PowerSwitch

What have you been up to now EM?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30412783

Irish water charges: Missiles thrown at police in Dublin during protest

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4Nyj2 ... g-0_JTYFNw

Shortfall wrote:What have you been up to now EM?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30412783

Irish water charges: Missiles thrown at police in Dublin during protest

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4Nyj2 ... g-0_JTYFNw

Not me - I have my own well, which I pay to maintain.

But: I do object 1000% to water charges in this country. I already pay them, through general taxation, even though I don't have a mains supply. And in the eighties, domestic rates were abolished and the VAT rate raised 2% to make things 'revenue neutral'. Now that household tax is back, with no reduction in VAT.

So I pay for water three times. Four, if you count my contribution to work, which pays commercial rates.

And although I in principle object to violence in any form, I can understand it occurring when the police become a military force. 'An Garda Siochána' is their title - 'Guardians of the Peace'.

emordnilap wrote: 'An Garda Siochána' is their title - 'Guardians of the Peace'.

Priceless!

Shortfall wrote:

emordnilap wrote: 'An Garda Siochána' is their title - 'Guardians of the Peace'.

Priceless!

Rossport is a shining example of their balance.

Of course, the 'water charges' are nothing of the sort. Neither is the extra tax called the 'universal social charge' (which people to refer to as the USB!) anything remotely to do with socialism or social use - not for little people, that is. Neither is the 'household charge' anything to do with what a household requires.

It's simply about paying bondholders in failed, 'free market' banks. It's nothing more complex than that but that narrative has been submerged in the talk of 'austerity' and the need to generate a competitive economy.

Not only that, they're deflecting the narrative through talk of fixing the leaks: about 40% of clean water is lost to leaks, though they could be fixed for the same cost as installing water meters. Also, they've convinced a lot of people to say, "I don't mind paying for water" - when they already do!

Governments are aware that, once a tax is successfully introduced, it's very hard to get rid of it. Like rising fuel prices, eventually people get used to it and try to cut their cloth accordingly.

They're having a hard time with water taxes because they've made a total hames of introducing it; they were relying on the shock doctrine, but they're not as clever as the Yanks.

emordnilap wrote:They're having a hard time with water taxes because they've made a total hames of introducing it; they were relying on the shock doctrine, but they're not as clever as the Yanks.

Speaking of which, here's an interesting little web site:

http://www.hermes-press.com/

which led to this:

http://www.hermes-press.com/germany1930.htm

Have fun.

Shortfall wrote:

emordnilap wrote:They're having a hard time with water taxes because they've made a total hames of introducing it; they were relying on the shock doctrine, but they're not as clever as the Yanks.

Speaking of which, here's an interesting little web site:

http://www.hermes-press.com/

which led to this:

http://www.hermes-press.com/germany1930.htm

Have fun.

That fellah needs to use a large font size.