# FILE NAME: 00001846.soc
# TITLE: Should everyone have to pay an income tax even if they are earning less than the current minimum wage? [f3dc5da095acd3ede75cb2e1ddbf33dd]
# DESCRIPTION: 
# DATA TYPE: soc
# MODIFICATION TYPE: original
# RELATES TO: 
# RELATED FILES: 
# PUBLICATION DATE: 2025-10-12
# MODIFICATION DATE: 2025-10-12
# NUMBER ALTERNATIVES: 4
# NUMBER VOTERS: 5
# NUMBER UNIQUE ORDERS: 4
# ALTERNATIVE NAME 1: Statement 1 - In general, the group was opposed to the idea of people earning less than the minimum wage having to pay income tax.  The group felt that this would be unfair as it would mean that people would be taxed on money that they do not have.  However, the group felt that the minimum wage should be increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living.  The group felt that if the minimum wage was increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living then it would be fair for people to pay income tax on their earnings.
# ALTERNATIVE NAME 2: Statement 2 - In general, the group was opposed to the idea of people earning less than the minimum wage having to pay income tax.  The group felt that this would be unfair as it would mean that people would be taxed on money that they do not have.  However, the group felt that the minimum wage should be increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living.  The group felt that if the minimum wage was increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living then it would be fair for people to pay income tax on their earnings.
# ALTERNATIVE NAME 3: Statement 3 - It is fair to tax people on earnings above the minimum wage as they are making sufficient money to live on.  If the minimum wage was increased to a level that more closely reflected the cost of living then it would be fair to require people to pay income tax on their earnings.  However, currently, as the minimum wage is not sufficient for those on it to live, it is unfair to tax people on these earnings.
# ALTERNATIVE NAME 4: Statement 4 - In general, the group was opposed to the idea of people earning less than the minimum wage having to pay income tax.  The group felt that this would be unfair as it would mean that people would be taxed on money that they do not have.  However, the group felt that the minimum wage should be increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living.  The group felt that if the minimum wage was increased to a level that is more in line with the cost of living then it would be fair for people to pay income tax on their earnings.  The group felt that the minimum wage should be increased by around 20% to take into account the cost of living.  The group felt that the increase in the minimum wage should be brought in over a period of around 3 years to allow for people on low incomes to have their wages increased.  The group felt that the increase in the minimum wage should only apply to people who are over 21 and not to people who are under 21. In terms of the process of reaching this consensus statement, one of the participants felt that there were a number of individuals who were very outspoken and were keen to ‘talk over’ the other participants: There was a group of us
2: 1,2,3,4
1: 4,3,2,1
1: 2,3,4,1
1: 2,1,4,3