Ed Balls pledges to raise taxes if Labour win election

Tancred

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Why do many American Corporations have their Eurpean head offices in Dublin or the Netherlands?

You make a fair point. However countries don't play fair. As everyone wants to attract these companies. By offering a low rate of corporation tax. Tax has to be approached with global agreement. So that it is paid where companies make a profit, and the native population therefore benefits.

Until this day arrives. The UK needs to be attractive to employees and employers alike.

Low tax regimes suit some countries but not others. You can be attractive to employers without needing to bribe them with low taxes. Many international executives would love to live and work in London because it's a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with superb amenities and entrertainment. Dublin simply doesn't compare.

Tancred

N1AK wrote: »

You might as well argue with a racist about how Pakistani immigrants years ago provided a lot of benefit to society. They don't want to hear it and won't accept it because it doesn't fit the narrative they have already decided is true.

Have you not instead considered that your own point of view is narrow minded and self-centred? What you fail to appreciate is that if the rich are not taxed more, then the rest of us (the great majority of the population) have to pay more to make up for it. It's simple arithmetic. Why should the government pander to a minority, however influential it may be? Surely, the aim of government should be the greatest good for the greatest number, should it not?

And why the obsession with income tax? There are other taxes which I consider far more unfair, as they are not based on ability to pay. One example would be council tax.

lostinrates

Tancred wrote: »

Low tax regimes suit some countries but not others. You can be attractive to employers without needing to bribe them with low taxes. Many international executives would love to live and work in London because it's a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with superb amenities and entrertainment. Dublin simply doesn't compare.

Ireland has particular sentimental appeal to some Americans. There is a
So the fact you can base something somewhere yet do a certain amount of time somewhere else.

( think this might be being tightened up?)

lostinrates

Tancred wrote: »

I once worked in the City for a US investment bank and I was earning 12 years ago what I'm earning now, but the working day was 9am to 9pm, sometimes longer. If you wanted to leave at 6pm the management would shout at you.

Never again - I value my health more than my wealth.

Just one of the ways people can take themselves out of the one percent if they want to! But they might choose to do it also by % fulltime hour contracts too, for example..

lostinrates

Tancred wrote: »

Have you not instead considered that your own point of view is narrow minded and self-centred? What you fail to appreciate is that if the rich are not taxed more, then the rest of us (the great majority of the population) have to pay more to make up for it. It's simple arithmetic. Why should the government pander to a minority, however influential it may be? Surely, the aim of government should be the greatest good for the greatest number, should it not?

And why the obsession with income tax? There are other taxes which I consider far more unfair, as they are not based on ability to pay. One example would be council tax.

Yet your work record suggests that YOU could work more and be taxed more and choose not to, so one could suggest that you are being narrow minded and self centre in choosing to withhold labour and economy boosting potential from the labour market. Why should the government have to tax open group who choose to do otherwise to make up for your decision to do otherwise regardless of capability?

Thrugelmir

Tancred wrote: »

Low tax regimes suit some countries but not others. You can be attractive to employers without needing to bribe them with low taxes. Many international executives would love to live and work in London because it's a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with superb amenities and entrertainment. Dublin simply doesn't compare.

Ok how?

US Corporations based in Eire.

Apple
Dell
HP
Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
Cisco
Intel
Paypal
Google
IBM

Tancred

lostinrates wrote: »

Just one of the ways people can take themselves out of the one percent if they want to! But they might choose to do it also by % fulltime hour contracts too, for example..

I was never in the top 1%. I left the City because I didn't believe that the toil I was expected to do justified my income and stress level. Simple as that.
I've also been offered higher pay with the big consultancies and rejected the offers because they wanted me to work away from home 5 days a week.

Tancred

lostinrates wrote: »

Yet your work record suggests that YOU could work more and be taxed more and choose not to, so one could suggest that you are being narrow minded and self centre in choosing to withhold labour and economy boosting potential from the labour market. Why should the government have to tax open group who choose to do otherwise to make up for your decision to do otherwise regardless of capability?

????

I am not unemployed, so I'm not withholding any potential. I am doing the job I've always done - of course I would like to earn more, but with certain conditions in terms of lifestyle etc.

mayonnaise

Tancred wrote: »

I was never in the top 1%. I left the City because I didn't believe that the toil I was expected to do justified my income and stress level. Simple as that.

It's becoming clear why you're in favour of higher taxes for high earners.

You couldn't cut the mustard and dropped out.

Tancred

mayonnaise wrote: »

It's becoming clear why you're in favour of higher taxes for high earners.

You couldn't cut the mustard and dropped out.

LOL!!!! What a daft statement. I couldn't give a monkey's output of flatulence about what these City types earn. They waste most of their cash anyway. I made a lifestyle choice and I'm happy with it.