#cyblessings 24th February 2012

Tax dodging by some unscrupulous companies means developing countries lose more money annually than they receive in aid.

How fantastic, a chance to write a rant about companies and high earning individuals who don't pay the tax that they owe to the countries within which they earn all their profits. Very little is likely to make me quite so animated.

I just don't understand how anyone can be so greedy as to not pay what they owe to the taxman. We all pay and the one thing you can guarantee is that the less you earn then the more chance there is that you'll pay up, mostly because you won't be able to afford to pay anyone to help you avoid doing so.

Then there's the issue of just how much many individuals actually need; and let's remember that companies don't pay tax because they're trying to increase their profits so that people who own shares can become richer. No one needs a second home or a fifth car or a yacht or a private jet. They may be nice to have, but if you're in the lucky position to be able to afford them then you have an obligation - morally and socially - to pay taxes to help others who are not so fortunate.

Phew, glad I got that out.

Christian Aid are asking us to give 50p if you have benefited from a tax-funded service in the last year. Well I have used the NHS and that's tax funded, and Rachel goes to a state school, so yes, we will donate our 50p.