It never takes long to find some useless Tory MP who has abandoned the principles of conservatism and clothed himself or herself in the emperor's new clothes. Tonight's candidate is the wrong honourable David Gauke who has decided to denounce people who pay others in cash, especially for services rendered. One notes that his ire is reserved for those who pay, not those who request cash in hand.
What is the cause of this moralising? Gauke, in zero sum mentality, concludes that if some people pay less, others will have to pay more. In his lump sum fallacy, government is deserving of a proportion of the cake and anyone who nibbles into that is committing a sin of omission.
Yet, the money that the government takes from us in taxes comes from work that we have undertaken, or from savings that we invested on our own account. Like all good socialists, Gauke is more concerned with playing Caesar than returning people's rightful earnings to themselves. He has crossed the Rubicon and now views us as working for him, not vice versa. (One see parallels with Obama's observation that all entrepreneurs depend upon community organisers if they get to be President).
Conservatism would champion a small state, tax cuts and supply side reforms: policies that run with the grain of human nature. Perhaps Gauke is displaying natural cunning: saying something knowing that people will do the opposite; after all he did offer an incentive: do as I say (or we will put up taxes, to make up for the loss, causing a bigger black economy etc etc). But that courts unpopularity, so probably not....
But at least we know, roll up, roll up to Gauke's perpetual tax machine; what is wrong with the Coalition; they have the attitudes and the policies of big government socialists. Like His master, Osborne!
Next: why priests must be forced to act against their conscience to ensure diversity (that famous Tory doctrine)....