Don't Norwegians earn big wages because of the tax they pay on un essential items. Therefore they are taxed for the lifestyle they lead rather than a huge tax off their wages? Might be wrong. But I'm sure I read that somewhere.
When I went to Oslo a Burger King was about£14 and a pint averaged at £8.
I'm still voting leave when the time comes. I want us to control our borders, control our own fishing industry, create and negotiate our own trade deals, decide ourselves how much aid we will give, have elected representatives make decisions on our behalf, invest in future energy resources that we want, bring back car manufacturing, protect our finance industry..........to name a few.
And trust me (without giving too much away about my job).... I do know what I'm talking about.
Not saying you don't know what you are talking about but...... we've had a few governments fail at some of those and governments destroy some of those.
But if you can get me my old very well paid job back in the car industry, I'm all ears.
Quite refreshing to read that a country has laws and enforces them. My impression from my recent trip "home" was that the UK has become almost lawless and people seem to do whatever they want with no prospect of being apprehended. In fact in six weeks I counted only 2 police cars on the road. I encountered numerous people driving on the phone, people turning right at roundabouts, approaching from the left lane etc, I won't even bother talking about my experiences with the healthcare system on behalf of my elderly mother who has been treated absolutely appallingly for 4 years. It has become a mad house and I was so pleased to get out of it, I really think I'd lose the will to live very quickly if I still had to live there.
The fuckers! How dare they! Everyone in the civilised world knows Australians only EVER turn left at roundabouts from the correct lane. Britain could learn a lot from you QA.
I hate to be confrontational, but that is such a lot of rose tinted ex-pat bullshit, your two examples of traffic infringements do not constitute an almost lawless society.
Now if they bought in a law making exaggeration and hyperbole a criminal offence...
I've only been to Norway on a business trip so I couldn't comment on how much things cost there because I wasn't paying for it, it was either bought for me or I waved a credit card and my employer picked up the tab...I thought the place was fantastic and the people there are great, definitely a place to visit...I couldn't live there but that's because my life is London and the City so everywhere else in the World, except New York, seems a bit slow or backward for my tastes...as for likening the UK to Norway in the event of a Brexit there's no similarities...The rest of Europe sells too much to the UK to be in a position to make demands on us...we'd call the shots on exit negotiations because we can always buy our goods elsewhere...as for the vote, I'm going to vote to stay in, we more than hold our own in the EU and we exchange a whole load of old fogies that retire to Spain and France etc and contribute little to the economy and get a young well educated dynamic and cheap workforce in return...no wonder our economy has fared better in recent years...
Don't Norwegians earn big wages because of the tax they pay on un essential items. Therefore they are taxed for the lifestyle they lead rather than a huge tax off their wages? Might be wrong. But I'm sure I read that somewhere.
When I went to Oslo a Burger King was about£14 and a pint averaged at £8.
Yes, so if people want to smoke... They better be prepared to be taxed an unbelievable amount.
Our economy still can work by hiring a young well educated dynamic workforce... By withdrawing from the EU it means that we can pick and choose using a points system like the Australians and New Zealanders do.
If we have a shortage of Doctors / Dentists etc. coming through from our own, then we can allow Indians etc. to come into the country.
I've only been to Norway on a business trip so I couldn't comment on how much things cost there because I wasn't paying for it, it was either bought for me or I waved a credit card and my employer picked up the tab...I thought the place was fantastic and the people there are great, definitely a place to visit...I couldn't live there but that's because my life is London and the City so everywhere else in the World, except New York, seems a bit slow or backward for my tastes...as for likening the UK to Norway in the event of a Brexit there's no similarities...The rest of Europe sells too much to the UK to be in a position to make demands on us...we'd call the shots on exit negotiations because we can always buy our goods elsewhere...as for the vote, I'm going to vote to stay in, we more than hold our own in the EU and we exchange a whole load of old fogies that retire to Spain and France etc and contribute little to the economy and get a young well educated dynamic and cheap workforce in return...no wonder our economy has fared better in recent years...
That bit reflects my (ex-pat) opinion in a nutshell. The bit about being able to buy Gorgonzola from somewhere like China, Chateauneuf du Pape from Egypt or real bratwurst from Cote d'Ivoire isn't convincing me though.
Don't Norwegians earn big wages because of the tax they pay on un essential items. Therefore they are taxed for the lifestyle they lead rather than a huge tax off their wages? Might be wrong. But I'm sure I read that somewhere.
When I went to Oslo a Burger King was about£14 and a pint averaged at £8.
Yes, so if people want to smoke... They better be prepared to be taxed an unbelievable amount.
Do you genuinely believe that the Norwegian model and laws are the only alternative to the EU?
Don't Norwegians earn big wages because of the tax they pay on un essential items. Therefore they are taxed for the lifestyle they lead rather than a huge tax off their wages? Might be wrong. But I'm sure I read that somewhere.
When I went to Oslo a Burger King was about£14 and a pint averaged at £8.
Yes, so if people want to smoke... They better be prepared to be taxed an unbelievable amount.
Do you genuinely believe that the Norwegian model and laws are the only alternative to the EU?
You know that's not the case, right?
What are you talking about ? I've not said that at all
I can't see what the OP has to do with being in or out of the EU? It's not as if when we leave, ooops sorry if we leave, that we have to adopt these Norwegian laws. Surely the point is that if we leave we can have our own laws and not have to bow down and do what the EU says.
I can't see what the OP has to do with being in or out of the EU? It's not as if when we leave, ooops sorry if we leave, that we have to adopt these Norwegian laws. Surely the point is that if we leave we can have our own laws and not have to bow down and do what the EU says.
I think the point being - in the event of a successful exit, just because the EU can no longer dictate asinine laws doesnt mean that our own government wont do the same. That, in essence, the grass isnt always greener.
Norway was just a good example because there are some particularly crazy examples of peculiar laws from there.
That said, you could pick any country in the world and choose a selection of utterly absurd laws and then claim "See! If you leave the EU you may end up with laws like this!".
This is pretty much a straw man - a bit like "See, if Syria was in the EU then Assad would never have pulled that shit. Just as well we've got the EU looking out for us! ".
I was always firmly in the OUT camp but I'm not exactly 100% sure anymore. That said I don't think an example of how one country has absolutely nuts laws that they came up with independently is a good argument against independence.
A bit like using Corbyn as an example of why Labour voters should never be allowed near any form of election again
Norway is a fine country but the dunces trying to suggest it's some model for Britain are missing the point. They are very small compared to us. They are big contributors to the EU. They have billions of sovereign cash stored up. It's very different. I get that unemployed people and pensioners think ze Germans are ripping us off and we are getting more immigrants because of the EU, and I get that we'll probably get carried out of Europe on the good ship Daily Mail, but we won't end up like Norway. Maybe a few significant price rises, but other than that, no.
So Australia has it sussed does it? I suppose a country building on the legacy of genocide in Tasmania, and elsewhere, where native Australians have been marginalised since the British stole the country, and even now when there is a chance to repair that damage they lack enthusiasm to do so, has it sussed? In my living memory Australia had a white only immigration policy. Australia has issues of it's own before it straightens out Europe.
I think the point being - in the event of a successful exit, just because the EU can no longer dictate asinine laws doesnt mean that our own government wont do the same. That, in essence, the grass isnt always greener. _____
But then again we're not calling for Britain to completely replicate Australia with all its policies etc. being our own nation and being in control of everything we do (rather than getting permission from the EU every time) will mean we can introduce things that clearly work from other countries.
Anyone who cites the "Norwegian model" as a reason for leaving really should seek medical advice. A country where they contribute only slightly lower than we do at the moment to the EU (on a per capita basis) yet have no real say in what goes on in Brussels. A country that has adopted thousands of EU laws and regulations as it's own anyway. A country that pays an extremely high import tax on goods coming from the EU (to think we could arrange a more favourable deal are kidding themselves, Angela would have to make up the deficit caused by our withdrawal).
I count myself as slightly pro-European but I like the items on that list (to varying degrees), especially number 1, maybe Brexit's not so bad ;-) I hate tax avoidance, the rich can get away with paying less tax than someone on modest wages and it is outrageous, making tax returns public would be a great step in outing the immoral rich.
I can't see what the OP has to do with being in or out of the EU? It's not as if when we leave, ooops sorry if we leave, that we have to adopt these Norwegian laws. Surely the point is that if we leave we can have our own laws and not have to bow down and do what the EU says.
Other folk were citing Norway as an example of a wonderful country outside the EU, as a response Prague was just pointing out some of the pitfalls, and colthe3rd and letthegoodtimesroll have pointed out a few more.
I definitely wasn't on the sauce, @IA. But I am gratified so many people actually read it, and commented on how pointless it was etc :-)
Obviously I didn't make my point clearly enough for some people. I was trying to address the perception many people have, or claim, that the EU is responsible for many or most of the absurd laws and regulations we have. Norway shows that countries are quite capable of that on their own; so if we leave Brexit, we will not suddenly lose many of the useless regulations that currently irk people. An example is TUPE. Many people like to claim it is an EU thing. It is not. When I asked one of my clients here if they were worried about TUPE they were baffled about what it was, and checked with the relevant ministry, which said it had no plans to introduce such a thing and no reason to consider doing so.
To answer @ChiAddick, Norway, like the rest of Scandinavia, has a relatively high direct tax model. In fact one of the things that amuses me is that my buddy, who feeds me this stuff, is a CEO and constantly complains about the 'socialist state". I keep pointing out to him that many of the laws I listed are nothing to do with "socialism". Actually many people I know, especially Americans describe the EU as socialist, where committed socialists like one of the Spurs guys on the OS campaign will vote out because he regards the EU as a club for the boss class.
I'm really surprised at the identity of some of the Lifers who indicated that they approved of the Norwegian laws I described. Just goes to show that you rarely get the full picture about anyone from an internet forum. I must say the thing about tax returns being online for everyone to look at is pretty mind boggling to me, and though I personally would approve of it, I think the very idea of it in the UK would cause the most almighty explosion of outrage.
I definitely wasn't on the sauce, @IA. But I am gratified so many people actually read it, and commented on how pointless it was etc :-)
Obviously I didn't make my point clearly enough for some people. I was trying to address the perception many people have, or claim, that the EU is responsible for many or most of the absurd laws and regulations we have. Norway shows that countries are quite capable of that on their own; so if we leave Brexit, we will not suddenly lose many of the useless regulations that currently irk people. An example is TUPE. Many people like to claim it is an EU thing. It is not. When I asked one of my clients here if they were worried about TUPE they were baffled about what it was, and checked with the relevant ministry, which said it had no plans to introduce such a thing and no reason to consider doing so.
To answer @ChiAddick, Norway, like the rest of Scandinavia, has a relatively high direct tax model. In fact one of the things that amuses me is that my buddy, who feeds me this stuff, is a CEO and constantly complains about the 'socialist state". I keep pointing out to him that many of the laws I listed are nothing to do with "socialism". Actually many people I know, especially Americans describe the EU as socialist, where committed socialists like one of the Spurs guys on the OS campaign will vote out because he regards the EU as a club for the boss class.
I'm really surprised at the identity of some of the Lifers who indicated that they approved of the Norwegian laws I described. Just goes to show that you rarely get the full picture about anyone from an internet forum. I must say the thing about tax returns being online for everyone to look at is pretty mind boggling to me, and though I personally would approve of it, I think the very idea of it in the UK would cause the most almighty explosion of outrage.
If the UK adopted it, it would only apply to people earning below a certain amount...
Comments
I've also heard that your ears will fall off if the 'out' campaign wins with more than 55% of the vote.
When I went to Oslo a Burger King was about£14 and a pint averaged at £8.
But if you can get me my old very well paid job back in the car industry, I'm all ears.
I hate to be confrontational, but that is such a lot of rose tinted ex-pat bullshit, your two examples of traffic infringements do not constitute an almost lawless society.
Now if they bought in a law making exaggeration and hyperbole a criminal offence...
Yes, so if people want to smoke... They better be prepared to be taxed an unbelievable amount.
If we have a shortage of Doctors / Dentists etc. coming through from our own, then we can allow Indians etc. to come into the country.
You know that's not the case, right?
What are you talking about ? I've not said that at all
Lawyer from Australia? Sorry pal, we're taking in this unemployed Bulgarian.
-EU, 2016
Norway was just a good example because there are some particularly crazy examples of peculiar laws from there.
That said, you could pick any country in the world and choose a selection of utterly absurd laws and then claim "See! If you leave the EU you may end up with laws like this!".
This is pretty much a straw man - a bit like "See, if Syria was in the EU then Assad would never have pulled that shit. Just as well we've got the EU looking out for us! ".
I was always firmly in the OUT camp but I'm not exactly 100% sure anymore. That said I don't think an example of how one country has absolutely nuts laws that they came up with independently is a good argument against independence.
A bit like using Corbyn as an example of why Labour voters should never be allowed near any form of election again
Australia has issues of it's own before it straightens out Europe.
_____
Our elected government.
Sounds fantastic.
I hate tax avoidance, the rich can get away with paying less tax than someone on modest wages and it is outrageous, making tax returns public would be a great step in outing the immoral rich.
Obviously I didn't make my point clearly enough for some people. I was trying to address the perception many people have, or claim, that the EU is responsible for many or most of the absurd laws and regulations we have. Norway shows that countries are quite capable of that on their own; so if we leave Brexit, we will not suddenly lose many of the useless regulations that currently irk people. An example is TUPE. Many people like to claim it is an EU thing. It is not. When I asked one of my clients here if they were worried about TUPE they were baffled about what it was, and checked with the relevant ministry, which said it had no plans to introduce such a thing and no reason to consider doing so.
To answer @ChiAddick, Norway, like the rest of Scandinavia, has a relatively high direct tax model. In fact one of the things that amuses me is that my buddy, who feeds me this stuff, is a CEO and constantly complains about the 'socialist state". I keep pointing out to him that many of the laws I listed are nothing to do with "socialism". Actually many people I know, especially Americans describe the EU as socialist, where committed socialists like one of the Spurs guys on the OS campaign will vote out because he regards the EU as a club for the boss class.
I'm really surprised at the identity of some of the Lifers who indicated that they approved of the Norwegian laws I described. Just goes to show that you rarely get the full picture about anyone from an internet forum. I must say the thing about tax returns being online for everyone to look at is pretty mind boggling to me, and though I personally would approve of it, I think the very idea of it in the UK would cause the most almighty explosion of outrage.
Cant have it away with a slave, oh damn.
High tax on luxery items, SHOCKING.