tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889026769761133073.post6548774177321792655..comments2023-12-22T08:42:36.132+00:00Comments on Gaian Economics: No Stabilisation without EscalationMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12845612174674783187noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889026769761133073.post-86895414349677523472011-01-12T21:50:45.765+00:002011-01-12T21:50:45.765+00:00I think the problem here is the phrase 'long ...I think the problem here is the phrase 'long term perspective', which is just not something corporations (whether they be selling petroleum or credit default swaps) are able to countenance, especially in the middle of major capitalist crisis (even if they should be forced to do by the state). <br />Another issue greens and progressive in general could agree with the Tories is the rise in VAT. Until recently I had assumed that lower earners were hit disproportionately as they spend a higher percentage of their earnings on consumables than upper income groups. However I recently saw a graph (I believe it was on Left Foot Forward) which highlighted that those in the £50,000 region are worst hit. <br />John Kenneth Galbraith argued that increasing sales taxes such as VAT could be a positive move. First off it generally gets support from conservatives (who generally support it over the income tax) and it can function to tax private consumption (often on goods we don't particularly need) and the income generated can be pumped into public goods (health, transport, education). The only problem with the second part is that it assumes that governments such as our own would use the proceeds on public services as opposed to recycling it into the private sector through PFI schemes or bailing out financial capital when the time comes.<br /><br />Although slightly off-topic, your thoughts on the VAT issue would be greatly appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com