A rant about VAT - be warned
Blogger is warning me:saving and publishing may fail, well, I've waited long enough to get on, so I might as well risk it.You've still got at least one of my posts up your sleeve, haven't you?
I am not impressed to notice that in the estimable Ms McManus' political newsleeter, she reports that, of all the taxes paid in 2006, the MOST, come from VAT, more than from income tax, or both excise or stamp duties put together.
YES, the truth is out there - the Irish government raises most of its revenues from across the board, without any regard to how poor you are. Because VAT is on everything, not just the luxuries. Unless you consider your utility bills a wanton luxury. A 21% rip-off, and there's no escape. Many itemised bills actually show it double-entered, so you are actually paying the tax twice.
Income tax also bears down unfairly on the poor, since even the really strapped, have to pay a hefty proportion towards ministerial junkets, etc., but VAT is was and always has been, a real scandal.
OK, let's see if Blogger censors this post now...
I am not impressed to notice that in the estimable Ms McManus' political newsleeter, she reports that, of all the taxes paid in 2006, the MOST, come from VAT, more than from income tax, or both excise or stamp duties put together.
YES, the truth is out there - the Irish government raises most of its revenues from across the board, without any regard to how poor you are. Because VAT is on everything, not just the luxuries. Unless you consider your utility bills a wanton luxury. A 21% rip-off, and there's no escape. Many itemised bills actually show it double-entered, so you are actually paying the tax twice.
Income tax also bears down unfairly on the poor, since even the really strapped, have to pay a hefty proportion towards ministerial junkets, etc., but VAT is was and always has been, a real scandal.
OK, let's see if Blogger censors this post now...
posted by ruth @ 2:26 PM
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