The 2005 general election is nearly upon us. Which way will you vote, and you reasons why. Here is a brief list of the potential contestants, please add your own.


More tax!
Less tax!
Dont know!
Death to all infidels!
Who gives a shit?

The great pretender.

Parkin - The new pensions safety net was for companies that have gone broke (plus other criteria). As you put it in your post "....untill the whole firm goes broke ...". So surely, the governemnt HAS kept its promise.

Anyway - what's it got to do with the government. Rover has been insecure for some time now. Why should the government (and us tax payers) bail it out?

Starfrog, How will you feel, if the company directors of all the shares you hold pay themselves a couple of million each a year for a number of years, at the same time hiving off money into different companies before letting the company you invested in go burst. Could happen to-morrow for you.

I guess you would feel fairly aggrieved. I admit there is a problem with private and public pensions and don't feel that the companies should be subsidised by the public purse. I feel that there should be a body set up as insurance, paid for by the various companies running their own pension scheme.

However, the recent governments have ducked their responsibilities of monitoring these funds and are continuing to do so.

I think this and previous governments has abdicated on basic social or humane principles by avoiding the issues.

It appears the present government is going to try to duck its responsibilities again.

Like it or not there are a large number of decent hard working people in this country who on their incomes (or wealth) can not afford to pay into private pension schemes.
The number is going to increase considerably unless there is a review of private and public responsibilities and necessary review of taxation policies. The gap between rich and poor is growing to large and will probably lead to more disharmony in society.

I am lucky in that my pensions are more than sufficient for my needs, but I doubt that my children or grand children will be in the same situations.

Fred1new - I agree with your sentiment. But if you read my post again I was just being pedantic by pointing out to Parkin that he had shot himself in the foot with regards to an attack on this government, re: not keeping promises. Clearly they have regarding this particular issue.

My second point is also valid, whether we like it or not. Why should the government bail out those companies who mess up their pension provisions. Should we take from the governments pension reserves to top up private schemes? I agree with you that a lot of honest hard working individuals are messed about with this whole pension issue, but surely stealing from Peter to feed Jane doesn't help.

StarFrog. I dont disagree too strongly from your statements, and certainly think it is doubtful practice for the government in general to take on retrospectively financial responsibilities. But I do think this government has been ducking its responsibilities in many ways, especially the Pension Problems. There have been various statements from various ministers acknowledging these problems, but little action be taken.

As far the government as picking up the tabs, if the pensioners have insufficient funds at retirement after contributing into the company pension fund to live on, the government is unlikely to let them starve and is therefore they are eventually to pick up some tabs in one way or another.

Anyway I hope you had a profitable day.

MaxK
Any way of deleting the 'banner'? Ta.

Hi standber.

Got rid of the scrolling bit, is that what you mean?


Seeing as this thread has turned into a general rant and argue jobby. Does anyone want the rest of the header altered...if so, suggestions please.

MaxK
........the poll ratings. March?

Tell me what to do and I will shift it. Unless it can only be you.

Hope all OK and daughter enjoying uni. VBR. S.

Hi Standber.


Sorry, bin a bit busy this week. Heading is altered, but a bit pointless now as the king of all mankind has bin re-elected with a landslide vote of 34.something %. A real testament to our times.


I was thinking a new general rant/arguement thread might be appropriate, God knows theres plenty to choice for the punters.


What do you think? And anyone else.....

Suggestions??????


regards

max

I think Tony Blair and his mob have a good chance of winning this.

Not too sure if theat would be great for the country but there you go.

Next thing after the win will be ugly rumours about Blair's tenure at number 10 I expect.

I would also expect Howard to want to step down as leader of the Conservatives.

He will be far to old to lead them into the next one, so I would not blame him.

Well all the best on the day

I misread previous post which added even more to my confusion and for a moment I thought you had written Blair had step down as leader of the Conservatives.

Actually when you read the manifestoes the Tories seem more left wing than New Labour.

What will people do for power!

Fred1new

More to the point, what they do when they've got it! And did you see
the prog last night - re the devious tricks the Socialists got up to during the run-up to the GE? Amazing yes.....but not surprising.

hi all tory menbers your party now deem AFTER the election that all common menbers are unfit to chose your leader only MPS will and can be suited///WHAT A DEMOCRATIC AND PEOPLE MINDED PARTY they SEEM ///

Yes almost like the tory labour party, blocking standing members being re-elected by fixing the gender bias for the MP allowed to stand. Trying to get a fix for Tony. If you put them and some rats in a bag, which of the rats would escape first?

"which of the rats would escape first?"

Hopefully none!