On the subject of independence

I am a firm believer in independence, and of course in non-dependence. As a true conservative opposed to change what has happened to the Western world over the course of the last one hundred years (since the Liberal Prime Minister Lloyd George first introduced a form of the Social Security scheme, albeit not one that we would recognise today it being based firmly on the idea that you cannot get out more than you have paid in).

Subsidiarity is the only basis upon which any successful socio-economic system can be based no matter what governments would like you to believe. The latest figures out today show Spanish unemployment standing at 27% and youth unemployment in Spain at 57%, now I simply do not believe this is true, I believe that there is a substantial 'black' economy where people have decided to circumvent the employment laws and taxation systems and simply work cash in hand under the radar without the interference of the State. This is not a 'black economy' but a 'free economy' and it is a development which often comes just before the collapse of a government.

This resistance is perfectly understandable, if the government seeks to take more money from you than you can afford to give, an action on the part of the government which is immoral and unlawful, albeit perfectly legal. The idea that a government should be allowed to take tax from a person to the extent that they are then required to BEG for their own money back from that same government is nonsensical and is also extremely inefficient as a means of wealth re-distribution. I do not know why so many in Jersey have now come to accept this as the norm. Fundamentally no one should pay anything to society until they have first earnt enough to meet their own basic needs.

The government does this only to promulgate dependence, so whilst Sir Philip Bailhache seeks to achieve freedom from external forces, a cause which I would support but he does not go far enough, he should be supporting independence for every individual, independence not only from the EU and the UK but also from the States of Jersey.

Now on the other hand it is true that the Scandinavian nations are fairing the best through this crisis with what were formerly considered high tax rates, but the difference is that in Scandinavia everyone pays the taxes that the government requests. Therefore the Scandinavian governments are not acting either immorally or unlawfully; the tax they collect is given willingly, or so the evidence would suggest. The Scandinavian people regard their governments as efficient and effective.

I would suggest that similarly here, if we were given the choice of how much money to pay in tax then the majority of people would gladly make a reasonable contribution to the smooth operation of the parishes of Jersey and whatever form of Island government will eventually replace the bankrupt States of Jersey to maintain a quality service to the public. But it would put extreme pressure on whomever was spending the money, knowing that if they were perceived not to be providing a good service or to be wasting the monies they received, then they might not get so much the following year.