Retro is in fashion at the moment. The Age today has a retro-opinion piece. All the chestnuts so beloved by the left. Australian is a low-tax nation, taxation is good because it buys civilisation etc. etc. etc.
Many of us are clearly infuriated by the thought that people we know might be shirking their fiscal responsibilities…
Indeed. The best way to not shirk your fiscal responsibility is to get off your bum and get a job and get off welfare.
“Without taxation, life would be less liveable”
Probably so. It doesn’t justify 30% of GDP as Government, income taxes, payroll taxes, the deficit, the NBN…etc.
“Many on the political right would go even further and view taxation as virtual government theft of an individual’s hard-earned cash.”
It is as true as much of the Government engages in waste, favourtisim or welfare that doesn’t ameliorate poverty.
“Abbott endlessly repeated the childish mantra that the policies were nothing but a “great big new tax”.”
Considering how much they’d cool the planet, and the authors previous definition of taxes, I’d like to know why Abbot was childish or incorrect.
“Through trust rorts alone, it is estimated that our community is robbed of about $1 billion a year by companies and wealthy people who conceal their true taxable income.”
This belies the author’s stated intentions and reveals their real preferences.
“Treasury figures estimate that in four decades Australia will require $40 billion more in revenue just to fund age pensions and maintain aged care services.”
I’m sure we can get 12% GDP growth in 40 years.
“You will often hear conservatives posit how Australia is a high-taxing nation, but the truth is we are among the lowest taxers of the OECD nations. There are countries such as Sweden, for instance, that understand that a full public purse equates to a higher quality of life.”
How does a 64% income tax rate equate to a higher quality of life?
“While it is true that there are many possible debates about how a tax system should be structured in terms of efficiency and fairness, what isn’t debatable is that tax evasion is stealing from the community.”
That is only true as the Government spends it’s money wisely.
“Many of us are clearly infuriated by the thought that people we know might be shirking their fiscal responsibilities, and this is reflected in the year’s 56,000 phone tip-offs to the tax evasion report line.
Contrast this with the National Security Hotline, where reports of suspicious behaviour and potential terrorism are made. Even during the paranoid days of 2005, following the second Bali bombing and the London attacks, it only managed to peak at about 30,000 calls.”
Mmm yes tax evasion is more polific than terrorism. Everyone is taxed. Not everyone holds militantly religious views.
“When politicians promise tax cuts we should be suspicious, not euphoric. A promise like that should make us contemplate what the community will be going without. By not paying tax, we will all pay in the end.”
We should be suspicious that they will not balance the budget.
“Australia faces some significant hardships ahead. Depleted resources for childcare, aged care, mental health support, housing, schools and hospitals are not just boring statistics. These inadequacies will destroy lives.”
Other than mental health, the supply of these by the state is questionable. If equity is a concern, fund the student or patient.
“It is clear that we need to improve the efficiency of our tax system if we are going to continue to cherish the proposition that Australia is the lucky country. We need to grow up and acknowledge that paying income tax is not a burden; it ought to be our proud contribution.”
Tax reform is the most underrated policy issue that needs addressing. This guy needs to do some basic maths and stop squealing like a pig for other people’s money before he claims other people won’t grow up. What is the total tax rate on an average worker paying off a mortgage with two children?
A return to seeking efficiency would see lower rates, even with small discretionary spending increases.
Semi Regular Libertarian
22 Feb 10 at 10:10 am
get off welfare
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Hear hear. Channel 7? Get off welfare!
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Get a job.
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No. Ain’t no wage slave ain’t gonna be neither. You have to, like, wear ties n’ shit. I would like some tips on how to shirk my fiscal responsibilities. Call me selfish but I’ve decided I don’t want to pay for the Education Revolution.
Adrien
22 Feb 10 at 10:18 am
I love this bit -
“When politicians promise tax cuts we should be suspicious, not euphoric. A promise like that should make us contemplate what the community will be going without”.
Doesn’t this guy look around and see what government wastes money on?
eg. I was recently driving to work past a roundabout in Bridge St Eltham. And what took my eye? A big sign in the middle of it promoting the governments national building stimulus package!
A couple of months ago I noticed that some workers had removed the plants and rocks off the roundabout and then planted some new plants and put down wood chips. I though it was just the local council. But no. It was the federal government! Landscaping a roundabout to save the economy!
Fred
22 Feb 10 at 12:15 pm
When politicians promise tax cuts we should be suspicious, not euphoric.
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I agree. They never come thru.
Adrien
22 Feb 10 at 2:11 pm
Kerry Stokes a dole bludger. Exactly right, Adrien.
C.L.
22 Feb 10 at 2:56 pm
This piece put me in mind of when my younger sister had her first job at at Myer. She came home from work and said, “There’s been a horrible MISTAKE, half of my pay is missing!”
Mum and I looked up and said, “That’s income tax, dear.”
“But there must be a mistake for them to take so much!” exclaimed my sister.
She insisted it was wrong, and took it to the accounts department, where they told her that it was indeed income tax, but she might get some of it back at the end of the tax year. It was interesting to see her attitudes harden to the spending of public money.
Legal Eagle
22 Feb 10 at 8:02 pm