Sir, – I intend not to pay any household charge.
I do not object to contributing to my local community and I can currently afford €100. So, I have instead given €100 to the Cork Simon Community.
The Constitution allows that my property rights may be “regulated by the principles of social justice”. When Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan admits that the current scheme is “not in any way a fair tax, because it’s a flat tax” (RTÉ Morning Ireland, February 7th), I do not see how it can be enforced.
I don’t see how this Government can devise a property tax that does take account of social justice. It plans to tax my home based on its “value”, treating it as an asset, when it is in fact a noose of significant negative equity.
A “value” based system will not take account of ability to pay. The income of one household may have halved in the past few years, while their neighbour’s may have doubled. Will a widow be expected to leave the family home and down-size if her disposable income is not enough to cover the future rating? Now more than ever, property values do not reflect income.
Nor will a “value” based system take account of what households have paid in the past. Five years ago, I paid over €10,000 to the State in the form of stamp duty, for a very modest house. Was that not enough of a property-based contribution? The department’s web-site states: “We are one of the last countries in Europe that does not fund local services through local property-based charges.” The Government need not worry. As a people, we are brave enough and mature enough to sustain being the odd one out on this one.
It is disingenuous for the Government to suggest that people who object to this charge are trying to get something for nothing. It is not as though we haven’t been paying for these services all along, through the central taxation system. Of course, there is no longer enough money in that pot, particularly since we have taken on the private debt of investors. For some reason, bondholders must be protected from negative equity. Enda Kenny says the household charge is to pay for local services, but it is clear to all of us that it is indirectly paying for the incompetence of professional investors.
By the Government’s own admission, this is an inequitable tax. The most fair and efficient way to collect tax is via income tax. While I, thankfully, have an income, tax me a bit more.
We don’t need more bureaucracy and people’s homes should not be further threatened. It is “only” €100, but if we accept this now, we will find it far more difficult to make a stand when it turns into an extra mortgage payment per year. It will push people over the edge.
Revised bankruptcy laws will be more important than ever. I have informed the Minister of my decision. I am glad we don’t set fire to banks in Ireland. This is my peaceful protest. – Yours, etc,