No more tax

THE article regarding the Finance Secretary being under pressure to raise taxes on top earners (Evening Times December 15), regardless of how tempting/easy this may appear, is it wise?

Clearly taxation is an unavoidable evil, Churchill’s quote “I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle” has never been heard.

It may sound a good headline grabbing policy but there are flaws.

If people are feeling that they are being treated as cash cows, a number of things will inevitably happen.

Firstly, you will remove the incentive to work harder, adding value to companies and society in general.

Secondly, the people who are higher earners are more likely to be in a position to find methods to be more tax efficient.

Thirdly, this will make Scotland a less appealing destination for incomers in that category. The very people Scotland needs.

Any combination of the three scenarios above will result in a reduction in the tax take, therefore increasing the tax burdens on everyone else, the very people who were meant to be the beneficiaries of the policy in the first place.

I do commend the people who are advocating such a policy for their generosity with other people’s money. And I am not a top rate taxpayer.

Graham Keddie, Kelvindale

Why so long?

READING about Police Scotland looking into 109 reports of child sex abuse (Evening Times December 16), it is no surprise that football has attracted people who wish to exploit children for their own gratification.

The only real surprise is that it has taken until now to be highlighted.

Let’s hope that we have a full in depth investigation into how these crimes were allowed to happen.

I hope that those who ignored the crimes and simply passed on the problem to other clubs are named and shamed.

I expect that we will find that several of our top clubs will be found to have chosen to protect themselves rather than the victims.

Francis John, posted online

Use crossings

READING about improvements to the Fastlink at the Broomielaw (Evening Times December 16), this wouldn’t need to happen if people just used the crossings!

I see it all the time, people risking life and limb crossing city centre roads when the pedestrian crossing is just a few yards further down the road.

Mags MacLeod, posted online