Author: Daft Old Duffer
Daft Old Duffer: Ventnor Vapouromiter No 5
Wednesday, 9th December, 2009 at 11:45 am, Isle of Wight
Some agree with him, and some don’t. He’s back and this time walking about tax. Ed
So now they’re going to tax the Broadband. Of course they are – they’re politicians, aren’t they? What took them so long?
Only 50p per month they assure us.
To begin with. Hands up anyone who can recall a tax that didn’t go up and up until it reached all reasonable limits? And then went up some more?
Well, it’s for a good cause we’re told. To finance the further expansion of Broadband services to less accessible areas.
Yeah, right. Like road tax is used to improve our roads.And council tax/nee rates is used to build more homes.
Triumphant Roman Generals, enjoying their parade, were accompanied by a spoil-sport whispering in their ear words to the effect – ‘Remember you’re just an ordinary Joe.You just got lucky is all’.
Politicians should have a gadget fixed to their ear which cuts in as soon as they open their mouth. And advises; ‘Just shut up. Who the hell do you imagine believes a word you say?’
I’m waiting for the day when a leading scientist appears on the telly and says ‘Ah, but we only said IF world temperatures continue to rise at the present rate ….’
The latest news in the pollution of the planet saga is that it isn’t only cows to blame. It’s sheep as well. They apparently fart well above their weight. According to those who make it their business to measure such things.
So, next time you go for a country stroll, don’t only cuss a cow.Spare some time to boo a baa-lamb too.
But hold on a mo – before man started keeping herds of animals, was not the planet covered with a blanket of bison and wild cattle, deer and horses, elephants and antelope – whole mammoth herds of them in fact?
Didn’t that lot convert greenery into methane just as efficiently?
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Now DOD, as you know, I rather enjoy your gentle meanderings along the hills and dales of local affairs. But I think on this occasion you have got your feet stuck in the mud with the eco-politics detour.
Having said that, this proposed broadband tax is fascinating for a couple of reasons, not the least that the Government has absolutely no way whatsoever to justify it. It’s not like road tax where it nominally is used to pay for road maintenance. Or the BBC where the licence fee pays for programming. No. Broadband is 100% funded and built by the private sector. The only involvement the Government has is to use it to snoop on us. God knows, we’ve made it easy for them.
What really fascinates me is that nobody seems to be dissenting. There is a sort of quiescent shrugging of shoulders. Over the last year I have twice pointed out that legislation has been introduced through some back door bill which allows the mechanisms of law and order to tap our phones or any other form of electronic communication at will, without needing any legal justification. No one seems to think this is a bad thing. If your post started arriving pre-opened by some local spook, would that still be OK?
What exactly does this government have to do for us to really rebel? I think 100% tax might just do the trick. Role on tax hikes I say.
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Ho,Big Ears.
First thing to say is how much I appreciate a reasoned response instead of the abuse that seems to becoming the norm.
In reply to your first comment,the next piece I am submitting will give you more to get your teeth into on the whirly-bird subject.
No argument on the snoop point.I am composing a piece now on the inevitability of increasing government surveillance.Our only hope there being a sometime backlash which leaves politicians main election platform a promise of greater freedom
for the individual.
I’m afraid we’re going to have to keep our fingers crossed for a long,long time on that one.
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