Thatcher’s £10m funeral is going to happen, however furious we get about it - and despite the cuts the poorest parts of the country have just been subjected to. Like all the horrible things that are going on in UK politics it’s just going to happen. I have never felt so disillusioned in my life.
I am frightened of our government. I am frightened that spending like this can happen so blatantly, that money can be openly funneled into something the country very vocally doesn’t want, that people are told they are leeches, that they are lazy for not having work, that homeless people quietly die on the streets of the capital whilst establishments like fucking Harrods tower above them, that privileged men and women who share the city with them ignore them, get pissed off at the mere fact that they have to walk past them - and most of all I am frightened that we are powerless to do anything about the fact that £10m - that’s £10,000,000 - of money that could pay for teachers, nurses, police, doctors, libraries, schools, accommodation or any number of significantly worthier causes is going to be spent on celebrating the life of a human being who shamelessly and with massive forethought damaged the lives of people paying for it.
I am frightened that people with more money than I am likely to ever have are angry at the prospect of paying tax to help people with less than them, and frightened at what this is indicative of in our country. As ever, I am beyond willing to pay tax on the income I am privileged to have, and pay more of it if necessary, if it helps other human beings exist - but the inherent imbalance in this country is nothing short of terrifying.
“According to the Tax Foundation, taxes now consume more than 38% of the average family's budget. That is more than is spent on food, clothing, housing, and transportation combined. Compare this to the plight of medieval serfs. They only had to give the lord of the manor one-third of their output -- and they were considered slaves. So what does that make us? ”
—Daniel Mitchell, The Washington Times, 3/9/99
Apple's Tax Hypocrisy
Not only do the lost tax revenues hurt Federal funded programs like education [which Apple complains there are not enough homegrown techies and must get overseas talent] they also screw taxes on a local level:
“Apple not only does its utmost to avoid paying federal taxes in the U.S., but also to minimize its taxes at the state and local level. One favorite trick: Nevada. The Times: “With a handful of employees in a small office here in Reno, Apple has done something central to its corporate strategy: it has avoided millions of dollars in taxes in California and 20 other states. Apple’s headquarters are in Cupertino, Calif. By putting an office in Reno, just 200 miles away, to collect and invest the company’s profits, Apple sidesteps state income taxes on some of those gains. California’s corporate tax rate is 8.84 percent. Nevada’s? Zero.”
Apple avoids US taxes then complains our schools are lousy.
The Senate just passed the internet sales tax bill. Did your Senator vote for it?
The Senate officially passed the internet sales tax bill today, which would allow states to begin charging tax for online purchases.
from AP:
The Senate sided with traditional retailers and financially strapped state and local governments Monday by passing a bill that would widely subject online shopping — for many a largely tax-free frontier — to state sales taxes.
The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 69 to 27, getting support from Republicans and Democrats alike. But opposition from some conservatives who view it as a tax increase will make it a tougher sell in the House. President Barack Obama has conveyed his support for the measure.
Under current law, states can only require retailers to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state.
Did your Senator vote for this piece of garbage? Sadly, both of mine did…and they’re Republicans. With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?
Here’s the roll call:
