Gavin Scott wrote:I don't think the wealthiest should gain tax credits for their children particularly. They could argue of course that they've paid into the system and expect the same benefits as the less well off. But then I don't agree with tory policy that married couples should gain tax breaks simply because they decide to couple up. More than 50% of marriages in this country end in divorce - so what's the point of this?
In both the cases above, I think there should be a fair approach to things.
I agree on both points.
Gavin Scott wrote:Yes chie - FAIR. That's not something to be sneered at, is it? You know what the opposite of "fair" is? Quite why you would sit there and say that the alternative to a fair society is better - well, that just makes my head spin.
There are 7 billion people on this planet Gavin, there are simply too many people for everyone to have a high standard of living. So instead of pushing everyone up to the same level, the only option to make society 'fair' is to pull those who have a high standard of living down. Consequently you end up with a society in which everyone is equally unhappy, as opposed to one in which at least a modest percentage of the species are well off, able to achieve their aspirations, happy and live a long and healthy life.
So yes, I'm against the concept of fairness on that basis.
Imagine you have two children. One of them has a balloon. The other child wants a balloon too, but you can't afford another one. So, in the name of fairness, you pop the balloon. Now neither of them has a balloon and both children are 'equal' again.
Now wouldn't you rather at least one of your children have a balloon than neither of them? That's what I'm getting at here, but on a nationwide / global scale.
But to take the analogy further - you might choose to steal a balloon from someone who has an abundance of balloons, ie. the person who makes them (the wealth creator, if you will). So imagine if everyone did that - the person would simply stop making balloons (creating wealth) because there's no point in making them if other people are just going to take them off you. The result is a society completely destitute of balloons and, again, everyone is equally unhappy.
Well it made sense in my head!