Just to recommend a great debate that’s fizzing away over at Comment Central. On one side there’s Daniel Finkelstein, who – I think it’s fair to say – is less-than-impressed with what he calls the Lib Dems’ “punk” tax cuts, and advocates a more cautious approach. On the other, there’s Nick Clegg, who says those unholy, punk tax-cuts are right for our economically-depressed times.
Finkelstein got the ball rolling with this post, in which he takes a jibe at the Lib Dems’ tax policy. Clegg responded here. I quote a paragraph with largely sums up that response:
“Why does Danny think it’s impossible after a decade of spiralling Whitehall spending to find 3% of that money that could be put to a better use? That’s what Gordon Brown says – the Government knows best, and the rest of us are not allowed to question the way he spends our money.”
The latest installment is a response to Clegg’s post by Finkelstein. Again, I pull out a key passage:
“Right, before we get started let me straighten one thing out. I am not against tax cuts. I am in favour of them. But I want proper tax cuts, not punk tax cuts. What’s the difference? Proper tax cutting means overall tax cuts that come from changing the organisation and scope of the state. It requires proper reform and takes time. Punk tax cutting is borrowing to cut taxes or announcing unconvincing tax cuts based on dubious “savings” just to be able to say you are cutting specific taxes by a given amount immediately.”
Do take the time to read through all the posts (as well as Guido’s commentary). They really do represent the political blgopshere at its best – lively, informative, topical and, in the best possible sense, combative. You’ve just got to ask yourself one question: are you on Team Clegg or Team Finkelstein?
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