Those are fair points certainly, but they are not the majority of cases of lending. Firstly motorways: there have been no new motorways built in Britain for many years, and although I concede that roads and the like do have to be paid for by the government, what exactly does my £220 tax disc and £1.40 litre of petrol go on?

As for railways, for better or for worse the UK rail system is now privatised. It's mismanaged to fuck and having spent some time working in it I can say with absolute certainty that there is still very much an attitude of maximum overtime for minimum work. But that's an issue of management rather than a reason for charging interest.

Your point about starting businesses is also valid, it's very difficult to do that without capital. But what's wrong with saving some money you earn working for somebody elese and then approaching investors offering a percentage stake in the business and therefore profits?

I think that the true issue of spending, what really makes the world go round is "defence". This isn't the time or place to go into the numbers in depth, but I think we can agree that the amount spent on weapons is staggeringly vast.

Like I say, not the time or place to go off on a big political jaunt around all the usual buzzwords, but my own personal view in most cases is that if you can't afford it, you don't have it.
(Eukanuba, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 15:46, 2 replies)

That's a rather simplistic view.
I'd agree it would be pointless to go off into a long and boring debate about it, but in fact a long and boring debate would be the only way to cover all the stuff you're talking about.

Without access to capital, there would be no commerce. No raw materials would move, there would be no ships built, nobody could afford to grow and harvest food on any kind of scale.

You're describing a stone age society. You eat what you catch, if you don't you die, right?
(username failed moderation, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 15:50, closed)

I think Stone Age is pushing it a bit
In Islam it is against the law to charge interest, and any differences between your average Muslim country and your average Western country can probably be accounted for by the Industrial Revolution.
(Eukanuba, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:15, closed)

Muslims
work with interest all the time.


And what's an average Muslim country, or an average Western Country?

Are we talking about the difference between Saudi Arabia and Albania?

Oh, wait, let's do Switzerland Vs Yemen.

Zzzzz.
(username failed moderation, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:28, closed)

There have been many Roadways built - even within the last few years
The Glasgow Bypass is one very good example (Though a little expensive if you ask me)

which your tax is still paying for. Money is lent, interest is charged, costs are involved at a higher rate than total money collected in one year. its an ongoing budget.
(Dan dan dan They tik urh jerbs!!!, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 15:54, closed)