Comments on: Taxing times http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/12/taxing-times/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:38:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: fgeuu http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/12/taxing-times/#comment-1580 fgeuu Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:38:58 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=148#comment-1580 Good site!!! Good site!!!

]]> By: Josh http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/12/taxing-times/#comment-1073 Josh Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:10:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=148#comment-1073 If the move is revenue neutral and if the move also replaces APD, then it's a good idea. What I don't like is the rationing idea. The Conservatives should oppose the authoritarianism of the Left. Move the taxes by all means, but don't succumb to the self-flagellating loathing of freedom and individuality from characters such as the honourable poster above. The money spent on administering a rationing system would be better spent on an X-prize for a new fuel efficient aero-engine, if this neo-Keynesian approach is your bag. The best way to allow the poor to enjoy the luxuries of the rich is to allow the markets to develop systems that negate negative externalities. The objective isn't (or shouldn't be) to stop people driving or flying, it is to stop pollution. We would all be happier (except the atavists) if this was achieved by taking the pollution out of these activities. Rationing doesn't encourage that, partly because it reduces demand therefore reducing the incentive to develop cleaner technology, perpetuating the cycle of restriction. If the move is revenue neutral and if the move also replaces APD, then it’s a good idea. What I don’t like is the rationing idea. The Conservatives should oppose the authoritarianism of the Left. Move the taxes by all means, but don’t succumb to the self-flagellating loathing of freedom and individuality from characters such as the honourable poster above.

The money spent on administering a rationing system would be better spent on an X-prize for a new fuel efficient aero-engine, if this neo-Keynesian approach is your bag.

The best way to allow the poor to enjoy the luxuries of the rich is to allow the markets to develop systems that negate negative externalities. The objective isn’t (or shouldn’t be) to stop people driving or flying, it is to stop pollution. We would all be happier (except the atavists) if this was achieved by taking the pollution out of these activities. Rationing doesn’t encourage that, partly because it reduces demand therefore reducing the incentive to develop cleaner technology, perpetuating the cycle of restriction.

]]> By: Chris Watson http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/03/12/taxing-times/#comment-1039 Chris Watson Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:30:20 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=148#comment-1039 John, Not only should you pay more tax on flying you should pay more of you income in tax too. sadly the porest in our country pay the most tax as a proportion of their income. Few politicians address this. As you rightly say we all pay massive amounts to be able to enjoy the freedoms given us by the ability to run a car. All current thinking about taxing motoring seems to revolve around put the cost up further in order to force the relatively poor off the roads to make room for the relatively rich. David Cameron's thinking about taxing aviation seems to replicate this. Why not ration the number of miles driven or flights taken per person per year. Poor individuals could then sell unused flights and miles to rich individuals. Not only would this create an interesting market it would generate an interesting mechanism for the redistribution of wealth. Since the overall number of miles and flights would be capped it would also impact on the environment favourably. John,
Not only should you pay more tax on flying you should pay more of you income in tax too. sadly the porest in our country pay the most tax as a proportion of their income. Few politicians address this. As you rightly say we all pay massive amounts to be able to enjoy the freedoms given us by the ability to run a car. All current thinking about taxing motoring seems to revolve around put the cost up further in order to force the relatively poor off the roads to make room for the relatively rich. David Cameron’s thinking about taxing aviation seems to replicate this. Why not ration the number of miles driven or flights taken per person per year. Poor individuals could then sell unused flights and miles to rich individuals. Not only would this create an interesting market it would generate an interesting mechanism for the redistribution of wealth. Since the overall number of miles and flights would be capped it would also impact on the environment favourably.

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