I do not think the economics of this are quite right. But I approve of HMRC doing things like this:
Thoughts?
Hat tip to Alex Cobham of the Tax Justice Network.
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The propaganda starts early.
Correct me if I am wrong, but, if laws were made so that funding for stuff was exactly like this video shows….the books would always balance… and everyone would be happy… people pay their tax, things get built… Yay!!
But, where does the money come from to replace the money used for savings?
But, where does the money come from to replace the money used to buy foreign goods?
The government just cant replenish the funds anymore…..the law is the law, and it would be fiscally irresponsible to run deficits wouldn’t it.
Wouldn’t it be great that, instead of saying that Tax is used to pay for things….. that they could just say that Tax is there to reduce real demand for real resources, so those resources and people who were busily doing their own thing, are now free to build a road, or be a policeman , or a doctor, or go study at university….. Thats the joy of tax! Reducing private demand, to allow enough time/manhours for us people to go do things for the public good..
……to finish off, this ideal is what has driven the EU to the wall. Its what has made people Vote Brexit . Its why Trump has been voted into government. Its what caused the 1930’s depression, staying with the gold standard.
You could say it caused Hitlers rise to power, deaths of millions of people.
…..and, it starts with small, innocent piece of propaganda…. telling kids little white lies that we need to tax, to pay for things.
I dont agree with it, at all, and the sooner the human race drops this idea the better off we will all be.
Maybe it would Tony
But maybe we’re still not there yet
I suggest Tony Weston is aiming too high.
Assuming it is aimed at junior school/ early secondary school children it is welcome. I have come across too many teenagers and young people who either do not or barely grasp that where public services are provided they need to be paid for (tax). The debates about whether they should exist, are worth what they cost etc are secondary to that basic fact.
Also by the reference to VAT on chocolate, it helps to erode the idiocy that pervades too much of public/political debate (especially at election time)that the only tax is Income tax. I know commentators talk about many other taxes but the public emphasis is on income tax (and council tax if there are local elections as well).
I think it is a really good idea from HMRC. Imperfect progress maybe but still progress.
I can understand the confusion among children about tax. They hear that tax is needed to pay for public services but they also hear that the government can print as much money as they like.
I very much doubt they hear the second view
If HMRC has moved closer to explaning what tax is about, and aimed its commentary at the next generation of voters, can I suggest Richard, that you write the follow up script.
No funding to produce it….