Is It Time ?

[derekpara]

Is it time for the better off in this country to make a non-detrimental financial contribution to a government fund to help those who will suffer most in thisCovid 19 pandemic ?

Personally I think it would be the ideal opprtunity for the Royal family to set an example here which might encourage the many thousands of extremely well off from tycoons to professional footballers and beyond. It would releive a lot of suffering.

[david small]

Don’t hold your breath, especially as we’ve run out of ventilators.

[derekpara]

David, Is that because of availabilty or lack of funds ?

[Theland]

Sequester their wealth in the national interest then shoot them.

[ToraToraTora]

they already are, who do you think pays for the show?

[andy-hughes]

If every 'rich' person handed over ninety-five per cent of their money to the government, it would be spent in hours, and then we are back where we started.

Add to that - who decides who is 'rich' enough to be personally penalised for being successful?

It's not the way a civilised society works.

[Zacs-Master]

The rich like to keep their money and its activities private (mainly). The old boys network will be feverishly working away to put measures in place to ensure their wealth isn't compromised.

[bednobs]

the problem is that the vast majority of people think think that "better off" = "people that earn more than me"

[tiggerblue10]

Wasn't Richard Branson asking for a bailout a few days ago?

[andy-hughes]

bednobs - I can only speak personally, I seem to be devoid of this pernicious English disease of hatred and envy of success.

I remember decades ago, and American musician and I were discussing our cultural differences, and he advised that if he drove his Ferrari down the street in the UK, the reaction would be envy, spite and malice - "Flash git!" and so on, but the reaction in the US would be aspirational - "How can I get one of those?"

And I think that sums up our divisive envious culture from the aspirational culture some of our foreign friends thrive on.

[ToraToraTora]

as AH says, there is not enough "rich" to make any difference. That's why socialists always fail because in the end what constitutes "rich" to pay for their stupidity, inevitably includes those that are not remotely rich.

[Old_Geezer]

Haven't we all already ? I believe that it's called taxation.

[ToraToraTora]

AH: 10:20, bang on too many have that attitude, I have always had the American attitude in your quotation.

[Old_Geezer]

Alternatively it suggests some cultures have yet to learn to recognise flash signalling when right in front of them.

[andy-hughes]

tigger - // Wasn't Richard Branson asking for a bailout a few days ago? //

For the employees of his many successful companies, yes.

If he divided his personal fortune among them, they'd probably get about four quid each!

And as advised, why should he be personally liable for issues beyond his control, simply because he has used his skill and ability to develop an empire giving jobs to thousands of people?

[douglas9401]

I take it this musician drove around with the windows open, listening for comments then noting them down to report later.

Finally, did he transport the car between countries or did he have two?

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // I take it this musician drove around with the windows open, listening for comments then noting them down to report later.

Finally, did he transport the car between countries or did he have two? //

None of the above.

He didn't (he's sadly no longer with us) own a Ferrari, or drive one down the streets of either country - he used the car as a metaphorical example to illustrate a point in a conversation.

[Old_Geezer]

Because by starting a business one has responsibility for it, including coping with risk management, and by extension for those emplyed and relying on one. Alternatively one could always offer it at a knock down price to others, even government, to take on, should one wish to get rid of responsibility.

[Boto]

If I had worked hard, paid a fortune in taxes, why should I bail out others?

[ToraToraTora]

douglas 10:29, have a day off, it's a hypothetical situation designed to illustrate the difference in attitudes.

[douglas9401]

Okay, got it now. Just tales from the fireside.