Scrap progressive taxes such as income tax and national insurance and hike up vat ! Why should billionaires like Philip Green have to subsidize the common man, let them eat cake ! (for those who are not sure this is tongue in cheek)
Well, at the risk of being massively unpopular the biggest cause of inequality in this country, and the biggest driver of our flawed house price based economy, is inheritance. 75% inhertiance tax?
So rather than save or invest in property we should all spend our savings ? Inflation ? Maybe house prices are more to do with restrictions on the country's land banks and builders holding them for speculative gains ?
Pays for an ageing population after people die. Ensures people can be properly looked after in their old age WHILST not paying care workers a pitance. Means kids whose grandparents/parents didn't buy their home are not disadvantaged. Encourages older people to spend rather than save, generating wealth. People enjoy themselves instead of feeling pressured to save their money to pass on. And absolutely the second point. too. All land to be nationalised and to be given strict masterplan's ensuring the homes that are built are of the size that are needed - not just the 4/5 bed homes developers want to build because they return the highest pound per sq m profit.
The problem with that is human nature. Sorry and all that, but if it's statute that whatever I've worked for is to be taken away after my death then **** it. It's getting spent. What you'd do with that is put an end to anyone working hard to better their lot and help their kids. For every landed toff there's thousands of normal working folk striving to make their kids lives better than theirs and overnight you'd end that. And anyway, as with al these things, the really rich would find ways round it and you'd trap everyone else. What needs to happen is a more progressive income tax system, starting at 15k pa, then more, smaller band increases, with no upper income limit - it's obscene that an NHS or Council exec on £140k pa pays the same rate effectively as their staff on £32k .chalk on NI. Leave pensioners alone. They've worked hard and been taxed all their lives.
I don't see how that necessarily works unless you nationalize the care industry. So they won't have any money to fund their healthcare ? Generating wealth ? more than likely purchasing consumer durables from China adversely affecting the balance of payments deficit. So parents shouldn't try to give their children an advantage ? Please bear in mind that both me and Angie are the first in our family to own our own home. We've had this discussion before in the real world and whilst I respect your opinion it is a load o ******** ! (only kidding Andy )
About time... They won't need it. And, serious question no bull, what real world effect does this have? MAKE YOUR MIND UP Si thi at Rob Royd one day in the future...
To follow on from that, I will be able to draw my state pension at 66 years of age. It will be the equivalent of £140 per week. I started work on 3rd November 1975 and will finish on 1st March 2025 that's nearly 50 years. My pension will be the same as someone who hasn't worked at all during the same period. Fair ?
Oh aye, only savings plan I've got is the change jar... mindst thi last time I counted there a couple of hundred in there... I'd better spend it before I snuff it !
Or people don't strive to pass on to their kids in monetary terms? Work less hours, spend more quality time with family life. All do 4 day weeks meaning there's more work to go round? Less relationship breakdown. Less pressure on schools to be seen as the sole provider of education. A happier population not panicking about house prices. And not panicking that their kids won't be able to afford to buy because you'd have lower house prices. that Plus people are living longer. Most people get money at a point in their life when they don't need. When they've already bought the family home and have growing kids of their own. Greater inhertiance tax would encourage people to downsize releasing family housing for those that need it, and equity release would help their kids financially at the point when they do need it. And then there's the point about all the kids who's parents couldn't afford to buy a house (because of the high house prices and low wage inequality). A cycle of disadvantage for them too. I'm not criticising for a second the notion of wanting to save for your kids to pass something on. I completely understand why. Just pointing out it is the biggest reinforcement of inequality and high house prices. And inheritance tax is a radical (though unpopular) way to readdress those things.