Richard Murphy — The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong

It may come as a shock to many, including David Cameron, to realise that tax is a massively multi-facetted tool. What is more, he might even be even more shocked to realise that the primary purpose of tax is not to pay for government spending, and yet his comments clearly reveal that he thinks this is the case. So before it can be decided whether or not tax is moral the uses of tax have to be explained. There are at least five of them. - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpuf

David Cameron has said there is a moral duty to cut tax and in the process reveals, yet again his lack of understanding of tax, morality and the economy.

Tax is an economic tool. That is all. Let’s not overstate its importance, however excited I get about it. And, like all tools, the only question that can be asked of it is whether or not it is being used to do the right job, in the right way at the right time. The morality of tax comes from answering that question. Tax itself is as neutral as money is in itself: it’s how it is used that matters.

It may come as a shock to many, including David Cameron, to realise that tax is a massively multi-facetted tool. What is more, he might even be even more shocked to realise that the primary purpose of tax is not to pay for government spending, and yet his comments clearly reveal that he thinks this is the case. So before it can be decided whether or not tax is moral the uses of tax have to be explained.

Tax Research UK
The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong
Richard Murphy
h/t Andy Blatchford

The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpuf

The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpuf

The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpuf

The morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpufThe morality of taxation, or David Cameron got this one wrong - See more at: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/11/01/the-morality-of-taxation-or-david-cameron-got-this-one-wrong/#sthash.RXSsUx3A.WpoINIqG.dpuf