War Prevention Tax (From York Press)

War Prevention Tax

11:19am Thursday 3rd September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

I remember that many people of my parents generation saw voting for a Common Market as a way of joining with our neighbours to prevent happening in the future. Well we have had 64 years without he UK engaging in a war in Europe so maybe they were right. In the same way that the union that formed the UK has prevented all out war in Britain for hundreds of years. Although in Europe’s case, maybe the fear of mutual destruction in a nuclear holocaust has something to do with it as well of course.

However, as we continue to send money out of the country, upping our daily contribution to the EC from £39,000,000 per day to £45,000,000 per day to help pay for roads and other infrastructure in eastern Europe, I wonder - should we send money further to avoid war?

How much would it cost us to spend money not having to fight a war in Afghanistan, a sort of war prevention tax? To pay for whatever part of the Opium Crop might be considered fair to stop its production. To support and enable a peaceful way of life that may be different from our own, that may be more tribal, but may suit Afghanistan. Could we achieve a lasting result and a supporting role over there without losing any more of our young fighting men and women?