Do you want to spend your own money?

[Von Boy]

Simple question... would you prefer a lower tax rate and you spend your money how you want... and pay more tax then, VAT, airport duties etc.

OR

Do you feel a government, whatever their color is the best people to spend your money... overseas aid, more benefits for all etc.

[RoddersUK]

Yes, you're quite right. A simple question indeed.
Anyone who wants higher taxes so that the government can squander it is fucking stupid. Obviously people want lower taxes so that they have more disposable income that will allow them to buy more of what they want not withthe pittance that HMRC leaves them from their hard earned salaries.

[spider]

I agree, I don't want the government squandering my hard earned money on a replacement for Trident and paying out for the Windsor family living the life of Riley.

And as for wasting money on fighting a war in Afghanistan, and defending the Falklands just don't get me started!

[David Johnson]

"Simple question... would you prefer a lower tax rate and you spend your money how you want... and pay more tax then, VAT, airport duties etc.

OR

Do you feel a government, whatever their color is the best people to spend your money... overseas aid, more benefits for all etc."

This is better described as a simplistic question rather than a simple question.

The answer is "depends" what tax money is spent on.

If the question is "would you prefer a lower tax rate so that the UK can no longer play the part of sidekick global policeman to the US and hark back to the days of Empire that are long gone" then my answer would be yes.

If the question is "would you prefer a lower tax rate so that the NHS would only provide an emergency service" then no I wouldn't because I know that the reduction in tax would not be sufficient for me to pay for all non-emergency operations myself from a rip-off private sector (see rail, utilities etc) and personally I would prefer not to have a go at doing my own hernia and hip operations, thanks!

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[Sam Slater]

The top 3 highest rates of income tax in the EU:

Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands.

The bottom 3 lowest rates of income tax in the EU:

Macedonia, Bulgaria and Bosnia.

Which set of citizens have better health, are safer on the streets, are the better educated, and have a better quality of life for middle-to-low income families?

Yes.....governments waste money, but you only have to go into a supermarket, pub, fast-food outlet or betting shop to see citizens are far worse, on average, at wasting their own money. At least for every penny wasted by a government, there's a pound going to somewhere sensible and important.

[Gentleman]

That's what societies all about chipping into things you may not actually ever use.

Love to see idiots like you when ou have a accident and need a ambulance/health care because there's no way you be able to afford it maybe. Someone to teach your kids, build infrastructure, put out nasty fires and catch criminals.

Blimey imagine how money you would have in your pocket if you never had to pay for these.

I can't understand how people think things would improve by voting in parties that might save them 1p in the pound tax.

[sparky]

Like David J my grievance is not the amount of tax I pay whether direct or indirect but that much of it is squandered both with the EU and 'issues' around the world, poor policies e.g. HS2 and crap management e.g. the West Coast Rail scandal and keeping those who are perfectly capable of working but will do everything possible not to have a job even if one is available.

I too would not want for example the NHS to cease proving a full service or toll roads but by good policies and management the current level of tax could be reduced. If this happened the result of people spending the money would be increased employment and a boost to the economy