Thanks to all who voted in the three polls I posted yesterday. I do note the results as they come in. I appreciate the comments that they provoke.
With regard to the polls on wealth and whether it is a barrier to being prime minister and that on MP's pay, what is apparent is how much more thoughtful and reasonable the Tax Research readership is when compared to those who comment on the same issues on Twitter. The result on pay was very balanced here, for example, with a majority in favour of more pay, albeit with the end of second jobs being the price to pay. On Twitter it was almost overwhelmingly hostile.
But maybe that's because, as I rather suspected, most people reading this blog are in varying shades of middle age, which condition lasts a long time (I think).
I also noted all that was said on having an app. I am being persuaded I have got this wrong and that there are better ways to reach young people. I need to do, vlogging (video blogging) TikTok and YouTube shorts after all, it seems. I will be doing more research this week. The focus may be on more enduring issues rather than rants about the moment, but I will see.
And I am discussing a book, again. That said, I am not yet convinced it will happen. It has to be the book I want to write, not the one a publisher thinks they want.
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I’m sorry I missed the polls yesterday, as I was out delivering candidate forms to all our Labour candidates for the local elections. It’s a labour of love and faith in our local comrades, while wearing a huge nosepeg (TM Polly Toynbee). Potholes and poor housing matter, and our Tory council doesn’t care.
Having read the comments regarding an app, I’m pleased you have taken note of the many caveats from people in the trade, so to speak, as I too have reservations about the effectiveness and value for money of an app.
However, I would support whatever you eventually decide will be the most effective way of spreading the word, which is the most important objective.
I wasn’t going to comment, but noting the remark about the small number of women commenting, this might just boost the stats a little.
Keep up the good work, Richard, and I will continue to use my laptop browser, so that I can read comfortable, and use the keyboard to type an adequate comment now and then.
Thanks Helen
While shorts would usually be a good way of reaching young audiences, there is a possibility that the “political” nature of economics may lead to your content not being picked up by the algorithm.
I have 230,000 Twitter followers to promote them through
Before you get involved with Tic Tok, Richard, it’s worth reading yesterday’s column by an ex OU colleague of mine, John Naughton, in The Observer.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/26/crazy-tiktok-official-phones-not-good-any-of-us
I know all that
The trouble is, that is where younger people are and Youtube shorts are very short
Regardless of the pros and cons of TikTok, the broad scope of the RESTRICT bill, due to some of the vague wording, is worrying. Looks like a new gambit in the global tech supremacy struggle.
From your point of view, a widespread ban on TikTok would limit its reach, but it would be interesting to see what kind of resistance it provoked from the huge number of dedicated followers.
I have decided videos will focus as they did in the past on Youtube
Why can’t MPs pay be means tested so that people without independent funds will stand and those independently wealthy do so (hopefully) to try and make the world a better place?
I would also ban second jobs and MPs sitting on company boards.
I would then not mind MPs being paid a large salary to reflect their important job.
I am not sure that complies with any known standard of equality
Here’s another one for you then.
Why not have voting determined by a person’s wealth. Thus the less wealthy you are the more votes you get and the wealthier you are the fewer. Politics will change if the politicians have to target the poorest in society rather than pandering to the rich. After a few elections the gap between the richest and poorest would (hopefully) narrow dramatically! However the rich being who they are they would probably try and buy the votes of the poor!
I believe all people are equal
I think that Youtube videos are the most enjoyable when they are an interview with one guest format rather than a one-person rant as in Jonathan Pye (much as I like his stuff. For example Politics Joe, Owen Jones, Novarra, and in the US, Jacobin and Sam Seder The Majority Report.
But they take much more work