A colleague of mine at LexisNexis, Mike Truman, has created a spreadsheet that allows you to see where your taxes go.
If you click on this link you will get the spreadsheet in Excel format. Simply fill in the tax and national insurance you pay monthly or annually.
Mike has also written about why he created the spreadsheet. You can read his post here.
I don't normally promote my work activities on this blog but I thought the tax calculator would be of interest.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
The Liberal Democrat faction saga continues
In the last couple of weeks, we have seen the creation of Liberal Left and Liberal Reform.
In fact, Liberal Reform was the Economic Liberal group that had been last year and is now renamed.
We also saw the faction against factions with a brilliant manifesto written by Adam Bell.
Apparently, there is another grouping called LibsLeft too.
There is also the Social Liberal Forum.
One might add in Liberal Vision (a website write I occasionally write for) but they are less a faction and more a group of people engaged with developing liberal ideas, promoting liberalism and discussing politics from a liberal perspective.
Depending on your disposition, you will either take the optimistic view that this sudden engagement in ideas and issues is a sign of a healthy party or the pessimistic perspective that this is a party struggling to work out what it is all about.
As the party continues to debate policy it is likely that we will see ideas clash but also influence each other.
In fact, Liberal Reform was the Economic Liberal group that had been last year and is now renamed.
We also saw the faction against factions with a brilliant manifesto written by Adam Bell.
Apparently, there is another grouping called LibsLeft too.
There is also the Social Liberal Forum.
One might add in Liberal Vision (a website write I occasionally write for) but they are less a faction and more a group of people engaged with developing liberal ideas, promoting liberalism and discussing politics from a liberal perspective.
Depending on your disposition, you will either take the optimistic view that this sudden engagement in ideas and issues is a sign of a healthy party or the pessimistic perspective that this is a party struggling to work out what it is all about.
As the party continues to debate policy it is likely that we will see ideas clash but also influence each other.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Homeland
The first episode of Homeland was broadcast on Channel 4 last Sunday.
The drama comes from the Showtime stable. The production company has brought us Dexter, Nurse Jackie, Brotherhood and Sleeper Cell. With that sort of pedigree, Homeland was bound to have a certain quality. It also has a great cast, including the leads Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.
In the first episode we are introduced to Carrie Matheson, a rather intense CIA operative and an American Marine, Nicholas Brody.
After being held by terrorists in Iraq for eight years, Brody is freed and returned to the USA. Matheson believes he has been turned into a terrorist operative.
It is clear that the Marine isn't telling the whole story but he is now conspiring against his country?
No doubt there were be plenty of twists and turns. We could be in the territory of The Manchurian Candidate or something else.
Despite its well written script, solid acting and interesting storyline, there is something a bit strange about Homeland. Perhaps it will become compelling television but there is no evidence of that first time round.
The drama comes from the Showtime stable. The production company has brought us Dexter, Nurse Jackie, Brotherhood and Sleeper Cell. With that sort of pedigree, Homeland was bound to have a certain quality. It also has a great cast, including the leads Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.
In the first episode we are introduced to Carrie Matheson, a rather intense CIA operative and an American Marine, Nicholas Brody.
After being held by terrorists in Iraq for eight years, Brody is freed and returned to the USA. Matheson believes he has been turned into a terrorist operative.
It is clear that the Marine isn't telling the whole story but he is now conspiring against his country?
No doubt there were be plenty of twists and turns. We could be in the territory of The Manchurian Candidate or something else.
Despite its well written script, solid acting and interesting storyline, there is something a bit strange about Homeland. Perhaps it will become compelling television but there is no evidence of that first time round.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Whig Watch: 'The Quad'
Whig Watch returns after a long while. The coalition has been looking less Whig but here is Tim Montgomerie on 'the quad':
This after all is a meeting of the liberal wing of the Conservative Party and the Orange Book wing of the Liberal Democrats.
This after all is a meeting of the liberal wing of the Conservative Party and the Orange Book wing of the Liberal Democrats.
Another Liberal Democrat group is formed
Or perhaps it isn't...
Adam Bell puts tongue firmly in cheek as he announced Lib Dems Against Factionalism.
Adam Bell puts tongue firmly in cheek as he announced Lib Dems Against Factionalism.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Why Apple, Google and Microsoft happened
Boris Johnson believes that Britain will never create Facebook until we learn to praise success.
Like everything in life, things aren't that simple.
Malcolm Gladwell explains brilliantly in Outliers why Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and others could create such incredibly dynamic companies. Of course, praising success and having an open market help. But it wasn't just about that. It was about time and place.
Walter Isaacson's excellent biography of Jobs shows why Apple, Google and Microsoft happened.
The areas that Jobs and Gates grew up had lots of computer engineers. They worked for companies that were supplying the US military and their children had access to computer parts as well as information about hardware and software engineering. These companies needed suppliers and innovators. The innovators needed investment. Without that ecosystem Jobs and Steve Wozniak would never have been able to create Apple.
It is a point that Steven Johnson makes in Emergence: natural systems evolve and build.
Like everything in life, things aren't that simple.
Malcolm Gladwell explains brilliantly in Outliers why Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and others could create such incredibly dynamic companies. Of course, praising success and having an open market help. But it wasn't just about that. It was about time and place.
Walter Isaacson's excellent biography of Jobs shows why Apple, Google and Microsoft happened.
The areas that Jobs and Gates grew up had lots of computer engineers. They worked for companies that were supplying the US military and their children had access to computer parts as well as information about hardware and software engineering. These companies needed suppliers and innovators. The innovators needed investment. Without that ecosystem Jobs and Steve Wozniak would never have been able to create Apple.
It is a point that Steven Johnson makes in Emergence: natural systems evolve and build.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Mitt Romney: how well is he doing?
If you are following the Republican primaries you may be thinking that the battle is between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.
According to Mike Smithson, this isn'tnot be the whole picture. Smithson points out that Ron Paul's campaign is collecting delegates, yet this fact is not being widely reported.
By the end of the contest, Romney may well end up with the nomination. However, getting there may not be as straightforward as everyone thinks.
According to Mike Smithson, this isn'tnot be the whole picture. Smithson points out that Ron Paul's campaign is collecting delegates, yet this fact is not being widely reported.
By the end of the contest, Romney may well end up with the nomination. However, getting there may not be as straightforward as everyone thinks.
The Liberal Democrats: a re-energised electoral force?
It seems the Liberal Democrats aren't doing as badly as everyone assumed they would when they made the fateful decision to form a coalition government.
A recent ICM poll for the Guardian put the party on 16%.
It is unclear why this is happening. The polling data isn't strong enough to tell us if this is a trend or an outlier. The local wins could be down to campaigning in that area.
Certainly, things aren't as bleak as many commentators predicted they would for the party. I have always said that it would be unwise to write Nick Clegg off just yet. Perhaps his 'open society' liberal programme and policy approach in government is beginning to build a new electoral base for the party. Another year or so will give pundits a much better idea of what is happening and why.
A recent ICM poll for the Guardian put the party on 16%.
It is unclear why this is happening. The polling data isn't strong enough to tell us if this is a trend or an outlier. The local wins could be down to campaigning in that area.
Certainly, things aren't as bleak as many commentators predicted they would for the party. I have always said that it would be unwise to write Nick Clegg off just yet. Perhaps his 'open society' liberal programme and policy approach in government is beginning to build a new electoral base for the party. Another year or so will give pundits a much better idea of what is happening and why.
Monday, 13 February 2012
The NHS
Listening to the debate on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions I was stuck by the ferocity of the debate around the NHS compared to the lack of passion regarding prayers at Council meetings.
The NHS is a loved national institution. Any policymaker wanting to change it needs to accept that. If they don't, any reform they suggest will stall or die.
While the Liberal Democrats have been seen by some Conservatives as a block to the Lansley proposals, the reality is that many Conservative party members don't much like their colleague's suggestion. Arguably, this is less to do with the policy and more to do with the failure to create a convincing narrative around reform.
Putting to one side the merits of the coalitions' proposals, or previous attempts to change the NHS, what this public policy debate tells us is that the NHS is seen on a par with the monarchy and other established parts of the British constitution.
This cannot be healthy. Organisations need to adapt or do something differently once in a while. Given the structure of the NHS, creating an environment for change means changing policy. That means there has to be open debate with views respected even if they aren't agreed with.
What this latest attempt at modernisation also tells us is that directing change from the centre is fiendishly difficult. If the NHS, as a corporate body, evolved because the people running and the patients using it felt things needed to done another way would we see the amount of resistance we currently have?
The NHS is a loved national institution. Any policymaker wanting to change it needs to accept that. If they don't, any reform they suggest will stall or die.
While the Liberal Democrats have been seen by some Conservatives as a block to the Lansley proposals, the reality is that many Conservative party members don't much like their colleague's suggestion. Arguably, this is less to do with the policy and more to do with the failure to create a convincing narrative around reform.
Putting to one side the merits of the coalitions' proposals, or previous attempts to change the NHS, what this public policy debate tells us is that the NHS is seen on a par with the monarchy and other established parts of the British constitution.
This cannot be healthy. Organisations need to adapt or do something differently once in a while. Given the structure of the NHS, creating an environment for change means changing policy. That means there has to be open debate with views respected even if they aren't agreed with.
What this latest attempt at modernisation also tells us is that directing change from the centre is fiendishly difficult. If the NHS, as a corporate body, evolved because the people running and the patients using it felt things needed to done another way would we see the amount of resistance we currently have?
Liberal Reform
Last week, Liberal Left was formed.
Today we have Liberal Reform.
Unlike, Liberal Left, Liberal Reform does not see the Liberal Democrats as a centre-left party. In fact, they quote Nick Clegg: "We are not on the Left and we are not on the Right. We have our own label: liberal."
Today we have Liberal Reform.
Unlike, Liberal Left, Liberal Reform does not see the Liberal Democrats as a centre-left party. In fact, they quote Nick Clegg: "We are not on the Left and we are not on the Right. We have our own label: liberal."
The mistaken assumption about the Liberal Democrats
I have argued several times on this blog that the coalition agreement is likely to last until 2015. In the early days of the current government many people I know disagreed.
A major reason for the agreement lasting is the rule that says the worse the junior partner does in the polls, the more it needs to stay in government.
I have also taken the view that it is likely Nick Clegg will lead the party into the next general election. He will do this by weaving a modern liberal narrative that will bring together different strands of liberalism. It is simply to early to write Nick Clegg off just yet.
Of course, stuff happens. An unforeseen event could tear the coalition apart but so far the parties have weathered several difficult storms and are still talking. Clegg may take the view that he would rather leave British politics but the evidence for that is slim to say the least.
There is another reason why the coalition is very likely to last.
The people who thought it wouldn't, and some still think it could collapse in the next few months, misunderstand the party.
As Matthew Hulbert explains on Lib Dem Voice, he and many other Lib Dem members support the coalition. He doesn't agree with it all and he believes the party should be on the centre-left. But he is uncomfortable with the new group that has been established to take the Lib Dems to the Left and permanent coalition with Labour and the Greens.
If you read the comments under Hulbert's posting you can see that the party members who have responded are torn by being in government with a party they disagree with. It is clear though that they are not about to demand the plug is pulled.
The Liberal Democrats have many voices. This makes it difficult to understand the party at times. The more the party is in the limelight the more it seems people are getting a better idea of what it is about. Without that understanding, assumptions about what its members will do being in coalition and the policies it pursues will continue.
A major reason for the agreement lasting is the rule that says the worse the junior partner does in the polls, the more it needs to stay in government.
I have also taken the view that it is likely Nick Clegg will lead the party into the next general election. He will do this by weaving a modern liberal narrative that will bring together different strands of liberalism. It is simply to early to write Nick Clegg off just yet.
Of course, stuff happens. An unforeseen event could tear the coalition apart but so far the parties have weathered several difficult storms and are still talking. Clegg may take the view that he would rather leave British politics but the evidence for that is slim to say the least.
There is another reason why the coalition is very likely to last.
The people who thought it wouldn't, and some still think it could collapse in the next few months, misunderstand the party.
As Matthew Hulbert explains on Lib Dem Voice, he and many other Lib Dem members support the coalition. He doesn't agree with it all and he believes the party should be on the centre-left. But he is uncomfortable with the new group that has been established to take the Lib Dems to the Left and permanent coalition with Labour and the Greens.
If you read the comments under Hulbert's posting you can see that the party members who have responded are torn by being in government with a party they disagree with. It is clear though that they are not about to demand the plug is pulled.
The Liberal Democrats have many voices. This makes it difficult to understand the party at times. The more the party is in the limelight the more it seems people are getting a better idea of what it is about. Without that understanding, assumptions about what its members will do being in coalition and the policies it pursues will continue.
Tim Montgomerie is having a good NHS war
Tim Montgomerie is doing rather well in the row over the NHS. The arguments over reform have been going back and forth for a while. On Friday, Montgomerie ran a piece arguing for the Bill to be scrapped.
For a prominent Conservative to make that case was surprising enough. What really got the media interested was the fact that Montgomerie claimed that one Cabinet Minister wanted the Bill scrapped, another was critical of the Health Secretary and a third likened the Bill to the Poll Tax.
The Friday posting has secured Conservative Home coverage in the national media over the weekend. One Conservative supporter on Twitter suggested that Con Home doesn't represent the grassroots of the party. Whether it does or not, Montgomerie over the years has made sure it is a key political website to watch. The recent postings cement that position.
For a prominent Conservative to make that case was surprising enough. What really got the media interested was the fact that Montgomerie claimed that one Cabinet Minister wanted the Bill scrapped, another was critical of the Health Secretary and a third likened the Bill to the Poll Tax.
The Friday posting has secured Conservative Home coverage in the national media over the weekend. One Conservative supporter on Twitter suggested that Con Home doesn't represent the grassroots of the party. Whether it does or not, Montgomerie over the years has made sure it is a key political website to watch. The recent postings cement that position.
Friday, 10 February 2012
The Liberal Left
In case you missed it, today saw the announcement of a new group within the Liberal Democrats: the Liberal Left.
The Twitter response, at least the ones I saw, was decidedly opposed to the move. Most felt this was counter productive as the party is in government and should accept the fact.
Of course, the party has problems. One only has to look at the comments under Martin Kettle's relatively positive piece in the Guardian about the party to get a flavour of how some see the Liberal Democrats.
How much impact the new grouping will have remains to be seen. They will certainly make some noise and the media will give them air time. In one sense, this could all be good news for Nick Clegg. He can define the party not only against his coalition partner and Her Majesty's Opposition but against a particular view of liberalism.
From Clegg, expect to here more about the open society and a liberalism for the 21st century.
The Twitter response, at least the ones I saw, was decidedly opposed to the move. Most felt this was counter productive as the party is in government and should accept the fact.
Of course, the party has problems. One only has to look at the comments under Martin Kettle's relatively positive piece in the Guardian about the party to get a flavour of how some see the Liberal Democrats.
How much impact the new grouping will have remains to be seen. They will certainly make some noise and the media will give them air time. In one sense, this could all be good news for Nick Clegg. He can define the party not only against his coalition partner and Her Majesty's Opposition but against a particular view of liberalism.
From Clegg, expect to here more about the open society and a liberalism for the 21st century.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Co-operation in a market economy
Here's an interesting talk on how co-operation developed in a market economy from the Learn Liberty website.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Measuring the economy
In a recent post, I discussed Richard Layard's ideas around measuring happiness. One reason to do this, he argues, is because GDP doesn't tell the whole story.
Here is a critical analysis of GDP that also says that it fails to tell us what is good for people. I suspect though, that the speaker wouldn't support Layard's happiness measure.
Hat tip to UK Libertarian.
Here is a critical analysis of GDP that also says that it fails to tell us what is good for people. I suspect though, that the speaker wouldn't support Layard's happiness measure.
Hat tip to UK Libertarian.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
The Kardashians
When I first heard about a television series called The Kardashians I thought that it must be a spin off from Star Trek.
As a child I watched the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew but couldn't remember all the villains that featured.
As it turns out there is a family that goes by the name of Kardashian and the TV show is a 'reality-based' documentary about their lives.
Reality TV can never replicate reality. The fact that television cameras are following you about and a producer is asking you to narrate your life means that this isn't reality. Well, it is reality is that is how you live your life but most of us don't.
It turns out the Kardashians do. Their whole reason for being is to talk to a camera about how they feel about a particular family tension and be filmed on holiday, arguing, getting married, getting divorced and partying. Whether this is reality or even good television is for others to decide.
It certainly is a something different to what has gone on before. It seems that this family was designed to be on television in the same way that Truman was. For all I know, they might well have been aliens attempting to defeat William Shatner. Once they failed, as no one gets one over on Kirk, perhaps they decided they would have more luck dominating the universe through culture than battle.
As a child I watched the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew but couldn't remember all the villains that featured.
As it turns out there is a family that goes by the name of Kardashian and the TV show is a 'reality-based' documentary about their lives.
Reality TV can never replicate reality. The fact that television cameras are following you about and a producer is asking you to narrate your life means that this isn't reality. Well, it is reality is that is how you live your life but most of us don't.
It turns out the Kardashians do. Their whole reason for being is to talk to a camera about how they feel about a particular family tension and be filmed on holiday, arguing, getting married, getting divorced and partying. Whether this is reality or even good television is for others to decide.
It certainly is a something different to what has gone on before. It seems that this family was designed to be on television in the same way that Truman was. For all I know, they might well have been aliens attempting to defeat William Shatner. Once they failed, as no one gets one over on Kirk, perhaps they decided they would have more luck dominating the universe through culture than battle.
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