I had what I consider to be quite a lot of fun talking to a packed audience in Edinburgh yesterday on the subject of tax justice and Creating a Just Scotland. My thanks to all who came, who chatted afterwards and who bought books. I appreciated a number of generous and warm comments.
One of the questions that came up, which often does, was what a non technical person could do to support tax justice.
I mentioned supporting the Fair Tax Mark and the companies that have that award.
But what I most strongly suggested was simply saying that you believe in paying tax. Most especially, I said that people should grab a public platform to do this. These are available, especially in things like radio phone-in programmes.
I have done this, most recently to Nick Ferrari on LBC, where he was shocked when I said I was happy to pay tax. He asked me, in bemusement, why that was the case.
My answer was simple. I said some of the most important things in my life have been paid for by taxes. My own safe birth (despite complications) was in an NHS hospital. So too were my sons born in NHS hospitals, and neither were easy. So I also have the NHS to thank for the life of my wife, in all probability.
My education, even at university, was largely state funded. My children are at a state school.
And every day the state makes my life better, from providing the open spaces where I walk my dog these days, onwards. The list I could create is very long.
Anyone could do the same. You don't need to be an expert.
And nor do you need to be an expert to say that tax cheats also want and use these things but don't want to pay for them, which is why you want tax cheating to be beaten, because they're abusing us all and denying us the even better things the state could and should do.
The more this is said the better. If the political will to prevent tax cheating is to be created the voice of people who think tax is a good thing needs to be heard.
And you can say that.
Please do.
No special training is needed.
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Like that?
Yes!
Sorry I missed you, I was up to my elbows in plastering. I would have loved to have asked you some questions.
I suspect Edinburgh will be seeing me again
I do like the place, a lot
I can assure you that I have been advocating tax as a good thing for a long time, especially since I discovered your blog and other writing which clearly distils these ideas in my view better than (m)any other(s) (prior to that my late Father advocated the benefits of the tax system too – the only person in my life prior to this blog who said these things that needed to be said ).
It is not easy but it is the least we can do and if handled right (by inviting people to consider the ideas) you can get your message across.
Consider me to be on the case. As I said it is the least that I can do.
Thanks!
Forgive just a one word response – Bravo!
Tax is a tool just like a hammer, it can be used for good or used for bad but Tax is not “inherently” good any more than the hammer is……
There have been plenty of taxes used in history to attack minorities or for popularist class war (see 98% investment tax in the 1970’s) so it is impossible to say all tax is good.
You will need more than trite soundbites if you are to change opinions…..
You are suggesting hammers may not be a good thing because of the odd occasional abuse?
Very strange
Richard,
Sometimes its the simple words that say the most – The Joy of Tax – say it loud and say it proud
Thanks
Richard
I agree with your sentiment and like you I have benefited from all the government spending you list and more. However by framing the argument the way you do there is a danger that you are perpetuating the myth that government spending is constrained by the amount of tax raised rather than by the level of real resources (doctors nurses teachers bricklayers carers etc.) available. I appreciate that the alternative argument that tax avoiders benefit from state spending without playing their part in the running of the state is more difficult but it is one that has to be made.
I make it often – see my notes from what I said in Scotland on Saturday
The NHS didn’t build any new hospitals until the 60s, so you were born in a hospital which had an NHS sign on the building, taken from the people that built it against their will and the wishes of the medical profession. Fair enough, there was a public vote for this to happen, and the previous owners were compensated.
As for dog walking, this is a middle class hobby. You don’t see the poor dog owners out walking. They either can’t afford a pet, or are sleeping under the arches. If tax benefits responsible dog walkers incidentally then I’ve no problem with that, but if it’s regarded as an objective then it’s a bung to the well off, and I wouldn’t support it.
And this is the problem with the left – they think that every item on the government spending budget must remain, because they can identify someone who benefits from it, whether it’s an appropriate use of public funds or not.
The NHS was created against people’s wills?
Please don’t be stupid