tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post7389040750063835006..comments2024-03-05T10:52:24.691+00:00Comments on Mark Wadsworth: Bribing the voters with LVT.Mark Wadsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-81894897873942413482013-09-10T09:41:00.851+01:002013-09-10T09:41:00.851+01:00Mark, you really need to read the book I am readin...Mark, you really need to read the book I am reading "Thinking Fast and Slow", which demonstrates that there is often a huge psychological difference between things that are rationally or economically quite equal, like the difference in giving money to a charity or paying the same money in tax, or using the same money to buy something in a shop. Bayardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15211150959757982948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-75952945533439311702013-09-09T21:19:29.824+01:002013-09-09T21:19:29.824+01:00B: "Most people pay their taxes because they ...B: <i>"Most people pay their taxes because they have to."</i><br /><br />Sure. <br /><br />Most people pay in shops because they are scared of getting arrested if they get caught shop lifting. Most employers are scared of refusing to pay wages or else all their workers would leave. Tenants pay rent because otherwise they'd be evicted etc etc. <br /><br />I'm not sure what ring fencing has to do with anything. The only ring fencing which is needed is<br />a) All taxes, to be matched with<br />b) all spending.<br /><br />Those two have to be roughly in balance, is all.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-44256009312665098132013-09-09T20:39:39.733+01:002013-09-09T20:39:39.733+01:00Well it isn't, really. Most people pay their ...Well it isn't, really. Most people pay their taxes because they have to. I mean, if taxation were voluntary, just how much do you think the Gov't would raise every year? Pretty close to bugger all, I'd say. Plus very little of the money is ring-fenced. I know some people think their NI contributions are going towards their pension, but even that is an illusion, so basically, you have money extorted from you for no definite purpose, is it surprising that you no longer think of it as "your" money?Bayardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15211150959757982948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-34555644147043322242013-09-09T18:45:30.663+01:002013-09-09T18:45:30.663+01:00B, well voters ought to realise it is their money ...B, well voters ought to realise it is their money and vote accordingly.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-51260717050049801052013-09-09T17:22:28.049+01:002013-09-09T17:22:28.049+01:00"The LVT does not belong to the government an..."The LVT does not belong to the government and it's our democractic decision how the government spends it,"<br /><br />That's an interesting view of monies raised by taxation and certainly not one shared by the current rulers of this country, which is, AFAICT, that public money is theirs to do what they like with. Also, 'twas ever thus. Bayardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15211150959757982948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-64323122053451723032013-09-09T17:15:43.759+01:002013-09-09T17:15:43.759+01:00B, possibly.
D, I don't count that as "...B, possibly. <br /><br />D, I don't count that as "bribes", really. The LVT does not belong to the government and it's our democractic decision how the government spends it, or whether we pay off the national debt instead.<br /><br />So spending LVT on "stuff which is popular" is OK (regardless of what an economist might say), I would have thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-62026327990712189492013-09-09T16:16:11.298+01:002013-09-09T16:16:11.298+01:00Bribing the voters with increased CI or stuff may ...Bribing the voters with increased CI or stuff may not be great but, economically speaking, it's ten times better than bribing them with LVT cuts or delayed re-assessments. Of course, politically speaking, the exact opposite is true.Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296053477905542366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-18307250591427167662013-09-09T13:50:08.390+01:002013-09-09T13:50:08.390+01:00BJ, Mark, what you're suggesting is that this ...BJ, Mark, what you're suggesting is that this is short term gain for long term pain. I agree, but that is what politicians like - they tend not to think further than the next election. That's the problem with any political or or tax-raising system that doesn't benefit the ruling classes: it will be changed so that it does. Quis custodiet custodies ipses?Bayardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15211150959757982948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-43870351065307580662013-09-09T07:43:20.320+01:002013-09-09T07:43:20.320+01:00Denmark has done this, freezing/not revaluating gr...Denmark has done this, freezing/not revaluating ground rent taxes. And they won´t be going up again any time soon.<br />Having fixed rates of any tax is IMO essential for a well functioning economy, people and businesses can plan stuff.Kjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530243002915410700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-64751566587349990372013-09-09T07:25:53.499+01:002013-09-09T07:25:53.499+01:00I'm with BJ on this. Once you've bribed ho...I'm with BJ on this. Once you've bribed homeowners once they'll be loth to give it back.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141932539860553199.post-91020060311562712512013-09-08T22:01:52.689+01:002013-09-08T22:01:52.689+01:00London may overall vote Labour(Boris Johnson), but...London may overall vote Labour(Boris Johnson), but it's also where the richest gain the most from monopoly rents.<br /><br />OK, under 100% LVT they wouldn't have any, but what you propose it a step back towards to what we have now.<br /><br />And once you do it, you'll do it again. Rewarding certain groups with monopoly privileges, that are impossible to claw back. <br /><br />Nah, best let the free-market sort out LVT rates. Bribe them with more schools, hospitals, Citizens Income etc.<br /><br />benjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11544297406005346095noreply@blogger.com