Monday, April 3, 2017

British style 2 child policy - demultiplying the poor

Continental news media are busy reporting on the latest Brexit shenanigans, including the dispute over Gibraltar, and tax and social benefits changes are boring anyway.

The Guardian says the new tax regime will push a quarter of a million children into poverty.

The British government hanging on to the tax heaven in southern Spain while cutting benefits to the poor at home makes for a nice contrast.

The 2017 benefit changes are a mixed bag of the "give some, take some" variety typical for complex societies. Let's be nice and highlight the doubling of free childcare for children 3 and 4 years old. Conditions apply, but still.

One change, though, stands out: Child Tax Credit will be limited to 2 children. Of course, there are exemptions, so no one can claim the government is as heartless as it is.

To the blogster, this is too close to the American bumper sticker that reads "If you can't feed them, don't breed them".

We'll check the papers on the Continent to see if they get around to writing about this watershed moment in one of the world's biggest economies.

But don't hold your breath.


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