cirianz
Chatter Box
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2005
- Messages
- 2,390
- Reaction score
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Now I'm guessing that most of you have heard of (or perhaps even own) the new hybrid cars. Cool idea, great for the environment, about time really.
Our government has heard of them too, and it is not impressed. Like most places our current petrol prices are divided pretty evenly between actual petrol cost & govt tax, supposedly for the purpose of maintaining & building our roads etc... or at least Auckland's roads as our latest petrol tax increase last year was quite blatantly for (as you can imagine, those of us who don't live in Auckland were a bit miffed... but then that's the govt's way).
But the latest, now that's a real doozy!!!
Apparently, because these new hybrid cars use so much less petrol we are ROBBING the government of tax income!
Yes, you read that right, On national TV & radio our govt declared quite openly & using that word, that we would be stealing from them!! And therefore, despite the fact that the cars are so expensive very few people can actually afford them, the govt is hereby going to introduce a nice new "road toll" tax based on mileage traveled, to all motorists, to compensate for the difference.
In fact, according to this logic you are stealing from the government EVERY TIME that you walk to work instead of drive. Indeed, even public transport services are starting to look a bit dodgy.
Now, regardless of ones political leanings, most people would agree that our personal income is something that we 'personally' have earned, usually by hard work of one kind or another. The tax that we pay is a portion of OUR income 'contributed' (however forcibly) to the govt for the purpose of the running & maintenance of our country.
Apparently we were wrong!
That money belonged to the govt all along, & indeed, to pay less tax, however legally, actually constitutes theft!
Anyone here seen "The Godfather"?
Our government has heard of them too, and it is not impressed. Like most places our current petrol prices are divided pretty evenly between actual petrol cost & govt tax, supposedly for the purpose of maintaining & building our roads etc... or at least Auckland's roads as our latest petrol tax increase last year was quite blatantly for (as you can imagine, those of us who don't live in Auckland were a bit miffed... but then that's the govt's way).
But the latest, now that's a real doozy!!!
Apparently, because these new hybrid cars use so much less petrol we are ROBBING the government of tax income!
Yes, you read that right, On national TV & radio our govt declared quite openly & using that word, that we would be stealing from them!! And therefore, despite the fact that the cars are so expensive very few people can actually afford them, the govt is hereby going to introduce a nice new "road toll" tax based on mileage traveled, to all motorists, to compensate for the difference.
In fact, according to this logic you are stealing from the government EVERY TIME that you walk to work instead of drive. Indeed, even public transport services are starting to look a bit dodgy.
Now, regardless of ones political leanings, most people would agree that our personal income is something that we 'personally' have earned, usually by hard work of one kind or another. The tax that we pay is a portion of OUR income 'contributed' (however forcibly) to the govt for the purpose of the running & maintenance of our country.
Apparently we were wrong!
That money belonged to the govt all along, & indeed, to pay less tax, however legally, actually constitutes theft!
Anyone here seen "The Godfather"?
