Alistair Darling to raise income tax rate for top earners

[d000hg]

I remember the old days, Maggie in No. 10, Big Ron in the Whitehouse and all was right with the world. Milk and honey all the way.

For middle-class families on high-rate contracting money, who paid off their mortgages and had savings.
Not so good for the normal person who had a mortgage with interest rates of 10-15%. I remember getting my first savings account in the 80s

[minestrone]

For middle-class families on high-rate contracting money, who paid off their mortgages and had savings.
Not so good for the normal person who had a mortgage with interest rates of 10-15%. I remember getting my first savings account in the 80s

Interest rates may have been up there but the total cost of ownership of a house was much much less.

[Doggy Styles]

But much more complex than rates and a nightmare keeping track of people who move around a lot = red tape.

No, the simplicity of the poll tax was what brought it down! Everyone paid the same amount, chavs and squires alike, with no complicated rules about house size, house features or income. Politically unacceptable in the end, but what could be simpler!

As for keeping track of people who move around, they still do that now, and quite rightly.

[FarmerPalmer]

Labour did this in the 1970's and so all the high earners left the country, taking their business with them - and therefore their tax revenue with them ... so begins the downward government induced spiral

[DodgyAgent]

No, the simplicity of the poll tax was what brought it down! Everyone paid the same amount, chavs and squires alike, with no complicated rules about house size, house features or income. Politically unacceptable in the end, but what could be simpler!

As for keeping track of people who move around, they still do that now, and quite rightly.

Its a bit like saying everyone no matter how much they earn should pay the same amount of tax. The poll tax was wrong.

[minestrone]

Labour did this in the 1970's and so all the high earners left the country, taking their business with them - and therefore their tax revenue with them ... so begins the downward government induced spiral

In those days tax was 90%, nobody is that stupid to do that again.

[minestrone]

The poll tax was wrong.

The poll tax was to pay for local services, why should I pay more than the chavs when I get the same services as them.

Sure I have a bigger house but our refuse are probably the same, water usage the same, demand on the local servies pretty much the same.

[DodgyAgent]

In those days tax was 90%, nobody is that stupid to do that again.

They can probably get away with 45% and even 50% but there will come a point.

[ratewhore]

whats this about deferring CT increase for small business?

[DodgyAgent]

The poll tax was to pay for local services, why should I pay more than the chavs when I get the same services as them.

Sure I have a bigger house but our refuse are probably the same, water usage the same, demand on the local servies pretty much the same.

Your argument also applies to income tax. I dont think we want to live in a society that is so focussed on money. There are certain things that we as a society should provide for each other at a minimal cost, subsidised by the better off such as health, education, security and dustbin emptying