reduced tax rates increase actual tax take

[20000miles]

*golf clap*

[patslatt]

Simplistic demands for tax cuts, for the sake of tax cuts, is what has got us into the present economic mess in Ireland, i.e., massive structural deficit (taxes not matching spending). It was incessant demands for tax cuts during the boom (the celtic tiger bubble economy years), cheerleaded by the PDs and others, that have now left Ireland needing to borrow 10 (15?)% of current spending. It was this 'counter-cyclical' cutting of taxes during the boom (when they should have risen) that has now meant that taxes cannot now fall during the current depression. It is right-wingers in Ireland, with their singular obsession with low taxes, counter to the theories of neo-liberalism, i.e. taxes should RISE during a boom and fall during recessions, that have led us into this mess. Now when taxes should be falling they are rising and the blame should not be put on the public sector, the unions or common workers. The blame should be put squarely on those that called and insisted and pleaded again and again, in election after election, for taxes to be lowered in the middle of the greatest expansion in Ireland's economic history. Economic idiocy. We must have high taxes now, and for years (decades?) to come, all because of a short-sighted obsession (and mis-understanding of basic economics by the PDs and FF) with tax cuts when they were not appropriate. We have no choice now, taxes must rise...but please direct the blame to where it belongs...onto the shoulders of the PDs, FF and other right-wing cheerleaders that have led us into this mess...

The increase in taxes you want would sink the economy. And why should we pay high taxes for second and third rate government services in areas like health care?

[slumdog1971]

So why are we spending €60 billion a year?

Are we spending 60 Billion on the current account ?