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Tax and benefits
There is a furore (among the media at least) over the government’s plan to stop child benefit where at least one parent is a higher-rate tax payer. I think it is a progressive reform that should be welcomed. I find it hard to justify universality of benefits; those with high incomes should not be receiving cash from the state, if for no other reason than that it must be highly inefficient for the government to take money away from us in tax only to give a fraction of it back as a benefit.
I would take the principle further, and state that nobody who pays income tax should receive cash benefits, just as I think that those who live on benefits shouldn’t have to pay income tax.
Perhaps a little more awareness of how much tax we pay would help those complaining about the change to put it in perspective; for most taxpayers the child benefit they receive is dwarfed by the amount of tax that they pay. PAYE does a very good job of hiding one’s tax payments; the money doesn’t reach one’s bank account, so one doesn’t miss it.
Years of writing my own PAYE and VAT cheques has made me very conscious of exactly how much money the government takes from me. I think that as a nation we’d have a very different attitude to the level of government spending if we had to pay income tax out of our own bank accounts.
I would take the principle further, and state that nobody who pays income tax should receive cash benefits, just as I think that those who live on benefits shouldn’t have to pay income tax.
Perhaps a little more awareness of how much tax we pay would help those complaining about the change to put it in perspective; for most taxpayers the child benefit they receive is dwarfed by the amount of tax that they pay. PAYE does a very good job of hiding one’s tax payments; the money doesn’t reach one’s bank account, so one doesn’t miss it.
Years of writing my own PAYE and VAT cheques has made me very conscious of exactly how much money the government takes from me. I think that as a nation we’d have a very different attitude to the level of government spending if we had to pay income tax out of our own bank accounts.
no subject
Maybe you should sacrifice a little of your time on your Xbox to watch some political television instead - let me recommend The Daily Politics (weekday lunchtimes on BBC2, with an extended prog on Wednesdays to cover PMQs), and Newsnight (10.30pm every evening on BBC2). Who knows - with exposure to serious political television, maybe Keith will grow up with an interest in politics!
I am shocked.
As for TV, when I have time to watch it, much like anything else including the Xbox you think I live on, I will.
As for Lilbuff, I intend to teach him work ethic, the value of budgeting, and self reliance. Here are some things I was taught: If you dont need it, dont use it! And my favorite from my Grandma: treat every job you have with pride, as if you owned the company.
If Lilbuff has an interest in politics, religion or anything else, I hope that he fosters change that is good for everyone, not just a select few. I dont believe in discriminating those who have, just as much as I dont like it against those who dont.
If this is as touchy a subject for you as it is becoming for me and it cant be a positive discussion than maybe I will step back and say I guess we will have to agree to disagree...
Re: I am shocked.
I'm used to Kate complaining when I watch anything political on TV. At lunchtime today the conference coverage on TV was enough to encourage her to leave the room and do some laundry!