Difference between revisions of "Talk:Europlexa"
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| + | '''THE MORAL CASE FOR NO TAXATION''' | ||
| + | '''There are two things you can always count on in life, as the saying goes: death and taxes.''' Well, sans any life-saving techniques currently in the public domain, that leaves us with taxes. The word 'tax' summons different reactions from different people. There was the time (although no-one is quite sure when) when taxes were regarded by all as being the demons of nanny-statism. '''Now, the left seem to relish the chance to fill in another fiendishly complicated tax return, and the right consider suicide a week or so before.''' | ||
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| + | Tax means different things to different people. But proposing to be rid of tax altogether leaves both left and right united in veritable disarray. The left scream of public service underfunding and a lack of credible wealth distribution, and the right of change - adverse to their principles though it may be. '''So no tax has no chance.''' Or does it? | ||
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| + | Economically speaking, no tax is a nirvana for business. What company wouldn't want to set up shop? What individual wouldn't flock to live here? Yes, there is the downside of little or no money being available to the public coffers, but - providing a policy of mass privatisation (within a framework of competition) is enacted - this wouldn't matter. '''And the Five Ills which Beveridge outlined during the Secind World War would disappear overnight.''' Prices would plummet lower and lower. Unemployment could well be a thing of the past. No more poor housing as people have the money to do the family home up for once. Free of tax, business would be licking it's lips (whilst big government was licking it's wounds) and people would be free to spend as they like - virtually no inhibitions attached. | ||
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| + | '''It is the socialist's dream, and the nationalist's pride all in one package.''' Admittedly, the knock-on effects (privatisation, a rolling back of the state) would most certainly not appeal to all - but the sheer boldness of this initial plan could win over most. | ||
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| + | But this isn't just a case of post-Thatcher grumbling or capitalist wishful thinking. There is a decent - nay, fantastic - moral case for no taxation. The Shadow Chancellor of the British Conservative Party outlined the economically neocon moral case for low taxation. But what about NO taxation? Is that moral? | ||
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| + | Most certainly. First of all, this would end the ridiculous situation whereby the poorest in society (even those on the minimum wage, for Christ's sake!) still pay taxes. That is outrageous and it wouldn't be found in many tinpot dictatorships. '''Where is the moral perogative in the state making the poor poorer?''' | ||
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| + | The freedom, or sense thereof, generated would be thoroughly impressive. Think of the empowerment knowing that you have at least 40% of your income back in your pocket (and that's for the poorest alone), and are free to spend it - well, pretty much free - as you will. | ||
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| + | Finally, no more tax returns! Not just good for all those advocating economic freedom from government (excluding Plato's anarchists), but for the public finances. '''The Adam Smith Insitute recently reckoned that over £20 billion could be saved purely by sending the tax return form on it's bike.''' If you are against rolling back the state beyond a certain point, this is ideal. You won't have to see every service privatised - with this, you could maintain a decent stranglehold on the NHS and schools. And if you are keen to get government out of people's lives, well - fine, you've done it and you've got £20 billion to subsidise the poorest in society. | ||
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| + | No tax is going somewhere, and it's not the place the Talking Heads sang about. '''Economically stimulating and morally invigorating, it is almost - almost - irresistable.''' | ||
Revision as of 06:05, 12 June 2005
THE MORAL CASE FOR NO TAXATION
There are two things you can always count on in life, as the saying goes: death and taxes. Well, sans any life-saving techniques currently in the public domain, that leaves us with taxes. The word 'tax' summons different reactions from different people. There was the time (although no-one is quite sure when) when taxes were regarded by all as being the demons of nanny-statism. Now, the left seem to relish the chance to fill in another fiendishly complicated tax return, and the right consider suicide a week or so before.
Tax means different things to different people. But proposing to be rid of tax altogether leaves both left and right united in veritable disarray. The left scream of public service underfunding and a lack of credible wealth distribution, and the right of change - adverse to their principles though it may be. So no tax has no chance. Or does it?
Economically speaking, no tax is a nirvana for business. What company wouldn't want to set up shop? What individual wouldn't flock to live here? Yes, there is the downside of little or no money being available to the public coffers, but - providing a policy of mass privatisation (within a framework of competition) is enacted - this wouldn't matter. And the Five Ills which Beveridge outlined during the Secind World War would disappear overnight. Prices would plummet lower and lower. Unemployment could well be a thing of the past. No more poor housing as people have the money to do the family home up for once. Free of tax, business would be licking it's lips (whilst big government was licking it's wounds) and people would be free to spend as they like - virtually no inhibitions attached.
It is the socialist's dream, and the nationalist's pride all in one package. Admittedly, the knock-on effects (privatisation, a rolling back of the state) would most certainly not appeal to all - but the sheer boldness of this initial plan could win over most.
But this isn't just a case of post-Thatcher grumbling or capitalist wishful thinking. There is a decent - nay, fantastic - moral case for no taxation. The Shadow Chancellor of the British Conservative Party outlined the economically neocon moral case for low taxation. But what about NO taxation? Is that moral?
Most certainly. First of all, this would end the ridiculous situation whereby the poorest in society (even those on the minimum wage, for Christ's sake!) still pay taxes. That is outrageous and it wouldn't be found in many tinpot dictatorships. Where is the moral perogative in the state making the poor poorer?
The freedom, or sense thereof, generated would be thoroughly impressive. Think of the empowerment knowing that you have at least 40% of your income back in your pocket (and that's for the poorest alone), and are free to spend it - well, pretty much free - as you will.
Finally, no more tax returns! Not just good for all those advocating economic freedom from government (excluding Plato's anarchists), but for the public finances. The Adam Smith Insitute recently reckoned that over £20 billion could be saved purely by sending the tax return form on it's bike. If you are against rolling back the state beyond a certain point, this is ideal. You won't have to see every service privatised - with this, you could maintain a decent stranglehold on the NHS and schools. And if you are keen to get government out of people's lives, well - fine, you've done it and you've got £20 billion to subsidise the poorest in society.
No tax is going somewhere, and it's not the place the Talking Heads sang about. Economically stimulating and morally invigorating, it is almost - almost - irresistable.
