I have a feeling that tax should upset some people. A progressive tax system is intended to do so.
The Times Red Box has published this chart this morning:
Tax is not upsetting people.
And when we face the inequality that we do that, surely, is a mistake.
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As for ‘equality’, it doesn’t figure at all in the Red Box ‘big issues facing the country’. I expect they fear being labelled as agents of communism if they so much as print the word.
‘Comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable ‘ as they say…
Replacing “Tax” with “Unfair Taxes” might move it up the scale.
Martin Kilgariff says:
“Replacing “Tax” with “Unfair Taxes” might move it up the scale.” Good point.
What is seriously worrying is the falling concern for the ‘Economy’. As if that doesn’t underpin everything else that’s not working and causing concern. It argues for a very narrow understanding of what ‘Economy’ actually means to these respondents.
No mention of ‘Environment’ I notice. No tick box for that presumably (?)
And that plunging level of concern for ‘Brexit’. What does that imply ? Fatalism ?
I think it’s symptomatic of the underlying fact that far too few people (maybe less than 1%?) have much idea as to how the country’s economy functions. Even from my own very limited experience among people with whom I occasionally socialise, their eyes glaze over if I begin to explain basics – such as where does money come from. So the true role of tax in the economy is way beyond their attention span. As always, the long-term solution must start in the classroom but even then the syllabus will be dictated by government. In truth I can’t see much light at the end of this particular tunnel. The last thing neoliberals want is an educated electorate.
It’s sad, isn’t it?
But I still think we will get there in the end
“It’s sad, isn’t it? But I still think we will get there in the end”
Well yes, and 2008 was a wake up call that’s alerted everybody to the underlying systemic chaos and precarious nature of the financial system…..
Yeah.
Your optimism is exemplary. And I do mean that. And I do detect some glimmers of wider understanding of issues at ‘grassroots’ level.
Too true – Ive had the same experience trying to explain to people one might think would be able to understand.
The key I think is in the ‘systemic’ aspect that Andy mentions. Its more helpful to know a bit about multiple areas. Most peoples’ knowledge is narrower even if it is deep. That probably includes most economists.
Its where Ive found people like Eric Beinhocker and his Origins of Wealth helpful as he is one of the few people who takes a much more systemic view.
If people are upset by tax. Or put better there are plenty of people upset by tax. These people are the companies and individuals and organisations who use tax avoidance especially the more aggressive tax avoidance methods. If a person is relaxed about tax then they dont worry and therefore dont invest in it.
I disagree
What you’re saying is we have bought them off at cost to inequality
Not at all we know there are ways to avoid tax if people were concerned about paying it, they avoid. We have seen many examples over the years of the tax rate reducing and the income increasing.
That is complete nonsense: there is no evidence at all that we are on the downside of the Laffer curve
You ignore base changes and changes in economic well being
With regard to the whole benefit system I found this yesterday. I’ve fought for many years against the injustice of the benefit system and have tried to wake people up to the true agenda then I found this and it all makes sense.
This is what they’re doing and it’s working “A hand up or a slap down? Criminalising benefit claimants in Britain via strategies of surveillance, sanctions and deterrence” http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0261018317726622#articleShareContainer
Framing the question differently would make a difference?
Eg
Which are the most powerful forces that can be changed by politicians that affect you,
And the country