It's a very, very mad world @ No 10

I caught Arturo caterwauling his way through Gary Jules' Mad World Lyrics and becoming increasingly maudlin at the same time as he was reading various papers. We had been discussing Peter Hitchens' blog in The Mail on Sunday 'There's nothing moral about tax - so feel free to avoid it'. Hitchens states:

What on earth is moral about paying tax? A greedy, slovenly state forces you to hand over roughly half your money every year, by threatening to send you to prison if you don’t

http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/

Neither of us agreed! Being cats, of course we don't pay taxes! However, neither do us cats have an NHS, schools, roads, a defence force, a subsidised public transport etc etc. You get my gist though, I trust! If the word 'society' means anything then surely it is that everyone pays his or her fair share of tax to ensure that the State runs smoothly. Also, if there is to be a civilised state, then those who have a great deal need to contribute more so that the disadvantaged can survive with dignity!

Maybe, no one has a 'duty' to 'pay more than the law demands'. However, there are scheming individuals intent on what has been termed 'aggressive tax avoidance'. In The Guardian, Patrick Collinson wrote an article entitled:Tax avoidance loophole that costs HMRC a small fortune: We shine the spotlight on the controversial 'loans' that allow high earners to shield much of their income from tax. In this he states

The claims made by specialist accountancy firms are beguiling. Running a successful business? You can cut your income tax bill to "virtually zero". Earning a fortune? You can "have your cake and eat it". Concerned HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) won't like it? Don't worry – many of the staff at the accountancy firms previously worked there and know their way around.

At the heart of the tax-saving claims are controversial loans which companies can make to an individual rather than paying them a salary, thereby avoiding income tax.

He continued

One chief accountant of a major national accountancy firm explained to Guardian Money how wealthy individuals can avoid income tax almost completely through "employer-financed retirement benefit schemes" (EFRBS). But he was only willing to detail the schemes on condition of anonymity.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jun/22/tax-avoidance-loophole

The whole issue of 'aggressive tax avoidance' has been simmering on for months, if not years. Both Labour and the Coalition have complained but done nothing to stop it. They each have some large donor or others who has dished out the dosh to keep the party's sweet and stop them from reviewing the tax system, even though the country is well nigh skint!

The issue came to a head last week when the taxation schemes of Jimmy Carr, the so-called comedian, were exposed by 'The Times'. Moral indignation swept the country. How could this man who appears to be the voice of the people salt away a nice little nest-egg in a tax avoidance scheme? 'Boy David' Cameron was one of the indignant voices. He just had to chip in his views, didn't he?

Politics Home quoted Cameron

"I think some of these schemes - and I think particularly of the Jimmy Carr scheme - I have had time to read about and I just think this is completely wrong.

"People work hard, they pay their taxes, they save up to go to one of his shows. They buy the tickets. He is taking the money from those tickets and he, as far as I can see, is putting all of that into some very dodgy tax avoiding schemes" ...

"But some of these schemes we have seen are quite frankly morally wrong. The Government is acting by looking at a general anti avoidance law but we do need to make progress on this. It is not fair on hard working people who do the right thing and pay their taxes to see these sorts of scams taking place."

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/27528/

Was it wise, 'Boy David', to open your mouth before engaging your brain? Nothing in your own past that might suddenly turn round and bite you?

Of course, none of us is whiter than white when it comes to filthy lucre or dirty dosh! And of course, someone is going to do a little bit of digging, aren't they? Sure enough, the dig was done and the dirt suitably dished. Ed Howker and Shiv Malik in The Guardian wrote

Cameron family fortune made in tax havens Revealed: David Cameron's father built up legal offshore funds in Panama and Geneva

They detail the Cameron family financial dealings

David Cameron's father ran a network of offshore investment funds to help build the family fortune that paid for the prime minister's inheritance, the Guardian can reveal.

Though entirely legal, the funds were set up in tax havens such as Panama City and Geneva, and explicitly boasted of their ability to remain outside UK tax jurisdiction.

All rather embarrassing for the man who had said that Jimmy Carr's tax affairs were 'frankly morally wrong'.

The same article by Howker and Malik went on to state:

Downing Street said it did not want to comment on what was a private matter for the Cameron family."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/20/cameron-family-tax-havens

Uh huh! If that's so, why did 'Boy David' Cameron comment 'on what was a private matter for'for Jimmy Carr?

As Arturo quoted: "Oh what a tangled web we weave ....", he sighed deeply and said "To go from the sublime to the utterly ridiculous, mi old pal - have you heard the one about HRH having to curtsy to the other HRH but not if her husband is with her?"

He showed me the article. It was truly back to 'Alice in Wonderland'. It seems the Duchess of Cambridge has to curtsy to the Princesses of the 'blood'. She only has to do this if she isn't with her husband - then if he is with her, she can cock a snook at them! The same is true for old Camilla pardon me, the Duchess of Cornwall - when she is with hubby, she can get away with anything - etiquette-wise, you understand - but when she's on her own - boy is she on her own! And where did we get all this wondrous information - why from the horse's mouth so to speak: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9351571/The-Queen-tells-the-Duchess-of-Cambridge-to-curtsy-to-the-blood-princesses.html

As Gary Jules wrote:

when people run in circles its a very very mad world, mad world

Me and Arturo aren't so mad - we're off for a country, kitchen mouse supper! And, ya know somethin? Arturo won't have to bow or curtsy to me nor me to him! Now, ain't that a relief!

'Bye'