James O'Brien's radical plan for reform of the Lords | LBC

[@mikejunior80]

James O'Brien you've said what I've always thought for a long time now. People tend to think of taxation as some sort of undue burden when in fact, it's an investment into the nation of your citizenship and you as an individual.

[@johnholmes5674]

Yes, long live communism. Another failed concept 🤡

[@HerrFitztastic]

@@johnholmes5674 Taxation long predated Marx, as was tax- financed government investment. The only failure of concept I see is your grasp of history.

[@jobbyomoron8478]

It is a burden.

[@didyeaye2481]

@@johnholmes5674 🤦

[@didyeaye2481]

Indeed. Chomsky has said something similar.

[@jim-es8qk]

I can actually agree on this!! The house of Lords in its current form is ridiculous!!

[@simontemplar404]

It actually has quite a mix of people in it - maybe we should be asking what that mix is and adjusting it.

[@peterhunt9960]

adjusting downward from the 570 (Cons, Lab, Lib Dems) w/James' tax contribution idea would be a great start;)

[@brianduguid6721]

Personal Finance should be a compulsory subject in schools.

[@WalterKhayyam]

We can barely teach our kids maths, how on earth are we gonna successfully teach them personal finance??

[@jaberwoky_]

My dad always said he wish he had to pay twice his taxes. I don't think he realized that for some, the more you make, the less you pay.

[@tobias-edwards]

"for some". Usually the more you make the more taxes you pay. It is not true that the more you make the less taxes you pay EVER. The only reason someone is paying more tax than someone earning less than them is because they've routed their income differently to abuse loop holes

[@madmike1708]

My reform is to completely scrap the house of Lords and officially declare the monarchy as a cultural heritage and nothing more

[@PD-jk5hd]

One of the best examples of the positive result of taxes I ever heard, was learning about the relatively very high taxes in the Scandinavian countries such as Norway. This is mostly because of the large welfare state, but in having high taxes, the citizens are looked after more directly as the government mostly spends the tax on public services. One incredible benefit I remember in particular is that in Norway, a woman on maternity leave receives 100% of her pay as normal, throughout the whole maternity leave

[@rodgerq]

People in Scandinavian countries always come out on top of lists of happiest places to live and happiest people. That's no coincidence. The US, and to a somewhat less degree the UK, are far more individualistic. Brexit is a prime example of that attitude and the less said about the American health care system the better. But two prime examples of how easily it is to convince a society to vote against its own best interests in favour of corporate interests. It's all me me me instead of us us us, which is a proven better way to support the most people. The NHS is a great example of that.

[@LuzdoSol00]

I live here for 30 years and I still don't understand who the Lords are, who they help, or any positive thing for the low income and zero-hours contract people.

[@obscurazone]

They are there to keep checks and balances on the sitting government. Essential. Look at what the lords are doing to kybosh this protest bill, to see just how critical a role they play in preventing despotic autocrats like Johnson getting his way.

[@LuzdoSol00]

@@obscurazone Ok. Thanks for that. Honestly, I should know but as you are saying a specific bill and also this bill is on the media. So, we must get involved to the best of our ability. Sometimes when you choose one carrier you have to keep an eye on politics and law, which instill learning. Thanks again!!! ( one aside note I love when people keep helping one another on line). 🙂

[@davidlloyd3116]

Some people don’t know the difference between a credit and debit card. Glad I learned about investing in my 50s though. I can now afford to retire.

[@gordonclark1711]

I am still trying to figure out how Lords can claim over £300 PER DAY for doing a job they are paid to do in the first place.

[@lukeparry6567]

I Support this idea so much!

[@ryancarter6922]

Scrap it and replace it with a democratically elected Senate.

[@greamespens1460]

Or like a jury duty scheme.

[@johnholmes5674]

What a wonderful idea. We could have a 2nd chamber just as corrupt and incompetent as the House of Commons 🤡

[@SimplySketchyGT]

LOOOLLL because that is working out very well for the USA where 50 Republican senators represent 40 million less people than 50 Democrat senators ahaha.

[@hyksos74]

Fine, but you have to give it real powers. What real powers would you take from the Commons (assuming not appropriately renamed) and give to the senate?

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@@SimplySketchyGT That has nothing to do with a Senate system, and everything to do with the way the Senate is elected in the US

[@gerardodwyer5908]

Lords, feudal politics and medieval titles. Welcome to class-ridden Britain. A land confused about its place in the world and whether the year is 1422 or 2022.

[@jackd9928]

Some of that is just tradition to be fair..and Britain is hardly low down on the world stage when it comes to "place".

[@johans7119]

Interesting move, lauding those who earn the most (and pay the most tax) with a position in the lords. It's a lot better than the snarky resentment a lot of self made people get and it could do away with this weird antiqued hereditary system.

[@richardkatz8713]

My wife teaches personal finance in high school. Should be mandatory but it's an elective

[@vladimirbazhaev7851]

Charlemagne ruled Holy Roman Empire NOT Byzantine Empire... I think he can't even tell us about that

[@WalterKhayyam]

Here's an even better idea of reform: you can only vote (in any election) if you are a net contributor to the exchequer.

[@DazzaS83]

In regard to Lord Sugar, I think James is referring to the £200 all pensioners get for keeping their homes warm. Lord Sugar kept trying to get HMRC to not pay it but they said they could not because it is not an assessed scheme.

[@petercolledge2236]

Love this idea on tax paying.

[@SimplySketchyGT]

The vitriol towards paying tax at this point in time is probably because we pay a lot and the richest don't seem to pay as much as they should and the government make it disappear without any impression that it's made things any better for the least fortunate in our society.

[@ardakolimsky7107]

We pay a lot? In relation to which other countries?

[@alexanderrees1882]

“Reign of Charlemagne in the Byzantine empire” Facepalm moment Turns out he can’t tell you much at all

[@ardakolimsky7107]

You miss the point entirely. Sad. I bet you don't have too many friends either.

[@alexanderrees1882]

@@ardakolimsky7107 Straight to Ad Hominem without even a breath. if he makes such an elementary error o something i know something about, what mistakes are he making on subjects i know nothing about and cannot tell?

[@bishimixes9871]

Perhaps he knows more about Irene of Athens and Pope Leo lll than you do.!!

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@@alexanderrees1882 Straight to logical fallacy without even a breath? The irony, when your original statement was a fallacy of division. tut tut Too easy mate

[@lindaslavutar3655]

I heard him say the role of Charlemagne AND the Byzantine empire...

[@ForburyLion]

This paying tax on all your wealth should also be a requirement for any MP's standing for election, none of these tax avoidance schemes to keep your money in your own pocket whilst voting on how to spend everyone elses tax contributions.

[@fuckbankers]

They stopped the Police Bill

[@ascgazz]

Fantastic idea!!

[@markherzog9484]

The NI increase is 10% not 1%……..

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

They should just Disband The House of Lords.

[@nebody4457]

Not sure if making people lords is any sort of radical reform plan

[@stanwilson8089]

If there was place to cover austerity measures,it would be scrapping the house of lords.

[@stanwilson8089]

Sugar,isn't that a sweetener?

[@FatNormanCoathanger]

It's NOT ONLY an education of personal finances and the role taxation plays in the maintenance of a society that needs introducing. .....how about teaching the working class about the political cesspit and the role the plebs play in the UK.

[@LiveDonkeyDeadLion]

Why not make the House of Lords a fixed five year term and you are selected the same way, with the same rules as jury duty? The only thing that should change is rather than a housing allowance you get a room in a premier inn, and rather than an office allowance you get a fixed staff that are handed over to the next person. If you think it won’t work, you should look Cincinnatus who was called to the Roman senate when needed and returned to civilian life afterwards. Admittedly he was rich, but if we support people in doing a civic duty the same way as we would with jury duty, why not have a normal person in there representing normal people in a way they can’t be brought?

[@elwynjones763]

You are not only giving them a seat in th H of L. You are giving them POWER just because they are rich.

[@normanchristie4524]

I'll believe this when it happens.....

[@jamesricketts739]

The problem with wanting more education on finances is who will provide it. Teaching is not generally a career for people who understand finance so you would need a whole new set of teachers to help people understand. Unfortunately like lots of other initiatives pushed into schools people who have little experience in them are expected to be experts and increase knowledge with no extra time or benefit. You ask a radio presenter to do a new show they want more money, you want teachers to teach new subjects and then give them a pay freeze.

[@lameduck3630]

Why does O'Brien keep alluding to how much he earns, egotistical and shallow.

[@TheDom277]

Why does that matter? Numerous people earn far more than the average person yet that makes their views/opinions/thoughts somehow invalid or what?

[@royw-g3120]

I think the Lords should be elected using the results of the general election, but crucially the Lords seats are given out on a Proportional Representation basis. This would mean smaller parties get representation , no vote is completely wasted and no extra elections needed.

[@richardpeppard9895]

Doesn't matter how much is paid in tax🤔 it's where it goes and who's pockets get filled on the nod & wink club

[@Frozone87ZA]

It is unelected - it must reform or be relegated to the past.

[@gbphil]

My thoughts on the Lords is to keep everyone on the basis they have an appropriate skill set to get it. However only pay a Lord for 30 days attendance in each year so they can attend sectors of legislation where their expertise is relevant. If they wish to sit longer, they do it gratis as payback to the Country for their privileged position. For a small number of ‘working Lords’ I.e those who do not have independent incomes, allow these to sit on committees to shape legislation and get paid for that committee work on an hourly rate up to the level of an MP.

[@issavirgo4838]

No one pays tax you get tax taken off you

[@frankpaterson9786]

Seems a reasonable proposition to me James.

[@rodgerq]

I think the upper house should have its own set of elections. I don't think anyone should be able to buy their way in with tax money. I can kinda see where that idea comes from but it's a bit of a gamble using earnings as a metric for suitability for office.

[@francoisnel7769]

yeah, some dodgy high earners can get in their and wreck it all. I back a system where an MP who has won his seat 5 elections in a row gets to Apply. Or some election system. Insane they can buy their way in. Disgusting really.

[@c00lsteve]

it should be a house of experts. with at least two experts for each main division (each one chosen by the two main parties - but approved by the alternate party to have met the criteria of 'expert'). so the two people representing education that have been in education for x years and had several positions, two people who have been scientists for x years, two people who have been in the nhs for x years two business people, two legal people two military people. etc.

[@CerveloS5rider]

Do you pay tax because you earn money or do you earn money because you pay tax? It’s the 2nd one. The main reason any of us has wealth is mainly because we live in a country that collects tax. Yes some of our wealth if from hard work, talent etc Tax is like engine oil, it’s what helps keep everything running smoothly. Without it, you’ve effectively got a lump of worthlessness.

[@johnholmes5674]

Just one big problem with that, there’s too many oil leaks

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@@johnholmes5674 So, you stop oiling the engine?

[@torresalex]

Of course people don't get taught financial literacy anywhere in the world. Easy finance and all that sort of credit would lose all its customers overnight.

[@kelvinnguyen6048]

I like it.

[@joelhall5124]

Wow, that really was his dumbest opinion yet. And that's saying something.

[@dovic86]

maybe I'm daft and I didn't get the irony, but was this supposed to be a provocation? is O'Brien seriously proposing to go back to a system where important political roles are assigned according to census, as it was in ancient Rome or pre-democratic Athens? does he have any awareness of how undemocratic that is? it would make the Lords a timocratic institution, where political power is derived from one's wealth. populism must have fried many people's brains if it makes them come up with such preposterous nonsense!

[@richardepping9748]

We need to be a bit more Dutch… everybody pays tax. Also your national insurance number should be your identity number. So it should go in your passport. 1 number for everything…. Link the systems…

[@paulthomas197]

At the very least tje lordsshod never outnumber the commons.

[@SouthLondonForever]

Charlemagne wasn't a Byzantine lol..................

[@maximumsecurity9411]

We don't know truth at all pal. 😐

[@mountbeckworth1]

Enjoy the interviews, but can someone in the studio move the mike, and give him some Greek worry beads so James can leave his beard alone. Please.

[@jamescain707]

Big fan of obrien but what a silly idea. Did paying tax somehow become voluntary that we either have some idea of the persons intention when he does it or are just rewarding people for what they have no choice to do. And what does paying tax have to do with someones character. I couldve inherited the whole lot im paying tax on and be a right scumbag.

[@The_House_Velaryon]

Keep them coming James keep it coming these these ridiculous well connected arch conservative politicians are drinking the American right wing kool aid

[@willhay6148]

Parliament or Lords, Guy Fawkes was on to something!

[@scarletharlot69]

Fun fact. the pre war (Meiji constitution) Japanese House of Peers did indeed have seats for the highest taxpayers.

[@dovic86]

the same goes for ancient Rome and Solon's Athens, and they were *not* democracies

[@sahandkaveh]

Disagree with this one James. Despite how flawed the current system is, in your proposal will likely get very little diversity in the house of lords, and they will not be representing the interest of the various groups in the country. Nevertheless the system needs reforming like you said.

[@ohnezuckerohnefett]

Amen. Or whatever catches your God's attention.

[@davejones9330]

How long before he blamed it on brexit.

[@mwd331]

If you listen, it wasn’t mentioned once...

[@johnjames2397]

I bet people who bring up brexit, even when it’s not been mentioned in the conversation, as a way to “own the lefties” presumably, must be really fun at parties.

[@johnholmes5674]

@@mwd331 I try not to listen to a single word that dribbles out of O’Brien’s gob

[@ardakolimsky7107]

Where did he do that? Or are you just a sad individual who comments just to see your words written down? The later.

[@ardakolimsky7107]

@@johnholmes5674 😂😂😂😂 Then why comment on his videos? What a sad, sorry, lonely individual.