Taxes...
It's amazing what has been taxed over the years in the UK...and possibly around the world.
You can understand the paying of taxes on income(even if you dislike doing so)but over the years(and we're talking centuries)various Governments have taxed, the amount of daylight that entered your home via windows(I thought that natural light was free)that was known as the Window Tax(surprise, surprise)this resulted in some property owners taking out windows or boarding them up. They had a tax on wigs(those long wigs like you see in historic films of the Cavaliers etc...so is it any wonder that they charge taxes on food, clothing and just about anything that you can think of etc...
In this part of the world that is known as VAT(Value Added Tax)somewhere like the USA that would be a sales tax.
Some of the strangest taxes today that exist are as an example, if you make phone calls when your bill comes in, you'll find VAT added to the cost of the calls you make so you are taxed on talking(so much for free speech)
So if they'll tax on essentials, is it any surprise that they will tax you on luxuries and things that could be seen as harmful to one's health. Such a tax can be seen as a deterrent but in reality often it an excuse or an admission of defeat so whilst saying "Don't do it!" they can still raise money at the same time. You pay tax on your energy bills and now they are trying to raise more on the grounds of climate change and go on about every one's carbon footprint they are looking for other ways to raise even more money.
They've taxed smoking and alcoholic drink...there has been talk of taxing what is classed as junk food and sweets on the grounds that we are all going to become obese and the other day a Scottish Dr tried to press for the introduction of a Chocolate Tax.
That tax was already tried many years ago and abolished.
Thankfully, this idea was dismissed for now...I'm not sure that is much left that is not taxed in some way or that demands are not being made regarding products on the grounds that because the public cannot decide for themselves what is good for them they should no longer be advertised so the rest of us have to pay more or do without!
I'm not saying that some people do struggle with the misuse of certain substances but that has always happened and many things(even healthy eating if done to excess can be harmful...)moderation and common sense is the watch word...speaking of which the government's top medical adviser is suggesting that there should be an increase in the price of alchohol so no drinks could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol they contain.
It is said that most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50 under the new proposals.
And so it's like a tax(I assume the tax will be added on top of the added increase taking it still higher...)
Plans To Increase The Price Of Alcohol
Update:It would appear that the idea of raising the price of booze and therefore affecting the responsible drinkers amongst us has been rejected if what Government ministers have said over the past few hours is to be believed. It could of course be that if people stopped buying booze because of the increase in price they realise that also means a drop in the revenue raised tax wise.
It's ironic another example of items that are taxed heavily are cars...
We are being told not to use cars as much and the economic downturn has meant fewer cars are being purchased and therefore car plants are struggling and many have laid off workers or reduced their working hours and pay...and now Government's would love to see the public buying them again. It may be that after the economy turns around people may see cars as a necessity but not a luxury and buy very basic models, but equally if you are being told not to use them as much, you could ask why buy one just to have it sit on a drive or in a garage.
You can understand the paying of taxes on income(even if you dislike doing so)but over the years(and we're talking centuries)various Governments have taxed, the amount of daylight that entered your home via windows(I thought that natural light was free)that was known as the Window Tax(surprise, surprise)this resulted in some property owners taking out windows or boarding them up. They had a tax on wigs(those long wigs like you see in historic films of the Cavaliers etc...so is it any wonder that they charge taxes on food, clothing and just about anything that you can think of etc...
In this part of the world that is known as VAT(Value Added Tax)somewhere like the USA that would be a sales tax.
Some of the strangest taxes today that exist are as an example, if you make phone calls when your bill comes in, you'll find VAT added to the cost of the calls you make so you are taxed on talking(so much for free speech)
So if they'll tax on essentials, is it any surprise that they will tax you on luxuries and things that could be seen as harmful to one's health. Such a tax can be seen as a deterrent but in reality often it an excuse or an admission of defeat so whilst saying "Don't do it!" they can still raise money at the same time. You pay tax on your energy bills and now they are trying to raise more on the grounds of climate change and go on about every one's carbon footprint they are looking for other ways to raise even more money.
They've taxed smoking and alcoholic drink...there has been talk of taxing what is classed as junk food and sweets on the grounds that we are all going to become obese and the other day a Scottish Dr tried to press for the introduction of a Chocolate Tax.
That tax was already tried many years ago and abolished.
Thankfully, this idea was dismissed for now...I'm not sure that is much left that is not taxed in some way or that demands are not being made regarding products on the grounds that because the public cannot decide for themselves what is good for them they should no longer be advertised so the rest of us have to pay more or do without!
I'm not saying that some people do struggle with the misuse of certain substances but that has always happened and many things(even healthy eating if done to excess can be harmful...)moderation and common sense is the watch word...speaking of which the government's top medical adviser is suggesting that there should be an increase in the price of alchohol so no drinks could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol they contain.
It is said that most bottles of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50 under the new proposals.
And so it's like a tax(I assume the tax will be added on top of the added increase taking it still higher...)
Plans To Increase The Price Of Alcohol
Update:It would appear that the idea of raising the price of booze and therefore affecting the responsible drinkers amongst us has been rejected if what Government ministers have said over the past few hours is to be believed. It could of course be that if people stopped buying booze because of the increase in price they realise that also means a drop in the revenue raised tax wise.
It's ironic another example of items that are taxed heavily are cars...
We are being told not to use cars as much and the economic downturn has meant fewer cars are being purchased and therefore car plants are struggling and many have laid off workers or reduced their working hours and pay...and now Government's would love to see the public buying them again. It may be that after the economy turns around people may see cars as a necessity but not a luxury and buy very basic models, but equally if you are being told not to use them as much, you could ask why buy one just to have it sit on a drive or in a garage.
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 5:41 pm
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