Suggest Popular cuts and taxes for the december budget

[NoPropertyTax]

So the December budget is looming, and possibly an election looming not long after it. So what kind of cuts and taxe rises could the Minister for Finance make that would actually be fairly popular with the general public ?
Anyone got any ideas and suggestions on ways to make up the 4 billion we need - but in the least painful way.
Obviously its difficult but if you had that challenge what would you do ?
My own thoughts would be to totally suspend all overseas aid, raise corporation tax, and have a high profits tax for companies making large profits, abandon all the tribunals that are still sitting, Introduce a new very high VAT rate on really expensive luxury goods (things bought by people for whom the price often doesn't matter - yauchts, private planes). A tax on advertisments (we have to watch them / listen to them etc so they may as well be earning money for the state), cut all the funding for the promotion of the Irish language, make things like public librarys , art galleries, parks, etc raise their own funding. Sell all state holdings in companies like Aer Lingus.
So what other ideas are out there ?

[islands]

Popular cuts and taxes, eh?

OK - here's popular. Impose some royalties on the offshore oil and gas resources. This stuff is scarce - the exploration companies will still hang in there ....

[jmcc]

1: 70% salary cut for all politicians.
2: Single pension for all politicians (past and present) marginally above standard OAP.
3: Immediate state seizure of all assets of bankers involved in reckless lending.
4: Immediate state seizure of all assets of politicians involved in any wrongdoing.
5: Immediate taxation of all political expenses as benefit in kind.

Regards...jmcc

[DCon]

Cut the numbers of politicians, at all levels.

[super pedestrian]

Abolish the Department of community, rural & gaeltacht affairs.

[hmmm]

When we've cut the health service to ribbons and forced people to buy private insurance, when we've gotten rid of several thousand police, when we've closed all the libraries and public parks, when I'm paying for my water and refuse and when I'm being taxed at a marginal rate of over 50%, can someone please remind me what I'm paying tax for?

[jmcc]

can someone please remind me what I'm paying tax for?

The parasites in FF bailing out their scumbag banker/developer buddies. For an idiot who thinks that Einstein formulated Darwin's Theory of Evolution? For a useless slob of a hick solicitor who failed to take any action to stop the property bubble. For an incompetent moron who wrecked a political party and who has no mandate wrecking the Irish health service.

Regards...jmcc

[Furze]

When we've cut the health service to ribbons and forced people to buy private insurance, when we've gotten rid of several thousand police, when we've closed all the libraries and public parks, when I'm paying for my water and refuse and when I'm being taxed at a marginal rate of over 50%, can someone please remind me what I'm paying tax for?

Our elites have lost billions - you must maintain their position relevant to the plebs by paying for what were once considered universal rights in Irish society. Get with the program -don the green jersey.

[Truth.ie]

Disband the Senate.
Make visiting dignatories pay for their own visits/security.
Disband the Free State Army. Totally irrelevant body which as recently as last week was paying millions for Israeli kit it will never use.
End ALL Govt cars/drivers etc.
Tax perks for Irish made products to bring down prices and save jobs.
Use low risk prisoners to carry out civic tasks (street cleaning etc)
Send CAB after the white collar criminals.
Cap on all public servant wages.

[Fingal MCC]

So the December budget is looming, and possibly an election looming not long after it. So what kind of cuts and taxe rises could the Minister for Finance make that would actually be fairly popular with the general public ?
Anyone got any ideas and suggestions on ways to make up the 4 billion we need - but in the least painful way.
Obviously its difficult but if you had that challenge what would you do ?
My own thoughts would be to totally suspend all overseas aid, raise corporation tax, and have a high profits tax for companies making large profits, abandon all the tribunals that are still sitting, Introduce a new very high VAT rate on really expensive luxury goods (things bought by people for whom the price often doesn't matter - yauchts, private planes). A tax on advertisments (we have to watch them / listen to them etc so they may as well be earning money for the state), cut all the funding for the promotion of the Irish language, make things like public librarys , art galleries, parks, etc raise their own funding. Sell all state holdings in companies like Aer Lingus.
So what other ideas are out there ?

I know things are bad Mr. Lenihan but sniffing around for ideas on politics.ie is a bit beneath you.