Unpleasant statistics

[duke63]

1% of the world's population has the same wealth as the other 99% all added together?

But even more disconcerting is the fact that the economy of the world is run for the benefit of that 1% only and no one else.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35339475" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Blade]

It's maybe worse. According to GMTV news this morning.

The top 64 wealthiest people in the world have a combined wealth greater than the total wealth of all the other 7 billion people on this planet

[Kwacky]

Greed is very ugly. If I can get my kids to realise they need to follow the career they want to do and not worry about house size and brand of car I've done a good job.

[duke63]

Greed will finish the whole system in the end i suspect.

I know a lot of people are very concerned about what this year is going to bring economically and the consequences of another big crash don't bare thinking about.

[Frankie]

I was watching a post on FB this morning, it was about people's yachts, talk about obscene wealth, either a prince from the Middle East or Russian, owned them.

[Kwacky]

Iran being allowed to produce more oil caused the markets to wobble. China looks like it's struggling to maintain growth (which is no surprise) and the immigration situation in Europe are all warning signs that things are about to get a bit turbulent on the economical front.

[StMarks]

Don't worry yourselves, it's another few years before things really fall apart.

As for being Rich, I'm pretty sure it's not preferable to being healthy.
..... And I'm even more sure that neither compare to being happy,

[duke63]

Iran being allowed to produce more oil caused the markets to wobble. China looks like it's struggling to maintain growth (which is no surprise) and the immigration situation in Europe are all warning signs that things are about to get a bit turbulent on the economical front.

Pension companies may well feel the pinch too. They were saying last week how heavily they rely on share prices and the dividends paid out by the oil companies.

[Kwacky]

On that note have to seen the latest pension plans from our glorious government?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... anges.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[duke63]

Yep there is that and also auto enrolment which is being phased in over the next few years for those who don't have a company pension scheme.

Initially everyone will be enrolled in the scheme and you will have to opt out if you dont want to contribute. Expect it to be compulsory within 10 years though so the government can phase out the state pension.

[Kwacky]

It does make sense to ensure people have pension provisions when you look at the way this population is aging.

[duke63]

Except private pensions will never give enough income unless you can afford to put £250k into it.

[Kwacky]

Which is why this government seems intent on forcing those who can afford it to have a second home to rent out as a form of income.

The haves and have nots division is being forced further apart.

[duke63]

Which is why this government seems intent on forcing those who can afford it to have a second home to rent out as a form of income.

The haves and have nots division is being forced further apart.

They are even introducing new rules to curb that....unless you are a big property company.

[kiwikrasher]

It's been compulsory here in Aussie since 1992. Companies have to contribute 9% of your salary to super. That's on top of your salary not out of it. Many companies offer more as a sweetener. My company pays 14%. But there have been a lot of laws put in place recently to prevent tax dodging so there is a cap per year of what you can have put in as its taxed only at 15%. Compared to the top tax rate of 49%.

[Rossgo]

This thread is sort of going over my head a bit so I'm going back to the orginal post!! That is crazy, although if you have worked hard then where's the problem in having financial benefit out of it?

However the second point is ridiculous how can we allow the ultra rich to have them have the say so they can get away with stuff. They should be the guys who get taxed the most not the workers.