On one train of thought, understood and agreed…but not so: theft can never be justified, regardless of how moral (or balanced) the outcome may seem. The Irish need what the US needs: no taxes, and no government “services”.

There are some in the US (myself included) who are trying to make a true private business succeed (no grants, no sba loans, no gov. contracts, etc.) by bootstrapping…and the social security tax (15.3% if you make less than $106,800, then down to 2.9% if you make more) alone is a massive obstacle…so the taxes on the “poor” are just as evil as taxes on the “rich”…indeed, the “poor” tax stops those who are trying to dig their way out using moral means.

P.S. Ilana, your views are usually most refreshing and educating – thanks very much for the good work. Your posts have improved my thinking many times.

I like the Irish idea of tax hikes on the poor a lot. Really. The cost of the welfare state must be felt by those who demand its spoils. Making the rich bleed for creating wealth will not ween the poor off welfare.

So do I, Ilana. However, thats not what this tax will be paying for. This tax will be paying the banksters of Ireland whose liabilities were 100% assumed by the government and thrown onto taxpayers. I would never support taxing the poor to support bailed out banks.