US stages revolt against the British

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


The UK has a population of 60 million. VA has a pop of 7 million. Hm, I guess that works out, though you forgot a number of other states before it (*cough*Canada*cough*).

Come get some, *****.

[Kuciwalker]

war of 1812

*popcorn*

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I applaud these diplomats in their observance of a grand American tradition

Ah yes, the country of tax dodgers

God bless America.

[KrazyHorse]

You're way too late, Drake.

Me, Kuci and Dan have already pushed the discussion past the war of 1812 horizon.

Trolling on any other subject is now impossible.

[Drake Tungsten]

Yeah, I noticed. God damn time difference...

[Timexwatch]

Having done some research, it seems that there is a history of diplomats ignoring fines and taxes like this. For instance, there was a big blowup in 2001 over the fact that foreign diplomats owed $21 million in parking fines. And the CS Monitor noted in 2004 that there is ~$200 million owed by every nation in various fines. What was the solution? We started to take the money out of the foreign ops budget for each country. It seems like that Kenny L. should let it slide and then have the Foreign Office take it out of whatever it sends to the US in aid/program funding. Problem solved, and no grandstanding needs to be done.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by DanS
There seems little room to provide a distinction, no matter how many attorneys you put on the case. It's a use tax.

Is the subscription fee you pay for broadband a use tax?

[Colonâ„¢]

This is waste of time, Dan's mind is set on rebelling against legal terminology. Nothing we can do about it.

[DanS]

First sensible thing you've said in this thread.

[DanS]

Originally posted by snoopy369
A usage tax is a tax assessed by the government for using a public good, in a broad sense. Tolls, like this Congestion Tax, would fall under the domain of 'usage tax' - as the public good here is the road.

A user fee would be something like a goverment airline. That's not a tax, because the government is providing an actual service, not simply asking for money in exchange for not preventing your use. Some camping grounds would have user fees AND usage taxes, for example; the usage tax is for being allowed to park your trailer or set up your tent, while the user fee would be for renting a grill or some such.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd say this is probably something that according to convention will be ruled in favor of the Americans.

What frustrates me the most about this is that diplomats EVERYWHERE do this. NY, Washington, etc. have huge troubles with diplomats abusing their diplomatic privilege, not paying parking fines, DWIs, etcetera ... and american diplomats are no better (but not the worst, either ... iirc a Georgian diplomat was NOT recalled after several DWI incidents, one of which ended with a serious injury ... Diplomatic privilege is something that needs to go. If you commit a crime or whatnot on foreign soil, you commit a crime. Exempt them from sales taxes, fine, and income taxes, but everything else is fair game ...

Hmmm... Good post.

I'll have to think about this.

Re the drunken Georgian diplomat running into the car at high speed on a Washington city street and killing the driver, that happened a couple of blocks from my place, IIRC. I think that accident has led to diplomatic immunity being waived as a normal course of business among most countries with cordial relations. I seem to recall that the Georgian diplomat was convicted and that several roughly similar incidents since then have also led to convictions.

[CerberusIV]

Ever wondered what happens if you don't pay up?

This is from the website of the bit of the GLA that runs the scheme.

Vehicles with three or more outstanding congestion charging penalty charges may be clamped or removed by staff operating across the whole of Greater London, not just in the congestion charging zone.

The current clamp fee is £65 and the removal fee is £150. Storage in the car pound also costs £25 a day. If a vehicle is clamped or removed, then all of the outstanding penalty charges and the appropriate clamp/removal and storage fees must be paid before the release of the vehicle is authorised.

If the release fee is not paid, then the vehicle may be disposed at auction or by scrapping. The registered keeper will remain liable for all outstanding charges, including a £60 disposal fee.

Basically, if you don't pay within 28 days that's one strike. Three strikes and they come and take your car away. I can't wait to see the US Ambassador having to queue up to get his official car back (or better still Red Ken pushing the button that starts the car crusher).

[Colonâ„¢]

Originally posted by DanS
First sensible thing you've said in this thread.

I assume you're also rejecting the notion there's a material difference between tax credits and subsidies?

[DanS]

I've not opined on the subject, my dear fellow.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Colon


I assume you're also rejecting the notion there's a material difference between tax credits and subsidies?

The relevant analogy is to call a government contract a subsidy.

[Colonâ„¢]

Originally posted by DanS
I've not opined on the subject, my dear fellow.

Yes you did.

Roland would love this.