I have been in discussion with others on creation of a UK tax wiki. I can see lots of uses for this but it also makes me realise that there is real merit to extending the Tax Research UK site with a wiki. There are essentially four reasons for doing this.
The first is that many people say it is quite hard to find the more important articles on the site and I tend to agree with them: I have to Google it myself to find them. This does seem a bit absurd. A wiki might become a knowledge base on the more important themes I have explored on the site over time, saving looking through all 14,000 entries on it.
Second, there appears to be a need for some 'standing data' on taxes and other related issues and how they fit into the economy that might answer many frequently asked questions on the tax system and how it works.
Third, the blog is not just about tax; it also covers major economic themes, some of which are not readily available elsewhere and it seems worth drawing blogs on these together as a collection through a wiki heading.
And last, I see this as a way of archiving important external links in a way that are fairly easy to access.
I stress, at present I am not seeing much of the wiki as being major new work (I have enough of that) but rather as being a way to access what has already been done to date. If there are volunteers I am, however, open to suggestions for how additional data can be added to fuel research and comment.
What I am asking now is whether this would be considered useful? Suggestions on content would also be appreciated: indeed, if anyone has specific content suggestions from the blog I will also happily consider them as well. All comments on this post will be of use for that reason.
Finally, should this wiki be a part of the blog, or something free-standing? I am erring towards the latter. The database for this blog is already pretty enormous, for a start.
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Richard, would it not be easier to just add the data to Wikipedia itself? Is there any content in particular you feel would not be suitable for Wikipedia?
Definitely not!
For a start, anyone could edit it, and neuter it in the process
This wiki would not be open to editing by all comers. I could not take that risk
My preference would be for a stand-alone wiki which references this blog but which is part of the current domain, ie http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/wiki.
Subject to oversight and guidance it would be great to contribute to this effort. For instance I would like to see there being a ‘Rogues Gallery’ section which contains text or video clips of politicians/media/etal spouting the household myth. In addition the ability to add links to other relevant content would be mutually helpful to avoid missing important stuff. For instance RWER have an amusing cartoon published today: https://rwer.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/the-balanced-budget-paradox/
I admit that I will not do a rogue’s gallery. I am not that keen on negative campaigning.
It will be a separate domain or directory
As an amateur follower of this blog, I’d be very grateful for a structured wiki covering macro, tax and related topics.
Would it subsume all/most of the info in your Briefings tab? You could then use the Briefings tab to link out to the actual Wiki.
One big benefit vs the blog would be the removal of “extraneous” comments which get in the way. Ideally, you could integrate useful info that arises from the blog comments, but I guess that may require permissions, and would be time consuming.
The briefings would definitely go – all are out of date anyway
There would be a direct link from the blog
I like this idea. What I’d particularly like to see would be an easy searched/accessed section offering articles and information from the blog almost in the form of fact sheets. When in conversation with anybody, in my case casual discussions/grass roots stuff, its nice to be able to back up points with you views, research and work rather than rely on a rather poor memory. For instance the blog piece about government spending and repayment over the last 70 years. So often discussions come round to the same old Labour debt/Tory safe hands nonsense that is hard to argue without the facts.
In order for new ideas, like the Green New Deal, to gain any traction one of the ways to help is lots of people at the bottom of the piramid spreading the word rather than just a few ‘faces’ at the top of the piramid spreading ideas down. For ordinary people like me, with no expertese in economics or finance, easy access to the articles and info on this blob would be fantastic. Instead of just signing petitions we could write to MPs or journos with reference and links to properly reference material as is found here.
You never know you might even get some of the great and good to use it as their first port of call.
You have understood my goals
Yeah, more of a fact sheet type thing would be good.
There’s a lot of reflection on current affairs and stream of consciousness on here amongst the more detailed, more heavily thought out pieces, and it would be good to set out some of your thinking in a more structured, neutral form.
This could also be good for trying to clarify and refine some of the arguments. A lot of your posts on here are trying to make an argument and persuade, and there are times where I have questions about the mechanics of things but without wishing to question or undermine the sentiment.
p.s. happy to contribute towards the project
Thanks
Noted
Agreed
Excellent idea. Having some experience of setting up a wiki (no, sorry, I’m not volunteering), I suggest that you make it free-standing, completely separate from your blog.
A further suggestion, how about calling it MoneySpendandTax wiki.
I am certainly inclined to free standing
I suspect a closely related name is needed though
But I will muse on it if others agree with you
As a resource for tongue-tied amateurs like me I underline the points made by Nicholas above.
Would be an impressive resource for informed commentary on specific topics. You would need to make it clear on what basis finders could use the material as I can imagine unregulated searches putting your hard won graft to misuse. Quoting out of context etc.
Could you point me to a Wiki that you would aim to copy/emulate so I can comment on ideas for presentation, search criteria etc.
It may well look rather like Wikipedia!
The quotation issue exists now: I will live with it
RE Your reply to Evan – it’s a wiki, Jim, but not as we know it.
Yes, great idea, and Nicholas has summarised it well. But, looks like a lot of work.
One suggestion, when you (or you & others) start adding new stuff, how about a series of “primers” on the things that the current economics as housekeeping get wrong.
That will be there
A wiki makes sens for that sort of thing
I agree this would be a great addition to the blog as presently much wisdom is being lost in the numerous threads and topics. I also think that keeping it related to the current domain would be logical.
One question though: will it be edited only by yourself Richard or will there be a trusted ‘collective’ as it were of editors who could extract contributions/links from the main blog as there have been many insightful entries now almost impossible to find.
Looking forward to this and thanks again for spreading the knowledge.
I am hoping there will be a trusted collective
Great idea and would be happy to help if I can.
Thanks
Some Progressive Pulse material could find another home on it, I hope
I too would welcome a wiki – for much the same reasons pointed out by Nicholas.
Richard, I think It’s a great idea. Standalone would work best I think. I an sure we would make use of it across our actuarial science programmes at Leicester.
Best wishes
Nick
I owe you an email
The answer is yes
Magnificent idea! A real boon to help and support a wider army of informed preachers.
The design work has been commissioned on the basis of feedback received
A great idea. I often feel the need to link to one of your earlier posts but it takes ages to find it! But your lucidity needs to be referenced over and over again, as new people take up the same “orthodox” views and need challenged.
It might save me time!