The official "Budget 2014" thread

[AtW]

1. One great thing this government has done is to lift a lot of low paid workers and pensioners out of income tax by increasing personal allowances - yet they'd be excluded from voting under project moron.

They pay no tax, so that's fair then.

2. Massive additional administration costs - and potential for error..

Bollox - everybody should submit tax return like in USA and at any time tax paid will be known - that amount should be used by electroral registar.

3. It is morally wrong to exclude people on the basis of wealth - which is why we stopped doing it over a century ago - we'd be in the ECHR faster than you can say "the ECHR is not the same as the EU and Winston Churchill signed us up as one of the founders".

Yeah, and you fail to notice that the peak of Empire was exactly under the old rules

It's all fair - pay tax and get voting power. No representation without taxation.

4. Voting isn't just about Tax

Tax paid maintains state, those who don't pay should not expect to have same vote - it's only fair.

5. It is a simplistic answer to a "problem" that doesn't exist.

There is a real problem right now that basically makes politicians buy votes that in effect rob some people with money to pay off those promises, over many years that created a big voting group that only votes for such politicians - this has got very negative effect over country development and must be stopped.

It's super fair - maybe even VAT and some other indirect taxes could be included, that's also fine by me, so anybody who buys stuff in UK get some votes. Happy now?

[kookachoo]

How is it moronic? Let me count the ways
5. It is a simplistic answer to a "problem" that doesn't exist.

When was the last time you took a real look on the streets?

I'd happily pay 40% tax if voting was based on contribution.

[AtW]

Sounds good to me.

What a moronic idea to allow educated people to vote twice...

[OwlHoot]

When was the last time you took a real look on the streets?

I'd happily pay 40% tax if voting was based on contribution.

Non-net-contributors needn't be denied a vote - Perhaps a slightly better idea than AtW's stark "all or nothing" scheme would be for every British subject (besides convicts and peers etc as now) to be entitled to one vote each, but with £10K net contribution entitling the voter to another vote, possibly up to a limit of something like 10 votes.

But it would be expensive to set up, and might have all kinds of unintended consequences including being a disincentive for non-net-contributers to vote (although some might consider that a Good Thing).

[AtW]

But it would be expensive to set up, and might have all kinds of unintended consequences including being a disincentive for non-net-contributers to vote (although some might consider that a Good Thing).

Everybody should be submitting tax returns, for simple affairs it's not that difficult - should be taught in schools.

Also the party that should win election will need to get more than 50% of such votes - those who actually sustain Govt system via taxation are entitled to have main say in how it runs.

[The Spartan]

Non-net-contributors needn't be denied a vote - Perhaps a slightly better idea than AtW's stark "all or nothing" scheme would be for every British subject (besides convicts and peers etc as now) to be entitled to one vote each, but with £10K net contribution entitling the voter to another vote, possibly up to a limit of something like 10 votes.

But it would be expensive to set up, and might have all kinds of unintended consequences including being a disincentive for non-net-contributers to vote (although some might consider that a Good Thing).

Nah if they don't pay tax why should they be entitled to vote on how it's used

[OwlHoot]

Nah if they don't pay tax why should they be entitled to vote on how it's used

Most people pay a _lot_ of tax one way or another just buying goods (VAT, fuel duty, alcohol & fag duty, etc, etc)

It isn't all about income tax.

[d000hg]

Did I understand correctly, that you will now get a single £15 ISA allowance to split however you wish between cash and shares, i.e. if you only use cash ISAs your allowance is more than doubled?

[Pondlife]

Did I understand correctly, that you will now get a single £15 ISA allowance to split however you wish between cash and shares, i.e. if you only use cash ISAs your allowance is more than doubled?

YUP! £15K with any split of cash/stock

[The Spartan]

Most people pay a _lot_ of tax one way or another just buying goods (VAT, fuel duty, alcohol & fag duty, etc, etc)

It isn't all about income tax.

Very true but they also get other things in return, of which there is a large list but in essence they're probably taking more out than they're putting in.