Sir, - Campaigners against the double taxation water charge are proud of the fantastic result achieved by Joe Higgins, the Militant Labour candidate in the Dublin West by election. Joe Higgins was backed by the Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charges Campaigns with a view to showing the political parties, the extent of PAYE taxpayers anger at these unjust charges. The election campaign was a spectacular success and is fair warning to the political parties of what they will face unless the charges are abolished before the general election.
It seems that like the Bourbons, some politicians learn nothing. The establishment parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and unfortunately, Labour, and the Democratic Left refuse to listen to what PAYE taxpayers are saying. Jim Mitchell was astonished that in Castleknock "people in big houses were supporting Joe Higgins because of a water charge of 20p per day". This trivialising of a campaign which has a paid up membership of more than 10,000 PAYE taxpayers in Dublin is typical of these arrogant politicians.
Between tax years 1988 and 199,5 (inclusive) PAYE taxpayer paid an additional £1,400 million in PAYE taxation. VAT returns mainly paid by PAYE taxpayers and their families have almost doubled from £3,372 million to a targeted £6,082 million in 1996.
On the other hand, income tax collected from farmers whose income doubled to more than £2,000 million during this period actually fell from £82 million in 1988 to £70 million in 1995. Income tax collected from other self employed including all the accountants, legal eagles, doctors, dentists, rock stars and riverdancers fell from £410 million in 1988 to £382 million in 1995 and, to add insult to injury, tax evaders were granted two tax amnesties - the most recent writing off at least £500 million in due taxes.
We are not spongers and demand the full funding of local authority services from general taxation and that tax evasion be treated as the crime it is. Our campaign will continue to end the scandalous situation that sees pensioners who have paid tax all their lives dragged before the courts while people who have paid more in political donations to Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the PDs than they have, paid income tax are allowed continue to evade taxes without challenge.
Yours, etc..
Co-ordinating, Committee.
Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charges Campaigns, PO BOX 4543,
Dublin 1.