its lamest. Anyone would think that the war in Syria (along with many other worthy news stories) had taken a fortnight’s holiday and it wasn’t quite ready to resume just yet, so time may as well be filled with bullshit! Reporters (and anybody else who has drooled too much over the last two weeks) need to take a deep breath and realise that sport is not the most important thing in the world; it’s just a form of entertainment that no longer requires being rammed down people’s throats!