Dr. Dolescum

[¡Punk!]

You know, as I write this, I am kinda on benefits in two different countries and have also dodged tax in two different countries in the last few weeks. There are no things to be proud of nor are they anything to be ashamed of. The money that "scum" like me costs the government is the equivalent to having a pish in Loch Lomond. In fact it's worse than that because I go swimming in Loch Lomond sometimes and, deep down, I'm a very selfish man and don't want to swim in your pish.

So while we spend £1billion a year on the illegal war in Iraq, the "energy industry" goes out of it's way to take turns raising prices while you lot fork out for their over priced black oil AND the war which was started so we can get more of it. We have billionaires, millionaires and "British" companies that have so many offshore accounts and accountants scouring the world for loopholes in tax law so that even someone who's spent most their adult life watching...

Click here to read the entire review

[The_Beer_Baron]

Originally Posted by ¡Punk!

So while we spend £1billion a year on the illegal war in Iraq, the "energy industry" goes out of it's way to take turns raising prices while you lot fork out for their over priced black oil AND the war which was started so we can get more of it. We have billionaires, millionaires and "British" companies that have so many offshore accounts and accountants scouring the world for loopholes in tax law so that even someone who's spent most their adult life watching...

You are not on a righteous crusade of any kind.

Nothing you do by these directions can be justified as good.

You are not by doing this, "sticking it to the man".

Stop trying to do so.

You are a social leech.

You are a waste of space.

Get a job.

Grow up.

Or go live in a whole and leave your leeched benefits for those the system is in place to actually help. You are impeading them from doing so.

[Pier Angeli]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

I felt it was an article that should be published to allow discussion on a subject that some people don't think is an issue or a problem (for the record I don't think it is in any way right to cheat the benefits system) and to allow for free debate.

But haven't we already had this discussion many, many times in several of Mick's threads over the past year or two? And every thread follows the same pattern - posts patting Mick on the back and angry posts telling him to get a job then it just decends into a complete farce (as most Altnation threads do these days). I'd be surprised if there was a single active member of Altnation who doesn't know what Mick was up to.

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Anyone following the suggestions made in the article would have to be a fool. Anyone feeling it would be OK to do so because it is an article on Alternative Nation is an even bigger fool.

Maybe so, but it's still not exactly responsible of Altnation to publish an article like this, "personal account" or not.

Originally Posted by endless psych

It seems prudent to mention the only thing that appears to actually be illegal in the entire article is avoiding paying council tax.

Oh and housing benefit.

Last time I checked it was also illegal not to pay your TV license.

[endless psych]

Originally Posted by Pier Angeli

Last time I checked it was also illegal not to pay your TV license.

True. Thats a grand total of three illegal things the majority of the article still being about how to work the system to your advantage.

(Its also illegal to be drunk in a pub. I look forward to posts of moral indignation in future subcrawl threads.)

[Foxglove]

As far as I am aware not paying a tv licence is not illegal, but if you watch TV programmes as they are broadcast and don't have a licence, that is illegal. I know, it is a fine point, but just felt it worth pointing out the correct position in relation to tv licences.

[Pier Angeli]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

As far as I am aware not paying a tv licence is not illegal, but if you watch TV programmes as they are broadcast and don't have a licence, that is illegal. I know, it is a fine point, but just felt it worth pointing out the correct position in relation to tv licences.

Well yeah, obviously that's what I meant.

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV.

Clearly Mick watches TV yet doesn't pay his TV Licence.

[endless psych]

Yeah it would be fair to assume that. Otherwise why would he even mention it?

[Semprini]

It's true that multiple wrongs don't make a right. We all know this. The key point to me is that when we direct all manner of opprobrium at Mick for depriving poor innocents of their state benefits, and the government and the media draw attention to how benefit fraud is threatening the very core of civilised society or other such pish, we hit the wrong target.

While we do this, those with the money to get away with it use every trick in the book to avoid paying their fair share, and the government is complicit in this by allowing loopholes and tax avoidance.

Yes, what Mick does is wrong, legally and morally, and costs the system money. When a big corporation avoids a metric shitload of tax, it's legal but wrong morally. Comparing the two, I know which costs the system more, and I know which is more wrong by a country mile.

[The_Beer_Baron]

Originally Posted by Semprini

The key point to me is that when we direct all manner of opprobrium at Mick for depriving poor innocents of their state benefits, and the government and the media draw attention to how benefit fraud is threatening the very core of civilised society or other such pish, we hit the wrong target.

While we do this, those with the money to get away with it use every trick in the book to avoid paying their fair share, and the government is complicit in this by allowing loopholes and tax avoidance.

You are, of course assuming we are not bashing him and saving the economy at the same time.

MULTITASK!!!!!

[endless psych]

Well I would have thought Semps line of argument is that we aren't saving the economy at the same time because, you know, cleary we aren't.

[The_Beer_Baron]

Indeed, lazy arse continues to distract us.

I hope you're all happy.

Bastards.

[endless psych]

Actually I wonder if the reactions might be down to how "morals" (as such) work.

Objectively benefit fraud is a small problem perpetrated by a very small minority of people yet its nearly always reported in a sensationalist tone to (objective) over reactions.

Objectively corporations get away with much worse but the reactions are far less. Indeed people reacting against these things get accussed of being lefty liberal wishy washy types (and other such rhetoric).

I can't be because its "our money they are stealing" (through taxation and such) because if it was we'd be just as (if not more) offended and affronted by corporations doing such things. Because thats our money too.

Perhaps it stems from the fact its money we have to pay thats being misappropriated rather then money we choose to pay?

[mischief]

My reaction stems from Captain Cantwork being so blasé about being a tax-dodging fraudster.

I'd be mortified if I was such a complete waster, nevermind writing a 'look at me, look at me' article about it.

[endless psych]

Thing is objectively companies do far worse and are far more blase about it. They have annual share holders dinners to celebrate how much they've avoided paying taxes (to a degree anyway).

Yet in general people will more likely climb on their high horse about people defrauding the benefits system. The same seems to be true when the government tenders out a contract to Crapita or similar incompetent companies.

[¡Punk!]

Did no-one read the end of the article?

[Woolies]

Originally Posted by ¡Punk!

Did no-one read the end of the article?

No, their bosses walked in and caught them skiving on the forum before they finished.