Tuesday 10 April 2012

Shocked!




George Osborne, our world renown millionaire Chancellor of the Exchequer, claims in a Telegraph interview today that he is 'shocked' to discover how the richest millionaires do not pay enough tax, using a variety of legal loopholes to keep their cash. I am somewhat taken aback by this.  If George, who has around £4 million to his name, was unaware of the £15-20 Billion tax avoided by his rich friends can we conclude he is either lying in his private dentist teeth or just too stupid to do his job?  Has he forgotten already how that nice man in charge of the Tax Office, after a decent lunch, gave the boss of Vodafone leave not to pay his £6 Billion tax bill?  "Just give us £1:25 Billion, and take your time in paying this," he said, "and that will be fine."  He even let one of your Tory donors off with a few million also, have you forgotten this too George?  Has George not noticed the Cabinet is full of millionaires just like him, does he think they pay all their taxes, really?  


In spite of his fathers successful business a privileged education and a Modern History degree,   George joined the real world by data entry, at the NHS he entered the names of the recent dead into the computer.  He moved on to a solitary week at Selfridges folding towels for ungrateful customers, who can blame him for leaving that shop?  I worked there in the early eighties and the nickname 'Selfishes' rings a bell still.  Joining Conservative Central Office Osborne soon found a home and gradually worked his way up, until becoming the MP for Tatton at the age of 30.  Like David Cameron PM, and so many other members of both sides of the house George was from the 80's youth.  These privileged young, a very different generation from mine, have no experience of the war, the "Never had it so good 50's," or the problems of the 70's, and I do not refer here to the music of that time!  Osborne and the rest have a mindset far from any 'Babyboomer.'  Their nation has always been wealthy, and not just because of their good fortune, everyone had enough, no-one appeared to starve, the UK, indeed the west, spoke of 'good times.'  How can someone with that outlook understand the needs of the nation, economically and 'spiritually?'  What does Osborne's nation stand for?  Can he really appreciate what his statement implies?  


I confess, as if you had not noticed, my mindset was reared in a working class family of the 50's.  A left leaning, but voting Conservative if they were better, family, and Scots nationalist when they arose in the late 60's.  Of course a quick perusal of the bible changed much of my thinking, but that leads to a natural left of centre approach.  (Thatcher in the 80's turned the evangelical church from right of centre to left of centre by her hard hearted attitudes.)  For George to say he is 'shocked' by something I heard about when I was 15 or so, and from those able to practice such tax avoidance, I find it hard to accept he really understands the responses to his every utterance.  Maybe he ought to go back to the towel department and ask a few questions of those rifling through the stock?


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7 comments:

Relax Max said...

What would a "fair share" be for the rich to pay, do you think? 81%? 97%? 100%? Should they not be allowed to follow the tax laws then? Just volunteer to pay like Buffet (who always talks about wanting to pay more taxes but never seems to get around to writing a check to the IRS.)

In the U.S., half the people pay no taxes at all. Is that their fair share, then? Liberally speaking, I mean.

I am shocked that your head money man is shocked. And I am shocked that you allow him to run your money system if he is so out of touch. Ours simply lie... I wonder if you have considered that this guy might be lying to you about what he is shocked about?

Arrrgh. I hate it when you make deep posts. I don't come here to think. I come here to look at pictures of trains and parks.

alan1704 said...

The difference between George Osborne and Robin Hood was that Robin robbed the rich to give to the poor and that was all down to good PR from his merry men.

Perhaps, Osborne needs a PR lesson from his Cabinet 'merry men'.

Then again on last weeks efforts he's probably should ring Miranda Hart!

Adullamite said...

Max, George has said such men ought to pay at least a third of their income. I think they should just be honest perhaps.


Mametz, Osborne as Robin Hood....? Hmmm....

Unknown said...

Alas, this has to be either a case of gross incompetence or blatant corruption, with neither being a good thing.

Adullamite said...

Jerry, I'm with you, but it is difficult with this lot to tell corruption from ignorant stupidity.

Mike Smith said...

I don't trust any of the English oiks running the UK. Time for independence...

Adullamite said...

Mike, FREEEEEEEEDOMMMMMM!