Yes, a bit more music.
This from years ago — when it inspired me when establishing businesses — where my goal was always to create jobs:
The relevant lyric (and it’s a shame the track is so long the end is cut off on the video):
And my radio says tonight it's gonna freeze
People driving home from the factories
Six lanes of traffic
Three lanes moving slow ...I used to like to go to work but they shut it down
I got a right to go to work but there's no work here to be found
Yes and they say we're gonna have to pay what's owed
We're gonna have to reap from some seed that's been sowed
And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles
They can always fly away from this rain and this cold
You can hear them singing out their telegraph code
All the way down the telegraph roadI'd sooner forget but I remember those nights
Yeah, life was just a bet on a race between the lights
You had your head on my shoulder you had your hand in my hair
Now you act a little colder like you don't seem to care ...
Well just believe in me baby and I'll take you away
From out of this darkness and into the day
From these rivers of headlights these rivers of rain
From the anger that lives on the streets with these names
'cos I've run every red light on memory lane
I've seen desperation explode into flames
And I don't want to see it again ...From all of these signs saying 'sorry but we're closed'
All the way down the telegraph road
That’s what I fear — those signs saying ‘sorry but we’re closed’ and that ‘desperation exploding into flames’.
Because we don’t need to witness either.
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Why do people have a “right” to work? That’s a new one.
@Alan Barnes
well unless you want people to live on benefit forever I guess you’d agree
If people have a right to work then shouldn’t working be a pre-condition to getting benefits? In other words, we’ll only give you benefit if you tidy the park/clear wasteland etc. Because surely if something is a right then people, by definition, want it.
When I last suggested that I remember being called a Nazi.
Personally, I think the notion of a right to work is absurd. I would be much happier with a right not to work. The right to lead a quiet life of contemplation is much more valuable than the right to fill your hours with mundane repetitive tosh. But I obviously lack the protestant work ethic!
@mad foetus
Real liberals would agree with you MF
I was teasing AB – because he’s from the school who are arguing that work and benefits must be related
Sorry that was not obvious
I am much more inclined you way
But I also think it the duty of government to create the opportunity for work for those who want it
In other words – I’m the moderate in the middle – as ever
I think the term a right to earn a living might be better…
If you genuinely mean that, I don’t see how you can hold the views on tax that you do, as the complexity and extent of the tax system creates a significant barrier to work, particularly in the self-employed, part time and casual sectors. On the opposite side, benefit withdrawal rates create another barrier.
Part of the reason I favour a shift to resource use base taxes (LVT, fuel duty, etc.) and the replacement of unemployment benefits with a citizens’ income is that it significantly reduces the administrative, burdens associated with work based taxes and benefits based on circumstances.
Maybe, one day you too will come to support that genuine tax justice.
If you genuinely mean that, I don’t see how you can hold the views on tax that you do, as the complexity and extent of the tax system creates a significant barrier to work, particularly in the self-employed, part time and casual sectors. On the opposite side, benefit withdrawal rates create another barrier.
Part of the reason I favour a shift to resource use based taxes (LVT, fuel duty, etc.) and the replacement of unemployment benefits with a citizens’ income is that it significantly reduces the administrative, burdens associated with work based taxes and benefits based on circumstances.
Maybe, one day you too will come to support that genuine tax justice.
Richard if you are going to put lyrics on your website to start a debate then here’s something that fits the times…
THE TREES – RUSH
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunligh
And the oaks ignore their pleas
The trouble with the maples
(and they’re quite convinced they’re right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can’t help their feelings
If they like the way they’re made
And they wonder why the maples
Can’t be happy in their shade?
There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream `oppression!`
And the oaks, just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
‘the oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light’
Now there’s no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Axe,
And saw ..
Whilst supporting the collection of all land rent for public benefit, I want to dissociate myself from Paul Lockett’s promotion of a citizen’s income (CI), funded from LVT to ‘replace benefits’. This is a popular libertarian LVT argument, and in fact old Liberal Party policy. But I doubt full LVT would fund all public expenditure (there is an extreme dearth of stats to provide evidence – not our fault!), let alone CI. Even if it could I would prefer extra public goods and services (generous pensions, public works of art, etc, etc) rather than provide an incentive not to undertake paid employment. Until we have robots to perform all necessary work, it’s good for individuals and society as a whole to work for a living if at all possible.
Where I do agree with Paul is that income tax should only fall on above average incomes. NICs should be hypothecated to pensions and should have no rate ceiling.
@Carol Wilcox
This comment has been deleted. It failed the moderation policy noted here. http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/comments/. The editor’s decision on this matter is final.