New data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the poorest 10% of households in the UK are still paying a higher proportion of their income in tax than the richest.
    • pdxfed@lemmy.world
      3·
      4 days ago

      Why didn’t they just be born into the house or lords so they didn’t have to be elected? Would be cheaper than buying one to just inherit power.

      • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
        44·
        5 days ago

        My understanding is that UK outside of london has similar quality of life to Mississippi

        They do have NHS that’s def a competent system and cost effective but that’s getting ruined as we speak.

        I am interested in hearing counter argumentsthat take is mostly spit balling based on recent data coming form UK.

        But yeah all western regimes are impoverishing bottom 80% of population via similar tactics like housing and education policy etc

        • FelixCress@lemmy.world
          101·
          5 days ago

          My understanding is that UK outside of london has similar quality of life to Mississippi

          Your understanding shows lack of understanding.

        • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          5 days ago

          My understanding is that UK outside of london has similar quality of life to Mississippi

          Even the worst part of the UK has better quality of life than Mississippi just because nowhere in the UK is so car-dependent. There’s no such thing as “walking home from the local pub” for the vast overwhelming majority of Mississippians.

          Ex-London UKers might have a similar standard of living to Mississippians in terms of income/purchasing power, but that’s not quite the same thing as quality of life because it doesn’t account for lifestyle differences.

          • galmuth@feddit.uk
            7·
            5 days ago

            True. “Quality of life” is a bit of a weird measurement if they aren’t using it as a shorthand for “purchasing power”, as it can be pretty subjective.

            Like you said, the local amenities where you live can really add to “quality of life”. I can walk to a pub, nature reserve, cafe, supermarket, school, or a bunch of other places within a 10 minute walk. I can cycle to work in 20 minutes.

            That is fairly common in the UK and I’d think is pretty uncommon in the US.

        • galmuth@feddit.uk
          51·
          5 days ago

          Ah you’re not even from the UK. I’m not sure what the quality of life is like in Mississippi (however you want to measure it) but it’s not terrible here outside of London.

          I don’t have data on hand but from my own experience I can tell you that we do not have an awful quality of life generally speaking, nor do I personally know anyone who is having a terrible quality of life in terms of their buying power and ability to support themselves. I’m able to support my family without issue on my wage.

          People are generally struggling a bit more since inflation has taken hold over the last year or so, and there are reports of more people needing to use food banks etc - which is horrific - and there are big issues around home ownership. However it’s certainly not that case that the majority of people are in abject poverty.

          Personally I’d hate to live in London - it attracts money and it has great public transport, but to me it doesn’t feel like a great place to live in many ways and everything is so much more expensive there.

          Yes the NHS has been ruined by lack of investment from previous governments, but it is due to get big investments from the new government, so fingers crossed.