...gives to the rich, robs from the poor
Tel Le Sueur, Tel Le Sueur, Tel Le Sueur!
Robin Hood (in reverse) strikes Jersey again. A fortnight after the Jersey government put GST (the Jersey form of VAT) up to 5%, hitting the poorest, the Jersey Council of Ministers have decided not to increase social security charges for those earning more than £44232 per annum. The JEP report starts off with the statement that this is because "the money is no longer needed"!!! Presumably that's because the poor have already paid
This in the same week that the rate of taxation on the very wealthy (the 120-odd people in residential category 1.1.k) has been reduced to - get this - 1%.
And the people of this island just shrug and go on voting for the accountants. How long O God, how long??
Indeed!
PS This is almost exactly an email sent to me by a Jersey resident whose name I will not publish for his / her own security's sake
For those not aware Terry Le Sueur is First Minister of Jersey
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Pretty much the same modus operandi we see here then. The poor are forced by laws made by and for the benefit of the wealthy to subsidise the wealthy – which is how they stay wealthy. Bye-bye law and order then 🙁
BB
I gather the above has been sent to all members of the States of Jersey tonight – by a member of the States of Jersey
Not sure who yet…
The call is for a vote of no confidence
It beggars belief what’s going on over here at the moment, we need party politics fast so we can choose between a governement like the one we have and an alternative. The one we have currently believes it’s right to charge poor people tax on their inconitinence pads and food whilst refusing to charge anymore social security for the better off. It also thinks it’s right to put forward a proposal ro reduce the tax liability of millionaires.
I want a government prepared to do what’s right for all of it’s people not just the wealthy and the finance industry, I’m sick of it.
Declaration of interest: I earn over £44k and would have paid more soc. sec. if this proposal had been allowed to continue. I’d have been slightly worse off but happy that the morally correct decision had been made.
I’ll bet a tenner now that the proposal to reduce subsidys to “fee paying schools” will also be dropped some time soon. The cash not saved will then be found by alternative means which screw the poorest more than the rich.
A poor immigrant to Jersey can arrive and must face a labour market that confines them to essentially unskilled work. They must live in unqualified housing accommodation with the status of a lodger, without the right to become a tenant or to buy property until they have resided ten years. Until they have resided five years there is no entitlement to health benefits or social security, albeit they will be paying income tax and having social security deducted.
The super rich man arrives in Jersey and under a special privileges regime is allowed to pay only 1% interest on his income and no other taxes on his fortune.
Such is the inequality and injustice of a social and economic system perpetuated by Jersey’ elites beholden to the interests of business and international banks.
Across Europe there is indignation at the way the Crisis is being managed by the political elites to the advantage of the rich and to the detriment of the working people. When will the working people realise that the leaders of Jersey are treating them like fools?
David is correct; States Members face elections in a few months and will not wish to loose middle class votes because state subsidies to private schools have been removed as part of spending cuts.
Couple of points here:
1. Most people who haven’t been led by the media / ‘This is Jersey’ voices who complain about everything realise that 11ks are good for the island. They contribute substantially more to the coffers than the average person. Minimum of £125k compared to the average salary? I know which I’d take in the UK.
While the rules in the UK are in no way identical, how many super rich migrants to the UK pay tax on their worldwide earnings? Very few.
2. Anyone can buy in Jersey but you need housing regulations to live in certain houses. If it is that important to own a house, buy one and rent a room to a qualified resident. This is very common on the island and also acts as a method around the overpriced non-qualified accom.
3. I struggle to understand the comment on poor immigrants moving to Jersey. They are not forced to move to the island and then complain of prices/healthcare. If you don’t like the principles of a place, don’t move there. I’m not going to move to Dubai and then complain about their rules that are contrary to my own beliefs.
4. I agree that it can be difficult for the average Jersey person to forge a career and make a living in the island and this is a problem. House prices is a major issue but have been stagnant for a period, could even decline if the economic problems continue. While costs of living are high, wages are also considerably higher than in the UK.
5. While most companies do give preference to locally qualified individuals (surely a good thing in relation to point 4), migrants will be given a position if they are suitably qualified. To therefore claim that they are restricted to low paid jobs is again incorrect. I would also add that the same is similar in the UK; a poor immigrant is likely to be restricted to the same low paid jobs but, as in Jersey, can work his way up in the same way that a poor UK resident could.
Re David’s comments; I agree that the most workers in Jersey wouldn’t mind paying the extra soc sec. However, Jersey is not a cheap place to do business and the thinking behind the decision to keep the ceiling was probably to avoid further costs when potential new businesses evaluate setting up on the island. Not ideal but one has to consider that as these costs mount up one straw will break the back etc.
While I understand that there will always be people who jump to conclusions. Perhaps ensure the facts are accurate before you comment. Even perhaps try to have some perspective on yor thoughts.
It is worse than that see p108
They have now increased the retirement age in Jersey, to 67.
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=494530
States of Jersey – feeding the rich, and starving the poor.
Looks like I won my tenner http://www.thisisjersey.com/2011/06/14/school-grants-debate-delayed/ I must admit it was an easy bet. You don;t need to be clever to predict the actions of this government. Policy (not that there’s one we can read) has been to pander to business at all costs. Nothing is sacred, they will do everything they can to ensure “we remain competitive” sadly that often means poorer standard of living for the majority.
The population of Jersey, nothing less than an irritant getting in the way of business.