CORPORATION TAX REFORMS ANYONE?

By Julian Jessop (IEA)

Plenty of taxes and regulations that affect the business community are long overdue for reform. Unfortunately, the Conservative Party and Labour Party today have dodged tackling the big questions around their future, and have instead proposed some counter-productive policies that may actually damage the economy.

While both parties are right to target business rates as an area in need of reform, the corporation tax system is also increasingly out of date. The Conservative’s plan to postpone further cuts to corporation tax, and indeed Labour’s pledge to reverse the cuts, both ignore research showing more than half the burden is borne by workers; furthermore, corporation tax remains an inefficient way to raise government revenue and has a negative impact on investment and entrepreneurship

In addition, the renationalisations proposed by Labour not only come with a hefty price tag, but would also create state monopolies in key sectors of the economy, reducing competition and driving more innovative providers out of business.

Further Reading - https://iea.org.uk/publications/why-corporation-tax-should-be-scrapped/

THE CAMPAIGN SURVIVAL GUIDE

By Selina Seesunkur

Whether you are campaigning during an election or fighting for an ongoing cause, canvassing is generally a must-do. Here are some essential tips to help you whether you are knocking on doors or standing in your local town square.

Image: Classically Printed

Stay hydrated

Speaking to people for a few hours can be thirsty work. It is important that you stay hydrated.

In the interest of being environmental, we recommend using a reusable water bottle

Take Notes

You will be asked to record key information, pen and paper is always handy!

Image: Engin Akyurt

Image: StockSnap

Pucker up

Dry lips can be uncomfortable, carry lip balm on you, especially on those cold winter days, after all, you need your mouth for talking!

Image: Pexels

Weather-Ready

You never know whether it is going to rain or shine, you have a couple of options here

• Carry an umbrella

• Wear a cap

• Wear a rain poncho with hood.

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 Minty Fresh Breath

There is nothing worse than talking to a person with bad breath. Don’t let that person be you.

Hours of talking, lack of hydration or you might have simply eaten lunch, can all lead to bad breath, drink plenty and carry mints on you, just in case.

Be Bacteria Free

With the spread of flu in the winter months, hand sanitisers help to deter the spread of germs and illness-causing bacteria

A tissue is also a good idea in case you do get a cold while you are out.

Image: Xavier Vandeputte

Image: Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke

Stay Charged

There are a number of reasons for keeping your phone charged. The first is for your safety,  if you are using a location tracker your teammates can find you if you get separated from them. But you may also find that there are Apps in the market that help you record the information you collect from your canvassing session. Finally, photos are a great way of showing how active you are and raising awareness for your cause. We encourage you to carry a small USB battery pack or power bank. 

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Mind your back

Worn across your upper body to ensure you do not get backache, this bag is ideal for carrying campaign leaflets.  You can also hang your water bottle from the strap.

Image: Tero Vesalainen

Let them know who you are

When approaching the public it is a good idea to let them know who you are and what group or cause you are campaigning for. Either carry business cards, a badge which identifies the group you are with or literature which outlines the nature of the organisation that you represent

SHARE MY OPINION OR ELSE

 By Alan O’Kelly

You may have come across the story about the famous actress, talk show host and LGBT activist Ellen DeGeneres. For those of you who don’t know the story, Ellen while attending an American football game, sat beside former U.S President George W.Bush. For American Football aficionados out there, it was Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers.  The response on social media was swift and unrelenting. Most of the anger arose from Bush's poor record on LGBTQ rights. For example, one of his key promises in the 2004 election was a constitutional change barring same-sex marriage, which came to nothing. As a prominent LGBTQ activist Ellen was criticised for not just sitting beside him, but for also clearly engaging and enjoying his company.

When the internet was first introduced, the expectation was that it would open up a world of debate and discussion where people's views and ideas would be enlightened by hearing from people whose views differed. In fact, the opposite has happened, communities have become tribal, willing to hear only from those who agree with us or whose views essentially conform to what we already think.

How can we ever have civilised conversations or enhance our knowledge when people and their individual views are being so easily dismissed?

A recent study for the independent found that more than one in 20 Britons (6 percent) say they have fallen out with or stopped speaking to a family member, and almost one in 12 (8 percent) have fallen out with a friend due to disagreement over Brexit. Regardless of which side a person is on - to truly understand the world I believe that listening to both sides of a debate is healthy, and by kicking people out of one’s social circle we are simply narrowing our worldview. Of course, this is not to say we should tolerate abhorrent views, but rather we need to reverse the trend where people become defined simply and completely by their differing views.

And if nothing else, as Ellen rightly said: "I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different. And I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different.”