The Words of Wisdom of Boris Johnson - Foreign Secretary

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

C'mon Hugh, that just sounds so petulant. You'd criticise him if he didn't propose big (public)spending on infrastructure projects and you'd criticise him if he did. You just come across as the spoilt child who didn't get his way.

It’s nothing I’m bothered about in the slightest. In fact the change in pension tax relief is a pretty good way of doing a little bit of socialist wealth redistribution if he uses the money raised to fund tax and NI cuts for the poorer - and so this possible Pension TR change is something I’d support 100%.

The bridge I just don’t get. I think there are louder calls for infrastructure investment in such as a northern crossrail.

 

[Hobbit]

It’s nothing I’m bothered about in the slightest. In fact the change in pension tax relief is a pretty good way of doing a little bit of socialist wealth redistribution if he uses the money raised to fund tax and NI cuts for the poorer - and so this possible Pension TR change is something I’d support 100%.

The bridge I just don’t get. I think there are louder calls for infrastructure investment in such as a northern crossrail.

You’re so not bothered you started the thread and regularly post your thoughts about Boris...

 

[Mudball]

The election (or rather rejection of JC) shows we are not a socialist country. So why this sudden urge to raid pension pot. I work hard, pay my tax and put money aside for retirement. I am trying to not depend on the state when I am older. I am a million miles away from the 1m cap. So why is our learned friend planning a raid.

What avenue does the average joe have to save money? While he is at it, why not raid ISA, JISA etc too - just so he can pay for vanity projects like the HS2, Scottish bridge and estuary airport

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51456387

Why specifically this group of Jamaican convicted offenders...?

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You’re so not bothered you started the thread and regularly post your thoughts about Boris...

No I'm not - there is nothing I can do about what Johnson and his crew do now (except pray for them that they do the right thing ). But I can still comment. I just plough on and let them get on with it - and they will be due whatever comeuppance is theirs if their acts and outcomes promised do not match up with what they promised and offered...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The election (or rather rejection of JC) shows we are not a socialist country. So why this sudden urge to raid pension pot. I work hard, pay my tax and put money aside for retirement. I am trying to not depend on the state when I am older. I am a million miles away from the 1m cap. So why is our learned friend planning a raid.

What avenue does the average joe have to save money? While he is at it, why not raid ISA, JISA etc too - just so he can pay for vanity projects like the HS2, Scottish bridge and estuary airport

I think that you'll only take home less if you pay tax on your income at 40% after your pension contributions are taken off your top line. Anyway I think that's the plan. Not a bad idea for a bit of wealth redistribution if that's what they decide to do with it.

 

[Hobbit]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51456387

Why specifically this group of Jamaican convicted offenders...?

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist...

The numbers of foreign criminals deported has been averaging over 1,000 for the last 8 years, the majority deported during that time aren't Jamaican. The law for this was brought in by Labour in 2007.

All those origanally scheduled for the flight that mounted a valid legal challenge were granted the right to remain whilst that challenge is heard.

 

[Mudball]

The numbers of foreign criminals deported has been averaging over 1,000 for the last 8 years, the majority deported during that time aren't Jamaican. The law for this was brought in by Labour in 2007.

All those origanally scheduled for the flight that mounted a valid legal challenge were granted the right to remain whilst that challenge is heard.

As twitter goes into meltdown on demands for Rolf Harris a convicted convicted paedophile didn't get deported though yet he is a foreign national. but easy to send a planeload of Jamicans.

Friends in high places? white privilege?

 

[Mudball]

I think that you'll only take home less if you pay tax on your income at 40% after your pension contributions are taken off your top line. Anyway I think that's the plan. Not a bad idea for a bit of wealth redistribution if that's what they decide to do with it.

Why is it not a bad idea.... I alredy pay 40% tax... now iwth this, we will end up with 50% tax.. So half of what i earn will go to the state? Punishment for being good at what you do. So i should aim to be mediocre and save tax. Great way for nation building. Also great time if you are an accountant and can help dodge taxes.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Why is it not a bad idea.... I alredy pay 40% tax... now iwth this, we will end up with 50% tax.. So half of what i earn will go to the state? Punishment for being good at what you do. So i should aim to be mediocre and save tax. Great way for nation building. Also great time if you are an accountant and can help dodge taxes.

Because I am more than happy with a bit more wealth redistribution...and maybe also so does the Prime Minister - maybe he needs to answer that question...it's a pretty easy question for a democratic socialist such as myself to answer

And if you have a Tory MP - maybe Email him the question you have just asked and let us know what he/she says in reply?

 

[patricks148]

i'm sure he almost said lets get HS2 done on C4 news tonight

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

i'm sure he almost said lets get HS2 done on C4 news tonight

I think he did - well I am sure I heard him say it as I twigged it straight away - thinking that he must have thought it worked so well with Brexit he’ll use the same psychological trope with hs2.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

No I'm not - there is nothing I can do about what Johnson and his crew do now (except pray for them that they do the right thing ). But I can still comment. I just plough on and let them get on with it - and they will be due whatever comeuppance is theirs if their acts and outcomes promised do not match up with what they promised and offered...

Let me understand you here.

If Boris and his crew do the right thing( according to you), then it is God's doing , having responded to your praying.

If Boris does the wrong thing, it's his own doing?

Poor bugger doesn't seem to stand a chance with you!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Let me understand you here.

If Boris and his crew do the right thing( according to you), then it is God's doing , having responded to your praying.

If Boris does the wrong thing, it's his own doing?

Poor bugger doesn't seem to stand a chance with you!

In all things Johnson knows what he wants to do - I can only pray that he always also understands the ‘right’ thing to do and that then he chooses to do the right thing.

But the choice will always be his. When what I want to do is the same as what I understand to be the right thing to do the choice is easy...there is no difficult decision to be made. It is when they are not the same that the decision becomes more difficult - but I can still choose to do what I want to do - nothing stopping me. God doesn’t do the doing - I do the doing.

 

[Hobbit]

In all things Johnson knows what he wants to do - I can only pray that he always also understands the ‘right’ thing to do and that then he chooses to do the right thing.

But the choice will always be his. When what I want to do is the same as what I understand to be the right thing to do the choice is easy...there is no difficult decision to be made. It is when they are not the same that the decision becomes more difficult - but I can still choose to do what I want to do - nothing stopping me. God doesn’t do the doing - I do the doing.

But he is choosing his right way, just not your right way. You need to learn to accept that. And in x years time, at the next election, you've got to hope that the majority choose your right way.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

But he is choosing his right way, just not your right way. You need to learn to accept that. And in x years time, at the next election, you've got to hope that the majority choose your right way.

That's absolutely fine. He has his understanding of what is the right thing to do (my belief is that with most choices there is usually only one right thing to do), and of what he wants to do (of which there can be many options - including his preferred) - and when they are the same - brilliant. I simply pray that he has the fullest understanding of the right thing to do and the strength to choose to do that.

 

[bobmac]

I simply pray that he has the fullest understanding of the right thing to do and the strength to choose to do that.

As long as it's the thing that you think is right.
Didn't you pray to stay in the EU?

 

[Hobbit]

That's absolutely fine. He has his understanding of what is the right thing to do (my belief is that with most choices there is usually only one right thing to do), and of what he wants to do (of which there can be many options - including his preferred) - and when they are the same - brilliant. I simply pray that he has the fullest understanding of the right thing to do and the strength to choose to do that.

We could split hairs till the cows come home on this one Hugh. There are some choices for which there is only one right answer, e.g. should I walk across a congested motorway. However, equally, there are political choices that run counter to our own fundamental beliefs but are absolutely the right choice for someone else. The obvious one is Brexit. If someone doesn't want EU laws, their choice might have been vote Leave. Never mind the reams that we've posted, their choice was right.

Austerity; one obvious need was to cut spending. Few would argue against the need to cut back in some areas. The Tory choice, in my opinion, went too far, too deeply and for too long. They believe they did the right thing.

As soon as we apply an opinion to the right thing, not a fact, it becomes our right thing, not the absolute right thing.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We could split hairs till the cows come home on this one Hugh. There are some choices for which there is only one right answer, e.g. should I walk across a congested motorway. However, equally, there are political choices that run counter to our own fundamental beliefs but are absolutely the right choice for someone else. The obvious one is Brexit. If someone doesn't want EU laws, their choice might have been vote Leave. Never mind the reams that we've posted, their choice was right.

Austerity; one obvious need was to cut spending. Few would argue against the need to cut back in some areas. The Tory choice, in my opinion, went too far, too deeply and for too long. They believe they did the right thing.

As soon as we apply an opinion to the right thing, not a fact, it becomes our right thing, not the absolute right thing.

...and it is only when you are the person who has to make the decision will you be in the position to have an understanding of what is best to do (for one and/or for all) and what you, as the person making the decision, might want to do.

On HS2. Johnson has made a decision that will cause him personal difficulities with many Tory MPs. In that decision, because of and despite the difficulties he will have, he may well have made the right decision - the easy one for him might well have been to cancel it.

On Austerity. Maybe indeed cuts were required - and that may have been the right thing to do as well as the thing Tory governments might want to do. But continuiing the cuts to the extent they were taken - perhaps too much on a point of Conservative principle - when the cuts were actually starting to hurt those least able to cope. That may have been Conservative 'self-will' taking priority over doing the 'right' thing.

Sometimes we have a clearer idea of the right thing to do than other times. So where you state that voters who voted to leave did the right thing in their eyes. That is absolutely true. However I might contest that none of us really had a very clear understanding of the right thing to do - and so we voted on the basis of our understanding of what was right - for ourselves and for the wider country. My issue with the whole Brexit debate was the level of misinformation and fears being poured out to us all - making it very difficult for any of us to truly understand the right thing to do - which way to vote. We all just did our best with what we had.

And that is all I am saying with Johnson is that I pray that he and the government have clear understanding of the right thing to do in any matter - and do that - even when that might not be what their instinct as individuals, politicians or a government might have as what they would want to do. And that is not easy - for anyone.

 

[drdel]

Why is it not a bad idea.... I alredy pay 40% tax... now iwth this, we will end up with 50% tax.. So half of what i earn will go to the state? Punishment for being good at what you do. So i should aim to be mediocre and save tax. Great way for nation building. Also great time if you are an accountant and can help dodge taxes.

You are upping the ante -you'll never pay half in tax.
I think you're numbers are wrong In 2020 tax year you can earn £50k before paying 40%. (£7.5k a rate of ~15% tax) If it changes and you earn £60 you pay £12.5k tax. thus you 'tax' to the state is a net rate of 21% (Exc NI and pension allowance)