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OK, so all Ireland has to do is pass a law that says "Whoever the Finance Ministry decrees doesn't have to pay income tax, is exempt". That's an entirely object
by zigzigzag 10y ago
OK, so all Ireland has to do is pass a law that says "Whoever the Finance Ministry decrees doesn't have to pay income tax, is exempt". That's an entirely objective criteria: a company is either exempted or it's not.
Now don't tell me this is different because the Ministry's decisions might not be "objective". Such is the case for all political decisions, including varying tax rates across different industries.
- fauigerzigerk 10y agoA law like that would effectively be the abolition of the rule of law itself. No self respecting constitution would allow it. It would be incompatible with most international treaties and a violation of human rights. Laws are by definition different from ruling by decree on a case by case basis. If a government had the right to pass laws such as the one you suggest without limits, it would effectively expempt itself from complying with any law at all. All other laws would simply cease to exist. It could for instance decide to give tax breaks to relatives of ministers or to anyone who bribes the prime minister or apply different tax rates depending on color of skin or slap punitive taxes on opposition media to destroy them. If a majority in a country were to give its government such powers, say in a constitutional referendum, it would mean that democracy has been abolished. Democracy is impossible without the rule of law, without minority rights, without human rights, without balance of power.