Members’ Area

Europe Liberty Forum
8 June 2016 (All day) – 9 June 2016 (All day)
London, United Kingdom

Co-hosted by Atlas Network and the Institute of Economic Affairs

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union have written a report entitled the Passive Income: How the Government Uses Smokers as Cash Cows.The report details the effect of tobacco excise increases, the failure of the Government to legalise the sale of healthier alternatives which would minimise harm, and the misuse of taxpayers’ money given to not-for-profits which lobby the government.

Politicians claim higher tobacco taxes are necessary to promote better health, but the Government has prevented the sale of new generation smoking alternatives such as e-cigarettes which are 95% less harmful and are the most popular smoking cessation tool used in England.

While politicians cry crocodile tears about the harms of smoking, they are refusing to allow the sale of healthier alternatives. It appears the only reason is to protect the revenue stream from the taxes on traditional cigarettes.

From today, a $20 20-pack of cigarettes includes nearly $16 dollars of tax

It makes a complete mockery of the National Party’s election promise not to increase taxes.

Increases in tobacco excise tax are often held up as interventions that are effective at reducing consumption amongst low socio-economic groups. However, significant tax increases have coincided with an increase in the socio-economic smoking gradient. Counterintuitively, the poor are the least likely to respond to tax hikes. That means they, and their families, go without.

Just because a consumer base is poor, it does not mean that the Government is any more justified in making consumer health choices for them. Worse, increasing taxes well in excess of the health costs of tobacco, knowing that they are being paid by those least able to afford it, is morally questionable.

http://www.taxpayers.org.nz/passive_income

Due to popular demand, I am posting Troy Lanigan’s presentation on fundraising from the WTA Conference in Berlin. He did a great job breaking down the basics of fundraising, keeping it simple and to the point.

Fundraising can be a daunting task, but if you keep these principles in mind, it will make it much more manageable. It’s also a well put together PowerPoint presentation for your reference.

Power Point – Fundraising – WTC Berlin – 16 March_Lanigan

Lipa, founded by Davor Huić in Croatia, had a monumental first year with the launch of their Debt Clock in the center of the capital. See the report attached on how they were able to influence government and put the politician’s “feet to the fire” as it relates to government spending and taxation. It’s a great model to follow.

Lipa – Public Debt Counter Final Report

For your own research, it may very much interest you to see if your country, businesses or individuals located in your country are connected to the offshore entities in the Panama Papers:

https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/

Chicagonomics explores the history and development of classical liberalism as taught and explored at the University of Chicago. Ebenstein’s tenth book in the history of economic and political thought, it deals specifically in the area of classical liberalism, examining the ideas of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, and is the first comprehensive history of economics at the University of Chicago from the founding of the University in 1892 until the present. The reader will learn why Chicago had such influence, to what extent different schools of thought in economics existed at Chicago, the Chicago tradition, vision, and what Chicago economic perspectives have to say about current economic and social circumstances.

http://www.amazon.com/Chicagonomics-Evolution-Chicago-Market-Economics/dp/0230621953

Happy 100th Birthday to the dreaded death tax (USA). This is an interesting article on the history behind this unfair law. Why is this so hard to repeal?

The Estate Tax Turns 100

The National Taxpayer Association of Kenya has proven success working with local authorities by assisting them with their accountability and responsiveness to taxpayers.

It saddens me to report the death of a life-long taxpayer leader who ran Citizens for Limited Taxation in Massachusetts, USA, Barbara Anderson. She was a stalwart for freedom in a very statist environment. May her example inspire us to have such a legacy.

“Among the successful ballot questions Ms. Anderson backed were Proposition 2½, in 1980, which capped property tax increases at 2.5 percent of fair market value; Question 3, in 1986, to remove a 1975 income-tax surcharge and put a cap on tax receipts; and Question 4, in 2000, which rolled back the state income tax rate from 5.85 percent to 5 percent.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/04/09/barbara-anderson-voice-limited-taxation-massachusetts-dies/FdITICwwo6OVFzEXhB1nkL/story.html

Many thanks to our German and Bavarian friends, especially Michael Jaeger, who hosted the 16th World Taxpayers Conference in Berlin in March 2016. Thank you also to Barbara Kolm and European Resource Bank for sharing the event! In all, we managed over 200 participants from over 40 countries (including six delegates from Africa and one each from Nepal and Mongolia) which is to my knowledge the broadest participation we’ve ever had at one of these events! New friendships were formed and connections made, and old ones renewed. The fight for liberty is a universal & global struggle. We are all in this together. Thank you to all who took the time and resources to attend and participate. Look forward to seeing you all again for the next WTA Conference in Australia in early 2019! ~ Troy Lanigan, Chairman & President of the WTA, elected at the WTA Conference March 2016

Pictures by TAE, Johannes Maruschzik and Prof Rudolf G Maier.

Troy Lanigan’s WTA Chairman’s Letter – April 2016