As The Mirror has reported this morning:
Two thirds of Tory voters say the richest should pay more tax, a poll reveals.
Some 64% backed rises for wealthy individuals and firms, according to the Tax Justice Network survey.
Overall, 74% of the 3,010 people quizzed said the well-off should pay more.
And 66% said those who profit from wealth should face the same tax rates as workers — indicating backing for a shake-up of capital gains tax rules.
Just 24% did not want to pay more tax personally.
The poll also revealed support for a crackdown on tax dodgers, with 87% saying the Government should close loopholes.
Three comments.
First, that was a Tax Justice UK poll, and not a Tax Justice Network one. As an adviser to both I can tell you there is a difference: they are associated but by no means the same organisations.
Second, what is surprising is how many think the well off should not pay more. It would be fascinating to know why when simple economics suggests that this must be appropriate, since the wealthy have lower marginal value from each additional pound they earn or have as wealth than do those on lower incomes and as such can in economic terms pay more without suffering the same appreciation of loss from doing so.
Third, wealth taxes are on my agenda, as they are for Tax Justice UK. I hope to do much more on this very soon because now is the time for action on this issue.
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People always say that the rich should pay more in these types of polls. As you suggest, what is more surprising is the fact the figure isn’t higher.
When it comes to voting for higher taxes on the wealthy at general elections, however, one always seems to get a rather different result.
‘Second, what is surprising is how many think the well off should not pay more’.
I do not want to sound superior but this does not surprise me.
Trickle down theory still persists in society as does ignorance of money creation and taxation. We need to accept that if the languid Left or real progressives want to make headway, voter re-education on a large scale has to take place otherwise you will asking people to accept something they think is not possible with – I’m afraid – disastrous but predictable outcomes.