Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

The Austerity Game

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Original post by cole-slaw

Latest figure suggest that austerity has ruined the economy to the tune that we are each one of us roughly £2k worse off.

I am sure that as a well educated chap you are not so gullible as to believe that austerity was necessary or beneficial. The tories wanted to slash the state for ideological reasons, the recession was simply the excuse the needed to due it with remorseless brutality.

All dubious figures. Firstly there's a question of whether welfare is something you should be entitled to when not unemployed. Secondly there's the question of whether austerity is what's causing low wage growth.

There is an ideological element however cutting spending in many areas has been justified even if i think they've made some mistakes (notably the Libs are right to call for increased capital spending rather than the halving of the budget).

Original post by illegaltobepoor

Ever wanted to be one of the most hated men in Britain? Now here is your chance. You can be the Chancellor of the Exchequer and decide what to cut from the welfare bill.

George Osborne said we need to make £25 Billion cuts to public spending; £12 Billion of which will be welfare cuts.

Francis Maude said we need to make £20 Billion cuts on top of our current austerity plans.

So here is your task. Make 32 Billion worth of cuts to the welfare budget. Pick & choose carefully. You could face Communist revolution or even worse loose next years election.

The Tories are depending on you!

.............................................

Welfare spending 2013-2014

State Pensions 74.22 Bn
Tax Credits 29.91 Bn
Housing Benefit 22.77 Bn
Disability Living Allowance 13.97 Bn
Child Benefit 12.22 Bn
Employment Support Allowance 10.52 Bn
Pension Credit 8.11 Bn
Income Support 6.92 Bn
Attendence Allowance 5.59 Bn
Job Seekers Allowance 5.26Bn
Council Tax Benefit 4.83 Bn
Statutory Maternity 2.39 Bn
Winter Fuel Payments 2.17 Bn
Carers Allowance 2.08 Bn
Financial Assistance Scheme 1.24 Bn
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 0.9 Bn
Over 75 TV Licence 0.6 Bn
Bereavement Benefits 0.58 Bn
Maternity Allowance 0.4 Bn
Discretionary Housing Payments 0.16 Bn
Christmas Bonus 0.15 Bn
Statutory Sick Pay 0.05 Bn
Specialised Vechiles Fund 0.02 Bn
Enterprise Allowance 0.01 Bn

.......................................

Make sure you list all your answers and add the total up.

My new economic model is still being formulated but I can give you a rough example of what it would allow me to do:

1) Nationalize and build homes & put solar panels on them, nationalize water
2) Charge rent at £200 for 1 bedroom flat, £400 for 2 bedroom house (2 parents and 1 child or 2 adults), £450 for 3 bedroom house (2 parents 2 children)
3) Charge electricity usage by setting a limit and if you go over it you pay at a higher rate (like a mobile phone contract).
4) Charge water usage the same way as above
5) Increase wage to ensure that if you are employed the least you will earn is 50% more than they cost to run your home and to work
6) Remove all the benefits above and move them onto a credit based system. If you are unemployed you will receive the essentials but will owe them to the government so when you do get employed a small percentage of your wage goes towards paying off that debt (so it doesn't affect your disposable income too much. The debt will not incur interest.) When you die the government will net off your account and whatever the balance is will be passed onto your children. If you have no children it will be written off in the budget.

So I made a saving of approximately £120bn.

I have other reform policies that will coincide with these ones.

Still on the drawing board though...

MatureStudent36

Original post by illegaltobepoor

Ever wanted to be one of the most hated men in Britain? Now here is your chance. You can be the Chancellor of the Exchequer and decide what to cut from the welfare bill.

George Osborne said we need to make £25 Billion cuts to public spending; £12 Billion of which will be welfare cuts.

Francis Maude said we need to make £20 Billion cuts on top of our current austerity plans.

So here is your task. Make 32 Billion worth of cuts to the welfare budget. Pick & choose carefully. You could face Communist revolution or even worse loose next years election.

The Tories are depending on you!

.............................................

Welfare spending 2013-2014

State Pensions 74.22 Bn
Tax Credits 29.91 Bn
Housing Benefit 22.77 Bn
Disability Living Allowance 13.97 Bn
Child Benefit 12.22 Bn
Employment Support Allowance 10.52 Bn
Pension Credit 8.11 Bn
Income Support 6.92 Bn
Attendence Allowance 5.59 Bn
Job Seekers Allowance 5.26Bn
Council Tax Benefit 4.83 Bn
Statutory Maternity 2.39 Bn
Winter Fuel Payments 2.17 Bn
Carers Allowance 2.08 Bn
Financial Assistance Scheme 1.24 Bn
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 0.9 Bn
Over 75 TV Licence 0.6 Bn
Bereavement Benefits 0.58 Bn
Maternity Allowance 0.4 Bn
Discretionary Housing Payments 0.16 Bn
Christmas Bonus 0.15 Bn
Statutory Sick Pay 0.05 Bn
Specialised Vechiles Fund 0.02 Bn
Enterprise Allowance 0.01 Bn

.......................................

Make sure you list all your answers and add the total up.

Great. Another thread by the same poster covering exactly the same things.

This time with a biased poll.

illegaltobepoor

OP

Original post by MatureStudent36

Great. Another thread by the same poster covering exactly the same things.

This time with a biased poll.

You should create a thread.

Just get rid of all of it and everyone can be miserable together?

And while we're at it cut some corporate taxes?

Original post by Rakas21

Cap housing benefit at £1600 (mainly effects large families and Londoners but tough).

Yeah. Screw large families and Londoners.

They should just stop being lazy and earn more.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Original post by InnerTemple

Yeah. Screw large families and Londoners.

They should just stop being lazy and earn more.

Posted from TSR Mobile

and/or move to somewhere that thats a very reasonable after tax wage...?

illegaltobepoor

OP

Original post by Quady

and/or move to somewhere that thats a very reasonable after tax wage...?

To be honest London is awful place to live. I'm so thankful I don't have to do the commute in anymore. I just need some more Maths + Computer qualifications then all I'm gonna do is write formula for some robot to do trading for me.

Quady you can be my Personal Assistant if you like. Your job would be delivering relevant junk food to my desk :tongue:

:tongue:

MatureStudent36

Original post by illegaltobepoor

To be honest London is awful place to live. I'm so thankful I don't have to do the commute in anymore. I just need some more Maths + Computer qualifications then all I'm gonna do is write formula for some robot to do trading for me.

Quady you can be my Personal Assistant if you like. Your job would be delivering relevant junk food to my desk :tongue:

:tongue:

Most qualified nurses are above the living salary.

There should be an option for all of it.

illegaltobepoor

OP

Original post by MatureStudent36

Most qualified nurses are above the living salary.

You tired mate?

Original post by illegaltobepoor

You tired mate?

Most public sector workers earn near or above average salaries. There are exceptions but it should be enough to live on unless your one of those who think the likes of tube drivers are hard done by.

Well, is it not obvious? You cut it all! After all, if there is no more welfare budget people can stop crying about it being cut.

Original post by illegaltobepoor

Quady you can be my Personal Assistant if you like. Your job would be delivering relevant junk food to my desk :tongue:

:tongue:

Sounds good to me, if you offer me 5% more than my current public sector renumeration I'd be there. Added bonus of it contributing to the austerity game.

illegaltobepoor

OP

Original post by Quady

Sounds good to me, if you offer me 5% more than my current public sector renumeration I'd be there. Added bonus of it contributing to the austerity game.

Will be a case of if and when I pass my Post Grad in Maths.

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