O/T Are any of our more outrageously right wing contributors...

[gm_gm]

lol, I stated "HMRC estimates next years tax cut will cost the government over £6bn in revenue".

That's literally exactly the facts, no misrepresentation. It's you who appears to not know what you're talking about.

I'm fully aware of the arguments and am actually in favour in many instances of lowering taxes to stimulate the economy. For a lefty socialist I'm surprisingly also a free market capitalist (not mutually exclusive) in most industries as the best solution to maximise efficiency and productivity, and I also support the use of taxes as levers to stimulate the economy in many instances.

I'm evidence based. The problem comes when people ideologically cling on to "highest taxes possible are essential to make the rich pay their share of public services", or "taxes are too high, we need to cut them as close to zero as possible".

GF seemed to be leaning toward the latter, so I tried to inspire nuanced discussion on where the middle ground lays. Other contributors seem to have done a decent job tackling this, but you appear a little out of your depth again.

As much as reduced taxes can stimulate an economy and result in a higher gain, there are undoubtedly diminishing returns. It's telling that George Osbourne's old advisors are expressing shock that we're heading towards a 17% rate when it appears to be almost impossible to justify the cost to the treasury for the limited benefits it is expected to yield.

If all countries start competing with the approach of nations like Ireland you get a slippery slope race the the bottom and that certainly isn't desirable. It's an area it would be nice if the EU was a bit stronger on to prevent such 'undercutting'.

There are two opposing economic theories interventionist or non interventionist, the former usually prevents growth if there is too much meddling. The heat and cool effect will always rebalance the economy eventually if there isn’t too much debilitating red tape from governments

[animallittle3]

There are two opposing economic theories interventionist or non interventionist, the former usually prevents growth if there is too much meddling. The heat and cool effect will always rebalance the economy eventually if there isn’t too much debilitating red tape from governments

You mean so you can operate with no regulation and accountability and feck the economy up for the rest of us .

You lot would need permission to take a pyss during office hours from the government if there were any justice .