No, we're not talking New Jersey here. We're talking Jersey, Channel Islands. That place of which its First Minister, Frank Walker is prone to say I'm no friend. About which he's wrong (as ever). I'm a true friend of Jersey, just not of Frank.

But I do have friends in the place. Lots of them. And the TJN / ATTAC group there produce a newsletter, which you can get here. This points out some of the uncomfortable truths of living in this place. Like the fact that last month Jersey's parliament had discussion on exemptions in its new VAT / GST laws. As the newsletter notes, as a result of that debate Jersey's politicians decided that:

we must begin to tax apples, bread, bandages, books and wheelchairs

but that:

the same Treasury who so strongly opposed zero-rating these kinds of essentials, is quite happy to come forward with
plans to zero-rate repairs for conservatories and swimming pools.

This is what happens when accountants are allowed to design tax systems (as has pretty much been the case in Jersey where KPMG and PWC can be specifically identified as key drivers in the change process). The rich are allowed to get richer, and the poor get poorer. And remember, PWC are suggesting VAT / GST as the 'The win:win taxation systems of the future'. Who, my friends in Jersey are asking, are the winners?

I'm proud to know them. It takes guts to stand up and be counted in a place like that.