I am confused

I must admit I am now completely confused. When we had the financial hole, we had tax hikes galore to fill the hole. VAT went up by 20% (3% on 15%), Eco-Tax (sorry contribution) was introduced, increase in social security contributions, increase in road tax, increase in registration tax on second hand cars, surcharge on water and electricity, departure tax, together with a myriad increases in charges for Government services big and small. Somehow because or despite the increased tax burden, Gonzi tells us that the economy has flourished. Now it is reducing tax that will make the economy flourish. Something is not quite right. Seems that Gonzi can have it both ways.

It seems that euros are oozing out of the woodwork such that Government does not need our money. If that is so why all the fuss that the country cannot afford to pay for this and that. For example do we afford pensions or not? Why do we need to raise retirement age if Government has so much money that it wants to give it away?

Overtime and Income Tax

Labour's proposal on overtime is a bad idea. It targets a part of part of the workforce. Not everyone works overtime. What is the advantage behind such a proposal? What is in it for the self-employed. First of all I declare that I am self-employed and therefore it effects me directly. I pay tax on all my income whether during "normal" working hours and after "normal" working hours. I know that cynics will say that the self-employed cheat on their taxes anyway. But that is beside the point. Not everyone is a cheat.

Secondly I shudder to think of those Government employees who work overtime in summer because the working day is too short who will not pay any tax at all.

Bad bad idea.