If you didn't believe what I said about paying to have your rubbish removed take a look at this story from yesterday's Times.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2415970.html
Monday, October 23, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The Plight of the Overtaxed
Got my new TV licence today.
Now we here in the UK are a much taxed people but this tax particularly gets my goat.
As I'd briefly mentioned in another post, if you have a TV in the UK you have to buy a TV licence which now costs about £132 a year. If you don't the law will be down on you quicker than a Big Brother viewer's brain cells disappear within the first three seconds of broadcast.
The rationale for this is that this money funds the 'high quality' programming of the BBC. All other 'commercial' stations pretty much have to fend for themselves and obtain advertising revenue in order to fund their activities. We are supposed to be satisfied with the superior output of the BBC and the fact that they don't run ads in return for being held up each month (they encourage you to pay this ransom by monthly direct debit)
Now this is such a crock of . .. ! Firstly, the BBC does advertise, they spend ages advertising their own programmes usually costly animated ads, rubbing your nose in the fact that you are financing some heavy duty goings on. Secondly, their presenters and staff seem to get paid a King's ransom in salary. Thirdly, the quality of their programming is in serious doubt as to it being top quality.
It may have been (and I doubt it ever was) relevant in the past when they were the only show in town, but now the TV licence fee needs to be abolished.
At the very least, they should share it out amongst all the channels, but at the most the British public should be relieved of this tax.
Now we here in the UK are a much taxed people but this tax particularly gets my goat.
As I'd briefly mentioned in another post, if you have a TV in the UK you have to buy a TV licence which now costs about £132 a year. If you don't the law will be down on you quicker than a Big Brother viewer's brain cells disappear within the first three seconds of broadcast.
The rationale for this is that this money funds the 'high quality' programming of the BBC. All other 'commercial' stations pretty much have to fend for themselves and obtain advertising revenue in order to fund their activities. We are supposed to be satisfied with the superior output of the BBC and the fact that they don't run ads in return for being held up each month (they encourage you to pay this ransom by monthly direct debit)
Now this is such a crock of . .. ! Firstly, the BBC does advertise, they spend ages advertising their own programmes usually costly animated ads, rubbing your nose in the fact that you are financing some heavy duty goings on. Secondly, their presenters and staff seem to get paid a King's ransom in salary. Thirdly, the quality of their programming is in serious doubt as to it being top quality.
It may have been (and I doubt it ever was) relevant in the past when they were the only show in town, but now the TV licence fee needs to be abolished.
At the very least, they should share it out amongst all the channels, but at the most the British public should be relieved of this tax.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Evening Work
Watch out if you ever want to work evenings in the UK to earn some extra cash.
I've been trying to do it and today was the last time I try. There's this EU directive you see, that says you can work up to a maximum of 48 hours a week - I believe you can still opt out of it though. However, everywhere I've been they don't want to take you on if you already work in the days. I went on a lengthy interview today for an evening job and after a 2 hour assessment they tell me they won't hire anyone who works for more than 40 hours a week, including the evening job!
I give up.
So for all of you who may think it's easy to pick up a little bit of extra cash to soak up those pesky credit card bills, think again. Part time work is the reserve of students and mothers.
Later.
I've been trying to do it and today was the last time I try. There's this EU directive you see, that says you can work up to a maximum of 48 hours a week - I believe you can still opt out of it though. However, everywhere I've been they don't want to take you on if you already work in the days. I went on a lengthy interview today for an evening job and after a 2 hour assessment they tell me they won't hire anyone who works for more than 40 hours a week, including the evening job!
I give up.
So for all of you who may think it's easy to pick up a little bit of extra cash to soak up those pesky credit card bills, think again. Part time work is the reserve of students and mothers.
Later.
Monday, October 09, 2006
More UK Tax Madness
Here's the latest.
Some UK local councils are planning (or already are!) to put chips in people's rubbish bins to measure how much rubbish they throw away. Depending on the amount, each householder will then be presented with a bill for having their garbage taken away!
They say this is to encourage more re-cycling, but the council only collect the recycling bins once per month (the garbage is collected once per week) They say in order to collect the recycling more often they would need more money hence the chips. What about the enormous council tax that each householder has to pay? Shouldn't that cover this service?
I tell you this country is the most taxed on this earth! You pay income tax, which varies depending on so many factors, and the more successful you are, the higher your rate (what a backward attitude to wealth creation!). You have to pay a tax for owning a television £131 per year, you pay council tax, we pay £75 per month, you make your pension contributions, your health contributions, car gas is taxed to the hilt, there's 17.5% VAT, they even tax you when you die. It's amazing the populace hasn't risen up in outrage!
I wait to see what hapens with the garbage.
Later.
Some UK local councils are planning (or already are!) to put chips in people's rubbish bins to measure how much rubbish they throw away. Depending on the amount, each householder will then be presented with a bill for having their garbage taken away!
They say this is to encourage more re-cycling, but the council only collect the recycling bins once per month (the garbage is collected once per week) They say in order to collect the recycling more often they would need more money hence the chips. What about the enormous council tax that each householder has to pay? Shouldn't that cover this service?
I tell you this country is the most taxed on this earth! You pay income tax, which varies depending on so many factors, and the more successful you are, the higher your rate (what a backward attitude to wealth creation!). You have to pay a tax for owning a television £131 per year, you pay council tax, we pay £75 per month, you make your pension contributions, your health contributions, car gas is taxed to the hilt, there's 17.5% VAT, they even tax you when you die. It's amazing the populace hasn't risen up in outrage!
I wait to see what hapens with the garbage.
Later.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Summer is Over
Well I guess it had to happen. I had to wear my coat today! Damn! I hate it when it's cold.
Enjoying my life as a newlywed (did the deed in July) which is why I haven't been on in a while.
I promise to devote more time to the site though - and there's plenty happening in the news to talk about.
Like this new dispensation from the States about passports for travellers which seems like it's going to screw around with the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Butch implied that this is retaliation for supporting Chavez. Is this going to be the 70s all over again? Are the Americans once again going to bully Jamaica into doing what they want because they don't like our friends?
You bet they will!
To coin a phrase, buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Later.
Enjoying my life as a newlywed (did the deed in July) which is why I haven't been on in a while.
I promise to devote more time to the site though - and there's plenty happening in the news to talk about.
Like this new dispensation from the States about passports for travellers which seems like it's going to screw around with the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Butch implied that this is retaliation for supporting Chavez. Is this going to be the 70s all over again? Are the Americans once again going to bully Jamaica into doing what they want because they don't like our friends?
You bet they will!
To coin a phrase, buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Later.
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