Adele Rants About Tax

[Lara]

And let's just clarify; I for sure would go ballistic at a £4m tax bill but I would do it in private and NOT bleat to the press about it in a climate where most Brits would tell her where to go shove it!!

Agreed. Doesn't she have PR? They must be aghast. Like her music, but that's not smart (and makes me feel better about missing her Philly concert).

[GarrAarghHrumph]

With never-ending benefits abuse scandals these days, I have to also side with her. Just last week my neighbor, who never worked in her life claiming disability, got under investigation for cheating on benefit claims as it turned out she was healthy enough for annual ski jumping in Alps. And don't let me start on some thousands of Romanians and Bulgarians who come to UK just to claim benefits and do not work.

I know that the UK government has been talking about tightening up their benefits eligibility rules. Has any progress been made on that?

[GarrAarghHrumph]

UK public transit is FABULOUS compared to that of most of the US. It's all relative.

[millipied]

I know that the UK government has been talking about tightening up their benefits eligibility rules. Has any progress been made on that?

All the talk and not much done and I believe never will be.

[millipied]

UK public transit is FABULOUS compared to that of most of the US. It's all relative.

We may be spoiled by American standards but just the other day I spent 30 min stuck between King's Cross and Camden in the ancient London tube So, NO.

[hydro]

Well, she's not the first UK pop star or resident to complain about their high tax rates. The gun comment was in poor taste, however, she may not be as sensitive to gun culture as someone who lives in the US.

I still love her, though

[Anita18]

I love it when people think they don't use their share of government services. It's always the "other people." And ugh at the "I don't use public transit" argument--what, roads were created by Jesus?

They were provided by Mother Earth, appearing right out of the ground!

[PrincessLeppard]

We may be spoiled by American standards but just the other day I spent 30 min stuck between King's Cross and Camden in the ancient London tube So, NO.

Sometimes I get stuck in traffic jams. I have also been stuck on assorted public transportation around the world. I'll take being stuck on public transport.

[milanessa]

Sometimes I get stuck in traffic jams. I have also been stuck on assorted public transportation around the world. I'll take being stuck on public transport.

Me too. Someone else is doing the driving and I always have a book with me.

[Skittl1321]

Re the taxes then (although I think her comment was in poor taste), is 50% normal? I think we (US) max out at 35%, not really sure. But if that is normal for her tax bracket, then surely she saw it coming.

That's not necessarily true in the US. When I was a freelancer I paid about 50% (that included state income tax, which not all states have) . Self-employment taxes are very high because you have to pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare, stuff a company normally pays.

[modern_muslimah]

We may be spoiled by American standards but just the other day I spent 30 min stuck between King's Cross and Camden in the ancient London tube So, NO.

Try living in a city with no subway system and where the buses run every 1/2 hour during peak hours and every hour during non-peak hours and weekends. They're actually scheduled to run that badly. Heaven forbid there's a traffic jam on top of it. To top it off, on Sunday there span of two-three hours where the buses don't run! The crappy mass transit schedule here, which seems to get worse and worse, has made me learn how to drive real fast. Of course that doesn't help much with gas prices being so fecking high!

Let's just say I would kill to have access to the London mass transit system right now.

[made_in_canada]

Sorry, but I side with Adele. Where is the justice in taxing anyone to that extent? Do we really want to base government policy on pandering to envy? Do we really want another wave of tax-exiles , the 'Brain-Drain' as it was known? Adele has the right to complain because she earned her money.

My Dad makes enough money that his tax rate is about 50%. He earned it, yes, and has no problems paying his taxes. As far as he's concerned the wealthy should pay more tax. It's not like he can't afford to live due to his taxes, he still has plenty to have a very comfortable lifestyle. And he appreciates that him and his family have access to some pretty decent medical care, relatively good infrastructure and whole ton of other things that we tend to take for granted.

And let's just clarify; I for sure would go ballistic at a £4m tax bill but I would do it in private and NOT bleat to the press about it in a climate where most Brits would tell her where to go shove it!!

This. Incredibly bad judgement to air her grievances to the press.

[caseyedwards]

She's paying her taxes. She doesn't want to go to a place and not be taxed. She wants good service for her money.

[overedge]

She's paying her taxes. She doesn't want to go to a place and not be taxed. She wants good service for her money.

Yes, that is what she said. What's your point?

[MacMadame]

She should count herself lucky that she can afford to make her own choices when the majority of Brits cannot.

Exactly. I bet she didn't complain about the tax system when she was making less money. Now suddenly it's unfair because she's rich. I'd take being rich and paying a lot of taxes

Also, if she ever gets cancer or some other major illness, she'll get her 4 million's worth of services back pretty quickly.

My Dad makes enough money that his tax rate is about 50%. He earned it, yes, and has no problems paying his taxes. As far as he's concerned the wealthy should pay more tax. It's not like he can't afford to live due to his taxes, he still has plenty to have a very comfortable lifestyle. And he appreciates that him and his family have access to some pretty decent medical care, relatively good infrastructure and whole ton of other things that we tend to take for granted.

I'm glad he has perspective. While the amounts the rich pay is higher, those who aren't wealthy are often paying a greater percentage of their disposable income in taxes and have a lot less left over when they are done.

[triple_toe]

I'm just tickled that Adele has reached the level of popularity where she people get their knickers in a knot over her comments about taxes.

If I had to pay 50% of my income in taxes, I'd be pretty pissed too. How old is she? 22? I've heard plenty of 22 years olds say things much more stupid or offensive than this, let alone 22 year old musicians. I really don't see anything wrong with what she said. Taxation is a hot-button issue in many countries, especially in the context of quality of government services provided, pork barrel spending, etc. What's wrong with expressing displeasure about it? It's not like she said "50% of my income is too much, so I'm not going to pay it at all." Not liking laws is not the same thing as not abiding by them. Plenty of people share her views that taxation has run rampant, just like plenty of people disagree.

Granted, her comments about getting a gun and shooting were not in the best taste, but Americans are hyper-aware of things like this now while others are not. There are things people in other countries are very sensitive to at which Americans wouldn't bat an eyelash. I give her a pass on this one.

[siouxdonym]

Agreed. Doesn't she have PR? They must be aghast. Like her music, but that's not smart(and makes me feel better about missing her Philly concert).

Ooooh take that Adele.

[Prancer]

There are things people in other countries are very sensitive to at which Americans wouldn't bat an eyelash. I give her a pass on this one.

Except it isn't just Americans who think her comments are insensitive.

And let's just clarify; I for sure would go ballistic at a £4m tax bill but I would do it in private and NOT bleat to the press about it in a climate where most Brits would tell her where to go shove it!!

Taxes, like so many other things, are relative.

[rjblue]

I'm just tickled that Adele has reached the level of popularity where she people get their knickers in a knot over her comments about taxes.

Me too. This is a girl who cancelled her first USA tour to be with her boyfriend. I wouldn't expect that her responses in interviews would be filtered to what is PC to say.

[Allskate]

Exactly. I bet she didn't complain about the tax system when she was making less money.

She was only 19 when she released her first big album. (Hence the name of the album.) She didn't have much time to struggle and she may just not be very aware of what it is like for the average person. I've known affluent people who were just wildly out of touch with what daily life and financial stresses are like. In her interviews, she has struck me as very young and very unfiltered.

I don't particularly care for her comments because they do make her seem rather greedy and insensitive. But, that's a different issue from her music. I'm certainly still looking forward to seeing her in concert soon -- even if I did have to think hard about whether I could really afford to go.