What Chance Do We Stand When Our International Development Secretary Gets It Wrong?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10051539/Justine-Greening-on-the-spot-for-end-of-aid-claim.html

/// Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, said last month that direct assistance to the country would “come to an end”, and it was “currently worth £19 million a year”. ///

/// However the announcement related only to “bilateral aid” and did not mention the £116.4 million of “regional aid”, to be spent between now and March 2014, as well as a further £70.3 million committed for the following year. ///

There still seems plenty of money to throw about, even though some of 'our own' are queuing for food parcels and one unfortunate woman committed suicide because she could afford the extra 'Bedroom tax'.

[ummmm]

It's not a bedroom tax. It's a reduction in benefits for having a spare room.

[jake-the-peg]

Yeah Ummmm

And it wasn't a poll tax it was a community charge

And it's not a problem it's a challenge

And it's not disabled it's alternatively gifted

[jno]

I don't see how you can call a reduced handout a tax, jake

[Gromit]

Sounds like you are outing her as a liar AOG.

She is just being economical with the truth.

[FredPuli43]

Gets it wrong? Not in politician's terms.

A statement like "We are ending the aid which is currently worth £19 million" [not her exact words, but the intended message] is a fine example of special pleading; true in itself, but deliberately misleading, like "I don't owe £50" to a claim for £50, when you owe £49. Politicians are good at these. Her department knew what was meant and intended; the words 'bilateral aid' in their statement is accompanied by an unspecified figure for 'regional aid',as though that was of no consequence.

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// It's not a bedroom tax. It's a reduction in benefits for having a spare
room. ///

Then it would seem that Income Tax is not a tax, it's merely a reduction in salary for earning too much.

[jno]

no, that's a tax: the government takes your money. The "bedroom tax" involves the government not giving you money, which is different.

[anotheoldgit]

jno

Takes your money, does not give you money?

Exactly the same when the Government is your main supplier of money.

[FredPuli43]

Not clear,aog. Does that mean you can't see the difference between a tax and a reduction, or denial of, a benefit?If not,what is the point in your last reply?

[jno]

uh, no, employers tend to be the main suppliers of most people's money.

[anotheoldgit]

jno

/// uh, no, employers tend to be the main suppliers of most people's
money. ///

/// Exactly the same when the Government is your main supplier of money. ///

Now concentrate hard, if you can, the secret is in than little word, 'WHEN' in fact you must have know that when you yourself put, 'TEND' and 'MOST'.

[jim360]

It is not a tax, it is a reduction in benefit. The two are very different. That said, they probably feel about the same for people who are affected, but that doesn't change the fact that it is not a tax.

Returning to the main issue, what a surprise that another announcement by the present lot turns out to be bogus, misleading or almost a downright lie. Thanks for sharing.

[Gromit]

Tax: a proportion of your income TAKEN by the Governent or Council.
Benefit: a sum of money GIVEN by the Government based on entitlement.

So a reduction of what is given is not a tax.

[Gromit]

Another anti Tory post from AOG.

[jno]

aog, I don't know if you're trying to fudge the issue or if you really don't understand the difference between a tax taken by the authorities and a benefit given out by them. Many other ABers have spelt it out carefully, so I think I shall leave it there.