Sorry for the prolonged absence from this thread, but I dislocated my ankle on friday and have only just been able to get back to my PC- I am well on the mend after enforced rest and hope to get to the Jug on wednesday as we now have some petrol. What still seems interesting to me despite all the fairly logical arguments and counter arguments put here is that the Government (Like it's predesessors) is still not listening to the voice of the people. The Govenrment is here to run the country on behalf of it's citizens, not on it's own behalf and while I don't agree that it should take popularist stances just to stay in power it should recognise the fundimental difference between representing the best wishes of it's population and Governing for the minority (who seem to have the financial clout)Budgets set out targets and so are supposed to develop the nation in it's financial efforts. So here we have a government that gives tax breaks worth £ millions to business and 70p a week (about $0.5)to the old There have been comments about people who expect to get things for nothing,but none of us get anything for nothing, all things have a price,whether it's "free" education and healthcare or lower taxes.We all pay for these and, ignoring the petty joke of, "I don't want to pay my taxes for your children's education" we support a large polulation who live near and below the poverty line.There is no real reson for this, there is loads of money out there, it's just being held by the few and not the many. (Don't worry Roger-no offense taken) Don't forget that the object is employment is the enable someone else to profit from your labours (in most cases) and I think a fair wage is a good return. However there are many who do not get a fair wage and contribute to massive profits for others ie Shareholders and directors etc-these people take a very high (in comparrison) slice of the cake. They can afford to distribute more to the poorer elements of society who are taxed as heavily as them. The level of taxation is what is unfair. If you have £5,000.00 per month income and compare it to £800.00 a month then what is within your reach is far better than those with much less. Who is to say what a person's true worth is? Am I worth less because I don't sit in a boardroom? Am I worth more because I don't clean toilets? (I don't think there's anything wrong with that-so please don't start!) Politicians very soon forget that they are there to "Represent their constituents"and the government is there to represent it's people. The fuel crisis, though I still support the action,hit everyone and the Government response was very poor. Irrespective of the "plot" between the oil companies, the right wing of politics and the duplicity of the drivers of the tankers, it happened and happened fast. There is still a massive support for the cut of the tax on fuel-those with less income still have much less to spend than the rich and nothing has changed. I still believe that those earning substancially more could be taxed higher and that personal taxation and not indirect taxation should be the way of Governments. Eric