Replace corp tax (a tax on profits) with a smaller sales tax (a tax on revenues). Perhaps with a small business exemption. Hello dear multinationals whose profits are made offshore 🙂
Make one house of parliament PR using Webster method (favours smaller parties). Other one could be FPTP as now or perhaps more like the US Senate (X seats per region).
Make carbon credits cost at least as much as it costs to clean up emissions. Extend to other forms of emissions too and make sure domestic fuel is properly included.Also tax aviation fuel, with EU wide agreement so you can't just arrive half full and not refuel.
id ban the use of 'no comment' as allowable 'tactics' in a police interview. if you can't say where you were at a certain time or whether you were with 'machete bob' or not last night, then its automatically an admission of guilt.
oh and id also ban teenagers talking like yardies. shoot em all i say.
I'd ban dog owners, music snobs and 'mild cheddar'.
Get rid of those subsidy junky whinging Scots.
Cut them loose into the wide world and the embrace of the EU.
And if we can persuade those pesky northerners to join them, so much the better. Then we could use the existing border wall. Hard border? No problem, here’s one we prepared earlier…
That’ll teach them to mess with the empire.
#haterz
If I could change one thing it would be the attitude to litter. Far too many people happy just to chuck stuff away rather than walk a few yards to a bin. Smokers are certainly the worst but so many other selfish people out there too.
Remove all religious education from schools.
As an atheist I vehemently disgree with this.
1) Religion is a massive component in current affairs. Do you want your kids hearing Daily Mail style rumours about Islam being a violent religion? Or do you want them properly educated about Islam? You won't understand what you see on the news about the Middle East unless you understand at least a bit about Islam. Fear comes from ignorance, hate comes from fear.
2) Likewise, religion and human history are totally intertwined, and very little of history makes much sense if you don't understand the religious aspect.
I would:
* Legalise smack
* Make booze and cigerrettes tax free
* Triple the size of the Royal Navy
* Conscript all Brexit voters of fighting age
* Start a war with France
* Annex Brittany and make Britain Great Again.
Alot of the education
Teh ironing!
id ban the use of ‘no comment’ as allowable ‘tactics’ in a police interview. if you can’t say where you were at a certain time or whether you were with ‘machete bob’ or not last night, then its automatically an admission of guilt.
No comment is the only form of defence you have these days when under questioning, tell them **** all is the best option.
Independant body to measure media accuracy that has to be displayed at all times for telly news and on the front cover of every newspaper
Like the traffic light system on food labelling
I would revise the Tax and NI contribution systems.
Its an outdated model unfit for a *cough* modern society.
I’d then apply a higher rate Tax to those who want, and subsequently have, kids. This would fund an education system for them. And reduce the population at the same time.
Those that don’t have kids, don’t pay.
May keep a few more dicks in pants I reckon, and reduce the planets burdon of mass human population explosion.
As an atheist I vehemently disgree with this.
1) Religion is a massive component in current affairs. Do you want your kids hearing Daily Mail style rumours about Islam being a violent religion? Or do you want them properly educated about Islam? You won’t understand what you see on the news about the Middle East unless you understand at least a bit about Islam. Fear comes from ignorance, hate comes from fear.
2) Likewise, religion and human history are totally intertwined, and very little of history makes much sense if you don’t understand the religious aspect.
I would roll RE together with history and call it "Social Studies" like they do in North America. I would say teach ABOUT religion; just don't teach religion... if that makes any sense.
But instead of calling it "Social Studies" can we call it "Human Stupidity Studies"?
I’d then apply a higher rate Tax to those who want, and subsequently have, kids. This would fund an education system for them. And reduce the population at the same time.
Those that don’t have kids, don’t pay.
And remove the state pension from anyone who doesn't have children
What about two rates of tax, one - you get to retire. The lower rate, you get dragged out onto the street in the middle of the night and gassed in a van before you get to retire.
Pensioners are work shy benefits claimants.
I would say teach ABOUT religion; just don’t teach religion
I think that's pretty much how it goes, isn't it? When I did RE many years ago it wasn't anything like a sermon.
I’d then apply a higher rate Tax to those who want, and subsequently have, kids. This would fund an education system for them.
Terrible idea and not fair. If you don't have kids you still drive on the roads and use the hospitals etc funded by taxing the economic activities of other people's kids.
What about two rates of tax, one – you get to retire. The lower rate, you get dragged out onto the street in the middle of the night and gassed in a van before you get to retire.
Pensioners are work shy benefits claimants.
Well the way this government is ruining this country there will be no retirement.
I'd make everyone get in a time machine, go to the Western Front and get shot at, then return to 2019. People would have a changed attitude towards themselves (ego-ism) and other (community).
I would roll RE together with history and call it “Social Studies” like they do in North America.
Since the thread has diverged into British Education specifically, I'd massively ramp up History and make it compulsory all the way to GCSE, instead of that bollocks Geography. And I'd make sure that kids were taught the background to the major nations, empires and religions throughout history.
I'd also introduce Philosophy, Politics and Economics and make that compulsory. It doesn't have to be high brow stuff, but most people are utterly unaware of the basics of economics and yet are expected to vote. It's shameful. Just imagine how much harder politicians would have to work if the public could call them out on bullshit. Pretty sure we wouldn't have had Brexit, since most people would have an understanding of what a trade deal is.
This kind of knowledge needs to be public domain general knowledge, not seen as some rarified business done in closed rooms.
I'd round up all the racists and ship them off to Australia or somewhere.
Can I add a 2a please? Remove all religious education from schools.
Disagree.
I think teaching religion as fact should be removed, as should focusing on one particular sect are the expense of all others. However, I think there's merit in teaching RE from an academical perspective, in the same way that there's merit in learning about Greek mythology or the Crimean War. Eg, "most Christians believe this, however Islam states that..."
If I could change one thing it would be the attitude to litter. Far too many people happy just to chuck stuff away rather than walk a few yards to a bin.
+1, though I'd start with actually putting some bloody bins about the place.
This,
I want to get people to realise that society is a thing. Society needs to work to help everyone get what they need. We need to look after each other instead of competing and fighting.
Will have to be done first before this,
1. Remove charitable status of private schools
2. Eliminate faith-based schools
3. Gather all schools in a region under a single board of publically-elected trustees
4. Resources to be allotted to the whole educational region instead of to individual schools
5. All school estates to be equally provisioned in terms of facilities
6. Provide educational region-wide mass transport, and so eliminate parents taking their children to school
Can be done.
The population of this country has become increasingly selfish, you can see that in the behaviour of citizens every single day.
Also, I'd prevent politicians using the term "taxpayer" and get then to use the term "citizen".
I think teaching religion as fact should be removed, as should focusing on one particular sect are the expense of all others.
Did anyone get this? In a non CoE school?
If we had proper walking and cycling infrastructure, coupled with getting rid of private schools that skew the transporting of children inefficiently etc then there wouldn't be as much of a great need for school specific buses; a properly provided public transport system should be able to handle that demand.
it all comes down to taxation reform and political reform. We need to all pay taxes efficiently and properly invest in schools hospitals, public transport, council services so that we aren't reliant on sporadic charitable goodwill.
Cokie's example of a boarding school providing a youth club; no criticism to the school for stepping up but it's an indicator that the councils aren't being given resources to do the job properly and efficiently.
and FPTP can get in the sea
I’d then apply a higher rate Tax to those who want, and subsequently have, kids. This would fund an education system for them. And reduce the population at the same time.
We parents already do pay higher taxes than childless people..kids are not cheap, you're paying for things all the time, supporting businesses which in turn pay taxes, paying VAT, buying expensive cars that are way too big than they need to be and paying all that tax on the additional fuel for driving a larger and less economical car around, creating huge demand for products and services in our economy....we're already baying a significant amount of additional tax. Not to mention all those lovely tax revenues the children bring in once they're educated leave school and go on to get a job.
The population of this country has become increasingly selfish, you can see that in the behaviour of citizens every single day
and your evidence for this? More and more money is given to charities each year by individuals so we're getting more philanthropic for example...not the be all and end all but just one indicator that as we as a nation and as individuals get richer we're giving more and more away.
I would bring in a socialist state (not Labours attempt at half arsed socialism) and run properly (so don't give me examples of country which was socialist and failed).
After a few years the majority of people would be happier, society would be a big part of it and people may actually give a shit about each other. Of course the super rich would try and ruin it so they would have to be 'dealt with'
I’d round up all the racists and ship them off to Australia or somewhere.
In fact thinking about it, I'd extend this to:
Racists,
Junkies who beat up old ladies to steal twenty quid for their next fix,
People who wear football shirts outside of a football ground despite not having kicked a ball in 20 years,
People who think it's cool to get two dozen mates, go to a quiet picturesque Eastern European city, get riotously drunk on €1/pints of Stella and smash up the place,
PEOPLE who type using RANDOM capital letters in order to make a POINT,
Folk who close a statement with "End of."
People who throw bags of McD's wrappers out of car windows,
People who believe everything they read in the Daily Express,
People who think that if it's written in a meme it must be true,
People who go to ASDA in their pyjamas,
People who cannot hold a conversation with someone two feet away without bellowing at the top of their voice,
People who wait until the first song comes on at a gig before elbowing their way in front of you despite you having been stood there for half an hour,
People who razz up and down the streets 2-up on ratbikes with no licence plates, helmets, insurance or licence,
Fly tippers,
Homeopaths,
Travellers who rock up at a place, annihilate it and then sod off leaving all their shite behind (not all travellers, just the ones who do this and give the rest a bad name),
Anyone who uses the phrase "political correctness gone mad,"
David Cameron,
... and any other antisocial douchenozzles that don't immediately fall into any of the above categories but have zero respect for anyone but themselves.
Did anyone get this? In a non CoE school?
I went to a non-denominational state high school. I don't recall RE ever explicitly being taught either as fact or allegory (though it was quite a few years ago now!), but it was basically bible studies. I don't remember any other faith being so much as mentioned outside of generic Christianity.
and if we are talking about changes to the education curriculum, we need to put the arts back on the agenda, it's something that the UK excels at (go on goole and look at the export value !) but the current lack of investment (taxes again!) means we are eroding what skills talent we have and the next generations won't have it
Allow kids to decide if they want to do music or art or drama or whatever but something needs to be on there
and your evidence for this? More and more money is given to charities each year by individuals so we’re getting more philanthropic for example
We have left the 19th century have we?
Did anyone get this? In a non CoE school?
Yes - Christian prayers and religious songs every day at my council estate state primary in the 80s.
Nowadays, whilst it is supposed to be a legal requirement to have a daily act of collective worship that is broadly Christian in nature in every state school, what actually happens depends upon the individual teachers and headteachers in the school. My kids' primary regularly had assemblies led by the local vicar.
Teaching about religion should absolutely continue in schools, but teaching of one above others should not and there should be no worship. There shouldn't be any church schools either.
(Context: I'm an atheist but my wife is a chaplain in a CofE primary school and has permission off of the Bishop to preach in our local CofE church. I'm not one of those Dawkins atheists.)
If we're talking education,
I'd like to see some sort of life skills on the curriculum. (Caveat, how much of this is already taught I don't know.)
How to manage and budget money; how to manage debt (and recognise good vs bad debt); how to cook (like, knife skills rather than making chocolate rice krispies); critical thinking (because gods know there's a dearth of that at the moment); DIY and home repair ('material studies' or whatever it's called this week might teach you how to make a screwdriver but not how to use one or hang wallpaper); basic car maintenance like changing a tyre; how to use the Internet for things other than racist memes and porn (surprising for the Internet generation maybe, but it never occurred to my apprentices that they could use Google as a way of finding solutions to technical problems); etc etc, basically the things you need in the real world once you leave school.
IMHO there's way more value in this than in learning about arable farming in India or what Lot did to his wife.
@Cougar +1
I'd also like to see:-
Free public transport and childcare, this would remove barriers to employment allowing more people to work if they wish to.
Housing first scheme, this would provide security allowing people to focus on their issues without fear of losing their home if they mess up.
Universal income, reducing administration the costs of social security and recognises that productivity isn't just measured financially.
Legalise recreational drugs, this would reduce the prison population by about half and save a fortune. This would be spent on rehabilitation services.
Income cap, like in Japan where managers can't earn more than 26% more than their staff. (figure may be wrong)
4 day week, it's been proven to increase productivity and decrease sick leave. It also allows for a better work/life balance.
No head of state or PM, the government would follow the consensus of the majority unless it infringed upon human rights, like the death penalty would.
Basically the state would be to provide services and you'd be free to do as you please as long as it's not detrimental to other people.
🏴
I would bring in a socialist state
For this to happen you either need a military coup or for people to vote for it consistently. And for that to happen, you need my first point to happen. And I firmly believe that if you taught philosophy most people, being generally decent, would come around to that viewpoint.
I think most Tories are created by parents or other adults teaching kids either directly or by example how they deserve something and others don't. Because they were 'successful through their own hard work etc' so others have to the same and stuff them if they don't. But in the modern age we simply don't have to fight each other like this. Your fellow human is not your enemy or your rival. There IS enough to go round.
The irony is that most people are taught this in a personal setting, they just don't apply it to a societal one. Because we're taught that outside of.our friends and family everyone else is out to disposess you.
This is what the Philosophy is for in the compulsory PPE lessons. I'm telling you, PPE education is the simplest easiest change we can make for the biggest effect.
Flogging post on the trading floors / bank HQ’s for those that destroy people’s pensions and savings through corruption/greed/incompetence.
Secret service to pursue “boiler room” scammers and others of similar ilk with extreme prejudice.
Littering to become a capital offence.
The Head of State to be on a pike at the city gates...
Also, I’d prevent politicians using the term “taxpayer” and get then to use the term “citizen”
I disagree as not all citizens are taxpayers. There needs to be a system where everyone contributes something affordable. With the exception of course for those who are mentally or physically unable to. Saying that, I've worked with plenty of people with mental and physical handicaps that do damn good jobs.
, PPE education is the simplest easiest change we can make for the biggest effect.
I'd like what you say to be true but isnt PPE from Oxbridge preceded by a few years of being violated at Eton/Winchester how most MPs got there?
For this to happen you either need a military coup or for people to vote for it consistently.
The OPs question suggested I had the power to change whatever I wanted, I am disappointed.
Christian prayers and religious songs every day at my council estate state primary in the 80s.
I meant proselytising in RE lessons - not the assembly stuff.
I’d like what you say to be true but isnt PPE from Oxbridge preceded by a few years of being violated at Eton/Winchester how most MPs got there?
Yes, which is exactly why the general public needs to be educated in it - so we can argue with them on their own terms and/or see through their bullshit.
Yes, which is exactly why the general public needs to be educated in it – so we can argue with them on their own terms and/or see through their bullshit.
Oh. I see what you are saying. Sort of like how everyone should take a stats course so they understand what is being said when people quote stats.
I just worry that it would go the other way - people would see arguing about Etonians vs wykehamists being better educated while the county circles the bowl as perfectly reasonable.
I’d Make it more economically conservative and more socially liberal
Since the thread has diverged into British Education specifically, I’d massively ramp up History and make it compulsory all the way to GCSE
You can keep your GCSEs south of the border!
Ex council & state-owned properties which are currenly let, may be compulsorily re-purchased by the vendor at a discount to the market rates.
I want all those who want to bring back Hanging and National Service to be rounded up and sent off to somewhere remote, they could then take turns shooting at each other then hanging those who are left.
But more realistically I would go with Saxon Rider and it's education we need, it's the thing that will make our future better.
Following on for that a forum to have the difficult conversations honestly and openly. In the next few years we need to tackle
The Environment and how we save ourselves
The future of work, labour and reward, the concept of a universal income. We cannot continue the way we are.
Housing as a need not a profit.
Wouldn't do away with British society, but I'd like to make the UK smaller
