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British Government Considers Tax on Computers
Jumbo Jimbo writes "A story in the UK Times talks about the UK government's proposals to tax personal computers, as a replacement for the television license currently paid by every household with a TV. These are proposals and aren't intended for a few years yet, but due to the growth of computer ownership, this would probably amount to a tax on nearly everybody. Hope it's not per computer, or those people with a pile of old 286s in the shed could be in for a shock."
See subject.
This is how British politics works. In the UK, there is a knee-jerk reaction to like more taxes, however unfair and unwise, just as in the US there is an automatic tendency to like tax cuts, however unfair and unwise.
This is because UK people are brought up to feel warm and fuzzy when they think they are paying for 'public services', a 'social safety net', 'community infrastructure' and so on. Similarly, in the US people tend to feel warm and fuzzy when they think they are 'protecting their property', 'competing in a free market', etc.
The net result is that when a government needs to generate some positive buzz in the UK it talks about _extra_ taxes. I initially had a hard time believing this, but then a couple of years ago the UK govt imposed this absolutely HUGE tax hike for the benefit of 'health'. Everyone I knew who was not English reacted normally, ie they were horrified that yet more of their money would be stolen without them getting anything in return. But everyone I know who was English was actively happy, they felt reassured that it was a return to socialism and all for the public good and everything would be just fine. It was utterly weird.
A few years on, the health service here is still... well, you need private health insurance if you don't want to wind up with teeth like the English. And paying for health twice is not a small thing. But the warm fuzzy 'I am contributing to the greater good!' feeling among the English people remains.
And that, patient reader, is why we see this white paper being released playfully suggesting a tax on PCs. It has nothing to do with actual plans -- it's just to create a socialist sort of atmosphere and thus a warm fuzzy feeling.
Honesty compels me to point out that most societies have something like this effect.
Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
These are the same people that Knighted Billiam Gates right?
I rest my case.
If you have a TV, but just use it attached to a dvd player without a licence, you are breaking the law.
The world? That explains two things: The spread of anti-American sentiment and why they've garnered so-called "respect."
OT I know, mod me down!