I suggest some of you read about a guy who turned a small fishing harbour into one of the Worlds global financial centers, known today as Hong Kong;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Cowperthwaite
This guy was a genius in my books and he believed in a society of minimal tax.
It was the foundation of his plan. A society not afraid to take risks and one that pushed people to take chances and to be ambitious because of the rewards.
The Hong Kong system was based on the British system during the industrial revolution. The tables of today however have changed and it is now us who can learn a lot from our friends in the Far East.
As for cigarette tax increase I disagree with you Leeds. Smoking no doubt increases the risk of cancer but smokers also already pay their fair share for each packet bought.
In 2010 the UK government received ?ú10.9 billion through taxable tobacco sales:
http://www.the-tma.org.uk/tma-publications-research/facts-figures/tax-revenue-from-tobacco/
It is predicted that smokers cost the NHS around ?ú5 billion:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/smoking-costs-nhs-pound5bn-a-year-1700509.html
Smokers are not the problem. A society based on benefits (our biggest taxable cost) is the problem.
I know some girl I used to go to school with who at the age of 19 fell pregnant with her short term bf. She had no qualifications, no money and lives in a nice new flat. She and the guy got back together for a few months around a year later and guess what... pregnant again and he has done another runner. Do you know how much scum like her and her ex cost people like me? I get up at 6am each morning and work a hard day while fat ****s like her sit at home on facebook commenting about her kids taking their next brick.
People have choices in life. People have the right to free education, free libraries and all the resources needed to build a future. I don't see why I, who pay more than my fair contributions in this country, should feel that my hard work benefits me LESS than these types who deserve fudge all. If I smoke then thatÔÇÖs my choice. I pay far more than my costs and I contriute in every sense.
This country prefers however to hit the working man to pay for the shortfalls elsewhere because we have turned into a society that REWARDS FAILURE.