You already live in a country where most of us give money to the government to disburse for the common weal. But you'll never find a country where everyone does it willingly, as you would like. And as for look-after-number-one, I suspect that only a couple of people in a hundred vote in elections with the good of the country in mind; it's what they see as their own good that determines their vote. Hence Chuchill's well known observation: Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the others.

I made the same point, call it selfishness or just self interest.

Would you give a starving man your meal? Sure who wouldn't.
If you were starving would you give another starving person your meal not knowing where your next one is coming from? I'm not sure most of us would.

Of course there are people who are altruist but many of us like to think we vote for the common good when it really is self interest.

A businessman votes Tory he says this country needs a strong low tax economy because that is how we pay for public services. A cynical person might point out that he will also benefit from low taxes.

A public sector worker votes Labour because they care about the poor and the best way to help them is to have a well funded and properly staffed public sector. A cynical person might observe that this person is also protecting their own job and pay and conditions.

The other point I made was that if the majority of people in this country really care about others then why don't they vote for a party that will provide a Scandinavian style welfare state with equivalent levels of taxation. More to the point why are Labour at pains to tell us they are not the party of high taxation, clearly their market research doesn't support the idea.

I know I am cynical but none of this is new, people vote for what they think is best for them and their family. If that also happens to be good for the country then happy days.

Edited by Badger11 (03 Feb 2023 4.11pm)

One more point

A lot of the recent posts on this thread seem to suggest that higher taxes and more state intervention will necessarily improve the lives of the poorer sections of society and indeed all of us. Yet where massive state control has been tried, the outcome has been the opposite.
Low tax, less government and state intervention gives more opportunity for people and businesses to apply their effort, their income and savings in making far better economic decisions than the state ever can.

I'm not advocating for a Scandinavian welfare state I was trying to do what the yanks call opposition research.

One more point

My boy is driving up tomorrow but I blew it out.
On call rota at work. Keep the faith glazier COYP

Hopefully, Saturday will give us two draws followed by a win. (The two draws have felt like wins.