Taxing

[andrewducker]

[Poll #1593003]

Inspired by a comment of lionsphil over at this discussion of the graduate tax.

Comments

[simont]

The primary thing taxed is income. We don't want to discourage that at all!

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

Again, don't think this is a simple binary choice. As a liberal, I don't think it's government's business to discourage or encourage any behaviour that doesn't harm others, just to enable people to do what they want.
I think in so far as we need taxation, it should be as much as possible taken from those who can most afford it - capital gains tax should be highest, because it's unearned income, followed by taxes on earned income, and only then any other taxes like VAT which are by their nature regressive.
That said, I have no problems with taxes that attempt to factor in costs of externalities - so if tobacco costs the NHS money, it's only right that there should be a tobacco tax. If flights mean the government will have to pay £Xmillion for flood protection due to global warming, tax flying. If raising the cost of those things to the consumer so it accurately reflects the actual social cost has the side-effect of discouraging them, I don't see that as a necessarily bad thing, so long as that's not the primary purpose, and so long as the taxes *only* cover the actual costs (or a reasonable approximation) and aren't used to raise revenue for other things.

As for the graduate tax, I think it a stupid idea. But a slightly less stupid one than making students pay tuition fees *before* they've benefited (if they do benefit, as many don't) as we do now... What I think we *do* need to do is invest more in training and apprenticeships and try to get away from the idea that (as is increasingly the case) you need a degree to get even an average job, while returning as far as possible to the old free education system that almost everyone currently in Parliament benefitted from for those who *do* actually want/need to go to university...

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

In Sim City I tax the things I'm trying to reduce if I have enough income coming in from elsewhere.

[dalglir.livejournal.com]

I think adding a 'graduate tax' to graduates income is a preposterous idea and I've lost any respect I had for Vince Cable.

I suspect we'll eventually go the American way and end up paying full fees.

[innerbrat]

Clarify! Do you mean "if you were in charge you would..." or "this is how it runs now..."?

[gravityslave.livejournal.com]

I assumed the poll was a "what should be done" poll rather than a "what tends to occur" poll. I'm not sure what the results are going to mean since the wording's open to opposing interpretations...
But then, my coffee hasn't kicked in yet. I probably shouldn't be answering polls at all, unless they're on the state of decor in Half-Conscious Land.

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

Don't really agree with either. You tax in order to carry out a programme of government, and your taxes should tend to reduce disparities in wealth and income.