Policymakers abroad: on Tax Reform


New Testament: OpEd: Bible endorses flat tax--10% tithing

Although much of Carson's speech focused on personal responsibility, he offered two concrete policy ideas. The first is a flat tax. The Bible endorses the idea, Carson explained. Everyone should tithe--give 10 percent--in good times and bad. It doesn't have to be 10 percent, he conceded. It's the principles of proportionality and simplicity that matter.

Critics complain that the poor guy who puts in $1 will be hurt more than the rich guy who puts in $1 billion. But, Carson asks: "Where does it say you've got to hurt the [rich] guy? He just put a billion dollars in the pot. We don't need to hurt him. It's that kind of thinking that has resulted in 602 banks in the Cayman Islands."

Source: 2013 CPAC on Foreign Influences. in National Review Feb 13, 2013

Vladimir Putin: Raise tax to 15% for income over 5 million rubles ($72,000)

Putin has proposed raising income tax on high earners. The president proposed that the tax be raised by 2 percentage points to 15 percent for annual personal income that exceeds 5 million rubles ($72,700) starting January 1, 2021. The hike is lower than what some officials had been calling for in recent years. The current 13 percent income tax for all citizens was introduced during Putin's first presidential term in 2001 and has remained unchanged ever since.
Source: Radio Free Europe on Foreign Influencers Jun 23, 2020

Vladimir Putin: Increased mineral extraction tax three times in a year

Putin said that Russia will raise a mineral extraction tax (MET) on metals producers in 2022. The idea to withdraw excess profits from mining firms was introduced by Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Sazanov. It would be the third tax increase for the Russian metals and mining industry since the start of this year, when the government raised the MET export tax for metals firms.
Source: Reuters News Service on Foreign Influencers Aug 6, 2013

Liz Truss: She has pledged to slash taxes from day one

The closer she has edged to power, the more Britons have wondered what a Truss premiership would look like. She has campaigned to lead on the most conservative of agendas. She has pledged to slash taxes from day one, tear up EU regulations and encourage private sector growth with low corporation tax. She has said she will not impose a windfall tax on energy companies despite their posting huge profits during the current cost-of-living and energy crisis.
Source: CNN.com "Shape Shifter" on Foreign Influences Sep 6, 2022

Liz Truss: Higher taxes makes it harder to attract investment we need

The U.K. has one of the lowest levels of debt in the G7, but we have one of the highest levels of taxes. Currently, we have a 70-year high in our tax rates. I'm determined to make sure we are incentivizing businesses to invest, and we're also helping ordinary people with their taxes. I don't feel it's right to have higher national insurance and higher corporation tax, because that will make it harder for us to attract the investment we need. It will be harder to generate those new jobs.
Source: CNN SOTU interviews on Foreign Influences: UK Prime Minister Sep 25, 2022

Rishi Sunak: Taxes can only be lowered once inflation is under control

While he also advocated for lower taxes, he said tax could only be cut once inflation is brought under control, which could take several years. His warning over the summer that Truss' unfunded tax cuts could spark panic in the financial markets turned out to be true.
Source: CNN "Final candidates" on Foreign Influences Jul 24, 2022

  • The above quotations are from Foreign Influences on United States Policy.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Pope Francis on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Vladimir Putin on Tax Reform.
2024 Presidential contenders on Tax Reform:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Sep 29, 2024