Quote:
Originally Posted by Livia
I don't see why it has to be an "either/or" situation. Let's have both. Let's cut something else. Overseas aid, for a start. Not saying that it should be cut completely, but it needs an overhaul. If we clawed back a bit from countries we're giving to, who just don't need it, maybe more of our own citizens could live a little easier.
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I don't think it is an either / or... I think it was an agreement trade? Lib dems didn't really want a marriage tax break and cons didn't want free school meals (this is the Tories of course... They'd be dishing out gruel to kids on benefits if they had their way) but they basically said "OK, we'll sign off in the kids meals if you sign off on the marriage break".
I dont know why they need such schoolyard tactics to be fair. A ridiculous way to run a country really.
Both aren't bad policies and neither are costly... so no need for such drama! Allowing couples to combine their tax band allowance makes a lot of sense. currently we have a situation where one person earning 40k with a stay at home partner end up with a significantly lower household income than a couple who both work and bring home 20k each. Which is stupid. It encourages two parents to enter a saturated work market and farm out their kids to childcare, rather than to have a similar lifestyle but with one parent actually raising their kids.
We live in a society where kids are being raised by teachers and childcare services and only see any real parenting at the weekend. It's a shambles.