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Now I'm not a Brit but I read this article and thought I would share. Of course, it does not only concern Britain.


This really brings into perspective the actual figure of one billion.

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion'n a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E. A billion Pounds ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

Stamp Duty
Tobacco Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Income Tax
Council Tax
Unemployment Tax
Fishing License Tax
Petrol/Diesel Tax
Inheritance Tax
(tax on top of tax)
Alcohol Tax
V.A.T.
Marriage License Tax
Property Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was one of the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt.

We had the largest middle class in the world and Mum stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?

Can you spell ʽpoliticians?'

I hope this goes around the UK at least 100 times.

What the hell happened?????

BLAME THE............. P O L I T I C I A N S..................................

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You might have to explain, that there are different billions:


US: 1.000.000.000
UK: 1.000.000.000.000



The UK-variant is valid for most civilized countries around the world...

By the way, this slight difference often leads to terrible translation mistakes for our newspapers...

BG
Thomas

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Would you care to clarify please Thomas ?

I am not aware of the US billion / million.

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well, the US Billion is 1,000 millions
for the UK - and the ROW - a billion is 1,000 US billions or a million millions

So what does the rest of the world refer to for 1,000 millions?

Never knew there was a different usage.

Maybe my brain isn't functioning but I still don't get.

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So what is 1,000,000,000 called in the UK?

Either way, that's a lot of lap dances.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales

http://www.gpuss.co.uk/english_usage/bi ... illion.htm

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Breitling Navitimer: Black Dial
OMEGA Speedmaster Professional
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Elgin-Hamilton 37500 (Aircraft Clock)

Thanks mjfur.

I really was not aware of that difference. Maybe because I am not used to handle that kinda money or property. In the US that is.

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The UK has not used the million million (1,000,000,000,000) version of a billion since 1975.

AFAIK, the entire world now uses the thousand million (1,000,000,000) version, certainly in financial markets.

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That was also my impression, so Fred's input got me puzzled

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well, the UK has joined the US in the billion "short scale" definition, sorry for the confusion

"the entire world" definitely not - in German 1,000 millions are still a "Milliarde", a million millions are a "Billion".
"Long scale" definitions of the million million billion are also used in in French and Spanish - including all countries speaking those languages, even in Canada; Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Italian etc, most of continental Europe - quite sure it does include Switzerland, Tomcat ?

Well, 1'000'000 is one million and 1'000'000'000 is one billion over here.

No need for excuses though, your input sparkled an interesting exchange of views.

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