(no subject)

[puddingcat]

Yes, I'm pleased that Obama won. I know very little about his policies, but I admire and respect his intellect, and he isn't Sarah Palin.

I'm less pleased that Proposition 8 was voted in.

But then I find sites like this and this, which show how things are changing.

Now, I still consider myself fiscally conservative - low tax, spend only on people who really need it - but I'm also aware that the US is in general further to the right than the UK when it comes to politics, so the growing blueness makes me smile. The "Too close to call" state of NC makes me smile more, because it was red in every one of those previous elections. Hurrah for the state of our head office (and the Cape Fear Schwartz Community College...)!

Yes, I'm unhappy that same sex marriages are once again illegal in California, but - as the blog post says - 10% in 8 years is a really good start. A journey of a thousand limes miles, etc, etc.

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

You're a Liberal, you just refuse to admit it [/predictable comment]

Apparently it's still possible for prop 8 to be struck down, especially given how close the vote was.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

The Political Compass thing puts me right on top of the Lib Dems... Except that I'm far more liberal than them when it comes to some things, and far less when it comes to others. I prefer to vote in line with my fiscal opinions, and work towards social liberality outside Big Government.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. And alls I'm saying is that if you want to reduce the size of government and cut taxes in this country there is only one party proposing that right now, and it ain't the tories.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Really?

Go on then - when would tax freedom day be under the LDs? How does that compare with where it was when Labour got in? To where it is now?

I'm more wedded to the idea of voting for minimal tax & interference (Git Orf Moi Land applied to government intervention in life in general) than I am a particular party.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Tax freedom day depends on your income, doesn't it?

This (http://www.libdems.org.uk/assets/0000/7890/Policy_Paper_81_-_Reducing_the_Burden.pdf) is our policy paper on tax. I suspect that bits of it will mean more to you than to me, but the rhetoric is to cut red tape for both businesses and individuals, and to raise income tax thresholds rather than doing stuff like tax credits (which would save money on admin which could be fed into further tax cuts etc.)

The current policy is to cut £20 billion from the tax burden on individuals, although that will be aimed at the lower end.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but the overall TFD for the country is a good starting measure of how much the govt is taking from people. Apparently it was June 2 in 2008 - and this handy table shows other years, too! Hurrah for Google!

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Adam Smith institute tend to be fairly reliable, too... It's later under Thatcher than I would have thought!

Well, obviously I can't give a firm date, but if we're cutting the overall tax burden it would be earlier, yes? But I know £20 billion isn't a huge amount in terms of overall government take, so we'd lose a couple of days, maybe?

BTW, I really want to introduce you to Charlotte Gore. She's a "reluctant" Lib Dem member, works in finance, and she makes you look like a raging leftie.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Ah, the benefits of having a chartered accountant as Chancellor!

The budget should give an estimate of when TFD should be, since it's based on projected take from projected incomes.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Can I bring Alix Mortimer in on this? She knows our economic policies much better than me. I am very much of the "Vince knows what he's doing, and if he snuffs it we have several other well-qualified people in the party" school of thought on these matters...

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Sure - it's an open post :) But any insulting of anyone (except Gordon Brown, John Prescott and Sarah Palin) will get commenters warned then blocked :)

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Alix is one of those people who makes it very obvious what an ill-educated pleb I am every time she opens her mouth/keybgoard. I am in awe of her, and she deservedly swept the board at the lib dem blog awards. Luckily she hasn't noticed how Gumbylike my intellect is next to hers, and still talks to me...

http://fabulousblueporcupine.wordpress.com/

She's not the type to throw about gratuitous insults.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

(Also, a quick skim through the paper made me (a) want to scream at the mention of a GAAR - everyone in the profession hates the idea, and (b) wonder what the "higher taxes on the wealthy" would be. I'll re-read when I have more time, but...)

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Higher taxes on the wealthy is people earning over £200,000 pa, if I recall correctly, and mostly involves closing exploitable loopholes via the simplification of the regs... Which hopefully wouldn't do you out of a job...

want to scream at the mention of a GAAR - everyone in the profession hates the idea

So join up, and put forward an amendment motion at Conference. Any member can put forward policy motions in the party, and spring conference is in Hairy Git, so you could come and visit nannyo with us ;)

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

This (http://www.libdemvoice.org/pmqs-nick-tackles-gordon-on-obamas-tax-cutting-policy-5551.html) might be a useful link also.