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BarbaraEW's latest comments
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13th Nov 2020BarbaraEW commented on:
Scrap the Sovereign Grant?I agree, we have enough trouble and cost electing a Prime Minister every 4 or 5 years, I personally would be heartily sick if we had to go through Presidential elections every 4 or 5 years too! The cost would be ridiculous and all we'd have is division in the country over the President too! Look at the Trump fiasco! At least our Royal Family have centuries old traditions, pageantry, rules, regulations and the best part is NO INTERFERENCE IN POLITICS, which is a godsend. A President would be unseen, attract no tourism therefore would reduce any financial benefits the Royals draw but he would cost us far more in security, elections etc. I think it will be a very sad day, if we ever lose our Monarch.ViewDate:
13th Nov 2020BarbaraEW commented on:
Scrap the Sovereign Grant?I agree with you. The royal family does pay its own taxes. They are very conscious of public opinion of them and all the senior royals clearly do not fritter money away on unnecessary things. I think Diana and Sarah Ferguson did the royal family a great disservice when they started their silly shenanigans and Diana's clothes budget was clearly exorbitant. The royals themselves have always been quite frugal. One thing I do believe is that they do bring in a lot of tourism revenue which would be totally lost if we had an elected Head of State, ie a President. The Royals are paid about 10% I believe from the tourism revenue and I saw the figure of less than £2 per head per annum for their allowances, which have to pay for all business expenses (it is a business!), staff salaries etc. I don't think it is too much. But if we had a President we would have the lavish cost of a four or five yearly election, all the security costs (Look at the US!) and who chooses to go to a republic to see the President driving by in blacked out limo's? NO ONE! a President would cost us far more yet we'd get far less for it! The black hole in the Treasury would have to be filled with increased taxes! I'd rather have a Royal Family and lower taxes than a lavish Presidential entourage no one really sees and higher taxes too!!ViewDate:
6th Oct 2017BarbaraEW commented on:
Win a pair of Hotter Shoes of your choiceI bought my first pair of Hotter shoes about 14 years ago and just had to let them go!! what value!ViewDate:
18th May 2017BarbaraEW commented on:
Should the Winter Fuel Allowance be means tested?I don't think child benefit should be paid to those on high incomes as well. My sister in law and her husband were millionaires when they were receiving child benefit and she just bought endless pairs of shoes with hers! There must be a cut off point, as at the moment even royalty could claim it!ViewDate:
18th May 2017BarbaraEW commented on:
Should the Winter Fuel Allowance be means tested?They don't need to do more than just work out who gets extra benefits because their pensions are too low! If you claim pension support, you should be automatically entitled, then those on the margin of claiming, can individually ask for it, even if it is a reduced amount. I doubt it would be that difficult, or costly, given all the form filling we have to do anyway.ViewDate:
18th May 2017BarbaraEW commented on:
Should the Winter Fuel Allowance be means tested?As long as the 'cut-off' amount is an acceptable amount, not one that would penalise those just existing. I have never 'claimed' this benefit, and would not, because I have a works pension as well as state pension. I wouldn't have thought I would qualify, but I have had it paid, so not sure people need to 'claim' it. I was only a secretary all my working life, nothing grand, and my pension is not huge, I could afford my bills without the fuel payment, I would be happy to have mine stopped. It makes sense that people who were company directors, doctors, higher ranked police officers etc, etc, ie higher earners, who have really good pensions, higher than some people's salaries, should not be paid the fuel payment, because they must be far better off than me! I am surprised this was not a Labour proposal as they are all for taking more off what they call 'the rich'.ViewDate:
17th Apr 2015BarbaraEW commented on:
Which coalition do you find more palatable?It is a myth that we need immigrants to do the jobs we feel are beneath us. The truth is immigrants, especially illegal ones, are prepared to work for far less in far worse conditions. We, however, know the law regarding minimum wage and are not prepared to accept less and employers know we will not accept less that is why they are happy to exploit immigrants, who probably know no different! If employers were to employ Brits only, they would have to pay more and improve conditions. So don't say WE won't lower ourselves, it is bad employers who won't raise their standards to legal limits. Immigrants, particularly Asians, have many children which does put a strain on the NHS, schools, housing and the benefits system. We are too small a country to continue expanding at the rate we are. Most normal working Brits live within their means, but immigrants (and some single mothers who have multiple children purely to gain extra benefits) are creating a shortage of decent homes and our green belt is being put in danger trying to cope with the demand. We are not an International Health Service, and we cannot afford to cure the world so those who come here purely to take advantage of our health system and benefits system should be turned away.We have to accept the fact we have no more to give. It is unfair on tax payers and those having to suffer deprivation whilst we see those who have never paid into the system, getting everything they want.ViewDate:
17th Dec 2014BarbaraEW commented on:
Are there too many medicines and not enough health?I, like a lot of older people, have leg pains and joint problems. I have a touch of arthritis but with swimming and walking, especially with and for my new darling partner, I have tried to stay mobile. For over 20 years I have been told I am too old for any kind of surgery because it doesn't last and would need re-doing after 10-15 years. I would say I want to be able to do things now, not when the rest of my body is shutting down, but it was always the same. So I have been on various painkillers all this time, plus blood pressure tablets because my weight has crept up with lack of meaningful exercise because of my worsening mobility problems. This year I had an MRI scan on my knees to hopefully get the treatment I have waited 20 years for. The consultant however, made it perfectly clear that I am "not worth the effort, not worth the risk because of my increased weight and he was not minded to operate". Why? because my soul mate and partner died in the Spring and I had lost all motivation as I had particularly wanted to be well and live a long life for him as we had only been together 8 years and he was younger than me. His passing had devastated me and when I told the consultant I had wanted to be fit and well to go to France and Spain in our campervan this year but now that was all gone- he said I didn't need my partner to do those things!! So he was telling me I was not worth anything and 6 weeks after losing my partner, this consultant was telling me my partner was also not worth anything! He had no conception of the loss of a loved one and to be honest, after my appointment with this consultant, all I wanted to do was go home and die because my life was over! he assured me I would become disabled and my weight would therefore increase! If ever there was motivation from a consultant to a patient to go home and end it all, this was it! I've not seen a doctor since. I just take my painkillers and hope to God I don't live too much longer so I don't have to rely on my poor son to do everything for me in the future, or worse still, have to go into a home!ViewDate:
17th Dec 2014BarbaraEW commented on:
Top 10 best Christmas moviesYou missed the MOST important Christmas film ever! Scrooge with Alistair Sim. Christmas isn't Christmas without watching that at least once!