Tuesday 29 October 2019

The Children's Tea Party?

It looks as if the lowering of the voting age to 16 might itself be put to the vote in the House of Commons. But some children even younger than that, such as child actors, are liable for income tax.

In any case,"no taxation without representation" is the cry of the greatest of all the bourgeois revolts, the prototype of Thatcherism. It entirely misunderstands how both the money supply and the taxation system work.

And logically, it would require "no representation without taxation", so that no one would have the vote if their income fell below the income tax threshold. That is now the position of 43 per cent of adults in the United Kingdom. It would be the position of almost all 16 and 17-year-olds these days.

You see, contrary to what all sorts of people still seem to imagine, you cannot now leave the system, one way or another, until you are 18, and £12,501 would be quite the Sixth Form Saturday job, or even quite the apprenticeship.

Most 16 and 17-year-old income taxpayers, such as there are, must be either fabulously well-paid entertainers, or just independently wealthy. But by the logic of the Votes at 16 lobby, they alone of their age group should have the vote.

Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party is now in the process of registration. After nearly 30 years of suggestion, speculation, and even a sort of preparation, I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham. The crowdfunding page is here, and buy the book here. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.

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