Why do people with less money have to pay more?

This is another myth which is currently being spread by that useless Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (an ex-postman!!) who on the Today Programme the other day complained about how the VAT rise to 20% was affecting the food bills of the poor when, as we all know, food does not attract any VAT - except of course if you can't cook your own and rely (as do so many of the so-called poor) on Big Macs, Pizza Hut, KFC and other take-aways, when there is VAT to pay.

Can you explain how (in your words) "cheaper options" increased your bills by 30%.

I am a 72 year-old pensioner with a modest but satisfactory teachers' pension plus my state pension of just over £500 per month. I pay council tax of around £140/month, £1440/year for gas and electric, I run a 1300cc car (and my wife has her own car) which is taxed, insured, serviced and MOT'd, my weekly shopping bill (Asda) is about £85, i pay house and contents insurance as well as buying cover for my boiler, electrical system, plumbing and outside pipes, etc, etc. And we still have a summer holiday plus short breaks which in the past year included visits to Paris and the Palace Hotel in Torquay. However, our summer holiday does tend to be in a tent which keeps the costs down so we can indulge ourselves on the local food and drink - we shall be in Brittany this year. I also pay £600 a month to my church.

And we eat out regularly, at least once every week. Perhaps this is a result of being brought up during the forties/fifties when you saved for whatever you wanted and if you didn't have the money - you didn't have what you wanted.

The reason rich people get richer is that they know what to do with their money. They don't waste it. The rich people I know (and I know at least 3 millionaires) have worked hard all their lives and are still working even tho' 2 of them are older than me.

As far as I know the only instance where the poor pay more is that they often cannot take advantage of the savings to be had by paying by direct debit or by negotiating for a better deal.

And most of the "poor" I see on tv seem to have wide screen plasma HD tv's (I don't) Sky (I don't) and expensive computer/video games (I don't)

On the One Show tonight there was a useless individual living on benefits who had spent hundreds of pounds on presents for her son for which she did not have the money.

My advice - stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with your life.

I'm not certain, but I believe people with less money are statistically at a greater risk of illness. This is due to things like, poor diet, poor luxury habits(smoking), sedentary lifestyles, etc. The rich, more often than not, are exceptionally active, and i would bet more inclined to get regular health checkups, eat a higher quality diet, and just generally conduct themselves in a manner consistent with better health. Now, given the opportunity to insure someone who is statistically at risk of more health problems, I believe you would find yourself charging the higher probability group a higher rate. They won't use the service as often but when they do, it will be for long term care. It's not a checkup, but a surgery. It's not preventative medicine, it's continuous, and expensive.

With respect, your financial situation has little bearing on society's wealth or poverty. I cannot see how poorer people have to pay more for anything compared with rich people. We all have equal access to goods and services. Where is the division? Your description of cheaper options costing more appears to be a contradiction in terms.

It has taken me a lifetime to be comfortably off. I still can't afford a Porsche and probably never will.

I started as a labourer and worked seven days a week. It makes me smile when people start talking about 'fairness'. There is no such thing. We all have to cope with the hand we are dealt. If you are born wealthy that's fortunate, not unfair.

Perhaps you have had the shitty end of the stick, but I think it perverse to snipe at the wealthy for no good reason. The Good Lord said 'Physician heal thyself' and I'm an atheist.

Yes, the less you have more you pay, take car insurance in the UK, if you live inns poor area you can pay 5 times as much, I live in Manchester and i pay over 1000 for car insurance, only 5 miles away in cheshire I'd only pay about 350 pounds

It would not work. In the event that they make less money and are paying more in taxes that implies they will lay off workers, so we will lose workers. Personal companies that aren't company subsidies deserve tax cuts since they create extra jobs than corporations do. Personal firms wish to broaden and revenue, firms not have that pressure given that they're already enormous and are reaping insane quantities of earnings. Significant corporations haven't any need to bolster to manufacturer like a small business would. Provide a tax damage to a small buisness and they would make use of the cash they saved. Through expanding, changing apparatus, hire more employees or promote. Provide a tax damage to a enormous enterprise would make certain the CEO and the adminstrators get a fair greater bonus.

under tory goverments the rich pay less and the poor always pay more

ask david cameron.

Life's a *****.............then you are dead!