UK Emergency Budget

[Kuciwalker]

Even if you make the question far more general, I'm perfectly comfortable admitting that I'm far too ignorant of economics to give more than vague qualitative descriptions of things that are both plausibly optimal and politically feasible.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

You seriously want to me tell you the precise tax and spending regime for the UK that would maximize global utility?

No, you berk. A simple percentage figure for each decile. All anyone's interested in is how they compare to each other- nobody really gives a flying **** about the amounts.

[Kuciwalker]

No, you berk. A simple percentage figure for each decile. All anyone's interested in is how they compare to each other- nobody really gives a flying **** about the amounts.

I still disagree that the problem as stated is tractable, and it may not even be meaningful (since income may be the wrong factor to separate by). Since you think it's both, you do it.

[Wezil]

I've never heard that before.

English
[edit] Etymology

The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. In the Cockney rhyming slang, hunt is made to rhyme with **** giving the word berk its original slang meaning.
[edit] Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /bɜː(ɹ)k/, SAMPA: /b3r)l/ɹ
* Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k
* Homophones: birk

[show ▼]pronunciation notes

In both Berkely and Berkshire, berk is pronounced like bark (IPA: /bɑː(ɹ)k/). In other cases such as Cockney and American English pronunciaton, it rhymes with work.
[edit] Noun

Singular
berk


Plural
berks

berk (plural berks)

1. (UK, slang, pejorative) A fool, prat, twit.
2. (UK, slang) An idiot, in an affectionate sense.
3. (Cockney rhyming slang, vulgar) ****.

[edit] Usage notes

It is not perceived to be excessively rude, perhaps because whilst it is known for being a slang word, its origin in rhyming slang is not well known.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/berk

Poly is so educational.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I still disagree that the problem as stated is tractable, and it may not even be meaningful (since income may be the wrong factor to separate by). Since you think it's both, you do it.

The Treasury managed it, as the graph demonstrated. Are you sure you're an Actuarial student? You're coming across as a Philosophy undergraduate here, and that's not good.

[Kuciwalker]

The Treasury managed to decide what tax/spending rates on different deciles would maximize global quality of life?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The Treasury managed to decide what tax/spending rates on different deciles would maximize global quality of life?

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT MADE THIS BOY SO DENSE?!

LOOK AT THE GRAPH!! LOOK AT THE ****ING GRAPH!!! USE IT AS A ****ING EXAMPLE FOR HOW YOU'D SPREAD THE COST ACROSS THE DECILES YOU RAMPAGING ****TRUMPET!!!

[Kuciwalker]

Even if you make the question far more general, I'm perfectly comfortable admitting that I'm far too ignorant of economics to give more than vague qualitative descriptions of things that are both plausibly optimal and politically feasible.

[Kuciwalker]

The optimal distribution of taxes probably involves a higher proportion being paid by those who consume more, but this is neither a certain answer nor any kind of moral entitlement to lower-income Britons.

[Kuciwalker]

The hilarious thing about all this is that you've never managed to dispute either of the claims I made that got you so worked up.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

We'll let the audience decide on the hilarity value. The fact that you might just qualify as an actuary when you apparently can't understand a straightforward graph is probably more a tragedy than a comedy.

[MikeH]

I can imagine the reaction of clients to responses involving philosophical debate in response to economic questions...

[KrazyHorse]

Kuci has soundly whipped both of you....

[ricketyclik]

I've never heard that before.

English
[edit] Etymology

The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. In the Cockney rhyming slang, hunt is made to rhyme with **** giving the word berk its original slang meaning.
[edit] Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /bɜː(ɹ)k/, SAMPA: /b3r)l/ɹ
* Rhymes: -ɜː(r)k
* Homophones: birk

[show ▼]pronunciation notes

In both Berkely and Berkshire, berk is pronounced like bark (IPA: /bɑː(ɹ)k/). In other cases such as Cockney and American English pronunciaton, it rhymes with work.
[edit] Noun

Singular
berk


Plural
berks

berk (plural berks)

1. (UK, slang, pejorative) A fool, prat, twit.
2. (UK, slang) An idiot, in an affectionate sense.
3. (Cockney rhyming slang, vulgar) ****.

[edit] Usage notes

It is not perceived to be excessively rude, perhaps because whilst it is known for being a slang word, its origin in rhyming slang is not well known.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/berk

Poly is so educational.

It really is. We use the expression in Australia, and I (and I assume many others) always assumed it was "Bourke" one of our famous explorers who died while attempting the first non-Aboriginal crossing of the continent. I.e. while brave, somewhat foolish.

[Drake Tungsten]

Kuci has soundly whipped both of you....

QFT

I didn't really think his troll was going to work, but I'm glad to have been proven wrong. Nicely done.