Pensions

[tgirls44]

I guess most of us would like to see our pensions rise.....and why not ...surely after all the years we have paid into the system we are intitled to it.....cannot believe after what the banks did ...losing our money they are now receiving bonuses again....it is unreal...it cannot be happening....How have they got the nerve to think that the pensioners are not going to rebel.
There must be somebody who has some clout that is going to point things out but there again they are
busy lining there own pockets with our tax money...angry....angry...angry

Anyone know whats happening in Iceland..that disappeared quickly from the news ....are they not going to give any mone back?

[John]

Iceland is still in the melting pot.

Not a squeak from the leadership of this Country over this.

But if they do pay up - watch for Brown and his cue cards
standing up to take the credit.

You would never think that some Councils (directed by statue by this government)
had millions of pounds of Council Tax Payers money at stake.

So what they probably think? - we can tax them more now.

[yorkie]

I am knot so sure that this country will see any back for some considerable time.
President Olafur Grimsson has said that Iceland would honour it's obligations, despite effectively vetoing new repayment laws.
I am told that Iceland is borrowing £7bn from the International Monetary Fund & also from other Nordic Countries.
But unfortunately they believe that those funds are required towards Iceland's recovery plans.
So don't build your hopes up to much.

Yorkie   

[John]

The most stupid part in all this is that Brown was
overseeing public money leaving Britain to Iceland.

Then this money was being used to purchase
British High Street Retailers and any other
British Business that involved high cash flow.

A class of 6 year olds may have wondered how
a Country with say a population of 400,000
people was ever going to pay monies back
if matters went wrong (which they did).

Iceland was allowed to take great financial risk with
British money and businesses without a murmur or
comment from Brown.

[tgirls44]

Well the thing is this government has not made it general knowledge that it made investments in icelandic banks. One other thing that get's right up my nose is why are we giving Billions to 3rd world countries when there is so much to be done in our own society...maybe give a little less and give some to the inferstructer of this country so our pension schemes..Hospitals..Police...fire services.. councils....
housing...looking after the elderly in nursing homes and I could go on ...but you get my drift ...Anyway on the bright side the snow looks as if it is melting if for just a bit I could take the dog for a walk....
Last thought my grandaughter says we only moan about all these things because were old(she is 4) and I say nanny is not moaning just seen it all before and it is annoying.

[Xanado]

Don’t expect any rise in the pension; when Brown is giving money away hand over fist to all other countries, as if it’s going out of fashion, the pensioner of this country is the last one he cares about. There is a government department called the Department for International Development, and they are giving away about 7 Billion pounds a year of our money to other countries. So this government cares more for people abroad than he does for the pensioners of this country. No one seems to complain about this though!

[Papaumau]

Not going to jump onto the easy argument over international aid packages as all civilised countries send this aid when it is needed. I just think that when we are living in a rich country like this there is no reason why we should not be able to do BOTH !

That aside, it may be worth mentioning that not only the national governments of Britain invested in the Iceland money-markets but many local authorities did so too as they were getting VERY good rates of return from the Iceland banks and did not think for a moment that the whole country might go under. They - like many other market-gamblers - took a risk with this money and now they and the taxpayers of Britain are paying the price.

All that aside I think that the politicos in ALL of the parties know that the elderly vote is a very powerful one and they also know that they take their lives and their political seats in their own hands if they do not promise something special for us at or before the next general election.

I say, "watch this space !"

[Hugh]

There is no money left in the pot to give us any thing special which ever party gets in. Any one having to live on the state pension alone I feel sorry for.

[Papaumau]

Hugh, they would have you think that is the case but I can tell you that it is not the case !

What is "the case" is that the government have (x) amount of money to spend every year and it is the most powerful government ministers that are able to ensure that they get the whack that they feel they need. It is a well known case that once any local or national government department get (x) amount of money each year they always spend all of it and more so that they will not get a cut in their finance budget the next year.

THE MONEY IS THERE it is just not available to certain spenders to spend and that is why they would have you think that the government is skint.

Yes, this government in particular is heavily into borrowing debt but even this must be set against the country's GDP. I do not exactly know what percentage of GDP the government borrow but I do know that it is still in a single figure percentage of the total taken in in tax.

For your interest here is the 2009 expense pie-chart for you to see where all of our money goes:

[Hugh]

The only people Brown and his buddies look after is squanders. My son as never been unemployed till now But because he as saved and put money aside for when he retires he is not allowed unemployment benefits. He as to use his saving to support him self. Income support is for squanders and young unmarried ladies who have a baby so they don't have to work and get allowances to support them selves and their child.
There are exceptions like disabled people and their carers they should be cared for but in many cases not very well..   

[avalonmpk]

Put a tax on idiotic useless things 200% on all jewellery except wedding rings and 1% on every single credit card transaction

[Hugh]

Put a tax on idiotic useless things 200% on all jewellery except wedding rings and 1% on every single credit card transaction

Gordon doesn't need your help in raising taxes, he has reputation for creating taxes through the back door. 

[Papaumau]

Put a tax on idiotic useless things 200% on all jewellery except wedding rings and 1% on every single credit card transaction

There already is a tax on such things....they are supposed to be covered by VAT.

In fact the "value-added" tax - which was originally designed to be on luxury and unessential items - has changed to include just about everything that we buy. It should more-precisely be called "purchase tax" once again.

I DO agree though that purely luxurious items that are bought over and  above the essential items needed for living should and could be taxed at a "luxury" level that the rich could afford to pay if they want these items.

I guess it is all about CHOICE...If we have the choice and we want something that we can afford that is not an essential item that is needed to keep us fed and warm and clean and dry then we can exercise that choice if we wish.

[phyllis]

I did not invest in Iceland, but the company that has got my savings gives me a princely sum of £2.50 per month. the same amount used to give a useful £98 + per month before tax. The bankers and their institutions are telling us we should move our money around, then if you do they then charge for the admin that they do not have to do for the privilege of them having our money to invest in anyway they choose.
Today to my horror, I received my new state pension statement, I am going to have a whole £2 and a few pence more per week on my reduced state pension as the extra pension I worked and paid for is not going be involved in any way. Because I was silly enough to work for 6 years paying the 2% stamp as the money I earned was less than the actual NI stamp was in those days and could not work full time because I contributed to the country's economy by having 3 children who all work and are not a burden on the state. I am, after having to put two extra years in employment, also after working all my life with a disabling illness that has never been considered a disability (RA), expected to live on this pittance and if I am hospitalised they will then take even that away.
In a free country there should be some way for the ordinary but thinking person to make themselves heard, but all I see are grossly overpaid, models, luvvies and self seeking politicians getting their words splashed all over the media.   

[Elder Rebel]

In a partial reply to Phyllis I would say that today I received news of my State Pension increase and as is normal with this lying government they have not increased those parts of the pensions they can call something else. ie; Serps and Graduated pensions, although by any real standard these are also State pensions.  I  have written to my MP and told her I will not be voting for her at the next election although I have always voted Labour.  I am ashamed to say that this labour Government has been the most deceitful, incompetent and underhand administration probably in the history of this country.

It seems that the Conservative Party offer is not much different.  Again a party filled with expenses loaders, liars and fraudsters.  In fact  we currently have a House of Corruption filled with a majority of such people in all parties.

Who then to vote for ??  Who will tell us the truth and govern with probity and fairness ??

If we took the few honest MP's from all parties we would not have enough to form a competent Government.

I despair for our country.