To this day
I've never quite understood what the problem was.

We all need streetlights as much as the next person. We all need our rubbish taken away. On average, we all need facilities such as schools equally (apart from wealthy people who send their kids to fee-paying schools...). What's the problem with people all chipping in an equal amount for local services?

Is that not more fair than the present sytem where a pensioner living in a four bed detached has to stump up half their pension money?
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Fri 12 Nov 2010, 21:24, 2 replies)

The problem was the same as ever under the Tories
the people who couldn't afford it suddenly got fucking stiffed and the people who could afford it paid less than they had been before. But that's their idea of fair. Twunts.
( His Popiness the Hole Invaded Poland on, Fri 12 Nov 2010, 22:16, closed)

Oh dear.
The 'pensioner living in a four bedroom house' is a myth that get's trundled out every time someone tries to argue for the Poll Tax.

In fact, such a beast is very rare. Generally, what happens is that the pensioner either downsizes or goes to live with relatives. Very few people like living alone in a big empty property.

The same was true of the reverse arguement IE, why should a homeowner with three grown kids of working age pay one set of rates (under the Poll Tax they all paid). Well, you see, this situation never lasts long either - the kids go off and become homeowners themsleves, thus continuing the tax take.


The problem with the Poll Tax was that it just wasn't based on ability to pay. It was a flat rate - regardless of income. And that is a fundamental flaw.

Taxation has to be progressive for it to be fair - the rich pay more because they have more, the poor pay less because they have less.
(El Fandango carved a big EF onto his nemesis' doublet on .., Fri 12 Nov 2010, 23:25, closed)

Nevertheless
smashing up Trafalgar Square probably wasn't the answer
(stewiegriffin, Sat 13 Nov 2010, 9:43, closed)

It worked though

( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Sat 13 Nov 2010, 12:51, closed)

So, naturally, you think that "rich" people should pay more for everything than "poor" people; different prices in shops, and restaurants, and things? Otherwise it wouldn't be "fair", would it...


The idiocy of that arguement really depresses me...
(Katamarino, Thu 18 Nov 2010, 12:48, closed)