Madam, – All analyses of our current economic situation by the majority of politicians and political editors seem to result in attacks upon benefits and welfare payments as the chief solution to our financial problems.
The two Brians, Cowen and Lenihan suggest that we have to export out way out of trouble, casually forgetting to mention that our exports are already higher than at the height of the Celtic Tiger. At this point they should recognise that taking huge amounts out of the domestic economy by savage benefit cuts will only depress our chances of recovery even further.
Increases of taxation by their very nature are concentrated on people who are living well above social welfare levels. There is a failure to consider corporation tax as an area for a substantial increase for example: 2 per cent would give €670 million, 10 per cent would still leave us in the company of countries with below average rates in the EU. Removal of the top 10 tax concessions would supply close to €11 billion.
I would remind our politicians and media commentators that a double-dip recession is something that none of us can afford, certainly not those at the bottom of the economic pile. – Yours, etc,