Taxman.

One of the most depressing things about ‘Cool Britannia’ – that trite phrase coined by John Major in a cynical and risible attempt to ingratiate himself with the nation’s youth – is that the ‘Britpop’ musicians of the era frequently cited the Beatles’ Revolver album as an inspiration. Revolver is a wicked and divisive piece of work: it contains the song Taxman – surely the most unpleasant piece of reactionary propaganda ever to contaminate vulnerable minds. Its lyrics are nothing more than a selfish rant against the state’s right to obtain necessary funding from its population. If I had my way the song would be banned. That’s why I was delighted to read today that Alistair Darling may be forced to raise taxes by £8 billion. We have become spoiled in Gordon’s low-tax economy of recent years. We need to get used to paying much more tax. That will focus our minds on the fact that it is not a burden but an obligation – an obligation every responsible citizen should be grateful to be allowed to carry out.