Reply to: Have your say - What would you like to see in Budget 2008?

[HRH]

And when their benefits are zero then what, genius?

Bring back the workhouse? Euthanasia?

ohh let me think, and I might be being really radical here but maybe, just maybe they should get a job like the rest of us.

Benefits are a safety net not a way of life.

[PorkPie]

I'm dreading this budget. Has everyone got the KY ready?

[DimPrawn]

The government should put a punitive tax on having children, which can then be used to fund more immigrants.

Sorteeeeeed.

[dang65]

You have a CHOICE whether to be single or not, or whether to have kids or not.

BTW I am not pleading my own case as I am married with kids.

Yes, but what is the argument for giving some kind of extra allowance to someone just because they are single? Being married doesn't incur any extra allowance, unless you include the inheritance situation, which is unfair I agree.

Having kids is a choice, but it's also kind of a requirement for any country's survival to breed future generations. Education is paid for (with many hidden extras having to come from the parents' pocket of course), and you get a family allowance/child benefit which is not to be turned down, but doesn't add up to much (£18.10 a week for eldest child, £12.10 a week for subsequent children). So, although it's a choice, it's to the benefit of the country, and it's not financially beneficial to the people having the children.

Single people with no kids are hugely better off, and someone else is doing the work towards securing their state pensions and the future of their country.

[ratewhore]

Love this comment from the beeb site:

What would I like to see? A Budget as black and white as the chancellor's hair and eyebrows.

[Diver]

Sometimes I forget how judgemental some of the people on this site are

[Bagpuss]

Sometimes I forget how judgemental some of the people on this site are

[miffy]

And when their benefits are zero then what, genius?

Bring back the workhouse? Euthanasia?

Option two sounds good.

I think the front line in Afghanistan after their benefits run out.

[Diver]

1/ 15k tax free allowance, to help encourage people off benefits
2/ Removal of family allowance, money diverted to pensioners
3/ State pension increased to minimum wage level.
4/ VAT rebate for pensioners

I'll go for that.

Where do I sign up!

[Churchill]

1/ 15k tax free allowance, to help encourage people off benefits
2/ Removal of family allowance, money diverted to pensioners
3/ State pension increased to minimum wage level.
4/ VAT rebate for pensioners

Is that 'coz you is old?

[Bagpuss]

1/ 15k tax free allowance, to help encourage people off benefits
2/ Removal of family allowance, money diverted to pensioners
3/ State pension increased to minimum wage level.
4/ VAT rebate for pensioners

[Diver]

People earning over 200k to pay 40% tax

everyone else 20% flat

Those who can work but won't to have their benefits cut by 10% a month after 6 months.

Complete overhaul of the welfare state so there is no possible situation where someone can be better off scrounging than working.

15%

[bogeyman]

Those who can work but won't to have their benefits cut by 10% a month after 6 months.

And when their benefits are zero then what, genius?

Bring back the workhouse? Euthanasia?

[bogeyman]

Married, working people with lots of kids also have to pish a disproportionately large chunk of their earnings away in tax though. Without the benefits of being single and having no kids. Maybe you want a free taxi home from the nightclub or something?

You have a CHOICE whether to be single or not, or whether to have kids or not.

BTW I am not pleading my own case as I am married with kids.

[HRH]

People earning over 200k to pay 40% tax

everyone else 20% flat

Those who can work but won't to have their benefits cut by 10% a month after 6 months.

Complete overhaul of the welfare state so there is no possible situation where someone can be better off scrounging than working.