As loyal readers know, councils are the enemies of the people.
However, even I a very cynical individual was gobsmacked when I read about Canterbury council's attempt to screw their paymasters (their voters) out of even more money by slapping a pedestrian tax on them.
Yes, you did read that correctly, a pedestrian tax!
Seemingly the Tory run council tried to charge the residents of 14 houses in Whitstable £16 for the right to walk across some land (aka Bison's car park) at the back of their houses (bought by the council in 1995 via compulsory purchase).
The council tried this little scam on when it sent letters to the residents asking for £122 per annum for vehicular access to the rear of their houses.
Unsurprisingly the residents told the council to fuck off, and a firestorm of negative publicity engulfed the council.
Can you guess what happened next children?
Yes, that's right, the toads in the council backed down and claimed that the were "reviewing the situation".
In other words they know they can't get away with such blatant theft, and are now looking for a "face saving" exit.
As loyal readers know, when the bright light of publicity is shone on Nanny's greedy little scams she backs off and pretends it was a misunderstanding.
Like all bullies Nanny needs to be stood up to, otherwise she will get away with murder.
Councils are the enemies of the people!
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Since the rip off tax was frozen, local councils have looked for new ways to raise funds. Even Wokingham have done so: They want us to pay twice for something we already have paid for and are now charging for services that were already paid for through local rip off tax such as initial contact with planing officers.
ReplyDeleteThe people of this country need to remind the weasels in local and nation government, that they work for us, not the other way around. I hate local councils.
Incidently, it has been reported on the state's broadcaster's red button service on the news page under politics that, Lord Bichard, who is a former benefits chief and sits on a committee looking at demographic changes and their inpact on public services, has said that retired people should do community work or face losing part of their pension so as not to be a burden on the state. This has made me very angry indeed.
Firstly, we have paid in for our pensions in good faith, having been told that NI would give us a good pension and then being told that SERPS would give us a liveable pension level: we are now told that we need to have NEST too: If a private company kept moving the goal posts and riping people off in the same way different governments have, they would be before a judge.
People have contributed for their pensions and it is their pension, not for the government to use as a carrot or a stick. During good times, the government should have built up a pension reserve so that state pensions were not a giant ponzi scheme.
I would remind Lord Bichard that community service is a judicial sanction judges can give criminals: is therefore, being a pensioner going to be a criminal act in his brave new world?
Suggesting that pensioners are a burden is a disgusting thing to say and plays into the politics of envy: we hear more and more about young people attacking the elderly in much the same way people attack overseas aid and benefit claimants.
It seems to me to be another example of divide and rule: a divided population that is afraid is far easier to control than a united, confident population. Rant over.
Good grief! Next they will be charging us for the air we breathe, or for the ''privilege'' of visiting council offices!
ReplyDeleteTonk: I agree with every word you say!
"Incidently, it has been reported on the state's broadcaster's red button service on the news page under politics that, Lord Bichard, who is a former benefits chief and sits on a committee looking at demographic changes and their inpact on public services, has said that retired people should do community work or face losing part of their pension so as not to be a burden on the state."
Just like George Orwell's ''Animal Farm''! I wonder whether ''his lordship'' has to struggle to make ends meet, or choose whether to die of starvation or freeze to death, as many pensioners do? And may we assume he claims no expenses nor salary courtesy of muggins, i.e the taxpayer? This just sums up how out of touch politicians of all parties are with those of us living in the real world.
Can you imagine the outcry if it were suggested that asylum seekers were to be made to work for their benefits?
ReplyDeleteAnd it appears that his lordship is setting a perfect example, as he retired at 54 with a pension of £120,000 p.a!
ReplyDelete