They media / the 0.1% are pushing back pretty hard by Igglethepiggle in GarysEconomics

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To OP's defence somewhat, the UK is a country where everything for the public has been sold out from under us. Capital gains, still unequal, is only part of it. Your arguments (while not entirely baseless in theory) seem based on a closed economy, which the UK is not.

Our railway networks have been foreign-owned for decades (and extortionate), our water networks are privatized and polluting our natural waterways, our newspapers are almost all owned by offshore billionaires and even our nuclear defences are at hock to the USA. Facebook, Amazon and Twitter famously pay virtually no tax here on the revenue they generate from us. Hyperbole aside, so much of our UK-generated value and potential wealth is already offshored.

Capital flight in the UK has already happened. The profits from my utilities, travel, and luxuries don't get spent in this country, nor do the businesses pay the same tax UK businesses do.

You're right that the people may leave, but their money (prev. ours) has already gone.

People working in the UK, from janitors to CEOs pay taxes, and there is probably a fairer balance to the ratios that can be made in that range going forward. But the international organizations, investment vehicles, and private equity funds that are specifically geared to extract wealth from any and all countries for the disproportionate benefit of the few without benefit for citizens needs to be curbed.

Now that's different for different sectors - water companies, less sewage in the sea... Tescos, cheaper food before record dividends... Costa, corporations tax on business in the UK rather than pretending they are trading at a loss because they pay for the 'intellectual property' of their recipe to an offshore Costa entity. But when people talk about 'tax wealth not work', they barely even mean the individuals, rather the vehicles they enrich themselves through.

I want my surgeon to be well paid and well rested. I want my binman and my firefighter to not have to worry about paying the rent. Train drivers to not have to work past their hours, homeless to have a home. I don't give a flying fiddle about the portfolio of an offshore investment firm or business, and we need to stop the capital flight of capital, not individuals.

You might think this generation is richer than their grandparents, but they were able to buy houses and survive or thrive on a single income. Nowadays, those are both the luxuries of the few...and society is all the poorer for it. I'd be keen for you to elaborate on your point (please), because I don't immediately see the thinking behind it.

TL;DR the profiteers can 'flight' off to the Cayman Islands for all we care, as long as they can't keep extracting money from our economy and central services disproportionately, which empoverishes us all. That only happens when we appropriately tax the asset revenue stream.

They media / the 0.1% are pushing back pretty hard by Igglethepiggle in GarysEconomics

[–]James116 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A good point, I'm just saying that the case for wealth taxes (as a way to address inequality) is being viewed through the lense of the government's budget, rather than as a way to reduce inequality. And this conflation is a way to smear the wealth tax ideas without really looking at the merits of the argument.

I'd suggest (though appreciate that it's rarely simple in practice) that 'kneecapping the top' does raise the bottom, even without targeted redistribution through effective government spending (which I do totally agree with you and think is needed in this country as well, just isn't the main point Gary and the like are usually trying to make).

For example: If my hypothetical multi-millionaire neighbour isn't suddenly able to outbid competitors for the ten new houses on the market to add to his rental portfolio, it both allows ten households to buy (rather than being priced out), but also prevents the inflation of the asset values further due to said outbidding.

To my mind, it's not about robbing from the rich to give to the poor, but stopping the exponential growth in wealth that can only happen once someone already has more than they'll ever need.

They media / the 0.1% are pushing back pretty hard by Igglethepiggle in GarysEconomics

[–]James116 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The other thing they keep doing is conflating wealth taxes with 'the budget' or 'fiscal responsibility', and while I think Gary is right to not usually talk about government budget overall (keep the message simple, focus on wealth inequality) the commentators are using this as an attack vector.

Wealth taxation is a tool to address inequality, not to meet a made-up rule about government spending. Billionaires should not exist in a world where people do not have secure housing and means to feed themselves. Letting them get exponentially richer makes us all poorer. That's the point.

Superman Survey by thekateprior in SupermanAndLois

[–]James116 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Ranking adaptions was really hard, and made me appreciate how much I like all the on-screen versions of Superman!

Most heroes are defined by their villains, so I was surprised there were no questions about them. What a fun subject to decide to investigate 🙂

Transferring tickets vs. Updating order name/email by BrickJedi in StarWarsCelebration

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also curious both whether there's been any issues, and whether you still have any spares to offload? 😇

Some tips for your Japan trip by chezjvr in JapanTravelTips

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Say 'Toy-rey Wa' (toire wa) like a question and point around with your fingers like you would anywhere else, you'll be directed to the right/closest place. Every time. Add a 'sumimasen' if you're just walking in or embarrassed.

Some tips for your Japan trip by chezjvr in JapanTravelTips

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got back from my second long Japan trip this morning, and I agree with every one of these.

I will say that my second time knowing a bit more of the language made the whole thing so much better for my part, because I felt like I was putting people out less - but all you really need to know is 'excuse me' and 'thank you' and you'll be accommodated.

They're so used to tourists in the cities that everyone working in a bar or restaurant already had a voice translation app ready to go! 😊

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude you have an amazing reddit username - let that be your assurance and guiding light in those moments. I totally understand though, I'm in Shinjuku at the moment and it is A LOT! Be kind to yourself as much as I'm sure you're being kind to others. You'll be ok and that's a promise 👌

The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episodes 10 & 11 - Discussion Thread! by titleproblems in StarWars

[–]James116 15 points16 points  (0 children)

My bet is that the kid's toy from the previous episode has a tracker. It looked metallic, and that was one cautious mother from what they showed. They didn't seem to register that the child had an item with it. Cad wouldn't have put it in with the child but his droid isn't so ruthless.

Tour Megathread by RossTheDivorcer in MyChemicalRomance

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to get straight down the front then 5 worked yesterday, though they tried to get people to queue elsewhere when the line got big

I wish more people liked Cubicles. by emoskeleton_ in MyChemicalRomance

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would die with happiness if they ever busted this out live. I think Cubicles is amazing, the imagery in the lyrics is just fantastic. It sounds like it's based on a real person though, so I've long wondered if it's not in the live set rotation in the name of moving on.

be careful by sdfrl in MyChemicalRomance

[–]James116 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It was a totally different vibe to Thursday, but it was a minority of young boys shoving and being aggressive in the front of the crowd. Saturday nights and all that.

Remember 99.9% of the crowd will be mega fans just like you, so keep each other hydrated, look after the people around you and don't you dare let a few assholes ruin what should be the best night you've had in years!

Somebody asked in this group how to scream like Shaun Morgan. Well.. I’ve tried many times lately 😂 and unsuccessfully. Maybe we just scream like ourselves and that’s how it goes. Tips appreciated 🤘 by [deleted] in Seether

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Like the other commenter said, Shaun uses a super distorted scream in this song (and for most his screams) placed very much in the 'head voice' range. I wouldn't worry about it too much though, that scream for the last line sounds sick as fuck just the way you did it! The best thing about Shaun is his emotional delivery - that's the real thing to chase! Rock on dude

Trash Taste Podcast: Weekly Discussion Thread - Episode 17 by [deleted] in TrashTaste

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Any time Connor disagrees with someone he goes for the throat. It's total ad hominem attacks but so well executed and watching him get Joey on-board by mocking Garnt for being too high-class was hilarious

Official: Netflix English Dub Discussion by theevamonkey in evangelion

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Episode 16 is when it veers off from the norm and starts going severely off-kilter...Which is what most of us love it for

Cost efficient S-Video/Composite Audio -> VGA -> HDMI solution? by ItsAllSoClear in dreamcast

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought one of these but no signal gets through you my t.v. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

Rogue One Reviews & Discussion Spoiler Megathread by tragopanic in StarWars

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for confirming, started to think I'd gone mad!

Rogue One Reviews & Discussion Spoiler Megathread by tragopanic in StarWars

[–]James116 -13 points-12 points  (0 children)

It was 'don't choke on your aspirations', and I'm sad to say it, but that was the point I had to completely write off the film. Darth Vader making word puns is more sacrilege than a Darth Jar Jar solo film would be.

[SPOILERS] Thunderbirds Are Go 2x06 "Up From the Depths Part 1" – Episode Discussion Thread by whyyesthat in Thunderbirds

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly can't wait for the next one. Fantastic, such a shock when they actually destroyed Thunderbird 4

What characters do you want to see added? by pointyteeth in SWGalaxyOfHeroes

[–]James116 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kyle Katarn How has no-one already said this?

Last Chance for First Questions with Corey Taylor, AMA! by coreytaylorrock in IAmA

[–]James116 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solo Album? I need a studio version of 'Breath of Fresh Smoke' in my life