Comments on: Tax rises and democracy http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 24 May 2012 17:35:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lewis Bowker http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16057 Lewis Bowker Mon, 18 May 2009 11:45:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16057 Mike, I sincerely sympathise with you. However, this useless government is, as usual, attacking the problem from the wrong direction. Instead of "taxing" alcohol lokk instead at the "supply source", afterall my local pub does not sell petrol, newspapers, groceries. Alcohol should be sold through the traditional outlets whereby it can be properly regulated. Lewis Bowker Wokingham Mike,
I sincerely sympathise with you. However, this useless government is, as usual, attacking the problem from the wrong direction. Instead of “taxing” alcohol lokk instead at the “supply source”, afterall my local pub does not sell petrol, newspapers, groceries. Alcohol should be sold through the traditional outlets whereby it can be properly regulated.

Lewis Bowker
Wokingham

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16056 Bazman Thu, 14 May 2009 15:09:33 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16056 What's the price of pint of larger in the commons bar these days? What’s the price of pint of larger in the commons bar these days?

]]> By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16055 mikestallard Thu, 14 May 2009 07:06:36 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16055 I really enjoyed this thought. Thank you! I really enjoyed this thought. Thank you!

]]> By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16054 mikestallard Thu, 14 May 2009 07:03:09 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16054 alan - I think you are missing the point. Were the pubs to be able to offer cheaper beer than the corner shops, and were they to allow smoking as well, then, surely the problem of street drinking would end because the supervision would be there and, above all, the teenagers could meet, have a "social life" and gain respect in the traditional way by winning at bar billiards or pulling or the local darts competition? Failing that they could always discuss global warming..... The government subsidises everything else, why not beer? alan – I think you are missing the point.
Were the pubs to be able to offer cheaper beer than the corner shops, and were they to allow smoking as well, then, surely the problem of street drinking would end because the supervision would be there and, above all, the teenagers could meet, have a “social life” and gain respect in the traditional way by winning at bar billiards or pulling or the local darts competition? Failing that they could always discuss global warming…..
The government subsidises everything else, why not beer?

]]> By: Elle http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16053 Elle Wed, 13 May 2009 22:11:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16053 I, probably naively, think the basic rate should start at the top of what somebody can earn if working a 40-hour week on minimum wage. It might encourage people out of the benefits' trap, would give them more money in their pocket to spend when and where they want, which would in turn boost local economies. The current system takes, then gives back to put people on what government thinks is a "reasonable" income, but only if they fill in loads of forms. This costs money to administer. If the change in personal allowances could show that it genuinely gave people more than they could claim back in some "benefits" - that only give back what's been taken away - there would be less form-filling, so fewer administrators. "Something" also needs to be done for pensioners, who may have a bit of money from selling their final property and who have a bit of money put to one side, get heavily taxed and then have to claim it back. The forms are a nightmare. I, probably naively, think the basic rate should start at the top of what somebody can earn if working a 40-hour week on minimum wage.

It might encourage people out of the benefits’ trap, would give them more money in their pocket to spend when and where they want, which would in turn boost local economies.

The current system takes, then gives back to put people on what government thinks is a “reasonable” income, but only if they fill in loads of forms. This costs money to administer.

If the change in personal allowances could show that it genuinely gave people more than they could claim back in some “benefits” – that only give back what’s been taken away – there would be less form-filling, so fewer administrators.

“Something” also needs to be done for pensioners, who may have a bit of money from selling their final property and who have a bit of money put to one side, get heavily taxed and then have to claim it back. The forms are a nightmare.

]]> By: Adrian Peirson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16052 Adrian Peirson Wed, 13 May 2009 19:25:13 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16052 They can't lower taxes, they always have to go up because our Taxes do not go to govt, they Go to the Offshore banks from whom we borrow our money. since they have a monopoly on Coining/Printing our money and they lend it to us AT INTEREST. Consequently we owe them MORE money than we actually have, where does the money come from to pay back this loan PLUS the Interest. Why of course, Govt Borrows a greater sum next year. Of course if we coined our own money, there would be no loan to pay back, but the Offshore banks would not like that. The last western Leader to try coining his iown money instead of borrowing it from the International Bankers ended up being shot in dealy Plaza. http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&q=executive+order+11110&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=oBkLSsaEG6COjAeZ5ICSCw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title They can’t lower taxes, they always have to go up because our Taxes do not go to govt, they Go to the Offshore banks from whom we borrow our money.
since they have a monopoly on Coining/Printing our money and they lend it to us AT INTEREST.
Consequently we owe them MORE money than we actually have, where does the money come from to pay back this loan PLUS the Interest.
Why of course, Govt Borrows a greater sum next year.

Of course if we coined our own money, there would be no loan to pay back, but the Offshore banks would not like that.
The last western Leader to try coining his iown money instead of borrowing it from the International Bankers ended up being shot in dealy Plaza.

http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&q=executive+order+11110&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=oBkLSsaEG6COjAeZ5ICSCw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16051 alan jutson Wed, 13 May 2009 16:55:39 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16051 Even better than my £15,000 suggestion. Even better than my £15,000 suggestion.

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16050 alan jutson Wed, 13 May 2009 16:52:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16050 Agreed Anything to make things simple, and encourage those who have work to work harder (for their own financial benefit). Much bigger allowance (before you pay tax) would help encourage those out of work, to get work, as it would be financially sensible. No tax to pay until at least £12,500 earnings (half average UK pay) Even better £15,000. Come on John apply that incredible financial brain of yours to put forward a very simple and uncomplicated income tax system. Start by combining Income tax and National Insurance to show the true rate of the Tax on Earnings, and at the same time reduce the collection costs. Agreed
Anything to make things simple, and encourage those who have work to work harder (for their own financial benefit).
Much bigger allowance (before you pay tax) would help encourage those out of work, to get work, as it would be financially sensible.

No tax to pay until at least £12,500 earnings (half average UK pay)

Even better £15,000.

Come on John apply that incredible financial brain of yours to put forward a very simple and uncomplicated income tax system.
Start by combining Income tax and National Insurance to show the true rate of the Tax on Earnings, and at the same time reduce the collection costs.

]]> By: Tony http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16049 Tony Wed, 13 May 2009 15:59:58 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16049 John: Why are you making it seem like there was a golden age when Parliament mattered? I fail to recollect any government in living memory where Parliament was treated as such. Westminster is and always has been a policy influencing legislature. Parliament lacks the capacity to formulate and substitute policy and to pretend it has ever had such power is misleading. Reply: I think Parliament has mattered at a lot in past periods. It certainly mattered throughout the 1992-7 period when the government had to agree all that it wanted to do with Parliament given the small majority. Margaret Thatcher took Parliament very seriously, and made sure you always told the truth to it,. and told Parliament first. John: Why are you making it seem like there was a golden age when Parliament mattered? I fail to recollect any government in living memory where Parliament was treated as such.

Westminster is and always has been a policy influencing legislature. Parliament lacks the capacity to formulate and substitute policy and to pretend it has ever had such power is misleading.

Reply: I think Parliament has mattered at a lot in past periods. It certainly mattered throughout the 1992-7 period when the government had to agree all that it wanted to do with Parliament given the small majority. Margaret Thatcher took Parliament very seriously, and made sure you always told the truth to it,. and told Parliament first.

]]> By: Denis Cooper http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/05/13/tax-rises-and-democracy/#comment-16048 Denis Cooper Wed, 13 May 2009 14:59:06 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3674#comment-16048 Or, paying for a taxi back to Wokingham ... which is what an employer in London might do, if he wanted somebody to work very late at night. Or, paying for a taxi back to Wokingham … which is what an employer in London might do, if he wanted somebody to work very late at night.

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