| Tweet |
(回答先: 富裕層に増税検討／政権浮揚へ 貧困・中間層救済訴え／英政府高官（しんぶん赤旗） 投稿者 gataro 日時 2008 年 8 月 19 日 13:29:10)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article4547357.ece
From The Sunday Times August 17, 2008
We should tax the rich, not the middle class
Ivan Lewis
In a “silly season” dominated by leadership speculation and unhelpful, anonymous factional briefings, it is time Labour focused on both the national interest and party’s best interests. We can still win the next election, but only if we are clear about the nature of the challenges and emerge with solutions that are sufficiently bold to cut through the cynicism of an angry and disappointed electorate. We have to act in a way that proves we are on people’s side and in touch with their everyday realities. That means not simply protecting those on the lowest incomes but also help for the hard-pressed middle classes on fixed incomes.
We have to be radical in setting out our vision for Britain, passionate about our values, forensic in exposing the shallow nature of David Cameron’s Conservatives, but first we must introduce practical measures that support people through this difficult economic period.
Economic stability and growth are the lubricants to a fair society. New Labour adopted President Bill Clinton’s mantra of “It’s the economy, stupid” and advocated economic policies that persuaded a nervous electorate that we were finally fit to govern. Our new economic credibility was the rock that anchored three successive election victories. For the first time in history, Labour was able to neutralise the toxic issue of tax and persuade the mainstream majority that we were both competent and on the side of the aspirational middle class. The vast majority of people supported an increase in National Insurance to fund much needed investment in the National Health Service.
History is being rewritten by the Tories and some commentators to suggest that our relative economic success has been through nature, not nurture. Bank of England independence, labour market flexibility, low levels of corporation tax, new deal, the minimum wage and tax credit, investment in skills, science and infrastructure, regional economic development all happened by chance. Apparently, Gordon Brown deserves little or no credit for an unprecedented period of sustained growth but is to blame for the credit crunch, doubling of oil prices and problems of energy supply. The Tories claim he should have planned for a “rainy day” and has spent too much on public services. At the same time they promise to match Labour’s spending on health and education and claim to favour tax cuts, but are unwilling to make any commitments. How many parents and patients think we are spending too much on schools and the NHS?
The global situation is causing increasing numbers of families hardship and insecurity. Our duty is to act decisively and make tax and spending decisions that show we understand what it is like to cope with rising food, fuel and utility bills. If as a result of the current economic situation the only way to help hard-pressed middle-class families is to ask the highest earners to pay more, then serious consideration should be given to that. Yes, protect those on the lowest incomes but also help the hard-working middle classes with large mortgage commitments who are neither rich nor poor; the people who work long hours for their two holidays a year, leisure club membership, meals out with family and friends and ability to buy their children nice things; the pensioners whose small occupational pension or savings mean they miss out on any extra benefits; the young people who want the chance to own their own home; the majority who continue to share our values of fairness and opportunity but expect Labour to reward hard work by protecting their quality of life through these difficult times; the people who expose as bogus and damaging the distinction that some in our party choose to make between so-called traditional and new Labour voters.
I am not advocating specific measures - those are decisions for the chancellor and prime minister. A windfall tax, enhanced government support for mortgages, a stamp duty holiday and higher taxes for the highest earners may be necessary and popular. However, credible economic strategy cannot be shaped by political dogma, selective press briefings or the pursuit of one day’s or one week’s positive headlines. There must be no more 10p-tax-type mistakes. The decisions we make must be in the long-term national interest, ensure meaningful extra help for the poorest and the mainstream majority and sustain the progress we have made in education, health and reducing child poverty.
Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown face difficult choices that new Labour in government has never previously had to make. But there is a narrow window of opportunity for convergence between national and party interest. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Tories left many families and communities to cope alone with the harsh consequences of economic change. Labour has a chance to demonstrate that we are different.
In an era of rapid global change and insecurity, a future election fought on a choice between “on your side” and “on your own” may be far more competitive than people imagine. “It’s the economy, stupid” will not be enough to win Labour a fourth term, but it is the only basis on which we can begin to rebuild the mainstream majority coalition that could make it possible.
Ivan Lewis is health minister and the MP for Bury South
投稿コメント全ログ コメント即時配信 スレ建て依頼 削除コメント確認方法
題名には必ず「阿修羅さんへ」と記述してください。
掲示板,ＭＬを含むこのサイトすべての
一切の引用、転載、リンクを許可いたします。確認メールは不要です。
引用元リンクを表示してください。