The UK Television Tax
While I was in San Diego I tried to explain our Television Tax here in the UK. I don’t think I did a particularly good job. It does though highlight how stupid this country is.
In the UK, just like if you want to own a gun, you have to have a license if you want to watch television. Not just the BBC channel which is funded by it, the license is required if you want to watch a television set or device capable of receiving the signal.
Yup, stupid isn’t it? This people is what they call the Television License, or what I like to call it “shove your television tax up your arse”.
People say if you don’t want to pay the license don’t watch television. That would be ok if it wasn’t for the fact the TVLA actually hunt down people now using a database of non-payers.
Select [address] where paid = false
That’s right, if you don’t buy a license for whatever reason they assume you are a license-dodger.
The one good thing we get out of it is dear old “Aunty”, the BBC. Hmmm … that used to be a justification, now ..? Possibly still (they are relatively impartial but I hear they do their own bit of lobbying, how could they not when they are funded by a tax?)
Read more at Danny’s post Licenced To Watch TV For Another Year
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February 24th, 2006 at 5:59 am
I often feel fed up with the laws in the US, particularly in California. The liberals are constantly nipping at the population with cries for more taxes, tighter gun control, less individual responsibility by way of more regulations, limitations, laws, etc.
It’s easy to forget that we still have much more freedom than a lot of countries.
This TV tax is outlandish! It’s insanely Big Brother.
I’m starting to recall some of the reasons we stuck it to the redcoats way back when :)
February 24th, 2006 at 8:47 am
Just another reason for us to leave :O)
February 24th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
At least they don’t keep charging me each year for my shotgun license, Chris! Not that I ever use the darn things — we inherited them from my wife’s father, when he passed away. But there’s a whole other story I’ll have to spin out some time, my interview to be armed. The officer was actually very polite :)
February 24th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
I have never understood gun licenses - bad people don’t ask permission for anything do they?
“Would it be ok with you mister if I steal this gun and use it to hold up the corner kwikimart?”
“No, that would NOT be acceptable”
“Darn, you never let me do ANYTHING pfft”
February 24th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Ever since the Hutton ‘Inquiry’ the BBC has been little more than a government mouthpiece.