Vote!
Should Labour be cutting taxes?
- 52% are saying yes
- 48% are saying no
comments from readers
- jason from weymouth
11 November 2008 - no
A Keynesian approach is what is required where we seek to regain control of the economy by providing more public intervention, not less. Market forces create inequality and cutting taxes ignites the liklihood of that outcome. Britain for all or just the few? This is the question we should ask and I know what my answer is!
- malcolmwhitmore
11 November 2008 - yes
No!
Cutting tax passes the problem to the market and we should now understand that inevitably a short term view will prevail. We need to be told that the current status is untenable and we are moving in a new direction encompassing climate change,equality for all our citizens,equality in the world and a globally sustainable lifestyle .
We should not flinch fromtelling this truth any longer. - Carl Jones
11 November 2008 - no
Cutting taxes is short term pain relief for a broken system. Just like the bust banks, personal debt responsibility should be suspended, so that people feel confident enough to finance normal life and at least keep some economic activity in the High Street.
- William
12 November 2008 - no
The unemployed are being short changed once again. Employees of the Ministry of Employment are being made redundant, all to save pennies. But to be fair Graduates must prove their worth depending on what jigsaw puzzle that they have been dealt. Obviously the Silver Lining is due B4 the next election - ad hoc.
- swatantra nandanwar
12 November 2008 - no
No, not unless its absolutely necessary.
- writeon
12 November 2008 - no
Yes and no would seem to be the appropriate answer. Doesn't it depend on what type of taxes, where and directed at what group in society?
Ideally I'd like to see substantial tax cuts for the poorest in society and substantial tax rises for the rich.
I've discussed this with the pensioners down at the local post office and they seem to agree with me that nobody should earn more than £100,000 a year. Admittedly, a cap on incomes like that would have profound consequences, but in a depression I imagine it would receive far more support than under normal circumstances. When the depression was over one could have a national debate about raising the income cap a bit.
- scientific earthling
13 November 2008 - no
All goods need to be a lot more expensive, this will make us value them, resulting in less waste. If food cost us half of our income and cars exclusive to the super rich then we would have a better planet and smaller population.
Economic growth speeds up the sixth extinction. - mrandyc
13 November 2008 - yes
Yes, but at the same time raise taxes for those earning over £100,000
13 November 2008- yes
No - taxes should be increased, and tax avoidance schemes also should be eradicated, particularly for the Rich who pay relatively little into the community "pot"!
Alan Briggs, Cambridge - Rinso
13 November 2008 - no
Tax the greedy, stupid stock market dealers who have not only created our problem, but have grossly benefited from it. Tax them to the hilt. Lets not go back to the neo-liberal freemarketeers.
13 November 2008- yes
Yes me thinks so the time has come to show change by giving true leadership. We know that Labour will win the next General elections
- thegonzokid
13 November 2008 - yes
Yep, give me my money back and stop spending it on bailing out banks, nuclear weapons, ID cards!
- Stephen
13 November 2008 - yes
Yes, a fiscal stimulus is necessary.
- Peter Sheal
13 November 2008 - yes
Thresholds should be raised so that the poor aren't paying tax, but this should be balanced by higher taxes on the rich.
- Frank Amies
13 November 2008 - yes
Yes, but only for the needy. The rich should pay more, let us share out the pain more evenly this time
- Nilsey105
13 November 2008 - yes
As a stimulus yes but only for the lower paid who will spend it. It wont do anygood sticking the extra into savings
- Cybertiger
13 November 2008 - no
But Labour should be cutting the taxing burden of greed and stupidity within our financial systems.
- explodingbadger
14 November 2008 - no
but the greater burden should be moved from the poor to the rich
- Gerishnakov
14 November 2008 - yes
The Liberal Democrats are leading the way; the government should follow suit. Cut taxes for the poor, increase them on the rich.
What really galls me in this economic climate is that there appear to be hordes of families claiming not to be rich, whose combined household income as at least £100,000. If you earn that much you are rich, get over it.
- George Garrett
14 November 2008 - yes
Yes Have a wholsale root and branch simplification in the tax system. Raise threshholds for blue,white and green collar workers a living wage should be vrery low tax. encourage small business employers significanly. tax the rich £1/ 200,000 yr earners and reintroduce super tax. Retro yes, but that's what we need. Don't forget pensioners and public service workers. And increase the minimum wage. labour must win the next election. let's have some clear red water to vote for. Don't go left. Go sensible.
- MFWright
14 November 2008 - no
This is no time to be reducing vital public services, which is what tax cutting always implies.
- badders
15 November 2008 - yes
Yes!
MF Wright - says 'vital' public services should not be cut - does he refer to the neart doubling of spending in education and health with marginal (if any at all) improvement? If the government was a business it would have gone bust long ago. We are paying more and more each year to keep the fantasy of 'increased goverment spending equals better services' alive. Wake up and smell the coffee - the only people who can be trusted to spend money are the people who earn it! - suell
16 November 2008 - no
A tax holiday or mortorium for a short period allowstemporary boost but would not alter Labour's longer-term budgetary needs.
Sue Lloyd
- John1/2d
16 November 2008 - yes
Yes!
Make a virtue out of necessity. There are things we can't afford. Use this as the reason to scrape those that should not have been adopted viz. Trident,ID cards,PFI,Management Consultants and QUANGOs.
Tax Avoidance should be socially unacceptable,If everyone paid in accordance with the spirit of the legislation the burden on the majority would be greatly eased,
Srape or wind down ISAs. Those who can set aside over £7000 a year shoundn't get Tax relief. - steve
17 November 2008 - yes
yes or no it won't make any difference, until we take on the real underlying problem which is the over population of this country and the ever increasing number of old people.
