More left reformism from ULA TD's

[bolshevik]

New piece on revamped ULA web site "United Left Alliance TDs challenge Troika on doomed austerity policy (http://www.unitedleftalliance.org/united-left-alliance-tds-challenge-troika-on-doomed-austerity-policy/)"

Completely limited to a left-reformist vision of an alternative to neo-liberalism and austerity within the framework of capitalism.

[Apjp]

Despite this setback for those of us in favour of more radical solutions(it is true that the ULA is becoming somewhat reformist in my view of late as well) to the latest recession, a ULA alliance could probably be looking at anywhere up to 20 seats in the next election if they keep on with resistance to 'austerity' and remain well left of SF or liberalism. On the tax side of things, RBB out did VB last week for the first time I can remember when he quoted revenue figures to show that people earning over 100 odd grand only paid 29% in income tax last year, which is 8% lower than the standard rate of 37% because of various loopholes that still exist. At a time when we need to get out of this diktat, we should be raising that to around 40% effective, and it would raise 2-3 billion euros which could at least maintain public services.

I would be curious if SF and ULA in govt. could actually work out. SF, led by Doherty and McDonald could be a very positive govt. party as far as social republicanism, language planning for Irish, cultural investment and tourism are concerned. The ULA, with certain independents, if they won enough seats, could keep the govt. well to the left and keep ultra nationalism at bay. Having said that, I do think people from Ulster should be granted the vote and that it's about time we rose the issue of reunification considering current affairs in Edinburgh.

It wouldn't be the worst disaster to befall us. Could at least get us some freedom, social justice and democracy back. At the very least, we should have a govt. who have the 35 billion in unguaranteed bonds written off entirely, and some of the rest of the debt written off, who reclaim national resources, and who like Iceland did, tax the wealth. Iceland protected their industries, did not cut welfare and they taxed wealth. The IMF then offered them some very anti austerity like-sized concessions and they were in an IMF deal less than 3 years.

[Sam Lord]

Trotskyites embrace Keynes. Why am I not surprised ...

[gfmurphy101]

Well said, RBB did what many would like to see left activists concentrate on i.e provide information on the inequalities associated with capitalism! On a recent RTEFL programme lately a mouthpiece from the taxation institue was allowed to say unchallenged that the top 5% paid all the taxes and paid all their taxes at a rate of 54%! Infact I would say he was personal plant by Pat Kenny and all the super rich at RTE who detest paying any tax! A similar analysis was put forward by Ronan Lyons at http://www.ronanlyons.com/2009/07/28/a-little-quiz-on-irelands-income-tax/ , one can see the general drift of the argument, its more to do with widening the tax base ! this quote ◦Ireland’s top 0.5% of earners, the 11,714 people who earned more than €275,000 in a year, paid almost 18% of all income tax, over €2bn in total. Their average tax rate was 27.5%., now perhaps some one with a better brain than me, maybe a member of ULA could work out what the average wage of the 11,714 was , seen as ronan does not want to tell us, and what % of national income they earned , because perhaps that is where the rtefl propaganda begins and the truth ends!