The Anchoress
Productive citizenry, diligently earning its allowances
The Ultimate in Nanny-Stating: UK wants to take paychecks and give citizens an allowance!
That’s basically what it comes down to. “While we’re ‘modernizing’ our systems, why don’t we just take all that messy tax-calculation off everyone’s hands?”
The UK’s tax collection agency is putting forth a proposal that all employers send employee paychecks to the government, after which the government would deduct what it deems as the appropriate tax and pay the employees by bank transfer.
Then they’ll tell you what time you must be home from your play-dates and they’ll have warm milk and jammies ready for you.
Now wonder binge-drinking has become epidemic in England. Doesn’t do much to enhance one’s sense of autonomy and dignity when the state has you by the belthoops, might as well drown the resultant feelings of disappointment and self-hating impotence.
Socialism does not work. No matter how well-intentioned it may be at the start, eventually it runs roughshod over the people and destroys both the understanding and the nature of liberty, drive, and personal dignity; mediocrity born of depression is all that follows.
Methinks Benedict made his visit to the UK just in time, to remind people that they are meant for freedom!
Bookworm calls this going in through the backdoor
Related:
A Primer on Gangster Government
UPDATE: Kim Priestap takes a more thorough look at this story.
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