Sunday 18 February 2018

Tax For The Planet

Just imagine scrapping all existing taxes ,Yes all existing taxes were replaced with a single NATURAL RESOURCE TAX, collected as near to source as possible  based on the damage all those resources cause to all ecosystems on the planet , yes including man, by their use and consumption. 

 This would really change the way we all use and consume all the natural resources we have available to us all via the goods and services we all use and consume.  Its a mindset change that we have to get used to , and at present progress, we are not getting anywhere fast, in fact by all accounts , if it was not for the economic austerity we have been having, the situation would be a lot worse.

Surely we all have to understand that everything we have on this planet comes at a price of some sort , whether it is direct CO2 emissions with NOX and a whole host of other airborne toxins  or indirect  killing of flora fauna and wildlife from covering with tarmac , concrete and even chemical farming practices, they all wreak havoc on the ecosystems.

By changing the fundamental  way we collect our taxes, it would really change the whole mindset from planning and design through sourcing and manufacture to distribution and retailing to final consumption, with a  method of recycling the waste to mitigate some tax!  

The consumer of all goods and services will then really appreciate what impacts various options carry with them, as the price for those with dirty credentials will be very expensive while those with clean and truly sustainable credentials will be of lower cost. The consumer pays for the mess either way. We need real accurate guidance to what is truly good for the planet, and if they persist in bad buying habits they must pay the price themselves , not place the burden on everyone.

Individuals at work or home have to  take responsibility for their actions , and a taxation system like this would place the real value of all natural resources use at the consumer end and they would then drive the direction through sound natural business ans consumption habits.  

Also  there would less chance of individual tax evasion, fraud and avoidance, making it far fairer than now. It is like increasing fuel duty but at source for all Natural Resources, This could be achieved in one term of government with various taxes being transferred to the new regime of tax collection providing a stick and carrot throughout the transition. 

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