People will tolerate woeful levels of deprivation, poverty and shortages. They did during the war with cheerfulness and acceptance. There are hard times ahead. They could be accepted without resentment against government.
But the public will rage against unfairness. The equality of poverty is preferable to the unfairness of privilege. The misery must be shared.
Today's Select Committee report of cheating tax deals reveals an outrage. The Daily Mail warns "While families, shopkeepers and small businesses are forced to pay their bills in full, big businesses are striking favourable deals and have a 'far too cosy' relationship with HM Revenue and Customs."
38 degrees comments "As lots of us prepare for winter on a tight budget, it’s not hard to imagine that those billions of pounds could have been spent on something better than stuffing the wallets of the most powerful companies in the country. We could have spent it on schools, on hospitals, or making sure everyone can have a safe, warm home this Christmas time.
We know that tax dodging is a big issue. That's why last month we decided that it should be something we should make an urgent priority."
Tax-dodgers bribing the taxman with fine food and wine is a provocation that will stir justified anger. Beware Cameron.
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