Edu Chazan
@educhazan.bsky.social
I fully agree with the spirit of the post on a personal level. But that’s a preference, not a justification for the State to use coercive power to subsidise universities. It also fails to build broad support - few benefit from great years at uni, many from well-funded public services
May 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I fully agree with the spirit of the post on a personal level. But that’s a preference, not a justification for the State to use coercive power to subsidise universities. It also fails to build broad support - few benefit from great years at uni, many from well-funded public services
I’m not saying universities should focus solely on economic growth - but that public funding must be justified on those grounds. Without an objective basis like potential economic contribution, funding risks becoming a tool for advancing whatever views happen to dominate electorally, Trump-style.
May 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I’m not saying universities should focus solely on economic growth - but that public funding must be justified on those grounds. Without an objective basis like potential economic contribution, funding risks becoming a tool for advancing whatever views happen to dominate electorally, Trump-style.
If funding public services is good, then lawful growth in earnings - by broadening the tax base - is objectively beneficial. That doesn’t make all earnings growth good. “Understanding,” by contrast, lacks that objectivity and, by your logic, can even enable unlawful behaviour.
May 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
If funding public services is good, then lawful growth in earnings - by broadening the tax base - is objectively beneficial. That doesn’t make all earnings growth good. “Understanding,” by contrast, lacks that objectivity and, by your logic, can even enable unlawful behaviour.
Higher earnings expand the tax base, helping fund public services - a tangible, shared benefit. Once we shift to “human benefit,” we enter subjective territory. Why should your version outweigh that of, say, a Christian fundamentalist or anyone else with different values?
May 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Higher earnings expand the tax base, helping fund public services - a tangible, shared benefit. Once we shift to “human benefit,” we enter subjective territory. Why should your version outweigh that of, say, a Christian fundamentalist or anyone else with different values?
Valid points, but by removing economic impact the argument loses its universality. Without a shared benefit like growth, public funding becomes much more difficult to justify.
May 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Valid points, but by removing economic impact the argument loses its universality. Without a shared benefit like growth, public funding becomes much more difficult to justify.
Looking forward to it!
April 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Looking forward to it!
What an interesting what if, quite enjoyed reading it!
April 17, 2025 at 8:05 AM
What an interesting what if, quite enjoyed reading it!
It would remove economically inefficient taxes, help one of their main goals (housebuilding), bring much more predictable tax revenues (less room for economic agents to game the system) and replace the most regressive tax in the country (council tax) with a progressive one.
March 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It would remove economically inefficient taxes, help one of their main goals (housebuilding), bring much more predictable tax revenues (less room for economic agents to game the system) and replace the most regressive tax in the country (council tax) with a progressive one.
Yes, something like adding 1p to the income tax and labelling it the defence of the nation surcharge. However, if it is to burn political capital, I would much prefer going for a land tax combined with abolishing Council Tax, SDLT and IHT on properties.
March 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Yes, something like adding 1p to the income tax and labelling it the defence of the nation surcharge. However, if it is to burn political capital, I would much prefer going for a land tax combined with abolishing Council Tax, SDLT and IHT on properties.
Most replies to the original post*
March 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Most replies to the original post*
Scary how most replies genuinely struggle to propose anything but “tax the rich”.
March 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Scary how most replies genuinely struggle to propose anything but “tax the rich”.
Just make sure that when you start season 5 you’ll be able to binge watch it.
March 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Just make sure that when you start season 5 you’ll be able to binge watch it.
I think you’re throwing the baby with the bath water here. To say that there’s something to be learned from Musk’s method is not the same as applauding what they’re doing.
March 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I think you’re throwing the baby with the bath water here. To say that there’s something to be learned from Musk’s method is not the same as applauding what they’re doing.
Israel has literally stopped all aid to Gaza and there’s been no pushback from the WH. Rather, there’s a threat of extermination - that never happened under Biden. To think that Trump is better for Palestinians requires mental gymnastics and not caring at all for the wellbeing of Palestinians.
March 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Israel has literally stopped all aid to Gaza and there’s been no pushback from the WH. Rather, there’s a threat of extermination - that never happened under Biden. To think that Trump is better for Palestinians requires mental gymnastics and not caring at all for the wellbeing of Palestinians.
First, the ceasefire was under Biden - as well as the political pressure to avoid killing civilians. Second, Trump has literally threatened to kill them all if hostages are not released - a position Biden never took. Are you really sure Trump is better for Palestinians?
March 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
First, the ceasefire was under Biden - as well as the political pressure to avoid killing civilians. Second, Trump has literally threatened to kill them all if hostages are not released - a position Biden never took. Are you really sure Trump is better for Palestinians?
Do you actually believe that Trump’s and Biden’s policy towards Gaza are the same? That it makes no tangible difference to the lives of Palestinians living in Gaza?
March 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Do you actually believe that Trump’s and Biden’s policy towards Gaza are the same? That it makes no tangible difference to the lives of Palestinians living in Gaza?
The proof that he’s not “pure” is that as late as July 2015 he publicly stating they "I identify with some things as a Democrat”.
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
Bush says Trump was a Democrat longer than a Republican 'in the last decade'
After losing ground to Donald Trump in the polls following the first GOP presidential debate, Jeb Bush has gone on the a
www.politifact.com
March 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The proof that he’s not “pure” is that as late as July 2015 he publicly stating they "I identify with some things as a Democrat”.
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
Rather than focusing on purity, right wing grassroots focused on results. Billionaires tagging along is the consequence, not the cause of MAGA. Meanwhile, progressives have shunned goals, prioritising instead virtue signalling and ideological purity debates.
March 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Rather than focusing on purity, right wing grassroots focused on results. Billionaires tagging along is the consequence, not the cause of MAGA. Meanwhile, progressives have shunned goals, prioritising instead virtue signalling and ideological purity debates.
Trump is not a natural vessel for the right - close to Dems, pro-abortion, liberal lifestyle. However, pragmatic conservatives (evangelicals in particular) saw in him the possibility to achieve their political aims. They propelled Trump’s political career, not billionaires that later tagged along.
March 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Trump is not a natural vessel for the right - close to Dems, pro-abortion, liberal lifestyle. However, pragmatic conservatives (evangelicals in particular) saw in him the possibility to achieve their political aims. They propelled Trump’s political career, not billionaires that later tagged along.
Brief history of Musk’s political donations
www.forbes.com/sites/sarado...
A refresher on the overwhelming support for Hilary from businesses and the rich
fortune.com/2016/06/23/5...
www.forbes.com/sites/sarado...
A refresher on the overwhelming support for Hilary from businesses and the rich
fortune.com/2016/06/23/5...
Elon Musk’s Political Shift: How The Billionaire Moved From Backing Obama To Endorsing DeSantis
Musk has donated to both Republicans and Democrats over the past 20 years—but recently began vocally backing Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
www.forbes.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Brief history of Musk’s political donations
www.forbes.com/sites/sarado...
A refresher on the overwhelming support for Hilary from businesses and the rich
fortune.com/2016/06/23/5...
www.forbes.com/sites/sarado...
A refresher on the overwhelming support for Hilary from businesses and the rich
fortune.com/2016/06/23/5...
That’s always been the case. The real question is if we have leaders or ersatz pundits in power.
March 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
That’s always been the case. The real question is if we have leaders or ersatz pundits in power.
Proving my point: virtue signalling over better outcomes for Palestinians. The active sabotage of Biden with this kind of rhetoric not only has helped bring about Trump but also made it difficult to differentiate between their policies, putting Palestinians in an even more dangerous position.
March 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Proving my point: virtue signalling over better outcomes for Palestinians. The active sabotage of Biden with this kind of rhetoric not only has helped bring about Trump but also made it difficult to differentiate between their policies, putting Palestinians in an even more dangerous position.
Trump is actually a great example of how grassroots right-wingers were able to pragmatically organise around a candidate shunned by “the rich”. “the rich” have progressively swung towards Trump as he beat their successive candidate choices - Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
March 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Trump is actually a great example of how grassroots right-wingers were able to pragmatically organise around a candidate shunned by “the rich”. “the rich” have progressively swung towards Trump as he beat their successive candidate choices - Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.