JAG I am not against taxes. Or rather I am not against social spending, whether through charities or the government. By saying its our money not the governments I am not saying the idea of tax is bad, I am reminding Tessa et al that (1) the government doesn't actually generate any wealth, so she needs to be reasonably nice to those that do if she wants any tax at all and (2) don't expect me to be too grateful when you, say, send me a £250 child trust fund voucher because I am not quite so stupid to have forgotten that I have sent YOU a lot more money the other way.

The point of the thread is to say that five months out of twelve working for the government is really an awful lot. I don't have the slightest thing against services for the public, but the onus must now be on those who say we need MORE taxes, not on those who think maybe money could be better spent.

And yes, I gather in the Eurozone tax freedom day falls sometime in June or even July, bonkers.