Quote Originally Posted by 54FairAndSquare View Post
I rather like the idea of those with the broadest shoulders paying a bit more. As do the progressive parties in the Scottish Parliament who wanted a modest tax rise for those earning a bit more. Unfortunately, most people voted for the non-progressive low-tax parties like the Tories and the SNP.
Nothing wrong with those who have more paying a bit more. thats already happening under the current tax system and under new proposals the community charge will change along those lines, But for Universal things like health care including free prescriptions they should be free for all at the point of need. I saw a A BBC survey survey of one thousand voters on the eve of last year's Scottish parliamentary elections showed that the abolition of university tuition fees is the third most popular policy in Scotland. Number two is increasing the number of police on the beat, two of the SNPs flagship policies, Your saying that that universal policies are unfair and regressive. But as I said in the above post it is often fairer and more efficient for services to be paid for centrally through general taxation. If you really want to save money... 60% of Scottish public spending goes on the salaries and pensions of public sector workers. The most direct way to cut spending is by cutting the size of the state bureaucracy, starting with those highly paid council officials. And of course the abomination that is Trident