Well the doctor mentioned that I hadn’t got over my 1998 breakdown let alone the others that followed. So there were no surprises there, but it was still worth the trip to see the new surgery and have a nice chat and cry with someone outside of the family circle. My long term mental ill health is a bit like the Budget really, the same old stuff, but illustrated in a slightly different way each year.
I thought that the Wallace and Gromit Budget gag was very funny but underhand. I know what it was supposed to mean, but I also understood the innuendo. Well done to the Coalition Government on the intended broadband improvements across the UK as that is indeed what a modern industrial society should have. Oh, but where's our industry gone? Probably where our Gold Reserves went; down the plug ole.
I like the idea of the rich paying the most and the poor paying the least, especially now that I’m on an Occupational Pension. 45% of an awful lot isn’t that much, whereas any taxation on very little is a burden. Mind you 50% of an awful lot wasn’t much either, but that figure unfortunately no longer exists. The grannies seem to have come off badly and that is a surprise. The ‘Granny Tax’ wasn’t the kind of publicity the coalition would have been looking forward too when the contents of the Red Box were being compiled and leaked. Then again, if the contents stayed in the box until the day, there is less chance of someone building a comprehensive argument quickly. So lesson for the future; keep the budget secret as it doesn’t pay to share in advance.
The thing that really got me and I hope that I am not alone in this one; is the poor maths. Now I’m no Oxbridge maths genius like my mate, but I do know that 20% of a £600 increase in basic rate taxation level equals £120 and not £200+ as quoted by someone on the box. So I save £120 per year which is an extra £10 per month. Very nice indeed, except I live in West Wales where the public transport system is crap and the fuel prices are extortionate. So while the rest of you complain about fuel costs, we actually feel the ridiculously high costs and continue pay the most. Note to the Chancellor, please introduce a national fuel cap and stop the thieving B’s from robbing us blind out in the sticks. You opt for public transport to keep your costs down, but we can’t use public transport because like I say its crap. They stole the trains to South Wales and the ones that go the long way around through England aren’t that nice or that reliable. The buses seem to be worse. So there goes my tenner then.
My basic arithmetic also means that I know that £5 something per week extra for a pensioner is £250 per year and not like someone said this on the box; £500.
With all of this in mind, maybe the next budget could set aside some money for the poor politicians to have much needed maths lessons. Apparently these can be accessed by schools on line with providers living in India rather than working in the classroom. Good job that we are getting the improved broad band then, as all of those that need the maths update won’t even have to step outside the House of Commons.
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