Jep Gambardella wrote: » As someone who favours a welfare state and progressive taxation, one aspect of Labour policy doesn't sit well with me and that's this thing about taking x-amount of people "out of the tax net". FF and FG are fond of it too. I think everyone who works should be some amount of tax, even a token amount. You feel like more of a stakeholder in a system that you're a contributor to.
As someone who favours a welfare state and progressive taxation, one aspect of Labour policy doesn't sit well with me and that's this thing about taking x-amount of people "out of the tax net". FF and FG are fond of it too. I think everyone who works should be some amount of tax, even a token amount. You feel like more of a stakeholder in a system that you're a contributor to.
Steppenwolfe wrote: » Not exactly. USC and water taxes need to be adressed and incorporated in to the regular income tax system.
Idbatterim wrote: » I totally agree and they are at it again, they want to take another 90,000 out of the tax net, isnt it great though, tax less people, tax those paying less, increase all areas of spending... burning the candle at both ends, cant see where it can go wrong :rolleyes:
Steppenwolfe wrote: » Not sure what you mean by that, but it loooks like a loaded question. From what I've heard they favour a more progressive income tax policy where the more you earn the more you pay.
Even under a flat tax system, that would be the case since income tax is measured as a %age.
Godge wrote: » I agree, and it can be done simply enough. For example, increase the minimum wage by around 4% to bring it to €9. At the same time abolish the USC exemption and apply the 2% rate to all income below the current exemption rate. That way, those on the minimum wage still get an increase even though they start to pay USC.
Steppenwolfe wrote: » We're far from bankrupt
Steppenwolfe wrote: » if the government is flagging up tax cuts for the better off in the next budget. It's always about who pays. Always.
SpaceTime wrote: » They've been consistently strong on things like reproductive rights, gay rights, secular policies (keeping Church and state separate).
Some more facts: this year 881,700 people will pay no income tax at all. That’s 38 per cent of all income earners. Some 648,700 people, 28 per cent of workers, will pay neither tax nor USC.
theaceofspies wrote: » all they can offer now is this tripe...... just scrapping the bottom of their own rotten barrell and will do anything to implement as much of their sad schemes as possible
theaceofspies wrote: » They were founded to represent the working class:pac:;
View wrote: » Actually, they weren't. They were founded as "The Irish Trade Union Congress & Labour Party" - the "political wing" of the trade union movement in other words. The "working class" has historically favoured FF at election times and, unsurprisingly, we have largely gotten FF style conservative policies as a result. And government decisions are above all accumulative, voting for Labour once when you are 18 and FF or FG in every subsequent election means you shouldn't be surprised if the country continues on with the status quo because it takes a lot more than one election to change public policy and have the time needed for the results to filter through on the ground.
tayto lover wrote: » BUT Labour have morphed into those other parties. Hard to tell them apart now.