From: jlloyd@cc.uow.edu.au (Jonathan Lloyd)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: National Insurance (was Farewell to Kinnock)
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:04:36 GMT
Organization: University Of Wollongong

gdb15@grebe.cl.cam.ac.uk (Guy Barry) writes:

>In article <1992Apr15.033939.10350@cc.uow.edu.au> jlloyd@cc.uow.edu.au (Jonathan Lloyd) writes:

>>Unfortunately for those that don't like it, most of the people in the UK do 
>>live in the SE of England. 

>What?  The South East may be overcrowded, but we haven't yet got to the
>state where over half the population lives there.

True. More like 1/3.

>>But NI is not really NI at all it is an income TAX. The sooner some
>>government comes clean and calls it one the better. 

>I wish they would.  It would then be clear that those earning below
>the NI threshold paid a higher marginal rate of tax than those earning
>above it.

>>NI is a heap of bullshit. Call a Tax a TAX. It (NI) should be abolished.
>>In Australia we have a "Medicare Levy" which is 1.25% of your taxable 
>>income. It all goes to healthcare, but they still need to take more from
>>other tax sources. And soon they are plans afoot to give you tax credits for 
>>taking out private health insurance. This is the kind of fairness that is
>>completely lacking in the UK system.

>In Britain, NI is only used to fund a limited range of social security
>benefits, and virtually none of the money goes to health.  Most social
>security spending, and nearly *all* health spending, comes from
>general taxation.  What makes the Australian system fairer?

Yes, and most of those benefits are not available to self employed people when
they fall upon hard times.
As I see it (these are personal opinions) the Aussie system is a hell of
a lot more honest. They call payroll tax "payroll tax", not an employers
NI contribution. In UK just about the only benefit of paying NI is the dole.
But if you have not made enough contributions they pay you "supplementary
benefit" anyway. (Dole is not means tested as I recall, 
but things may have changed).

The UK social security and NHS system seems (looking back from outside)
 to be out of control. Many people are so dependent on still generous hand outs
from the taxpayers pocket that many are what aussies call "dole bludgers".
The NHS provides good value, but healthcare is a bottomless pit sucking up
as much resources that are thrown into it, (you have to be pragmatic!).

The aussie system (with a Labour government that bears more resemblance to 
MTs mob) rewards free enterprise and entrepeneurship. Your study expenses etc
are tax deductable. So are brokerage costs when you buy shares (but all your
capital gains are taxed). The difference in the cultures is amazing 
Australia is a land of "little aussie battlers" true popular capitalism
with more of a can do (and will do) better mentallity than I ever saw in UK.
This is because their system rewards those who create wealth, 
not bleeds them dry to try and pay for a "nanny state". 

I could could go on and on, but I just don't have time. 
All I can say is that you have to live here to experience the difference.
Australia has got it closer to a sensible balance than UK has.
There is a "safety net" here, to save those who really need help.
But the whole mentallity of the nation is far removed from that of the UK.
I still love my homeland but I don't think I could live there again.

********************************************************************
** These views are my own and do not reflect upon the policy *******
** or views of the University of Wollongong, only of a young *******
** welshman in a land down under ---Cymru am Byth ******************
********************************************************************
Phone +61 42 213018     Fax +61 42 213112       Email J.Lloyd@uow.edu.au