TARA update

The controversial double-tolled M3 freeway which is being built through the middle of the Tara–Skreen Valley, beside the Hill of Tara, Ireland's most important heritage site, will now be single-tolled, according to a report on a recent meeting of representatives of Meath Council and the NRA (National Roads Authority).
"The "NRA believes that the motorway will not reach full capacity for 50 years - there should be no issues with traffic volumes."

Irish citizens all over the world answered the call of their Irish relatives in a vain attempt to divert this freeway, to protect their sacred heritage, but the public campaign was manipulated from within by a 'professional' campaign, which allowed both the NRA and the Irish government to ignore all appeals to move the freeway to a more appropriate route, along the disused Navan rail line.

The damage has been done. Many hearts have been broken. Many important archaeological sites have been destroyed.  And, the verdant pastoral beauty of the region has been destroyed too.

Ireland is now experiencing its first Real Estate Boom-Bust Cycle. The fierce reign of the Celtic Tiger encouraged speculators to devour Irish culture and heritage, and the Irish people will suffer the needless pain inflicted by neo-classical economic policies, where profit is privatized and debt is socialized.

What will it take for modern governments to 'shift' taxes, according to the most intelligent economic system humans have ever evolved, Classical Economics, where all have equal access to the gifts of the earth via Resource Rent, or the Single Tax System.

Some people say we’d actually need to introduce resource rent gradually, others say ‘Go for the lot!’  So, if fully implemented, a resource rent based on capturing some 10% of the land value of every site will be able to replace all current taxes. Think of it as an agency fee – and here in Australia, that figure represents more than all current tax revenues. (See the Land Values Research Group report "Unlocking the Riches of OZ" ( http://www.lvrg.org.au ).

Imagine –no more taxes on productivity. Think of the efficiencies associated with not having to pay individual income or business taxes. Instead, we could provide a social dividend, which would guarantee equity for everyone, removing forever the suffering and stigma of welfare and exploitation. The gifts of the earth belong to all beings on the planet, and there is enough to go around, if those elites who now capture the Resource Rents for their private use would put a little back into consolidated revenue – a single tax of 10%–and, together, we would "make poverty history".

Several articles on classical economics are posted on Now Public's Geonomics Channel, under "Environment" here.