UK General Election 2015

[david3103]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

With you as Director surely you would build a team of supertraders who wouldn't do the firms money?

[arbboy]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

With you as Director surely you would build a team of supertraders who wouldn't do the firms money?

If only it was that easy dealing with corporate suits who have no idea about the game!  Ask lolbrokes amongst numerous other firms.  They have done a pretty impressive job of having plc suits ruin their company in the past 10 years who couldn't price up a coin flip.

[redsimon]

As someone who was recently made redundant from a team manager role are u suggesting I should take a cleaners job rather then claim benefit (having paid tax and NI for 14 years) whilst I find a suitable role?

I would personally, I'm not too good for a min wage job to earn my own money. I've done shit min wage jobs before so no sweat to me.

I'm not suggesting I'm too good for anything. I guess part of me felt entitled to claim benefit whilst I found work which suited my skill set and supported my family.

The point I'm trying to illustrate is not everything is black and white as is sometimes intimated on here.

I wasn't of course suggesting that just in case you took it that way, I was just referring to myself.

How much is dole pay now is it £50-£60 a week?

£73.10 pw and He'd get that for 6 months without regard to wife's pay or capital as long as genuinely looking for work. Hardly a massive amount tbh.

[mulhuzz]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

so it's ok for you to choose your own lifestyle - insecure or otherwise -- but not for the people who don't want to work for yes men either, but are happy enough on benefits?

of all the things you've ever said, I think that's the most hypocritical.



in all seriousness though, i get what you're saying, but obv some people have families (don't know if you do now, or when started at b365) which complicates it. easy to say I'll live on the bread line for a year and then it'll be better, harder to sell it to the wife and kids etc. ofc if you're single parent on dole, even harder/restricted because defo can't afford child care on min wage, etc etc.

think solution is obvious. make work work for you. earn X on benefits, earn maybe X-Y in a job, but then get tax credits to bring you to Z, where X < Z. obv this currently can happen for some people but - and agreeably what annoys me - is that they go 'Z-X/40 hours a week' - I'm not working for a quid an hour blah blah.

I tihnk you're right that there needs to be a kind of civic responsibility in such cases, but i don't think that's achieved by demonising the poor. (not saying you are, saying defo some people/gvts do)

[arbboy]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

so it's ok for you to choose your own lifestyle - insecure or otherwise -- but not for the people who don't want to work for yes men either, but are happy enough on benefits?

of all the things you've ever said, I think that's the most hypocritical.



in all seriousness though, i get what you're saying, but obv some people have families (don't know if you do now, or when started at b365) which complicates it. easy to say I'll live on the bread line for a year and then it'll be better, harder to sell it to the wife and kids etc. ofc if you're single parent on dole, even harder/restricted because defo can't afford child care on min wage, etc etc.

think solution is obvious. make work work for you. earn X on benefits, earn maybe X-Y in a job, but then get tax credits to bring you to Z, where X < Z. obv this currently can happen for some people but - and agreeably what annoys me - is that they go 'Z-X/40 hours a week' - I'm not working for a quid an hour blah blah.

I tihnk you're right that there needs to be a kind of civic responsibility in such cases, but i don't think that's achieved by demonising the poor. (not saying you are, saying defo some people/gvts do)

I assume you are taking the piss here and levelling me.  It is never ok to be willing to sit on ur arse and live off other taxpayers as a long term solution because you can't be arsed to work for yes men if you are of a fit and able state to work.  I have worked my nuts off for 25 years to allow me my choice of lifestyle and i don't cost anyone in this country (apart from the punters/bookmakers i iron out!) a penny by choosing my lifestyle.  If you are being serious i would rather we don't engage in conversation again.

[mulhuzz]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

so it's ok for you to choose your own lifestyle - insecure or otherwise -- but not for the people who don't want to work for yes men either, but are happy enough on benefits?

of all the things you've ever said, I think that's the most hypocritical.



in all seriousness though, i get what you're saying, but obv some people have families (don't know if you do now, or when started at b365) which complicates it. easy to say I'll live on the bread line for a year and then it'll be better, harder to sell it to the wife and kids etc. ofc if you're single parent on dole, even harder/restricted because defo can't afford child care on min wage, etc etc.

think solution is obvious. make work work for you. earn X on benefits, earn maybe X-Y in a job, but then get tax credits to bring you to Z, where X < Z. obv this currently can happen for some people but - and agreeably what annoys me - is that they go 'Z-X/40 hours a week' - I'm not working for a quid an hour blah blah.

I tihnk you're right that there needs to be a kind of civic responsibility in such cases, but i don't think that's achieved by demonising the poor. (not saying you are, saying defo some people/gvts do)

I assume you are taking the piss here and levelling me.  It is never ok to be willing to sit on ur arse and live off other taxpayers as a long term solution because you can't be arsed to work for yes men if you are of a fit and able state to work.  I have worked my nuts off for 25 years to allow me my choice of lifestyle and i don't cost anyone in this country (apart from the punters/bookmakers i iron out!) a penny by choosing my lifestyle.  If you are being serious i would rather we don't engage in conversation again.

guess i put the smiley in the wrong place

i was serious after the smiley though.

[vegaslover]

As someone who was recently made redundant from a team manager role are u suggesting I should take a cleaners job rather then claim benefit (having paid tax and NI for 14 years) whilst I find a suitable role?

I would personally, I'm not too good for a min wage job to earn my own money. I've done shit min wage jobs before so no sweat to me.

I'm not suggesting I'm too good for anything. I guess part of me felt entitled to claim benefit whilst I found work which suited my skill set and supported my family.

The point I'm trying to illustrate is not everything is black and white as is sometimes intimated on here.

This

[arbboy]

Why would anyone take a job that left them worse off?

I can understand betterment and improving your own life but at what cost?

People are disenchanted.  Employers should pay a fair wage, if you can't pay that cut the volume of work you try and go through.   I'd do away with tax credits/working tax credits force employers into paying a living wage and allow for tax breaks to the companies.  

I don't want to punish wealth creators, even although I am a "lefty" I am all for advancement, but not at any cost.  

I'd introduce a salary cap as well and look at the swiss model were the chief exec can't earn X more than the guy at the bottom.  

What we have just now doesn't work so why not try something differently.  Heck I wouldn't mind paying more tax/NI if it was to the betterment of the many and not the few.  I also expect decent services for what I pay in.  

For a long term investment in their future is one reason.  I took a pay cut from £42k a year in a job for life type career to leave Chartered Accountancy to join bet365 on £22k a year (a then internet start up company with no job security in the slightest) in September 2001 because i knew longer term i would enjoy the job/career more and get further up the career ladder because i would be more motivated further along the line.  There are numerous reasons why you can/should take a pay cut.  If you keep saying 'i am above this job' there becomes a point where you are unemployable because you have a track record of just refusing work and employers think you are work shy.

There is far more to be gained from work than simply earning a wage if you take the short term googles off and see the bigger picture and life style choice/controlling your own career path potentially.  Sometimes it is worth making short term sacrifices for the benefit of yourself and the countries finances for the long term gain for yourself and the country.  Just like people who choose to jack in working for no wage to set up businesses and probably don't see a wage for 3 years whilst building the business up.

I would probably be better off financially working as a trading director for an online betting firm but would i want the hassle of reporting daily to a team of yes men and dealing with dozens of loltraders telling me bullshit excuses why they have done the firms money again?  not really so i choose a 'lower' totally insecure wage to live the lifestyle i choose.

so it's ok for you to choose your own lifestyle - insecure or otherwise -- but not for the people who don't want to work for yes men either, but are happy enough on benefits?

of all the things you've ever said, I think that's the most hypocritical.



in all seriousness though, i get what you're saying, but obv some people have families (don't know if you do now, or when started at b365) which complicates it. easy to say I'll live on the bread line for a year and then it'll be better, harder to sell it to the wife and kids etc. ofc if you're single parent on dole, even harder/restricted because defo can't afford child care on min wage, etc etc.

think solution is obvious. make work work for you. earn X on benefits, earn maybe X-Y in a job, but then get tax credits to bring you to Z, where X < Z. obv this currently can happen for some people but - and agreeably what annoys me - is that they go 'Z-X/40 hours a week' - I'm not working for a quid an hour blah blah.

I tihnk you're right that there needs to be a kind of civic responsibility in such cases, but i don't think that's achieved by demonising the poor. (not saying you are, saying defo some people/gvts do)

I assume you are taking the piss here and levelling me.  It is never ok to be willing to sit on ur arse and live off other taxpayers as a long term solution because you can't be arsed to work for yes men if you are of a fit and able state to work.  I have worked my nuts off for 25 years to allow me my choice of lifestyle and i don't cost anyone in this country (apart from the punters/bookmakers i iron out!) a penny by choosing my lifestyle.  If you are being serious i would rather we don't engage in conversation again.

guess i put the smiley in the wrong place

i was serious after the smiley though.

Fair enough! 

[scotty77]

I was on JSA a short time (under the Labour govt) and it was totally inflexible.

Think I was claiming for 3 weeks, and hadn't yet had my claim processed properly.  I then got 2 weeks temp work the claim had to be stopped/restarted.  Despite what the paper claim, it was not easy (I'm sure its harder now) and it was super depressing (sure its more depressing now too).

The problem is the same as any large government organisation. It's a big, huge logistical nightmare.

Staff in the job centres probably do their best.  At one side they have managers wanting them to hit targets; at the other they have either very down and angry people OR just those who have been failed by the system (family/school) entirely that they have lost all hope before they even walk thru the door.

They also treat very individual needs and circumstances in a farm like manner.  Someone who lives in a rural area will need that little bit extra support than those who live in a  town centre.

But to change the system like that, it needs investment, training and time.  And as governments don't tend to think like that, I can't see it getting better for a long tim yet.

The general attitude to jobseekers, from both Labour and Conservative, will always be the same.

Fill in these boxes and now here's your money and fuck off.

[arbboy]

I was on JSA a short time (under the Labour govt) and it was totally inflexible.

Think I was claiming for 3 weeks, and hadn't yet had my claim processed properly.  I then got 2 weeks temp work the claim had to be stopped/restarted.  Despite what the paper claim, it was not easy (I'm sure its harder now) and it was super depressing (sure its more depressing now too).

The problem is the same as any large government organisation. It's a big, huge logistical nightmare.

Staff in the job centres probably do their best.  At one side they have managers wanting them to hit targets; at the other they have either very down and angry people OR just those who have been failed by the system (family/school) entirely that they have lost all hope before they even walk thru the door.

They also treat very individual needs and circumstances in a farm like manner.  Someone who lives in a rural area will need that little bit extra support than those who live in a  town centre.

But to change the system like that, it needs investment, training and time.  And as governments don't tend to think like that, I can't see it getting better for a long tim yet.

The general attitude to jobseekers, from both Labour and Conservative, will always be the same.

Fill in these boxes and now here's your money and fuck off.

My only experience of JSA and the job centre was funny as fuck.  2004 Canbet in Fareham/Gosport (near Pompey) was taken over and myself along with most of the other senior management from the previous ownership were given the skyrocket.

Went into the job centre the next day (mainly because it was right next to Ladbrokes and Wetherspoons) just to enquire about what i was entitled to whilst i started looking for other jobs.  Bird said 'so what do you do for a living?'  I was half asleep as it was pretty early in the morning and said 'i am a bookmaker' quite innocently.  She instantly looked down her nose at me and said 'you got no chance round here.  This is a naval town and i can't even think of a factory within 20 miles of here with produces books!!!!

Safe to say i just left the job centre with a big smile on my face and never bothered with any application!  The lolbrokes goals coupon next door to the job centre provided a much easier way to claim JSA as Pulis's stoke team went under 1.5 goals 14 games in a row until i found another job with redarmi in Antigua a few months later.

[scotty77]

As it is, I prefer a slightly harder line taken towards jobseekers (especially younger ones) tho.

Not because of the money; thats a fairly insignificant amount in the grand scheme of things.

But because not having a job, not having a purpose is so hugely damaging to people that it needs to be taken seriously.

I haven't had any day to day money worries in years, but when I've been on lockdown grind mode a lot in that time.  You lose track of time, you don't go out and days just all merge together.  I guess thats what being on JSA can feel like.

[Kmac84]

You don't get many jobs in the job centre paying 22k a year. 

Fair play taking a reduction in wage Arb for a job you thought you'd prefer but getting 22k for doing that is still pretty decent money, even moreso back in 2001. 

The vast majority of jobs in this country are service jobs, its certainly the case in Glasgow were we have many skilled people involved in service centres earning not much above NMW for working shit hours, in jobs that offer very litle progression.  I bet this is the same across many cities in the UK.   

Now lets say for example you work in one of these jobs that pay £14k a year you are likely to take home about £1k a month.  From that you have your travel say £20 a week, lunches lets say another £20 a week.  Rent/Mortgage lets say £350 - £550 a month, council tax, grocery shopping, insurances, etc before you even lookat running a car, gas and electric.  Out of that 1k your not left with a great deal if anthing at all.  You don't have much left for socialising/hobbies. 

Now if your on JSA/DLA you can get your rent/council tax paid for, and your running your house with what cash you get, the incentive to go to 1k a month isn't great.   But your more inclined to do a shift on the side if you can not paying any tax/NI.  Employer doesn't pay this either so the country doesn't benefit in any way. 

I also find it reprehensible that there are people on here not paying any contrubutions to the system and they feel they can give it out to people far less fortunate than themselves.   

[arbboy]

You don't get many jobs in the job centre paying 22k a year. 

Fair play taking a reduction in wage Arb for a job you thought you'd prefer but getting 22k for doing that is still pretty decent money, even moreso back in 2001. 

The vast majority of jobs in this country are service jobs, its certainly the case in Glasgow were we have many skilled people involved in service centres earning not much above NMW for working shit hours, in jobs that offer very litle progression.  I bet this is the same across many cities in the UK.   

Now lets say for example you work in one of these jobs that pay £14k a year you are likely to take home about £1k a month.  From that you have your travel say £20 a week, lunches lets say another £20 a week.  Rent/Mortgage lets say £350 - £550 a month, council tax, grocery shopping, insurances, etc before you even lookat running a car, gas and electric.  Out of that 1k your not left with a great deal if anthing at all.  You don't have much left for socialising/hobbies. 

Now if your on JSA/DLA you can get your rent/council tax paid for, and your running your house with what cash you get, the incentive to go to 1k a month isn't great.   But your more inclined to do a shift on the side if you can not paying any tax/NI.  Employer doesn't pay this either so the country doesn't benefit in any way. 

I also find it reprehensible that there are people on here not paying any contrubutions to the system and they feel they can give it out to people far less fortunate than themselves.   

Is that another thinly veiled dig at me? It is not my fault that my income is exempt from income tax and ni under British law.  Do you expect me to pay the equivalent amount of income tax on my income even though I legally don't have to?

[Woodsey]

You don't get many jobs in the job centre paying 22k a year. 

Fair play taking a reduction in wage Arb for a job you thought you'd prefer but getting 22k for doing that is still pretty decent money, even moreso back in 2001. 

The vast majority of jobs in this country are service jobs, its certainly the case in Glasgow were we have many skilled people involved in service centres earning not much above NMW for working shit hours, in jobs that offer very litle progression.  I bet this is the same across many cities in the UK.   

Now lets say for example you work in one of these jobs that pay £14k a year you are likely to take home about £1k a month.  From that you have your travel say £20 a week, lunches lets say another £20 a week.  Rent/Mortgage lets say £350 - £550 a month, council tax, grocery shopping, insurances, etc before you even lookat running a car, gas and electric.  Out of that 1k your not left with a great deal if anthing at all.  You don't have much left for socialising/hobbies. 

Now if your on JSA/DLA you can get your rent/council tax paid for, and your running your house with what cash you get, the incentive to go to 1k a month isn't great.   But your more inclined to do a shift on the side if you can not paying any tax/NI.  Employer doesn't pay this either so the country doesn't benefit in any way. 

I also find it reprehensible that there are people on here not paying any contrubutions to the system and they feel they can give it out to people far less fortunate than themselves.   

Is that another thinly veiled dig at me? It is not my fault that my income is exempt from income tax and ni under British law.  Do you expect me to pay the equivalent amount of income tax on my income even though I legally don't have to?

Ignore the champagne socialist banker 

[scotty77]

I also find it reprehensible that there are people on here not paying any contrubutions to the system and they feel they can give it out to people far less fortunate than themselves.  

Because of how gambling tax on casinos work, plus the new online gambling tax, any professional gambler likely contributes far more than the average person.

I recently made a similar point on FB, but it's easy to forget as it is taken directly by the casino.

Also, most people who have the drive to make it as a professional gambler is likely gonna have more than enough skills to get a reasonably good job fairly quickly.