Jimmy Carr: 'I've made a terrible error of judgement'

[BoredBloke]

Of couse it isn't.

The NHS is amongst the most cost-effective in the world at reducing mortality rates, streets ahead of the largely-privatised US. A good thing, most believe.

Those who think they have 'opted-out' by purchasing private medical insurance might like to consider where the (NHS) ambulance would take them if they were seriously injured, there being no such thing as a private casualty department - and would also be well-advised to check the condititions excluded from their policy - which will likely exclude things such as kidney dialysis, organ transplants and various other chronic and unprofitable chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, long-term mental ilness, or geriactric care. All treated by the NHS.

Legality does not infer morality and vice versa. We live in a democracy and the legal system is a meant to be expression of the will of Parliament which in turn is meant to be repesentative of the will of the people. (It is not perfectly so, of course, but that is a separate debate). The will of Parliament is pretty clearly that we should contribute roughly 30% of income to fund our shared public services, on a progressive sliding scale, and most have no choice but to comply. The fact that some smart lawyer has found a way around this expression simply means that the law is imperfectly drafted and needs to be changed, regardless of what one thinks of the morality of those who exploit the loophole.

It's not often that you see the words cost-effective being linked to the NHS unless there is a not in there somewhere!

[Diver]

Some of them probably would, just as others would rather commit crime and others would rather freeload by not paying their taxes. They are all undesirables and all that we can do is manage them as best we can.

As an aside, when you injured your hand on that saw, were you not taken to an NHS hospital who presumably are at least partially responsible for saving your hand? And if so, would you trade your hand for a a £24k a year tax refund?

You are correct, I was before I was transferred to private care but nature of the hospital makes no difference, had it been a private hospital (the nearest one to me did not have the facilities and the next was too far away).
Don't get me wrong, I think the NHS is a fantastic service and I support it wholeheartedly and would quite happily see my contributions to it increased, but only at the cost of reducing inflated pensions for those that don't deserve it or benefits to scroungers who waste My money on drink and drugs.

[doodab]

It's not often that you see the words cost-effective being linked to the NHS unless there is a not in there somewhere!

Quite a lot of studies comparing different healthcare systems in different countries show that contrary to the popular belief that the private sector would be more effective or provide much better bang for the buck the reverse is generally true. I think the reason the NHS is singled out for so much criticism is because it's a single monolithic organisation and hence has a huge budget. The fact is that we are at the low end of healthcare spending in the west and spend a lot less per patient than in the US, and yet we have some of the best outcomes and highest patient satisfaction.

[AtW]

If you go to Spain and buy 1000 cigarettes and pay less than you would in the UK, is that illegal? Or immoral?

It's fine as long as you smoke them yourself - this will kill you quicker and Govt will be better off by using your pension money to sustain ponzi scheme for a wee bit longer...

[gingerjedi]

Quite a lot of studies comparing different healthcare systems in different countries show that contrary to the popular belief that the private sector would be more effective or provide much better bang for the buck the reverse is generally true. I think the reason the NHS is singled out for so much criticism is because it's a single monolithic organisation and hence has a huge budget. The fact is that we are at the low end of healthcare spending in the west and spend a lot less per patient than in the US, and yet we have some of the best outcomes and highest patient satisfaction.

According to an 'expert' on R4 the US system wastes $3trillion annually, thats the deficit between the insurance premiums people pay and what actualy gets spent on providing healthcare.

Gives people jobs I suppose.

[AtW]

So in conclusion he said "I am sorry" and won't pay taxes he avoided all this time?

[SupremeSpod]

So in conclusion he said "I am sorry" and won't pay taxes he avoided all this time?

Personally I don't know why he's said "sorry".

He hasn't broken any laws and his tax affairs should be between himself, his accountant and HMRC.

[Old Greg]

So in conclusion he said "I am sorry" and won't pay taxes he avoided all this time?

Still, it's the thought that counts.

[AtW]

He hasn't broken any laws and his tax affairs should be between himself, his accountant and HMRC.

Why did he say that he made an judgement error then?

[TimberWolf]

Personally I don't know why he's said "sorry".

He hasn't broken any laws and his tax affairs should be between himself, his accountant and HMRC.

Probably because he feared he might not get as much TV work or other gigs.