Sir, - In Orwell's 1984, the authorities did not have to construct lies that would stand up for ever. The lies would serve their purpose if they survived as long as the people's memory for public events and statements.
In the 1980s, when services were being slashed and PAYE rates were as high as they could go, one could not turn on a current affairs programme without hearing some grave, concerned politician asserting that it could not be otherwise. This considered opinion was always accompanied by the cliche "there is no crock of gold out there to be taxed". I remember the regretful expression that would accompany this assertion. And the statement would always be followed by some snide reference to infantile leftists, who irresponsibly peddled the myth that the rich had money that was not being taxed at rates anything like PAYE rates. Now that we know there were many, many crocks of gold out there looking for tax efficient financial products, looking for tax amnesties and looking to facilitate the democratic process, I have tried and tried to remember who coined the phrase "there are no crocks of gold". Was it Alan Dukes, Desmond O'Malley or Ray McSharry? Maybe some reader could enlighten me. And maybe The Irish Times could provide a service to refresh the fading memories of readers with old quotes from omniscient politicians as the quotes become relevant again.
I do not doubt for a minute that the only reason that the rich were not called upon to help the State during the unending fiscal crisis of the 1980s was that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the PDs and their tame economists did not know that any rich people existed in Ireland. But amends can still be made for an honest mistake. Once again economists are saying that the taxpayer needs to make a sacrifice for the common good. Deflation through taxation is necessary to avoid an inflationary crash, they tell us. Why not deflate demand by taxing the super-rich while going ahead with tax reductions for the PAYE sector? I know that right wing politicians and economists will find a reason why this would do no good at all . But surely, this time round, none of the great and the good would have the nerve to claim that no such crocks of gold exist? - Yours, etc.,
Tim O'Halloran,
Glasnevin, Dublin 11.