Letter

In response to Allegra Spender reopens the tax debate – but the real divide is wealth, not gene

Building a better society for all

I heartily agree with Stewart Sweeney when he advocates for taxation “… according to income, wealth and capacity to pay, irrespective of age, and use that revenue to build a better society for all.” Can he be persuaded to write about HOW to build that better society?

To me, his first step would need to be arguing against the Liberal “small government” mantra. What has privatisation brought us besides poor, fractured services and “private provider” shysters who are adept at ripping off government and taxpayers?

Could/Would Sweeney advocate for bringing essential services back under government control ‘and’ operation, ie become not-for-profit enterprises again? I would hope so.

We have to return essential services to “fit for purpose” standards. We should be subsidising public transport so it doesn’t cost a fortune to get to work or visit a major city from rural areas. We need to provide essential services that are not currently provided – dental care and mental health care. I include mental health care because so very little is provided as to be useless to most. And we need to fund programs to keep people out of jail and, if incarcerated, provide truly effective rehabilitation programmes. Just for starters.

— Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122