Real democracy?

Towards the end of last year the Swiss Canton of Obwalden held a referendum. More than 90% of the 33,755 resident voted to introduce a flat income tax rate of 1.8%.

By the decision Obwalden will become the first canton to adopt a flat income tax rate. The first SFr10,000 ( about £5,000?) is exempt from tax, to benefit those on low incomes.

There is competition among the cantons to set lower tax rates, in an effort to attract wealthy individuals and companies from neighbouring countries and Western Europe generally.

Just imagine that we had local democracy, that Telford & Wrekin could set its own tax rates by popular vote. There is little doubt that if we did not have to pay the huge costs of massive central Government, bureaucracy and quangoland, let alone the European union, we would all be better off, even if we had to buy in services from outside.

Direct Democracy is an idea whose time is coming ever closer, after the experience of the past 10 years. It would be revolutionary and liberating!