"Benefits are going up more than wages so we'll cut benefits"
or, you know, you could increase wages.

Also found this:

www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/arts/music/sony-issues-bob-dylan-recordings-to-keep-european-copyright.html?hp&pagewanted=all&_r=0

Just to restart the debate on copyright again.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:44, 2 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

My wages go up every year
what's the problem?
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:45, Reply)

It's pretty hard to force the private sector to increase wages, though.
the solution, as always, is a selective tax increase, but apparently that's an entirely invisible solution to this government.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:46, Reply)

they should raise taxes on everyone apart from me
I'm the squeezed middle innit.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:47, Reply)

You can apparently afford £12K a year to send your kid to private school
so I'm afraid that's not the "squeezed middle" old boy.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:49, Reply)

mater and pater will help with that

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:49, Reply)

which would be different from claiming benefits how?

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:52, Reply)

People who claim benefits are thick or lazy or didn't work at school
They failed in life by not being born into the Ape family.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:54, Reply)

Now you've got it!

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:00, Reply)

It doesn't cost you lot anything does it?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:00, Reply)

depends how they got their money.

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:02, Reply)

Dad ran his own business for 40 years

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:03, Reply)

probably a hideous tax evader then.
so, yes, it has cost us something.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:07, Reply)

he really wouldn't have been, he's the most cautious and law abiding person I've ever met
drove my mum mad
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:27, Reply)

actually where is the "middle"
what are the household income brackets that define these fuzzy terms?
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:52, Reply)

www.guardian.co.uk/society/datablog/2012/jun/22/household-incomes-compare
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:53, Reply)

He's not responded because he's realised he's not a middle income person.
Either that or he can't work out the form.
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:58, Reply)

I had to work out my household income after tax, AKSHULLY

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:58, Reply)

So where is the middle sector? 33% - 66%?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:59, Reply)

I assume so, it'll tell you on the top right if you're high middle or low?

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:02, Reply)

I am comfortable @ 77% if a little warm
I'm aiming for 97% I reckon, but the wife earns fuck all, so she's no help at all
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:06, Reply)

:( 61%
I wish they'd hurry up and make me redundant.
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:07, Reply)

yeah but it's pretty stupid as living costs vary across the country

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:10, Reply)

Yeah you're really having a hard time of it compared to me, I'm sorry.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:13, Reply)

I'm just saying that the only fair way to look at it would be to include local housing and transport costs etc
before making the comparison
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:14, Reply)

You're all about the fairness, aren't you?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:17, Reply)

Unless it impacts negatively on him
in which case it can fuck off.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:18, Reply)

quite, survival of the fittest innit

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:23, Reply)

hes all about trying to justify the chip on his shoulder.
We should include private school costs as well
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:18, Reply)

I can't believe he's sending his daughter to a private school
Does he want her to grow up a total cunt?
(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:20, Reply)

Hi Al!
I was privately educated and I'm perfectly lovely
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:22, Reply)

No, sorry ape, I'm afraid you've rather just rpoved my point.

(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:27, Reply)

Leave my kids fucking out of it! What have they done? You fucking retract that bit about my cunt fucking kids!

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:30, Reply)

Stop flailing around there Ape, you'll bruges yourself.

(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:34, Reply)

i hate all this bollocks about "fairness"
life ain't fair, get over it. If you live in Britain you are a fuck of a lot better off than most of the world, so stop moaning.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:20, Reply)

You were the one who brought it up.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:23, Reply)

I only meant in relation to how that calculator worked
it is a blunt instrument, that's all.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:25, Reply)

*cough* 90% *cough*
I'm not sure I filled it out right.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:13, Reply)

You probably did
but you've just not appreciated that although the average wage is something shit like 22K, or possibly worse, that "average" is massively skewed upwards by a few people earning millions.

The median wage would be much lower, which is pretty depressing.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:19, Reply)

I think the average is around £27-28K
But, as you say, this is a bollocks figure skewed upwards (by Stunned).
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:22, Reply)

£26500 at last count.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:25, Reply)

that was less than my graduate starting salary
how shit are these people that they are worse thana grad with no experience?
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:26, Reply)

You're just the best

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:30, Reply)

nah, loads of people earn more than me
I'm just saying some people are shit, let them be shit, don't pay them extra for being shit
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:32, Reply)

It's not about paying people extra for being shit.
It's about people having enough money to live on.
Y'know for food and a roof over their heads, that sort of thing.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:39, Reply)

So you would suggest there should be massive investment in education?
Perhaps try to increase the numbers attending university?
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:34, Reply)

nah, some people are shit to the core
no point throwing good money after bad is there
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:38, Reply)

I was about to link you back to the "Let them die" post up there, but I see you have already acknowledged this.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:40, Reply)

The only easy mistake to make is you need to put it as after tax.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:25, Reply)

Oh my
97% of people have less money than me.

I almost feel bad about that.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:00, Reply)

So you have a household income of about £80k?
What's does your missus do?
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:02, Reply)

She's a fairly senior civil servant
I'm a fairly senior academic.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:03, Reply)

you have £100k household income after tax each year?
edit: with child
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:02, Reply)

nope, not that high, up there the boundaries are quite wide.
it goes tits up once the child arrives, plus we'll lose about a third of my wifes income when she goes back part time, so i'll be down at 94% before you know it.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:04, Reply)

Waaaahhhhhh

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:05, Reply)

First world problems, chompy.

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:05, Reply)

Scotland? 1st world? really?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:06, Reply)

1st and a half.

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:07, Reply)

*middle class guilt fives*
You are comfortable: compared to the rest of society, you are better off and income have risen higher than those in the middle.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:03, Reply)

Mine says
You are in the squeezed middle: income levels have not risen significantly and you're feeling the pinch
:((
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:04, Reply)

77%
but I feel rich
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:19, Reply)

99% of people have a lower income than me.
Cahnts!!
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:03, Reply)

98%
you smug bastard
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:38, Reply)

97% i mean
stupid keyboard
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:40, Reply)

I hope you earn £50k and are planning more kids.
If you get 3, every £1 you earn between 50-60k will be effectivley taxed at 68%
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:50, Reply)

:(((((((((((((((((((((((
*phones jimmy Carr*

"uh huh, yeah...like the where the cows come from? sounds good, count me in!"
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:51, Reply)

Isn't it possible that keeping benefits low will keep wages low?
It's going to be pretty hard to attract staff to a job if you're paying less than benefits.
(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:48, Reply)

unless your a forrin who doesn't qualify for benefits anyway

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:50, Reply)

supply, demand and profit dicate wages
I suppose it might have a tiny effect on minimum wage positions.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:50, Reply)

My musings are that lower benifits increase worker supply without changing the others, driving wage costs down.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 14:56, Reply)

This might be true, if a little simplistic
I'm not sure it'll work the other way around though?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 8 Jan 2013, 15:02, Reply)