Tax ''thiefing Scumbags''

[Grahamm]

No, a system, based solely on emissions, doesn't take into account the wear and tear a vehicle causes to the road, nor the congestion that it contributes to.

Any reasonable system should take both pollution and road wear into account.

And how do you quantify those?  As someone who filters at pretty much every opportunity, should I pay less tax than someone on the same bike who sits in a queue of traffic?

You take an average figure, of course, unless you want a system where the Government monitors every journey you make?

[Grahamm]

By a flat rate of income tax I do mean just that. Say 30 percent (remember that ni would be included). The richer don't get a bonus. They do get to keep more of what they have earned. However rich people would still pay more tax than poor people (as it is a percentage).

Which is great if you're rich, you get more money and can afford to save, thus earning interest too.

Unfortunately if you're less well-off, you get screwed because you're having to use a bigger proportion of your income simply to pay day to day expenses and cannot afford to save.

[Grahamm]

If you stick £1000 in a savings account for a year you'll have £1005 at the end so you pay income tax on the £5 you earn.

Then you've got it in the wrong account!

You can get 1.75% tax free from an ISA for £17.50 interest all of which you get to keep.