Ok I wrote this before you posted that...but it should follow on okay...
Hehe...well yeah that was one point. Fair enough if it's law it does seem harsh. My point which was the one I was hoping you would pick up on was the question of what is the cheapest option - what's going to be the cheapest way to pay for all this improvement...
BT is a company of course and okay you would buy from a company maybe. But what's to stop BT charging us £6 a month rather than the £6 a year the government is trying to pull off ? If we are at the mercy of big businesses is that any worse than being at the mercy of governments ? Just look at the banking world, they truly screwed things up didn't they ?
Private companies often have us over a barrel too just as much as governments do.
I don't disagree with your philosphy, infact I think it's pretty admirable. Most of my thoughts on this are about the cost to the man in the street. It's all very well for leading and loaded Tories or for that matter any politicians to wave a banner saying 'get this free - don't pay the tax!' but can they deliver a viable alternative. Especially when, like you say, some giant like BT tells us all to sod off.
Let me ask you a question, if you ran a business, and things needed upgrading to get in line with the rest of the world, yet you refused to pay for it...do you think the government would sort it out for you? We both already know the answer don't we?
Not sure if I get this question but bare with me. If I had a business now I guess I would probably pay to have it upgraded - but that would mean me charging my customers more to do it if needs be. But if the government is busy working on upgrading things for everyone, then considering the minimal tax, this would seem the better option. So yes let the government do it, because it saves a business a lot of money, especially small businesses. Maybe not fair on everyone, but people are going to pay for it one way or another aren't they ? And like I said before, I only think actual users could pay the tax, it is unfair that they would charge everyone.
So what makes BT any different? Why can every other country implement this technology themselves or in conjunction with the suppliers, yet here in the UK, WE the taxpayer have to payfor improvemnts, which we are paying for anyway in our monthly bill...
I don't know how much BT budgets for upgrading infrastructure so can't answer that. The fact they are unwilling to do it, might imply they haven't got enough money to do it. And if the government steps in and forces them to upgrade things - who's still going to foot the bill ?
I don't like the way BT owns it all either - I don't even have anything to do with BT any more, although of course some of my monthly bill goes their way.
Do you not grasp that concept? Its a tax, another tax of the many that this corrupt government have brought in and made law with no regard for the people of this country. And it is not needed regardless of how large or small the amount it.
Do I not grasp that concept ? Come on man is that a serious question ? Sadly taxes and governments are like peas in a pod. There are always taxes we don't like whoever is in charge. Care to pay window tax or hearth tax ? I was against the poll tax - so do you think I grasp the concept ?
Peace.
