Sir, Do we have any political leaders with the vision and foresight to adopt the CORI document "Pathways to a Basic Income" as the central plank in their social and taxation policies? It is depressing that deflect or systems are a major issue in the forthcoming election while this important document is all but ignored by our politicians.
Garret FitzGerald's article (April 19th) has highlighted once again what a unique opportunity we have at present to address the issue of poverty in our society. All the relevant indicators are favourable and it will be nothing short of criminal if we do not seize the opportunity. CORI's radical idea of a basic income has everything going for it. In one stroke it would
(1) Significantly reduce poverty and eliminate poverty traps
(2) Simplify our ridiculously complicated income tax and social welfare systems and greatly reduce administration costs
(3) Eliminate the corrosive dishonesty of working the system which is so prevalent in our society
(4) Promote economic growth
(5) Improve labour market flexibility
(6) Give a parent the option of staying at home while still receiving an income
(7) Show the rest of the developed world the way forward.
If you doubt any of the above I can only suggest that you buy and study the very well argued report.
Why has no political party other than the Greens adopted the CORI proposals? Unfortunately the support of the Greens is of little use because they are also anti-growth, a policy which the report itself points out "would kill the goose that lays the golden egg". As the FF/PD coalition is highly unlikely to adopt the proposals unless the PDs have a Road to Damascus type of conversion, the onus falls on the Government coalition. Do we have to form a pressure group and threaten to put forward basic income candidates to get them to do so? Yours, etc.,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.