Yet another pensioner is risking jail for refusing to pay their Council Tax. When it was just one or two, they generated general sympathy; surely they were acting as a consequence of desperation (‘desperation’ perhaps - Geeklawyer) or dementia?
Now there’s a whole bleedin’ grey army of them failing to cough up, clogging up the courts, and taking up time that could be spent on murderers and rapists. They’re even forming protest groups for heavens sake (”Folk Against Council Tax”) There are a thousand worthier causes these Oldies could get worked up about and maybe do some good. But Council Tax is unlikely to go away regardless of how many Oldies padlock themselves (‘themselves’ - Geeklawyer) naked to railings. And worse, as a Council Tax payer, Ruthie recognises that for every (‘every’ - Geeklawyer) less Oldie that fails to cough up, it means more expense for her.
Given the current overcrowding within the prison system, few pensioners are likely to martyr (‘martyr’ - Geeklawyer) themselves by getting banged up for the cause. So Ruthie would prefer to be spared the inevitable wailing that accompanies any prospect (‘prospect’ -Geeklawyer) of someone over the age of 65 going inside. No, Ruthie has cunning plan to stop Oldies holding up her court cases…
Pensioners (er, pensions? -Geeklawyer) are supposedly paid to people who have reached the end of their useful working life. Ruthie thinks that people capable of organising protest and rallies merely demonstrate their ability to make a useful contribution to the economy. No(, -Geeklawyer) these people have clearly got way too much time on their hands and should be forced to get jobs. Ruthie can think of lots of jobs that need doing right now: overhauling Network Rail’s maintenance schedule(extraneous space removed - Geeklawyer), assessing the actual reduction of congestion from extending the congestion charging zone, correcting Geeklawyer’s spelling, (missing space here - Geeklawyer)the possibilities are endless. Not only will the Oldies have no time to organise (‘organise’ - Geeklawyer) protest rallies, but then they’ll have lots of money to pay their Council Tax as well.
[I think I have made my point on spelling: glass houses, stones, etc. - Geeklawyer 
]
Sigh. You moan when I dont post, then when I post in a rush with typos you complain. Slacker.
Interesting points though I disagree: pensioners have very little to live on, unlike you ms yuppie, so of course ‘rape by council tax’ worries them.
But please, can you never ever talk about ‘naked pensioners chained to railings’ again: the imagery is too too repulsive for words.
Just in case anyone thinks I am of the “let them eat cake” school of economics, allow me to elaborate. I fear the main financial problem for pensioners is not the rise in Council Tax but the inadequacy of pension provision. There might be an argument that pensioners should get a reduction in council tax, but there are also many rich pensioners. Also pensioners living alone (which is statistically quite high) benefit from a reduction. I also think that complaining about pensions is a cause that is likely to generate a lot more sympathy from the whole of the population. Refusing to pay Council Tax and going to jail, will not change anything, except perhaps, like here, serve to highlight the problem.
One day I may become a pensioner. I just hope the young smoke and drink enough (tax revenues) to be able to pay a decent pension to those who have gone before in this ’sceptred isle’.
I suspect, however, that as smoking is soon to be banned (1st july 07). Dr Bore wants us to stop drinking, and the young of today are so stressed by debt (qualifying as a lawyer, refurbishing houses and gardens et al) that they won’t have time to work and generate enough tax to cope with the old - sufficient for even a ’socialist’ government (whatever that is) to pay a decent pension.
Accordingly - to secure my last 50 years….
I am planning to put Google ads on a number of websites… and become a claims farmer.
I am fairly certain that my last post did not contribute to the intellectual integrity of the debate on this thread. Forgiveness is a virtue… buona notte.
I suspect that the pensions shortfall will be a huge issue over the next 30-40 years, and elderly poverty will become a real problem for an ageing population living ever longer.
Which is why Ruthie is keen to bag herself a rich elderly and infirm lawyer
I have had a few marriages - which, in the present state of family law is, frankly, a ludicrous proposition for anyone who is sane - but I do think you may be on the right track, Ruthie - the older the better.
Just make sure that you do end up with The Court of Protection overseeing probate…. that would be careless
As always… I wish you well in all your endeavours.
in the meantime… I am thinking that I may accept La Scala’s invitation to sing ‘Nessun Dorma’ during their ‘07 summer season. I am not entirely sure why the artistic dirretore at La Scala has come to the view that ‘Charon QC’ is actually able to sing anything apart from ‘Paint your wagon’ but, be that as it may…. perhaps he heard me doing a bit of ‘Tosca’ down in the Old Kent Road with Dick Van Dyke a few years ago… or clicked on my new ‘Google advert’
Has Gl started posting about doughnuts yet.?.. I do hope that I am on the right blog tonight.. it would, after all, be a solecism to be writing about such matters if I had, by chance logged onto The Law Society website in error.
The addition of the word ‘Not’ may have been helpful in my last post
I quote from the above my way of correction:
“Just make sure that you do NOT end up with The Court of Protection overseeing probate…. that would be careless”
On the other hand… think about your fellow lawyers… a mistake… could well give much needed work to another lawyer and… a 35% referral fee is woth having??
To Geeklawyer: no, you need to be rich and infirm. Start looking after your clients better.
No, dear readers, please do not form the view that Ruthie is simply after old men and their money. Sods law says that they all the excitement means that contrary to expectations they end up outliving you, or worse, lose all their money and end up needing yours. So sadly, there really is no getting out of the for richer or poorer thing. But at least if you pick one that is generally clever and hard working you are unlikely to starve.
And thats about as profound as Ruthie’s relationship advice gets. Her legal advice is generally better.