I've had occasion recently to have had some treatment through our wonderful National Health Service. Yes, our wonderful NHS. Not our failing NHS, not our bureaucratic NHS, not our far-too-expensive NHS but our wonderful NHS.
By coincidence a letter dropped through our letter-box a short while ago as part of a new Government initiative to let us know what is happening to the tax we are paying. It informs me of the total direct taxes I paid in 2013-14 and the proportion of my taxes which have gone to various headings. For example, I paid £139 towards reducing the national debt last year and a further £105 (probably enough for a couple of bolts from the back of a tank) towards the defence of the realm. And towards the budget of the National Health Service I contributed £374 from direct taxation. Given that direct tax constitutes about 45% of the total government budget, it is fair to assume that I probably stumped up a further £410 in indirect tax. So for a few pence over £15 (circa $23) a week I have got access to a service that has treated my fingers, my eyes, given me regular check-ups and continues to provide me with a whole bag of life-saving pills every month.
Even in the context of Black Friday and Cyber Monday - that is some bargain. Wouldn't it be great if those willing to fight to get £50 off a TV would put as much energy into fighting to save our wonderful NHS from the depredations of the Lib-Cons?
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