What a gem. Thank you so much. Once again, I'm basking in the Christian warmth and love.

I don't think you understand that there are a lot of people in Europe who believe as I do. It's maybe less common in America. My husband is as much of a republican as I am -- in the UK sense of wanting the aristocracy to be eradicated. You are in error if you think that there is overhwhelming support for them here.

I fail to see what point you are making about tax money supporting public servants. Sure, taxes come from working people. More tax money should come from wealtheir people who can afford to pay. If you think I am saying all these things just because I am glad to be bleeding money off people like a parasite, you are again in error. I don't see how it is somehow more noble to work oneself to the bone so that the owner of a company can buy themselves a new luxury car or somesuch, as my husband has to do.

As far as complaining about 30% tax, count your blessings. In the UK in 1974, the top rate of income tax was 83%, with a 15% surcharge on "unearned income" (investments and dividends). 750,000 people were eligible to pay this top rate. Then Margaret Thatcher came along and turned it all on its head.

I don't think many people would support such a high rate of tax in the modern world, but plenty are saying that current top rates (40%) here are too low -- and that they apply to too many people. Currently you fall into the top tax bracket if you earn £40,000. Once this was quite a substantial income but it has been frozen for a number of years and now many middle-class people are starting to have to pay. We also pay something called National Insurance, an 11% flat tax on earnings by middle-income earners (none for lower incomes, just 1% for higher incomes) which is income tax in all but name.

I'd be happy to see National Insurance joined up with income tax, a top rate of 60-70% for the rich, graded down accordingly for lower incomes. We could have a world-class health and transport system and welfare state that looks after the needs of its citizens from birth to death.