Baby boomer
Registered User
- Messages
- 735
That's exactly the problem! The nature of government, and particularly Irish governments, is that they first decide on a spending plan and then extract the tax required. This is easily done as the government has essentially got unlimited powers to levy taxes. The default mindset is that tax money must be spent and there's no real thought given to returning unneeded funds to taxpayers. How much better would things be if government just had to make do with taxes on hand AND return any surplus to taxpayers as a Christmas Bonus at the end of the year? We would avoid the inevitable overhead that goes with government spending our money, not the mention the huge waste and inefficiency.Governments get elected by bribing people with their own money. No matter how you spam it the State need to get the money it spends.
That would require a public discourse that demands efficiency and accountability and the systems to provide for it. That is absent everywhere in the State sector and nearly everywhere in large private sector organisations. I don't think we are particularly worse than many other countries, with the notable exception of our health service which is rotten and bloated from top to bottom.That's exactly the problem! The nature of government, and particularly Irish governments, is that they first decide on a spending plan and then extract the tax required. This is easily done as the government has essentially got unlimited powers to levy taxes. The default mindset is that tax money must be spent and there's no real thought given to returning unneeded funds to taxpayers. How much better would things be if government just had to make do with taxes on hand AND return any surplus to taxpayers as a Christmas Bonus at the end of the year? We would avoid the inevitable overhead that goes with government spending our money, not the mention the huge waste and inefficiency.
I am so happy that someone had this question, as I started to think it’s only in my mind. I don’t want to sound greedy, and I’m very happy that I actually have a job, I can’t help but thinking that the government being extremely generous with the money we all paying in. People need help, it is true. But frustrating that after months of news of 350 pw payments they will receive extra and we won’t. And before I am being schooled about how people getting less than what they have earned before, a lot getting more. Let alone the university students Covid bonus, that sounds a bit overboard for me. It is just a bit of a moaning, as I still prefer my circumstances, but certainly something one might think as a slightly unfair distribution.Well, why not? Almost every year, we are treated to the "good news story" of the Christmas Bonus for long term social welfare recipients. And it has already been pre-announced that this year it will be extended to hundreds of thousands of short term recipients too. In the middle of a pandemic with public finances under unprecedented pressure!
Of course, the much used and abused taxpayer will be called upon to manfully shoulder the burden of paying for this largesse. Again. While also suffering the sneaky stealth increase of a failure to index bands and limits. Again.
So this Christmas Bonus is actually an increase in the net transfer payment from taxpayers to welfare recipients. Perhaps in exceptionally good times this could be justified, but now? Seriously?
So, a modest proposal. Pay a "Christmas Bonus" to taxpayers too. How? Simply award an extra months tax credit and tax band to all taxpayers. This can be done electronically by employers in the December or November payroll. For the self employed, they can make the appropriate amendment to their pay and file return in November/December.
This should be a permanent feature of the tax and benefit system. If the public finances are going well in a particular year, we all get something. If not, we don't. This would be a more healthy and mature approach than the handout mentality engendered by the current "bonus" given exclusively to long-term welfare recipients.
I dunno, I’ll get a bonus from work in January and half will go to tax. I’m okay with this, part of living in Ireland. If the worst thing to happen to me in a 100 year pandemic is a few lockdowns and some worse off people than me get a small Christmas bonus then I’m pretty blessed and who am I to begrudge.
Yea, the thing is that most working people are net recipients from the State. Only the top 30% of earners are net contributors. If you have a load of kids then you have to be well into the top 10% before you are a net contributor. We all like to think that we are paying lots of tax and getting nothing much back but the reality is we have a very narrow tax base with high marginal tax rates and the so called squeezed middle may well be squeezed but they are paying low rates of tax and getting more back than they put in.Here here laszlo, spot on.
The working man pays to the hilt and get nothin much back.
They are providing schooling for my four children. They provide roads and police and when I flush the toilet my poo goes away. They provide a healthcare system and when it gets dark the streetlights come on. Though I'm not a middle income earners so I'm not part of the squeezed middle.Cant be right purple...if you oaying a fortune in tax...and getting next to nout back how are you a net gainer? Makes no sense. What big tax money are you getting from the gove?
Sure, but the "I pay lots of tax and get nothing back" line is just not true. Most people get back more than they put in. I'm happy with that arrangement, taxes are the price of civilisation.But doesnt the above apply to everyone? Theyre givens.
Yes, they get even more back but they pay VAT and duties so everyone pays some taxes.My point is that if 70% or so are net recipients then the bottom 40% or so of that must be massive net recipients if theyre paying little or no tax.
I am so happy that someone had this question, as I started to think it’s only in my mind. I don’t want to sound greedy, and I’m very happy that I actually have a job, I can’t help but thinking that the government being extremely generous with the money we all paying in. People need help, it is true. But frustrating that after months of news of 350 pw payments they will receive extra and we won’t. And before I am being schooled about how people getting less than what they have earned before, a lot getting more. Let alone the university students Covid bonus, that sounds a bit overboard for me. It is just a bit of a moaning, as I still prefer my circumstances, but certainly something one might think as a slightly unfair distribution.
The working man pays to the hilt and get nothin much back.
Cant be right purple...if you oaying a fortune in tax...and getting next to nout back how are you a net gainer? Makes no sense. What big tax money are you getting from the gove?
But doesnt the above apply to everyone? Theyre givens.
My point is that if 70% or so are net recipients then the bottom 40% or so of that must be massive net recipients if theyre paying little or no tax.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?