Cróna Clohisey’s Post

While the international headlines say Ireland has too much money, others say our tax system is unsustainable, particularly middle earners who believe lower wage earners, not paying any tax is unfair. Department of Finance says State's taxation and welfare system does more to reduce income inequality than any other OECD economy. Others talk about unfairness of inheritance tax and then others say too much reliance on the corporation tax take is not sustainable. While very high wage earners get hit with a lot of tax. These issues do not deal with the cost bases of multi-satellites that create multiple bad feedback loops, often referred to as 'serial waste.' Markets have been driving the agenda for the past half century and more and profits have been exponential, even with high personal taxes of the top while the corporations profits are through the roof. The new US President is good news for private market economics. His key claim, not unlike the Tories, is to cut the cost of 'third way' half way house Tory/Neoliberal/Affordable Care Act-what they call have been a matrix of institutions-academic/technical management of societies-labour, consumption, care, economy, routinisation of patterns of life, with a morphing cost base and technical-administrative management structures, stifling to innovation and not sustainable. No mention about emissions etc. Re here, and the fiscal advisory council seems to agree, the versions of state 'Slainte' in vogue are not sustainable and that the cost bases of doing business the way we do is not a runner. And that many other countries offer far better quality of life indices than here. The state is not getting value for money and SF caught my attention way back re serial waste (eg insurance). And many other sectors. If we do not get these ratios right - the principles of democratic individuality and community create gulfs and gaps and cults of extremis. https://lnkd.in/eqTrX6Tx

Once in a country, always with a country  #PicturingDemocracy #244 There is no better way to develop a lasting interest in a country than to have travelled there. That is a bit of wisdom, I know. Still, this experience impresses me regularly. Whenever I have travelled to a country, afterwards, when reading the news, I am hooked on the news that deals with that country. This interest can last indefinitely as I have learnt over the years. My attachment is particularly strong with one country: #Ireland. It is the first country I have travelled to with friends rather than my parents. It was the end of my school days, and I was hitchhiking with two friends for three weeks from the east to the west coast. Since this was more than three decades ago, there were no cell phones back then, but difficult-to-fold road maps, pubs that closed inexplicably early in the evening, and lots of rain (at least the latter will probably have stayed the same). I don't remember much else. Except for a vague feeling of freedom and adventure. So, when Ireland is in the news, I always get stuck. And that's the case again these days. Because a new parliament is being elected today. The most likely outcome? Everything will stay the same. The Republic of Ireland looks like a rare Western democracy bent on defying the global trend of tossing out its government. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the two centrist parties that have governed the country in a coalition since 2020, appeared to be on cruise control to lock up enough votes to stay in power. Why is it so? Probably because of the economy. This is what Mark Landler, London bureau chief of the New York Times, writes: "Buoyed by American corporate investment, the Irish government has ample fiscal resources to offer people electricity credits, welfare payments, and assorted tax breaks — a stark contrast to Britain, where the fiscally strapped Labour government felt compelled to roll out an austere budget." In the same article Bobby McDonagh, former Irish ambassador to Britain, is quoted as: "The fact that people are comfortable in their lives suggests a degree of continuity in the government." ✊ This is what Europe can learn from Ireland: with successful economic policies, elections can (probably) be won by parties of the democratic center. —— 📸 August 1991 / Republic of Ireland

Over €60'000 per month (!) is paid to each EU Member of the Parliament (MP)! This translates to a total annual cost of €522'720'000 for the 720 MPs! This wasteful expenditure must stop! It took a young Cypriot TikToker to reveal the exact monthly allowances MPs receive for their "effort": 📌 €8'000 monthly salary 📌 €350 extra fee (!) for each day the MP signs in, adding up to €3'500 for 10 days of attendance (!) 📌 €30'000 monthly salary for their team 📌 €5'000 for a sub-office in the MP's home country 📌 €4'000 monthly to promote MP's "work' 📌 €10'000 monthly for "touring" people to parliament (!) Additionally, MPs enjoy special perks such as a personal driver and business class tickets. The total annual cost is over half a billion euros, which is outrageous for a body that primarily monitors and does not legislate. This situation must be resolved within the next five years. One of two things should happen: 💡 There should be a political union of Europe, transforming the European Parliament into a true legislative body, with a reduction or elimination of seats in national parliaments. 💡 In the more likely case of a not feasible political union, the European Parliament and the European elections should be abolished. Instead, MPs from national parliaments could gather in Brussels for once in a while. 🚩 Doesn't this decadent Europe, plagued with social issues, poverty, and marginalization in all its major cities, have enough ineffective organizations and incompetent politicians already?

“Jeremy Corbyn is to form an official parliamentary alliance with four independent MPs who were elected on pro-Gaza platforms – issuing a call for more MPs to join. The group will have the same number of MPs as Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist party, who each have five MPs, and more than the Green party and Plaid Cymru on four.” “Promising to fight austerity and campaign on issues including the winter fuel allowance, the two-child benefit limit and arms sales to Israel, the group also explicitly invited MPs to join them, a reference to seven rebel Labour MPs suspended by the party for voting to axe the two-child benefit cap. Corbyn, a former Labour leader, was elected as an independent MP for Islington North after being barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the last election. The group will also include the MPs Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed. The MPs said: “We were elected by our constituents to provide hope in a parliament of despair. Already, this government has scrapped the winter fuel allowance for around 10 million pensioners, voted to keep the two-child benefits cap, and ignored calls to end arms sales to Israel. “Millions of people are crying out for a real alternative to austerity, inequality and war – and their voices deserve to be heard. As individuals we were voted by our constituents to represent their concerns in parliament on these matters, and more, and we believe that as a collective group we can carry on doing this with greater effect. “The more MPs who are prepared to stand up for these principles, the better. Our door is always open to other MPs who believe in a more equal and peaceful world.” House of Commons UK House of Lords #UK #PM

As Budget 2025 approaches, the UK and Ireland face contrasting economic realities. The UK is grappling with fiscal constraints, limiting its options, while Ireland enjoys an €8 billion surplus. This allows the Irish Government to fund tax cuts, welfare increases, and infrastructure, creating a stark contrast between the two countries' fiscal positions.   Click here to read JOE NELLIS’ views on the current situation: https://lnkd.in/eDe-XhKh #Budget #Ireland #BakerTilly

Seven candidates from the political parties traded blows over immigration, child benefit, tax and trust in a debate on ITV News. Representatives from the Conservatives, Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru faced questions from an audience in Salford, as well as each other, in a debate taking place at the midpoint of the six-week general election campaign. Conservative Penny Mordaunt targeted her attack fairly relentlessly on Labour, repeatedly accusing them of planning to raise taxes - a claim Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner sought to rubbish. The smaller parties, including the SNP, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, also focused on Labour, often arguing it was too similar to the Conservatives. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued he was now the "opposition to Labour", pointing to a single poll that suggested his party could beat the Conservatives into third place, albeit within the margin of error. The debate took place on the same day as Labour launched its manifesto, which promised to boost growth in order to fund public services. Ms Rayner stressed her party's message, saying it would deliver growth "in every corner of the country". "Why so timid, why wait for growth?" the Greens' co-leader, Carla Denyer, asked as she urged Ms Rayner to adopt her party's plan to increase tax on the wealthier in society. She said the Tories were "toast" and accused Labour of offering the "same broken politics dressed up with a red rosette". Labour's deputy leader also faced criticism from the SNP's Stephen Flynn. He said it was "shameful" that Labour was not committing to re-joining the EU. He also accused the party of accepting £18bn of cuts to the public sector. Policy Roundup SCC has compiled a summary of the policies which are known so far, which have been trailed before the election was announced and shared since it was announced. You access this summary ➡️ https://buff.ly/3KGz98O The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network is here to support your business - reach out to share your views, concerns and opportunities. #SCCnews #businesssupport #businessnetwork #businessvoice #businessleader Sign up for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce enewsletter at https://buff.ly/3CpsQnu

W. Walker Hanlon's The Laissez-Faire Experiment traces why #Britain’s attempt at small government proved unable to cope with the challenges of the modern world. In the nineteenth century, as Britain attained a leading economic and political position in Europe, British policymakers embarked on a bold experiment with small and limited government. By the outbreak of the First World War, however, this laissez-faire philosophy of government had been abandoned and the country had taken its first steps toward becoming a modern welfare state. This book tells the story of Britain’s laissez-faire experiment, examining why it was done, how it functioned, and why it was ultimately rejected in favor of a more interventionist form of governance. Blending insights from modern economic theory with a wealth of historical evidence, W. Walker Hanlon traces the slow expansion of government intervention across a broad spectrum of government functions in order to understand why and how Britain gave up on laissez-faire. It was not abandoned because Britain’s leaders lost faith in small government as some have suggested, nor did it collapse under the growing influence of working-class political power. Instead, Britain’s move away from small government was a pragmatic and piecemeal response—by policymakers who often deeply believed in laissez-faire—to the economic forces unleashed by the Industrial Revolution. Now available, learn more about this important book: https://hubs.ly/Q02PdTH80 (5 Nov. UK pub)

Ireland vs UK: A Tale of Two Budgets! 💼 While Ireland enjoys a budget surplus, offering tax cuts and welfare support, the UK faces fiscal challenges with limited flexibility. The UK government, bound by tax and borrowing restrictions, may need to explore alternative revenue options like CGT and inheritance allowances. Meanwhile, Ireland's "feel-good" budget is set to stimulate growth, contrasting the UK's tighter economic forecast. Read our latest insight by Professor Joe Nellis 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eHyFR6-m #UKBudget #IrelandBudget #EconomicOutlook

In a world so polarized politically and what not, it is extremely rare to see goodwill and friendships across stark political views. 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞: The leaders of two political parties are touring Denmark, discussing issues over coffee and other topics where they disagree and occasionally find common ground. Inger Støjberg's right-wing Denmark Democrats party aims to balance Denmark by prioritizing rural areas, strict immigration policies, healthcare, and industry, while opposing CO2 taxes (party's webpage). Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the left-wing Socialist People's Party (SF), advocates for social equality, environmental sustainability, a welfare-based economy, and progressive taxes (party's webpage). 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞: Jakob Mark, MP Socialist People's Party (SF) and Alex Vanopslagh, leader of Liberal Alliance advocating individual freedom, personal responsibility, reduced government intervention, lowering taxes and reforming welfare (party's webpage). No, It is not all rosy and harmonious, but for what is worth, the whole world could learn a bit from this. It is also why I never hear Danes using the word 'enemy' - just 'different opinions'. Finding common ground seems to be one of those invisible but essential Danish traits. A trait in short supply? Photo: Netavisen Pio #agreetodisagree #denmark #danishculture

Wise and important advice from a NZ/UK practitioner for the UK Labour Government. Strategic focus is crucial