@TTT
"punative (sic) tax system"
If we went full-libertarian, no taxes, no government to speak of, how much would you be willing to pay the private police force to stop your house being burgled while you are at work, for starters?
What level of road tolls would you tolerate?
How much would you pay to the armed services, to keep Putin (and the rest) at bay?
Private healthcare, prisons, libraries, education system…
Roughly 40% of income, just as now? (PAYE+NIC+VAT+CGT+Duty+ Inheritance+whatever else)
Private contractors have a markup, let's not forget. So that would be another 30% on top. Not looking so free and easy, so far.
As for the unemployed, BIG savings to be made there but where are we going to stash all the bodies?