In Ireland the taboo was circumvented by coming up with a brand new tax called Universal Social Charge which was brought in as a temporary measure when the financial crisis hit. It was essentially an additional income tax and while the crisis has gone the USC remains. The higher tax rate of 40% kicks in at c€34k here. If you earn €50k + your effective marginal tax rate is c50%.

There is certainly an argument that middle-income earners are paying more than their fair share here. We couldn't even successfully implement a charge on domestic water use.

Yes, that was a great victory for the common man. People should not have to pay for water.

Yes. Because clean drinking water finds its way into your kitchen tap via the magic of the kind water fairies. As for the stuff that leaves your toilet, well that's a whole different magic.

Heaven forbid that some of the not insubstantial taxes already in place, household charges, property taxes, universal social charges... you name it, be invested in the maintenance of the water supply. Some sense of priority must prevail, such as bailing out the bwankers and paying massive pensions to corrupt, venal jailbirds like Ray Burke.

What a load of bollox.

Give it a rest. Parents, pensioners, workers, unemployed, students were all part of the protests. The kind of ignorant catch-all categorisations contained in your rant are far more redolent of a 'brexit brigade' or Alf Garnett type prejudiced mindset.

Your old hairy arse John. Bottom line, water should be free or part of your rates as they are here. No doubt you guys would pay for the air ye breath if some corporate type decides it's a good revenue raiser in the future.

All the large (and medium sized) American cities are being gentrified. The poor, working poor and even some of the lower middle classes are driven out by the descendants of the same people who left for the suburbs vowing never to return and to let it all go to hell. Our poor and destitute are now ending up in very poor suburbs to make room for these folks.

Remember the marches over that black kid being killed by a white cop in Ferguson, Missouri? Mike Brown. Ferguson's residents, were originally from adjacent St. Louis and were economically forced out there.

Is London and other British cities going through the same? I can't imagine how the working poor and the poor as well as pensioners survive in London proper.

I think the old PT had a rather limited reach compared to VAT.

London is a cheek by jowel city. Massive wealth often quite close to poverty. To live a decent life is a big struggle in London for many people, and the biggest problem is availability of an affordable home. Young people are especially disadvantaged, for which all governments since Thatcher, should be ashamed.

Shame about Ibrahimovic...........................

Agree 100%. A disgrace.

Just managed to get round to watching the Ian Wright and Rocky Rocastle documentary. Brilliant.
Two things I loved as well as the obvious Wrighty and Rocky stories was David Dein talking about how he signed Wright, he phoned the Palace chairman and said "were interested in one of your strikers", they had bright and Wright at the time, Dein was told they weren't for sale, Dein asked him to humour him and give him a price you'd sell them for £2.5m came the response, "I'm offering you £2.5m for Ian Wright and I know you're a man of your word...." the deal was done

Secondly was hearing how that group of young players, Adams, Thomas, rocky, groves, Wright talked about The Arsenal. There was a passion and a pride there, a firm belief that this was the best club in the world.

It hammers home how much of a mistake it has been in recent years to not have ex Arsenal players still involved in the club, Vieria, Henry, Bergkamp, Keown - these guys love Arsenal and are hugely respected in the game, we need these people at the club to pass down those values and pride in The Arsenal.

Documentary is on YouTube and worth a watch

Sorry to hear about your friend Exiled. It reminds me of the old expression 'nobody lives forever'. Sadly it's true. The older you get and the more people you know who are no longer with us drives it home. Guess you're feeling that way now. Sympathies.

Maybe not, if it's collected in a barrel in your back garden. Apples grow on trees, we need food to live, what about heat and light? Should we pay for those?

And how should the poor pay for it then? Ridiculous argument John, no offence

Sorry to hear that Exiled, you are right, cherish all that is good while you can. a friend of mines wife got diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd time this week. They have 3 kids under 13, I don't know how they cope. Every time I hear a story like yours, or my mates, I go into panic mode about my own kids for a few days.

Water is a human need. Fair enough for a small charge in your rates. Luckily I've had a lovely glass of chilled water to drink and flushed away a turd for nada tonight, the way it should be. Load of money grabbing bollox it is

The boxer rebellion. Probably the best unsigned band you'll ever hear.

[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_xA4DPCPGoI[/youtube]

Housing (and decent pay) are the two biggest issues then. How do you resolve it? In England you have council estates (akin to our housing projects). The problem is they sit on valuable property. The city can get far more to house million dollar flats than they can the poor or working poor.

San Francisco in America is pretty much completely gone in terms of affordability of even middle class. The tech industry wiped out the last vestiges of affordability, which has now affected adjacent Oakland. SF by the way, at least years ago was the best hidden secret of American cities. LA and NYC got the publicity but SF is a gem.

Do the home counties provide a way for the poor and working poor to live decently? Or are they too pricey as well?

This is a joke right?

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/lond ... ign=global

This isn't though, literally a small alley between buildings for $35,000. Not a joke.
http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/articl ... 068359.php

Do you prefer to be stabbed or shot? That's the choice in the semi finals today. I'll hold my nose and go with Chelsea. Although I think Tottenham will pull it out. They are the toughest team to beat in England right now.

Sorting out arrangements for Wembley tomorrow, where were meeting etc.

Seems strange feeling largely indifferent, normally I'd be buzzing and it dominating every thought. I don't doubt I'll be buzzing if we win but that success would be followed by 3 likely dreadful outcomes.

I really hope this Wenger stuff sorts itself out in the summer and we can all move forward.

I often hear strange Arsenal rumours on the grapevine, usually from "someone who knows someone" - we've all heard them. We all decide how much credence to give those rumours and I often think whether I will post them on here or not. Well, this one I'm going to - only because it has quite big connotations if true. So I'll get the caveat of how I heard this out of the way first.....bear with me, my wife works with a lady who is married to an 'Arsenal speed coach', by her own admission she knows nothing about football and cares for it even less - however she mentioned to my wife that among other things her husband tells her about work was that X player (she couldn't remember any names - as she cares so little) had signed for £300k per week, my wife (who now knows a fair bit about arsenal since she's been putting up with me for 5 years) started saying some names and it didn't ring any bells with this lady. So putting 2 and 2 together and hoping not to come up with 5 I can only assume the story was Sanchez as it was recently in the paper about Arsenal offering him £300k per week for a new deal. As stated at the start of this yarn I take it all with a pinch of salt so make of it what you will.

My wife told her that I was a Wenger out man and this lady said her husband says there are a huge amount of the coaches at Arsenal that are incredibly 'old school' in their approach to coaching and training, using the same methods they have for years and methods that are very out dated.

If you find it hard to believe the first story you'll find it very easy to believe the second one!

Good to see that he's on £300k now and his form has improved by so much.

As long as he is playing on the wing and running around like a headless chicken he's not worth even his original wage. He has to play cf and stay in the box more than he does.

I can't see it happening. However if we are extremely lucky he'll have a great game tomorrow and win us a cup.

Good news, kids, it isn't the choice.

Really looking forward to it, hope Tottenham win because they have been really good to watch this season, love Pochettino, loathe Abramovich, I have quite a few Tottenham mates, one of whom is taking his two boys to the game and they're super-excited, and I'm 53 *%^@*** years old and one of the good things about that is I no longer have to pretend to give a flying *%^@ about hating Tottenham any longer.

Will miss the first half though 'cos we're off to watch the Bees in the big derby against QPR.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Ex, an old friend of mine died this week and although I hadn't seen her for some time it was still really hard news.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vuuoVxCggA&list=PLnH1CB9xsqNG8Bfv3bwQI0UW4nZBXGj6T&index=19[/youtube]

25 years young, this is my Saturday mood...

I reckon it's Carl Jenkinson.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qlUFKFHNIU[/youtube]

This is just amazing!

Your deductive reasoning has failed you Rich...its obviously Walcott.

One more from me....

Love this

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFWk18abWWA[/youtube]

Only forwards earn that type of money - Sanogo

Strange team put out by Conte? Looks like he doesn't want to win this. I'm sure Chelsea supporters won't be impressed.

and Chelsea score on 4 mins. What do I know?

Hate to say it . Spurs have a very good team.
Seem to be much better mentally as well with superb players like Alli , Dembele , Kane and Ericsson. 3 of those bought for a pittance.
Far too early to talk about power shifts considering this will be the first time in 21 years they will finish above us.
But they certainly have a very good manager and team to be taken seriously.
Another 2 years of Wenger and we will fall behind them.

and on 80 mins Spurs go down 4-2, over and out........................

What a goal by Matic. FOYS.

Glory glory, all that romance

At the other end of the trough poor old Sanagoa is on £80 a week and all the bread pudding he can eat.

Looks like we are playing Chelsea (lets keep a positive attitude and visualize victory )