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Letter: Taxing us on our children?
Wednesday 23rd December 2009, 9:00AM GMT.
Europe 2109: Giant green, yellow, red and blue figurines living in perfect harmony
Letter: If global warming is really a problem for the future of the world matched only, according to Mr Attenborough, by overpopulation – then expect Gordon Brown to make a move.
A child tax would seem appropriate! Two is a fairly neutral number so two children and your tax bracket remains where it is. But anything over that and, as they say, up your bracket!
Yes, if you want more than two children then as a family you are not just causing over population, you are creating an additional carbon emission machine.
Take it a bit further, and a slightly lower tax rate for one-child families, and even lower for no children at all.
An added benefit would be the re-instatement of marriage as a worthwhile institution if it was decided that the progeny of unmarried couples or single parents have to pay the higher tax rate for any and all children.
Of course there will be problems to sort out but common sense will have to prevail. Mind you that is in pretty short supply at present and will remain so until the next general election.
Act now Gordon. Think how much you will save on education and lollipop ladies.
Peter Sharman
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Bizarrely, there is some degree of logical reasoning in this …….
Sadly Peter, you can’t claim the credit though; China has been controlling population like this for years, but I think they only allow one child per family so you are quite generous !!
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Total rubbish , however I do think marriage should be rewarded not looked at as odd and out of date and the divorced stop acting as though hey it is fine every one is doing it, no it is not fine it is a sign of society breakdown.
The charging of a tax for more than 2 children is exactly the same as guv control on the individual as in china it would result in a nightmare senario. It is funny that many who probably think this a spiff of an idea probably think they are the model family etc and are far from it.
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Absolutely! Pop and Pay the Only Way….ooh missed my calling I should be in advertising me…
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No you shouldn’t.
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Massive human rights issues of course but it does make sense.
With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2040 there is no realistic way to stop climate change. A 50% reduction in 1990 carbon emissions would be offset entirely by growth.
The human race surpassed the earths ‘carrying capacity’ long ago and it simply isnt sustainable. Perhaps a changing climate will restore the equilibrium through reducing population by itself?
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I’d like to see a tax rebate for those who choose not to have children.
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Enforcing or coercing a reduction in birthrate is a two edge sword! … as other countries are finding out! … there is already concerns about the effect that the “Baby Boomers” will have some western countries economies! … when they retire the burden placed on the working portion of society will be disproportionate to the total population ie 1 worker paying taxes to 3-4 or more nonproductive drawing benefit! ……
The solution would have to be increased numbers of immigrants with all of the social implications that that is already causing! ………
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If this were the case I think you’d find many people(myself included)would emigrate to more liberal countries, just like the many people who moved from China to escape oppression and to find freedom.
Whilst you’re on this train of thought then, how about involuntary euthanasia?! Because with less people being born in the UK how will we afford Mr Sharman’s and others pension without the population to provide for us?
Mr Sharman, have you read ‘A Brave New World’ by Huxley? There might be some more food for thought in there for you whilst you’re at it?!
Tackle climate change with intelligence, commitment and solidarity and things will change, don’t do it by taking away people’s human rights!
James Pearson (Father of two children and hoping to blessed with more in the not too distant future!)
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Rebate for those who choose not to have children? Speaks some one who is lucky his parents never went with that cracker of an idea.
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What a load of tosh.
The following should happen
1) Single person’s should pay a greater rate of tax, after all they benefit in later years from the next generation ie nurses, care workers, anyone employed in industry yet they do not utilise any income to the upbringing or care of the next generation. After all people with young children are actively providing for the future of our country so why should single persons be taxed less on a commodity which they will benefit from in later life.
2) Tax breaks should be provided for married couples with children
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The issue of overpopulation is a relevant one and will surface more and more I am sure. And it needs to. There is nothing sinister about taxation for more than two children. It is certainly a drastic measure and one that is almost certainly not going to be adopted by our government. However, even the most responsible of parents could be considered irresponsible from a societal point of view if they have large numbers of children. Time for citizens to consider others before themselves!
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Sounds a perfectly sensible idea.
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the only way to stop habitat reduction, pollution, and the massive amount of damage we cause to the world is by depopulation.
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Worst letter of the year.
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Populations cannot continue to grow indefinately that is obvious so sometime it will have to be addressed.
As to reducing marriage breakdown, tax incentives will achieve nothing whilst it is financially advantageous for women to divorce their husbands. Ask Paul McCartney or John Cleese or the many thousands of ex husbands who provide their ex wife and her lover with a home by court order.
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Why is everyone insistent on marriage?
What if a couple decide they mutually don’t want marriage as their relationship is perfectly fine without it… We have a son, and a happy relationship and both partner and i work, why should i have to pay more tax???
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I have been pumping the idea on world newspapers for two years. (Boston Globe etc).
However, we need to go further. Sterilization after two children, both men and women.
It will also steady up the marriage vows.
A news item about Climate Change.
“warmer than at any time since 1 BC” It poses the question: Is Jesus responsible for Global Warming? Perhaps Not Jesus directly, but the Catholic Church definitely. With their philosophy against Birth Control they ARE guilty.
People=Factories=Pollution=Global Warming=World chaos and death to ‘GOD’S Creatures.
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“….all people with young children are actively providing for the future of our country…”
Ha! Providing?? I’ve lost count of the number of people i know that have never worked a day in their lives and see living of benefits as a career choice! There children are likely to follow in their footsteps and continue sucking the life out of Britain!
No offence intended, just my opinion.
And in case you were wondering I am not single.
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My understanding was that the average family ideal is 2.x children….this allows enough of a population to be sustainable without growing or shrinking overly – the two children grow up to ‘replace’ the earning and therefore tax paying potential of the parents and the .X of a child in those larger families makes up for the couples who don’t have children, children who die before making it to tax paying adulthood etc etc. If the avergae goes down then there’s not enough young people coming through to ensure that the older populations is cared for in old age, a too high average is storing up problems due to a population growth that can’t be sustained.
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SO Marie (comment 18) when you get to your 70′s,80′s or 90′s you think that none of the next generation will be working?
In that case we will have quite a lot of empty hospitals (no nurse’r or Dr’s). The infrastructure of our country will collapse.
I think not. Please think before you comment on these boards.
And Keith how many females or males would get a payout the size of Heather Mill’s?? Not many, most people who divorce are arguing for custody for the cat
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“Go forth and multiply” …. wasn’t this one of the first directives aimed at mankind? …. I can’t believe some of the comments on this thread. Who do you think is going to be bringing home the bread when you are in your dotage?, who do think is going to look after your medical needs and carry your bedpan when most of your peers are much the same age and just as infirm as yourself?… if you deter your own society’s birthrate then you had better get used to seeing a lot more migrants who it would seem have no problem with a healthy birthrate and of course you had better steel yourselves for a goodly dose of culture shock.
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MARIE SAID
“Ha! Providing?? I’ve lost count of the number of people i know that have never worked a day in their lives and see living of benefits as a career choice! There children are likely to follow in their footsteps and continue sucking the life out of Britain!”
MARIE WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO YOU??OR WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO MIX WITH THIS CIRCLE OF PEOPLE? I KNOW NONE ONLY WHAT THE PAPRS TELL ME ABOUT.
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Best letter of the year.
I’d like to see IQ tests implemented for prospective breeders as well. The human gene pool does not need habitual Primark shoppers or Carling imbibers infecting it.
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Response to comment 20;
Y Mab Darogan, i said “I’ve lost count of the number of people i know that have never worked a day in their lives and see living off benefits as a career choice! There children are likely to follow in their footsteps and continue sucking the life out of Britain!”
I did not say, everyone lives off benefits. So i’m not sure how you got the impression that i think that none of the next generation will be working…..
Please read comments carefully, before commenting on them.
Kind regards.
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winja said,
“I’d like to see IQ tests implemented for prospective breeders as well. The human gene pool does not need habitual Primark shoppers or Carling imbibers infecting it.”
Been done before! …. a guy name of Hitler came up with such a plan to solve what he saw as a problem! …… and wasn’t that a huge success? ……………..
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In reply to woolibuga; I believe you are here referring to eugenics if you check out this term you will be surprised to learn that Hitler did not invent the study of human improvement by genetic means. (See in particular British Sir Francis Galton)
Perhaps though this scientific theory was discredited when Hitler used it as an excuse to slaughter Jews and any other supposed inferior beings.
So much for world wide scientific consensus.
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Response to comment 22.
Firstly Andrew, there is no need to shout sweetheart.
Secondly, i am not in a relation ship with these people. I know them, that is all. I have lived in different areas in the UK. I have lived in Australia and I am currently residing in New Zealand. Next year I plan to try Canada. I am very well travelled, especially for someone my age. I prefer to actually meet and experience different ways that people live, then I can comment more fairly on things. I certainly don’t rely on newspapers to form all of my opinions.
Regards.
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@ Ken Adams,
Yes I was indeed referring to Hitlers “Breeding Program” .. Lebensborn! ….. in reference to a previous post and see it as a most definite correlation to the intent of that poster! … The Nazi’s were intent on “Breeding In” or as you will “Breeding Out” genetic traits and as has been proven so many times when you “Cock a Snook” at nature she will be quick to plant one up your backside! ………
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Marie, Australia, newzealand,different parts of the Uk and you claim to be well travelled some are easily pleased I suppose.
I never take note of newspapers to form any of my opinions but you in your comment made a sweeping statment based on what??? have you lived in amongst these people??? have you worked and dealt with these people? have you seen the relevent claiment forms for these people ?. By knowing these people you are saying you infact are associating with them or in a relationship with these people after all as one excellent tory mp said you can’t make sweeping statments on these people you have to see the paper work see the amounts dished out see the actual figures otherwise you are listening to gossip/paper talk,or stealing there post.
So which is it??marie. As well as that to be honest I dislike people who are non uk resident having an opinion on the uk leave it to us the british tax payer.
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