What Else Can We Tax?

Imagine going to the shop for a loaf of bread and having to pay for a brand you didn't want before being allowed into the shop to buy the brand you do want.

That's what Pat Rabbitte wants us all to do with the new Broadcast Charge set to replace the telephone licence. It's even more sinister that this has been announced after the furore about the Household Charge has died down. After all, it was originally touted that the Household Charge would include the TV licence. Now it appears the Broadcast Charge is extra and will be collected with the Household Charge.

Right now, the debate is focussing on whether people watch RTE programming at all, whether on a TV or electronic device such as PC, laptop or iPad. But that isn't actually the point. Even if you don't watch any programming from any broadcaster on anything device, you still have to pay. It is no longer a licence. There is no choice. You live in Ireland - you pay. It is a tax.

If people were given the choice whether or not to pay for RTE, many wouldn't. The government know this and so to protect their well paid friends in RTE who seem incapable of running a business without financial assistment from the government, we have to pay.

This was an opportunity to do away with the antiquated licence fee and a chance to help the financially pressured people of this country in some way, but the new government wimped out again, proving again that FG/Labour is no different than what went before.

When do we say enough is enough.