It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, Part 2
On the scale of things the latest budget from the party that used to be Labour was no great shakes. Indeed from some angles, no great anything. Put alongside lying through your teeth to trot alongside the US war machine, spinning all the honesty out of politics or turning the public sector into a semi-privatised, over-bureaucratised shambles, it was relatively harmless. In fact, it's desire to lessen child poverty, if we ignore the fact that the government has been in power since 1997, is a laudable aim.
However, what do they to raise the revenue? Tax drinkers with a promise to do the same over the next four years. Now excuse me being picky, but don't indirect taxes hit everyone regardless of income. So, a millionaire pays the extra, as does the parent(s)of children in poverty (if they can afford it.) So much for equality and each according to his means. Indirect taxes are a cowardly and reactionary move by a gutless government too scared to tax the better off. Let's be straight about this, if kids are in poverty,and we want to do something about it, let's act now and raise income tax. That way the rich pay more and the poor pay little or nothing.
And of course the tax issue is more complicated than this, because the party that used to be Labour are actually trying to tick us all off for drinking too much. This brings two things to mind. Firstly, what if we all DID cut back on drinking, does that mean theat kids stay in poverty? Secondly, don't we elect governments to run the country, avoid wars etc etc, not dictate how we live our personal lives?
It gets more complicated still. Putting up the tax on booze will not stop binge drinking, as supermarkets will still be selling their crap lager and alcopops at a cheap rate. If you live in the South East you can also hop across to France and load up much more cheaply there. What this really means is that, when combined with increasing prices of wheat and other agricultural commodities, beer will be heading over and well beyond the £3 a pint mark. So say bye bye to even more traditional pubs in Leamington and elsewhere, and feel sorry for those who have low incomes (including pensioners),who may not be able to drink in pubs any longer.
Great work then from the party that used to be Labour. They need to be careful though. Like other northern Europeans, the British have always drunk a lot, and the pragmatic British care more for their booze than 'Darling' realises, including his middle class favourites who he is afraid to tax.
However, what do they to raise the revenue? Tax drinkers with a promise to do the same over the next four years. Now excuse me being picky, but don't indirect taxes hit everyone regardless of income. So, a millionaire pays the extra, as does the parent(s)of children in poverty (if they can afford it.) So much for equality and each according to his means. Indirect taxes are a cowardly and reactionary move by a gutless government too scared to tax the better off. Let's be straight about this, if kids are in poverty,and we want to do something about it, let's act now and raise income tax. That way the rich pay more and the poor pay little or nothing.
And of course the tax issue is more complicated than this, because the party that used to be Labour are actually trying to tick us all off for drinking too much. This brings two things to mind. Firstly, what if we all DID cut back on drinking, does that mean theat kids stay in poverty? Secondly, don't we elect governments to run the country, avoid wars etc etc, not dictate how we live our personal lives?
It gets more complicated still. Putting up the tax on booze will not stop binge drinking, as supermarkets will still be selling their crap lager and alcopops at a cheap rate. If you live in the South East you can also hop across to France and load up much more cheaply there. What this really means is that, when combined with increasing prices of wheat and other agricultural commodities, beer will be heading over and well beyond the £3 a pint mark. So say bye bye to even more traditional pubs in Leamington and elsewhere, and feel sorry for those who have low incomes (including pensioners),who may not be able to drink in pubs any longer.
Great work then from the party that used to be Labour. They need to be careful though. Like other northern Europeans, the British have always drunk a lot, and the pragmatic British care more for their booze than 'Darling' realises, including his middle class favourites who he is afraid to tax.
posted by leamiron at 3:10 pm
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