taxes

we have to pay them.
i don't begrude it - as i realise that the state needs to have finances to provide necessary services.

but while we have to pay them companies on the other hand try not to. marks and spencers have won a tax claim against the government allows them to offset their foreign losses against their uk tax bills.

now i don't know much about taxes - but i know that when i earn more my tax increases. and i keep hoping that one day i get to pay the top rate of tax.

yet it seems if you are a business your rate of tax is capped, but when you do not make profits you can claim relief on your tax. so while they all complain about the red tape they face they don't mind using that self same red tape to make sure that they can ease the cost of their business by squeezing money out of the state.

i wonder if when they post a loss like this do they contact shareholders and ask for money back? do they? i bet the fuck they don't.
for the simple reason that most shareholders would say - hey ho it's your business you invest and if it works you have made more money, if it fails well you lose. except of course in the mad mad world of the cbi's capitalism where it means that you can expect someone else to bail you out.
tossers.

i deal with several companies who try to get extra discount points from us because of the cost of their business. i am thinking of trying the same myself, oi abbey national i have gotten a bigger house, give me extra discount on my mortgage. what chance do you think i have ?

on the radio today there was a chat about the red tape that affects business. bod comes on says how he has a shop, he has been bailed out by a mate, but he is facing eviction from his home and is behind on his shop rent. he is finding it hard to make ends meet because woolies and blockbusters are selling games cheaper to the public than he can buy them.
seems clear what is going on there.
nope you are wrong.
he is in trouble because there is too much red tape for a small business.....
and do you know what, i realised at that moment that in a few weeks he would be working a macdonalds.