Those nasty cybernats at it again.

[stewarty27]

I rather like the idea of those with the broadest shoulders paying a bit more. As do the progressive parties in the Scottish Parliament who wanted a modest tax rise for those earning a bit more. Unfortunately, most people voted for the non-progressive low-tax parties like the Tories and the SNP.

Nothing wrong with those who have more paying a bit more. thats already happening under the current tax system and under new proposals the community charge will change along those lines, But for Universal things like health care including free prescriptions they should be free for all at the point of need. I saw a A BBC survey survey of one thousand voters on the eve of last year's Scottish parliamentary elections showed that the abolition of university tuition fees is the third most popular policy in Scotland. Number two is increasing the number of police on the beat, two of the SNPs flagship policies, Your saying that that universal policies are unfair and regressive. But as I said in the above post it is often fairer and more efficient for services to be paid for centrally through general taxation. If you really want to save money... 60% of Scottish public spending goes on the salaries and pensions of public sector workers. The most direct way to cut spending is by cutting the size of the state bureaucracy, starting with those highly paid council officials. And of course the abomination that is Trident

[54FairAndSquare]

"Your saying that that universal policies are unfair and regressive."

No I'm not. I'm saying that it is progressive to increase taxes for those who can most afford to pay. Something the Tories and SNP are against.

[stewarty27]

"Your saying that that universal policies are unfair and regressive."

No I'm not. I'm saying that it is progressive to increase taxes for those who can most afford to pay. Something the Tories and SNP are against.

Tories have always been a low tax party particularly at the higher end big earners, And your right the SNP chose to leave the tax band as it was where the Libdems and Labour wanted a 1p increase on the basic rate. The SNP argument was at a time of austerity was not the right time for tax increases, As far as I know they don't have the power to vary tax rates (so they could tax the richer) it has to be across the board.

[noahrab]

This is Labour's "Something for nothing" jibe and look where it got them. Its often fairer and more efficient for services to be paid for centrally through general taxation, which is itself based on ability to pay. Free prescription charges for example costs £57 million, a relatively small sliver of the £34 billion Scottish budget, but up to half of that saving will be lost through the cost of constructing a new bureaucracy to manage the transition and identify and collect from those who are to pay in future. The nugatory savings from bus passes or the winter fuel allowance are hardly going to pay off the national debt. Free personal care for elderly people is expensive at a cost of £360 million, but much of this is saved in the NHS by helping keep older people independent in their own homes rather than occupying beds in hospitals. Its not just Populist policies Bodie there also clever policies. Perhaps you should put your energies into opposing Trident that in itself would save 200Bn.

Trident is a 'very small silver' (your words) of the U.K. budget so that's ok then?

You actually want people to believe that it would cost £28.5m per year to administer payment of prescription charges?

Yet again the SNP live up to the tag of Tartan Tories by making sure millionaires don't pay for prescriptions.

Next will be reduction in Air Passenger Duty tax. The people on benefits, minimum wages and queuing up at foodbanks cannae wait for that day.

[Buc]

Trident is a 'very small silver' (your words) of the U.K. budget so that's ok then?

You actually want people to believe that it would cost £28.5m per year to administer payment of prescription charges?

Yet again the SNP live up to the tag of Tartan Tories by making sure millionaires don't pay for prescriptions.

Next will be reduction in Air Passenger Duty tax. The people on benefits, minimum wages and queuing up at foodbanks cannae wait for that day.

You just hate the SNP noarab don't you ..

You have to accept the labour party are finished in Scotland theres not much difference with them than than the Tories

The SNP have no time for Tory policies .
It would be good to see you post something positive about anything I've never known any poster like you.
Let's see a poster that indeed likes a bit of fun on the board I'm sure you have that in you.
I'm not being critical in any way .

[noahrab]

You just hate the SNP noarab don't you ..

You have to accept the labour party are finished in Scotland theres not much difference with them than than the Tories

The SNP have no time for Tory policies .
It would be good to see you post something positive about anything I've never known any poster like you.
Let's see a poster that indeed likes a bit of fun on the board I'm sure you have that in you.
I'm not being critical in any way .

I don't hate anything or anyone.

What boils my p1ss is you independence at any cost types giving the Scottish government a free ride and NEVER criticising them when they phuck up...which they are doing.

None so blind as those that cannot see.

[spameater1]

You just hate the SNP noarab don't you ..

You have to accept the labour party are finished in Scotland theres not much difference with them than than the Tories

The SNP have no time for Tory policies .
It would be good to see you post something positive about anything I've never known any poster like you.
Let's see a poster that indeed likes a bit of fun on the board I'm sure you have that in you.
I'm not being critical in any way .

Noah M Jolly.

[Taintedice]

Is walloper saying that scottish labour are 'progressive', oyf, that's his biggest whopper yet. Can't remember them or the libdims raising taxes when they were in power, although do remember them spending billions on vanity projects.

[stewarty27]

Trident is a 'very small silver' (your words) of the U.K. budget so that's ok then?

You actually want people to believe that it would cost £28.5m per year to administer payment of prescription charges?

Yet again the SNP live up to the tag of Tartan Tories by making sure millionaires don't pay for prescriptions.

Next will be reduction in Air Passenger Duty tax. The people on benefits, minimum wages and queuing up at foodbanks cannae wait for that day.

First thing I need to point out to you...Trident is a 'very small silver'.. Are not my words they are yours !! try actually reading posts before jumping in with both feet. Yes it would cost money to admin payment of the charges thats a fact. Any savings made if any ! would be minimal. What you really can't stand is the voters respond positively to these policies because they agree with them and there is nothing wrong with governing in accordance with the popular will. Voters like universal benefits for a reason: they hate means tests, which many people regard as demeaning in a civilised society. Universal benefits are efficient because people don't have to go through the complex and bureaucratic process of claiming them, which is why they are a good way of delivering national objectives. Is there ANYTHING the SNP have done you like ?

[Taintedice]

As far as I know they don't have the power to vary tax rates (so they could tax the richer) it has to be across the board.

don't confuse the cyberbrit wallopers with the reality of what any scottish government can actually do ffs. Even if the toytown parliament could add a new tax band for higher paid folk, how many of them would actually pay it.