finance
Money talks; reviewing the global economy, government spending, taxes, and economic policy that affect our social and political future.
The Controversial UK Minimum Wage for Under-25's
Age discrimination is what it is. In the UK, the minimum wage is meant to be a sense of security, a right; a sum which workers are entitled to be paid hourly by their employers, and that is a great thing to have. However, in my country it is also acceptable for me—aged 17 years of age—to be married, have children, leave the family home, drop out of school, join the army, AND get a job… but, of course, not with the entitlement of earning the same as people a year older than me (even for the same work).
Why Are You Ranking: Best Ways to Avoid the Tax Man (or Woman) Listed from Gimme Some Money to Get Up, Stand Up
As of this writing, taxes, or payments for governmental services, are strictly enforced at the local, state, and federal levels. Taxes constitute for the majority of the goods and services used or purchased in this semi-free market system. To not pay them is tantamount to theft. The irony is that taxes, in this context, are theft. When an employee works 40 hours a week for eight hours a day, they expect to get every cent of the money that they worked smart for in that time frame. Instead, they see that their smart earned dollars have been siphoned into a Social Security fund that will never be the amount that is taken in the first place. It goes into the pockets of some bureaucrats, lazy folks who wish never to hold a position of employment, or to a whole host of alphabet soup organizations (DEA, OSHA, EPA, the IRS) that mean nothing and stand for nothing. This gulf between whether to pay taxes or not is one which requires the most amount of scrutiny. To not pay your taxes, you go to jail. To pay your taxes, you are an upstanding citizen who holds a grudge quietly knowing that what you are doing is harming yourself. Come time on or around April 15, you discover that you’ve been paying into system that is corrupt in its very nature. Governments are only good for protecting individual rights. That’s it. So, in order to satisfy the need for police officers, warriors, and judges, all that a constitutional republic needs is for these three agencies to fulfill that one task of safeguarding rights. So, get your tablet calculators and digital tax preparation sheets for Why Are You Ranking: Best Ways to Avoid the Tax Man (or Woman) Listed from Gimme Some Money to Get Up, Stand Up.
Skyler SaundersPublished 6 years ago in The SwampDo You Actually Understand Social Security?
Social Security is one of the biggest programs in American history, and for many seniors, it is the only way that they can survive in the current economy. Everyone has been impacted by it, even if you've never been privy to its benefits.
Cato ConroyPublished 6 years ago in The SwampPennies, Memories, or Wastes of Space?
Controversially, governments around the world are slowly eliminating their lower-value coins. Examples of such countries that are in the process of disposing of their coins, or have already done so, include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, And Great Britain. A country that will perhaps be placed onto this list will be the United States of America eliminating production of their pennies and other virtually worthless coins.
Benjamin PlaPublished 6 years ago in The SwampExposed
Are these the best of times, or are they the worst of times? Depending on one's individual circumstance, it just could very well be the worst of times. And for far too many, it actually is. For the poor, the indigent, the feeble, and the deprived, the world they live in is a far cry from where their hopes and dreams lie. Just to survive another day is a testament to their ability to adapt to conditions that actually mirror third world countries.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 6 years ago in The SwampPerpetual Poverty
Perpetual poverty is a person or family not being able to leave a life of poverty no matter what they do. You may think this is not possible or maybe you are in the same situation. I have lived in this state most my adult life, I have had many jobs with different pay and lived in a few different locations to try and fix it though it never works. Don't get me wrong there are always going to be those few times a year where you feel you have escaped it just to be slammed back to the mud a month or two later.
Kristopher KristiansonPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp- Top Story - February 2018
What Do We Want? Livable Wages! When Do We Want ’Em? In Our Lifetime!
As more and more provinces, states, and municipalities set out to increase the minimum wage to $15/hr, there is growing concern over increases in minimum wages resulting in fewer jobs and increased prices of goods and services.
Zacc LavignePublished 6 years ago in The Swamp Government Economic Forecasting, Mythology, or Science?
As a retired estimating and costing engineer, I see so much reliance based on estimates that cannot possibly have a shred of accuracy; by accuracy I mean the engineering estimators allowance of + or – 2%. One quote I saw today is, unfortunately, true: the economic forecasting from British bureaucrats makes astrology look a science.
Peter RosePublished 6 years ago in The Swamp'Why Aren't Millennials Buying Diamonds?'
Recently, I read an article (well, truthfully more of a paragraph) published by the magazine The Economist, which asked the hard hitting question: "Why aren't Millennials buying diamonds?"
Disabled Workers: Damned If We Do, Damned If We Don't
Another day, another class-baiting insult from the Conservative government. There's not 24 hours goes by without the Tories stirring up hatred towards some disadvantaged group, but don't worry: this will all be over by Wednesday when the government implodes, according to Jean-Claude Juncker. But it's too early to celebrate — there's no guarantee on what the replacement will be like, and the potential candidates are like choosing between a hyena, a shark, and a colony of vultures. But let's focus on the present, while we still have a semi-functioning government.
Katy PreenPublished 6 years ago in The SwampPoverty in America
A few months back, I was walking to class when I overheard a conversation in which one student said to the other, "You know, honestly, I think black people in America should have free college." I got such a massive headache from this statement. I get it that blacks in America have been wronged and I get it that free education seems like a great idea, but honestly more government handouts are the last thing we should be looking towards.
General NoobPublished 6 years ago in The SwampWhat's the Point in Capitalism?
It’s the time of year where, once again, the masses flock to their tablets, laptops and phones to spends billions of pounds on discounted electronics, toys and beauty products only to later realise that a majority of the stuff on sale on Black Friday is actually crap and is more or less the same price all year round.
Will LeylandPublished 6 years ago in The Swamp