The Cavalry of the Household Charge

[morticia]

I had heard 65%. It is creeping up all the time. There should be a special super-tax in DLR as the inhabitants clearly have way too much money

On the other hand, take a wander around parts of Ballybrack, Loughlinstown and Sallynoggin...only some of the inhabitants have too much money....and many of the so called wealthy have mortgages in the millions. There are a lot of fathers working in London these days, hundreds of miles from their kids on weekdays. Just so that mortgage can be paid.

[C. Flower]

On the other hand, take a wander around parts of Ballybrack, Loughlinstown and Sallynoggin...only some of the inhabitants have too much money....and many of the so called wealthy have mortgages in the millions. There are a lot of fathers working in London these days, hundreds of miles from their kids on weekdays. Just so that mortgage can be paid.

It was like that in the 80s, but then there was a boom in London.

[C. Flower]

Household tax receipts required to attend Donegal homecoming

Hilarious

[Baron von Biffo]

It was like that in the 80s, but then there was a boom in London.

Emigration was probably a lot harder in the 80s. Pay was worse, travel was more expensive and there was no Skype/social media communications to keep people in touch.

[MPB]

Emigration was probably a lot harder in the 80s. Pay was worse, travel was more expensive and there was no Skype/social media communications to keep people in touch.

But recession is harder now.

In the 80s people did not have the debt levels, they have now. The unemployed in the 80s never had the worry of finding 800 euro a month, just to keep a roof over their heads.

People in the 70s and 80s had never had enough money to ever worry about losing that money.

This recession/depression is far worse than that of the 80s, simply because of the personal debt levels and the forcing of corporate debt upon ordinary people.

[Baron von Biffo]

But recession is harder now.

In the 80s people did not have the debt levels, they have now. The unemployed in the 80s never had the worry of finding 800 euro a month, just to keep a roof over their heads.

People in the 70s and 80s had never had enough money to ever worry about losing that money.

This recession/depression is far worse than that of the 80s, simply because of the personal debt levels and the forcing of corporate debt upon ordinary people.

It's not that this recession is harder than the last one but that people are having to deal with the consequences of foolish decisions this time.

Before the tiger roared, people bought homes they could afford. They saved a deposit and took out an 80%/90% mortgage that was a sensible multiple of their earnings. They factored in a bit of headroom for unforeseen difficulties. They furnished their homes slowly according to their means.

Unfortunately, that sort of prudence was scorned during the boom. We no longer bought homes, we invested in property. Sensible mortgages were for dull little people. The house had to be furnished from front door to chimney pot before we could move in so we got a 30 year mortgage on the curtains and the fridge. We had to have a 100%, or higher, mortgage on top of other borrowings.

And even still there's a refusal to accept reality. Every day you'll hear some story of a mortgage that's unsustainable and how that's everyone's fault but the person who took it out and why everyone else should pay more tax, be paid less or have their pension slashed so that the borrower can keep the house.

[MPB]

It's not that this recession is harder than the last one but that people are having to deal with the consequences of foolish decisions this time.

Before the tiger roared, people bought homes they could afford. They saved a deposit and took out an 80%/90% mortgage that was a sensible multiple of their earnings. They factored in a bit of headroom for unforeseen difficulties. They furnished their homes slowly according to their means.

Unfortunately, that sort of prudence was scorned during the boom. We no longer bought homes, we invested in property. Sensible mortgages were for dull little people. The house had to be furnished from front door to chimney pot before we could move in so we got a 30 year mortgage on the curtains and the fridge. We had to have a 100%, or higher, mortgage on top of other borrowings.

And even still there's a refusal to accept reality. Every day you'll hear some story of a mortgage that's unsustainable and how that's everyone's fault but the person who took it out and why everyone else should pay more tax, be paid less or have their pension slashed so that the borrower can keep the house.

The reason the mortgages have become unsustainable is because people have lost jobs, had their pay reduced, had their taxes increased and their pensions slashed.

The reason for that is because corrupt politicians, bankers and high ranking civil servants decided that bondholders in private banks are more important than Irish citizens.

Private bank debt and unemployment is the reason Ireland has a budget deficit. No other reason.

[Baron von Biffo]

The reason the mortgages have become unsustainable is because people have lost jobs, had their pay reduced, had their taxes increased and their pensions slashed.

The reason for that is because corrupt politicians, bankers and high ranking civil servants decided that bondholders in private banks are more important than Irish citizens.

Private bank debt and unemployment is the reason Ireland has a budget deficit. No other reason.

People lost their jobs in the last recession. And they had their taxes raised to levels well in excess of today's rates. And mortgage interest was 14% and higher.

[MPB]

People lost their jobs in the last recession. And they had their taxes raised to levels well in excess of today's rates. And mortgage interest was 14% and higher.

How many had mortgages? How many had the size of mortgage, people have today?

How many were drafted into the PS and the likes of Aer Lingus, Post and Telegraph etc in order to massage unemployment figures?

[Baron von Biffo]

How many had mortgages? How many had the size of mortgage, people have today?

As I said above, people were more prudent back then. They didn't go in for 110% mortgages.

How many were drafted into the PS and the likes of Aer Lingus, Post and Telegraph etc in order to massage unemployment figures?

Did Aer Lingus and P&T workers get cheaper houses and mortgages? Did they pay lower taxes?

[MPB]

As I said above, people were more prudent back then. They didn't go in for 110% mortgages.



Did Aer Lingus and P&T workers get cheaper houses and mortgages? Did they pay lower taxes?

110% mortgages did,nt exist back then, nor did 2.5% interest rates, or tracker mortgages. Why? Because Banks and Bankers were more prudent.

Nobody bar bankers, civil servants and corrupt politicians are to blame for the property and credit bubble that existed in this country for 15 years.

As for the workers in state bodies, they received jobs that would not have existed if they were being paid for out of actual real life profits and not with money the company received from taxes and private lenders.

[C. Flower]

Reading today that many people have dropped out of pension schemes. The same goes with health insurance. Can't pay is a far bigger problem for the Government and for us all than won't pay.

[C. Flower]

The reason the mortgages have become unsustainable is because people have lost jobs, had their pay reduced, had their taxes increased and their pensions slashed.

The reason for that is because corrupt politicians, bankers and high ranking civil servants decided that bondholders in private banks are more important than Irish citizens.

Private bank debt and unemployment is the reason Ireland has a budget deficit. No other reason.

Overreliance on the construction sector and related professions, and public sector, to provide employment. These sectors actually sucked workers out of more sustainable employment, like IT and the food sector.

And "spend it while we've got it."

[Baron von Biffo]

110% mortgages did,nt exist back then, nor did 2.5% interest rates, or tracker mortgages. Why? Because Banks and Bankers were more prudent.

Not just the bankers.

Nobody bar bankers, civil servants and corrupt politicians are to blame for the property and credit bubble that existed in this country for 15 years.

Bilge!

That's just the typical Irish attitude that no-one has to take personal responsibility. Those who borrowed to buy into the bubble contributed to the madness too.

As for the workers in state bodies, they received jobs that would not have existed if they were being paid for out of actual real life profits and not with money the company received from taxes and private lenders.

Many businesses and self employed just opted out of the tax system during the last recession. We had an amnesty for them afterwards to reward them for their thieving.

[Dr. FIVE]

Just had a knock on the door from GalwayCC checking the electoral register was correct.

Standard procedure when there is nothing much on?

Hardly referendum related given this kind of attention to detail wouldn't even be going on even if had the wording. Locals are a two years away.
Are they making sure their list of occupants is up to date I wonder.

hmmm

PRESS RELEASE

Roscommon County Council’s abuse of the democratic process.

Roscommon County Council have gone a step too far in using the Register of Voters to scare people into paying the Household Charge. My office has been inundated with phone calls and emails showing the depths to which the Council Officials and the County Mayor have stooped.

Council officials have blurred the line between democracy and taxation. By getting householders to sign to confirm the details of those living in their houses, and to then produce a document outlining the implications of not paying the household charge – they leave a message, no household charge payment, no vote.

Mayor Thomas Crosby, who normally is so in tune with the voters, has undermined the office of County Mayor by putting his name to this letter. He has sullied the notion of representative democracy.

If the Mayor was a true democrat he would have nothing to do with this stunt. He knows that a true democracy keeps the register of electors clear of all extraneous matters. Above all, taxation should have nothing to do with representative democracy. Democracy is for all, young, old, rich, poor. It should stand separate form all other matters.

The people of Roscommon should continue to resist paying this unjust tax. Let no County Mayor or County Official intimidate you into paying this unjust tax.

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD.