Category Archives: Golden Rule

This letter is regarding the Quad-City Times editorial cartoon of June 29, Little known passage from the Bible. The same Jesus who taught the Golden Rule also said, according to Matthew, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

Thus Jesus affirmed the biblical teaching that God made two sexes, male and female, and marriage is the one flesh union of one from each sex: A man and a woman. Until a few years ago, there was nothing controversial and certainly nothing hateful about those nearly universally accepted teachings.

What do we make of the fact that Jesus taught both the Golden Rule and marriage as the union of a man and a woman? Did he contradict himself? Was he a hypocrite? Was he too stupid to realize the conflict? Or is it possible to love your neighbor and also accept his teaching on marriage?

If we cannot trust or accept Jesus teaching authority on a subject as important as marriage, why should we care or give any credence to the Golden Rule or love your neighbor?

If we accept the teachings we agree with, while rejecting the teachings that are contrary to cultural trends and public opinion polls, arent we setting ourselves up as the judges of his teaching thereby making ourselves a higher-truth and moral authority than Jesus?

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Letter: Jesus didn't endorse gay marriage - Quad City Times

Summer has arrived and the normal things associated with summer are happening as well. Schools out, its hot, its humid, vacations are happening all around and the fishing has turned to summer mode.

This means that bass, crappie, stripers and the assorted panfish we like to catch are now slowing down. No longer on the bed or schooling in large groups, these species are moving around deeper water without remaining stationary, making them harder to catch.

While this is happening the one bright spot for fishermen wishing to catch the bigun is the ever-feeding catfish.

Reports indicate that bass tournament totals are lower and many anglers are not catching the five fish allowed resulting in small totals.

Crappie have moved into deep channels or old creek beds flooded when local lakes were formed many years ago.

Panfish are now off the bed as well so they are smaller and harder to find than just a short month ago. The hot weather and frequent rain has also contributed to the slowdown in the bite as well.

Looking forward to the near future, we can look for better than average catches in catfish. Summer finds them deep and hungry so fish the main channels near the dams for your best chance. The young man mentioned in my last column for his citation size blue catfish out of Lake Tillery sent me picture of a similar lunker he caught on Badin just a few days ago.

Proof, if needed, that our area lakes are home to some big cats. Also on the near horizon is an increase in schooling of white perch (Waccamaw) that normally occurs shortly after the July 4 holiday.

As cats and Waccamaw are two of my favorite fish to both catch and eat, you will find me and my fishing partner on the lake most every week for the rest of the summer.

Fishin Tip of the Week: This time of year its normal for boating accidents to increase with the larger crowds on the water combined with the consumption of adult beverages.

This summer lets make it a point to be safe and courteous to others while out on the lakes. Fishermen and recreational boaters can co-exist as long as each of us respects the others right to be where they are.

To sum it up, heres a code I try to live by. Not at all original but appropriate. Treat others like you want to be treated.

Thanks and Good Fishin!

Larry Hunter writes a fishing column for The Stanly News & Press. Contact him at fishinstanly@cs.com.

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Following the Golden Rule will help keep everyone safe while out enjoying the lakes this summer - Stanly News & Press

It often begins with a whispered, Wouldnt it be great if we had our own rescue? At least, thats how it began for us.

We were a handful of volunteers at a high-kill shelter. Like so many volunteers at so many shelters across the country, we rejoiced when dogs got adopted and were flattened when they were euthanized for no apparent reason. We knew there had to be a better way. But could we figure out what it was? One day, we decided it was worth a try, and took the plunge.

That was in 2014. It began with a few people with a shared idea who sat around a table and talked about it for more than four hours. It wasnt especially glamorous, but it was exciting and empowering and, at times, contentious. Get a group of people in a room discussing a topic as passionate and based on what my friends and I learned by establishing and running DogsHome rescue three years ago, here are our six Golden Rules for starting your own rescue.

Golden Rule #1: Decide how you want to be different.

You want to save dogs. The good news: so do the shelters and rescues in your area. The bad news: so do the shelters and rescues in your area. Of course, its not really bad news, but it does make it harder for the new kid on the block (thats you) to stand out. So you have to ask yourself what youre going to do thats different.

For example, you might decide to focus on rescuing senior dogs, dogs with medical issues or a particular breed. At our rescue, we knew that above all, we wanted to make sure every decision we made answered one question: Is this in the dogs best interest? If it is, we do it. If it isnt, we dont. In many ways, thats made our lives both simple (we always know what course of action to take) and difficult (the best course of action often requires much more time and energy). But we stand by it. However, this isnt just about you.

Golden Rule #2: Ask your community how they want you to be different.

Youre going to need support, both helping hands and dollars, so make sure that when you decide the ways in which youre going to be different, there will be something that resonates with your potential supporters.

In our case (and I cant recommend this enough), we debuted our plan at a gathering at the home of one of our board members. We told everyone we invited to come with their ideas because we wanted to hear what they wanted from a rescue. To a person, everyone wanted better customer service. When they call or email, they want someone to get back to them. When they adopt or foster a dog, they dont want to feel as though theyve fallen into a black hole. They said they needed a place to turn with questions, problems and concerns.

We put this directly into our mission statement: we provide our dogs with lifetime support. In other words, were always there for our fosters and adopters. And while it means we sometimes get phone calls at 6 am or midnight, weve lived up to that!

Golden Rule #3: Think with your head, not your heart.

This is a tough one. How do you put logic ahead of compassion when it comes to saving lives? I can only tell you that its important to keep your heart in check or youll quickly find yourselves overwhelmed, both functionally and financially.

You cant help a dog if you dont have the resources to help him. And I know (oh, I know!) there is nothing more heartbreaking and frustrating than realizing you cant take a dog because you just cant. You dont have a foster home available for him, you dont have the money to provide for his expensive vet care or you simply wont be able to give the dog quality of life. Set up yourself and the dogs for success. Get your proverbial ducks in a row before going forward.

Golden Rule #4: Be prepared.

Getting your ducks in a row means taking care of the boring stuff, like liability insurance and nonprofit certification, should you go that route. It means finding good, committed fosters (assuming you dont have a shelter facility available) so that when you want to rescue a dog, theres a place ready and waiting for him. It also means having funds available for dogs who come to you with urgent medical needs.

Here is the original post:

DYI Dog Rescue | The Bark - The Bark (blog)

June is LGBT Pride Month, but the city of Scottsdale celebrates its LGBT employees, residents and visitors all year long.

Sharon Cini

Scottsdales sense of pride officially began 10 years ago when the city adopted its employment policy that welcomes those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Since then, Scottsdale has broadened its embrace of the LGBT community by launching a series of public events that celebrate not only the citys LGBT workforce but also its LGBT residents and visitors.

These signature galas have been as diverse as the rainbows colors and have highlighted both the struggles and the triumphs of the LGBT Community.

Each event has showcased a local LGBT nonprofit or leader. Catered food, drinks and music have helped to garnish each occasion in classic Scottsdale fashion.

Some of them have comprised an ongoing series co-sponsored by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. These special functions bear the proud name OUT at SMoCA.

Other events have served as a unique celebration of an LGBT achievement or even the start of what is becoming an annual tradition, like Art for Aunt Ritas, which promotes awareness of HIV/AIDs in Old Towns gallery district.

All of these efforts are part of Scottsdales broader campaign to celebrate its status as a Golden Rule City striving to unite the citys diverse faith communities with its various cultural groups.

The Golden Rule theme comes from the universal faith teaching that all people, regardless of their religion or philosophy, should treat others the way they themselves want to be treated with respect.

An OUT at SMoCA event in June 2016 celebrated the anniversary of marriage equality by featuring a panel of LGBT locals who spoke about bridging their faith with love. This event also showcased artwork by the late Scottsdale resident, Mel Roman, whose efforts as a Jewish Army veteran helped to achieve LGBT progress in the U.S. military and beyond.

Another OUT at SMoCA in March 2016 featured onenten, an Arizona nonprofit that serves LGBT youth and young adults at centers throughout the Valley including one in Scottsdale.

In November 2016, the Scottsdale Civic Center Library hosted a public screening of the film Growing up Trans followed by a panel discussion by local members of the transgender community. Two of the panelists at Growing Up Trans were Daria Lohman and Stanna Michelle Slater. Each of them are Scottsdale residents and serve in official positions at the city.

Daria Lohman is on the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission. Stanna Slater is the citys newly appointed LGBT Liaison.

Ms. Slater is also an attorney in private practice with the Law Office of Jeffery S. Slater, P.C., which Ms. Slater founded in Scottsdale in 1999.

Its so great to live, work and shop in a hometown where I can be myself and also help promote the Golden Rule for the benefit of others regardless of their faith, sexual orientation or gender identity, Ms. Slater recently said.

Scottsdale also has a special LGBT Liaison specifically appointed to handle law enforcement issues. Her name is Det. Nichol Engstrom and can be reached either by email at nengstrom@scottsdaleaz.gov or by calling 480-312-6368.

LGBT issues that do not require the attention of law enforcement can be directed to Ms. Slater by email at LGBTQLiaison@Scottsdaleaz.gov.

Scottsdales year-round LGBT events, combined with its commitment to promoting LGBT diversity and inclusion, are too numerous to list in one short article.

But one thing is certain: Scottsdale proudly welcomes diversity in general, and the LGBT community specifically.

Editors note: Ms. Cini is the Scottsdale diversity & inclusion program manager

Continue reading here:

Cini: Scottsdale shows its LGBT pride all year long - Scottsdale Independent

The roar of engines and exhausts might be appropriate at a NASCAR race, but it's starting to get on the nerves of people living in Golden who are hearing it in their neighborhoods.

Jane Mo, KUSA 9:27 PM. MDT June 27, 2017

(Photo: Sharlotte Bennett Mecca?)

GOLDEN - Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Its the golden rule for most people, but one city might change what their golden rule is.

The residents of Golden open windows and step into their backyards to expectantly hear the sweet harmonious sound of birds chirping and creeks babbling.

Instead, they have been hearing the deep roars of car engines and exhausts.

Neighbors claim to no longer be able to enjoy the serenity of their homes, and the Golden Police Department have stepped in.

The police department will expand enforcement on illegal vehicle exhaust systems in cars or motorcycles that drive through downtown, Lookout Mountain Road, and Highway 58 and 93.

Map provided by Google

People can be fined $200 for the first offense.

Whats considered an illegal exhaust?

Officers will base their enforcement on two questions:

1. Is your exhaust system louder than a stock muffler?

2. Can they see that your exhaust system is modified?

If the answer to both questions are yes, you will be issued a citation.

Officers ask all travelers to drive with respect to the residents of Golden.

2017 KUSA-TV

Link:

A golden rule from Golden, CO: Please stop driving so loudly. - 9NEWS.com

As an online dating photographer, I have photographed countless people and have offered very specific guidelines when it comes to optimizing the photos on their online dating profiles. Admittingly, these rules can be daunting to remember and keep track of. While those rules should be viewed as guidelines and not absolute without any wiggle room for exceptions, there is a quick rule you should keep in mind as a rule of thumb.

Make sure each photo in your profile offers something different, unique, flattering, and interesting to your profile vs the previous photos.

Viewers do not need to see 3 photos from your epic tropical beach vacation; they do not need to see 4 head shots from the same angle and they certainly do not need to see multiple distorted selfies of you in your car, gym, desk etc. Be sure to mix it up but keep it concise i.e. one outdoor active photo, one closeup, one in dressed up attire and one in a social setting.

Photos are meant to help tell your story. I hate to refer back to the resume analogy but would you state that you increased revenue 10% in Q1, 10% in Q2 etc? It would be more efficient to consolidate that accomplishment and move on to the next one. This is the same principle with online dating photos.

This post was previously published on Mediumand is republished here with permission from the author.

Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Eddie Hernandez is an online dating photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is devoted to helping men and women alike capture themselves in their essence whether they are new to online dating, recently single, have changed appearance, have had trouble meeting people offline or hate being in front of the camera. Contact him for a complimentary, no obligation, review of your online profile and photos.

http://www.EddieHernandez.photography http://www.Instagram.com/EddieHernandezPhotography

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The Golden Rule of Online Dating Photos - The Good Men Project (blog)

Published June 26, 2017, 10:00 PM

Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to His disciples: Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

REFLECTION

DO TO OTHERS. Jesus saying, Do to others whatever you would have them do to you (v 12), has been known as the Golden Rule since the 18th century. The rule, in essence, encapsulates the Law and the Prophets. This is not distinctly Christian as in antiquity there were many variations of this saying, although in the negative form. Tobit reminds his son Tobiah, Do to no one what you yourself hate (Tb 4:15). Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, is reported to have said, What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow creatures. The negative formulation may also be found among sages of other faiths.

On the other hand, the Law and the Prophets or the essence of the Scriptures would be summarized in other ways. Jesus Himself says that the commandment of love of God and neighbor is the first and the sum of all the commandments (cf Mk 12:30-31). And the Apostle Paul declares, Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom 13:10).

The Golden Rulein the positive or negative formis so basic that it is almost implanted in our conscience. If we use common sense or are in our right mind, we will avoid doing to others what we would not like done to ourselves. But Jesus opens a wider vista for doing good. One does not just refrain from harming; one goes out to do good to others.

In your dealings with other people, are you guided by the Golden Rule? Have you followed this lately?

SOURCE: 365 Days with the Lord 2017, ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Tags: Jesus, Law, Matthew 5:43-48, prophets, REFLECTION, The Golden Rule

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The Golden Rule Manila Bulletin News - Manila Bulletin

Posted on June 25, 2017 | 1:44 p.m.

As of June 1, C.A.R.E.4Paws has graduated 150 young animal ambassadors in Santa Barbara County through Paws Up for Pets, a new educational initiative that promotes accountability and compassion for animals and empathy in the community as a whole.

Launched in October,Paws Up for Pets is a collaboration between C.A.R.E.4Paws, United Boys & Girls Clubs, Daveys Voice and, as of June, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise.

The program focuses on children in grades K-8, who are enrolled in afterschool programs.

The 150 students who have graduated with Badge 1 are from United Boys & Girls Clubs Carpinteria and Lompoc units, the Chumash Reservation, and a Girl Scout troop in Goleta.

C.A.R.E.4Paws also works with Santa Marias Arellanes Junior High and just expanded its program to include the Lompoc YMCA, United Boys & Girls Clubs' Goleta and Westside units, and a Santa Maria Girl Scout troop.

Graduates who received the Animal Ambassador badge worked weekly with C.A.R.E.4Paws for several months, learning about responsible pet care, pet overpopulation, shelter animals, and the importance of showing kindness to all living beings.

"Paws Up for Pets is unique in that it engages children over a period of time, which allows us to get to know the kids and talk a lot about how to be a great pet-care taker, that animals have feelings, just like us, and what to do when a pet is lost, sick or abused, said Carlos Abitia, director of C.A.R.E.4Paws Community Outreach and Youth Program.

After receiving the Animal Ambassador award, children can earn other badges such as the Animal Advocate badge, which involves a tour of a local shelter followed by a creative project.

Students can choose to virtually adopt and write about a shelter pet. Or they can focus on the topic of how all pets are individuals and that each shelter animal has its own story.

At United Boys & Girls Club Carpinteria Unit, students are working on their shelter projects after visiting Animal Shelter Assistance Program, Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter and County Animal Services dog shelter in Santa Barbara.

The Goleta Girl Scout troop also visited these three shelters. Afterward, they made high-quality leashes and toys for shelter pets out of recycled materials (such as Girl Scout cookie boxes).

Troop members also fund-raised to buy blankets, pet treats and other supplies for the shelter as well as C.A.R.E.4Paws.

As a Girl Scout leader, animal lover and pet owner, I have nothing but praise for Paws Up for Pets, said Amy Findlay, troop leader.

My troop learned about all aspects of pet ownership, from compassion to neglect and everything in between, and I guarantee they will be better pet owners as a result," she said.

"They also learned that, even as 10- or 11-year-olds, they can still make a difference in a pets life by educating others, volunteering, setting a good example and, essentially, being ambassadors for animals, Findlay said.

Paws Up for Pets was created in response to several incidents of severe animal cruelty in Santa Barbara County and a general concern that few cruelty cases are reported, despite the strong connection between animal abuse and family violence.

Years of research links animal abuse to violent behavior toward humans and shows that children who mistreat animals are more likely to act violently later in life.

And, according to data collected from WestEd surveys and the California Department of Education, Santa Barbara County has a high rate of bullying. One third of public-school students in Santa Barbara have reported being bullied.

When you show children how to be respectful and kind to animals, the ripple effects are endless, Abitia said. Children feel empowered, and are less likely to harm a pet, hurt a friend or bully a classmate. And they bring these values into adulthood.

Poverty affects the welfare of our youth and our pets, too.

In high-poverty areas, such as Lompoc and Santa Maria, more than 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children live at or below the poverty line. And as many as 65 percent of these households own pets, reports a 2015-16 National Pet Owners Survey.

The good news? Paws Up for Pets connects pet-owning families to free and low-cost services that improve quality of life for them and their animals, such as spays/neuters, vaccines, vet care and pet food through C.A.R.E.4Paws.

In addition to C.A.R.E.4Paws original Paws Up collaborators, United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County and Daveys Voice, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise has joined as a partner with a $1,500 grant to support:

Paws Up workbooks, badges, certificates and Stay Pawsitive t-shirts for at least 50 children participating in the program.

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, made up of local business, professional and civic leaders, has a history of supporting impactful community service programs that make a positive difference in the lives of youth," said Chris Baxter, Rotary Club president.

Sunrise Rotary is thrilled to support C.A.R.E.4Paws new, innovative Paws Up for Pets program, which teaches compassion for animals and anti-bullying," he said.

To support Paws Up for Pets or for more information about the program and its sponsors, visit care4paws.org/youthprograms, call 968-2273 or email [emailprotected]

Isabelle Gullo for C.A.R.E.4Paws.

Link:

Kids Learning Golden Rule Applies to Treatment of Animals ... - Noozhawk

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com

Caption

The people who do the most incredible, selfless things are usually the ones we have to drag into the spotlight, kicking and screaming.

I get it. DeKalb police officer Jeff Winters didnt give a homeless man food, water, pillows, a duffel bag and bug spray with the hopes of flashbulbs popping. After all, he didnt get interviewed the many other times hes done something similar in his nearly 23-year career.

Most folks dont ring Salvation Army bells, donate to GoFundMe pages, volunteer for nonprofits, all those philanthropic actions, for personal benefit. That is, unless you count the warmth it puts in their heart when they put another persons well-being ahead of their own.

Many of them do those things for the very same reason I like to write about their doing them: with the hope selflessness is contagious, and that it could inspire others to follow suit.

Its not that we dont want to better society. We just get so busy, dont we? If we drive by a motorist with a flat tire, we might think of stopping, but weve also got to get to work on time. On the way home? The kids have baseball in half an hour. No time to stop.

Maybe weve gotten too jaded to toss our change into a kettle, or into the bucket of a homeless person addressing drivers with a cardboard sign. Too many people just looking for a handout, right?

Winters put that into perspective for me, however.

We dont know why people are down on their luck. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, they come in waves. Many people dont choose their demons. Its the other way around.

What if a sandwich or, perhaps more powerfully, the compassion behind it, could be the turning point for someone who desperately needs a hand? What if feeling that someone cares could change the life trajectory for someone whos downtrodden?

The work done by beloved DeKalb High School teacher Ata Shakir dovetailed with Winters act of kindness. Shakir died far too soon, at age 41, Friday night. As a guy who doesnt live in DeKalb County yet, I was humbled to get a brief glimpse of Shakirs work, and the countless members of the community he touched, by speaking with his family and his peers.

Something his wife, Brenda, said stuck with me. A lot of what she said did, actually, but in particular, it was that she hurt so badly for the community because Shakir was going to keep making it better.

I figure the least we can do is our very best to pick up where he left off.

Getting to know Winters and Shakir as best I could reminded me of something: I might not be able to make the world a better place.

But we sure can.

Christopher Heimerman is the news editor at the Daily Chronicle. He can be reached at cheimerman@shawmedia.com.

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Heimerman: Officer reminds us of the golden rule | Daily Chronicle - DeKalb Daily Chronicle

Taxation is political. We all have our own ideas about how the system functions and how it should change. Lets see how the Three Golden Rules of tax apply to one of Britains newest taxes, the soft drinks industry levy or sugar tax.

The First Golden Rule: Lots of small taxes together add up to make big tax bills

National insurance contributions are kept separate from income tax. There is no earthly reason for this except the government doesnt want to admit that, once you factor in NICs, the basic rate of income tax is effectively 32% for people in work, not the headline rate of 20%.

We also have taxes on insurance premiums, airline seats, televisions, legacies and capital gains. There are taxes on selling shares and selling houses. We pay a tax for our cars and lots of tax when we fill them with petrol.

If we smoke, were taxed. If we drink, were taxed. We pay tax on our houses and offices. Not all taxes raise much money.

Aggregates levy brings in 355 million; landfill tax 919 million and cider duty just 296 million. But a billion here and a billion there and soon you are talking about real money, as the US senator Everett Dirksen probably didnt say.

The point of all these taxes is to spread the pain so we notice it less. And, generally, that works. People have no idea how much tax they are actually suffering.

In accordance with the First Golden Rule, the sugar tax is a small impost added to the cost of soft drinks that are already subject to VAT. Its being introduced from April 2018 and will probably add 8p to the price of a can of Coca Cola.

Although the sugar tax is supposed to fight obesity by making sugary drinks more expensive, it is not clear that the most effective way of doing so is with another tax and all the bureaucracy that goes with it.

The sugar tax will be paid by consumers, maybe even on diet products

The Second Golden Rule: No matter what name is on the bill, all taxes are ultimately suffered by human beings

Only people can pay taxes. Employers national insurance contributions are really a tax on our salaries, not a tax on our employers. And while VAT may be handed to the taxman by the businesses we buy stuff from, we end up paying all of it.

Even corporation tax, which sounds like a tax on companies, is really suffered by shareholders, customers and staff.

The sugar tax is no exception. Consistent with the Second Golden Rule, it is levied on the manufacturers of sweetened drinks but they can be expected to pass the cost on to consumers by increasing the prices of their products.

Indeed, they might increase the price of diet drinks in order to keep the cost of their sugary and nonsugary products the same.

The Third Golden Rule: Taxes are kept as invisible as possible

Since we all hate paying taxes, the government has perfected the art of ensuring that we rarely have to hand over the money ourselves.

Most taxes are paid by businesses on our behalf. The PAYE system hides how much national insurance and income tax we pay, while VAT and excise duty are buried in highstreet prices.

Environmental taxes on our energy bills are in deep cover and dont even admit to being taxes. To be honest, almost all taxes are stealth taxes. We noted above that the sugar tax will be paid by drinks manufacturers but consumers will suffer the tax through higher prices.

However, shoppers wont know how much soft drinks industry levy they are paying when they buy a sugary beverage. In fact, they are unlikely to be aware that they are paying it at all. Following the Third Golden Rule, it is kept under wraps.

The new Making Tax Digital initiative will remove us even further from the process by which we pay tax. HMRC wants to collect whats due on our savings through the PAYE machinery operated by employers.

If the plan works, tax returns will be abolished within five years. Once that happens, the vast majority of the UK population will never have to think about tax again. It will represent the apotheosis of the Golden Rules of tax.

The Three Golden Rules explain why the tax system is organized the way it is. They are the reason we have so many taxes, why stealth taxes are so popular with governments, and why we rarely have to pay money directly to HMRC.

Taxes go direct to HMRC, so we don't have to think about them

The soft drinks industry levy complies with all three rules. This suggests to me that it is designed to raise extra revenue, even though the government claims it wants the levy to reduce sugar consumption.

If that were the case, it would be better if the tax were highly visible so that shoppers could immediately see how much extra their sugar hit was costing them. We are warned about the 5p charge for plastic bags, introduced in October 2015, every time we buy a bag at the checkout.

As a result, we have used billions fewer than we did before the 5p charge was introduced. If the government wants the soft drinks industry levy to change behaviour, it should defy the Golden Rules and make the tax as obvious as possible.

Lack of transparency is one reason that government attempts to use taxes to change behaviour are often ineffective. Another problem with tax incentives is that people take advantage of them in a way that governments didnt intend.

Tax avoidance of this kind gives rise to lots of extra tax rules specifically to prevent it. And the unexpected consequences of antiavoidance rules often provide new ways of avoiding taxes.

This leads to even more intricacies as the authorities try to close down loopholes they accidentally created closing other loopholes. In addition, tax reform often makes the law more elaborate as exceptions have to be made for those who would otherwise lose out from change.

This is an edited extract from What Everyone Needs to Know about Tax: An Introduction to the UK Tax System by James Hannam, PhD (Wiley, March 2017).

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The Three Golden Rules of Tax - MinuteHack (registration) (blog)