Socialism in action

The obvious answer to the question “do you mind if I come into your home and take photographs so I can increase your tax bill” would have been considered unprintable in days gone by, but beware the follow-up of “if you don't it's a £1000 fine.”

What better example can be found of this Government's socialist credentials than sending round snoopers to photograph homeowner's properties, in order to increase tax on those homeowners who have bothered to improve, though the expense of their already taxed income, their own homes?

As usual the vile Socialists choose to incentivise bad behaviour – if you let your property go to rack and ruin you'll pay less. So start piling up the garbage out front, let that garden grow over, encourage vermin and maybe the little Hitlers with their digital cameras that the Government is empowering to come into YOUR HOME will look more favourably upon you.

Comments

[daytripper]

im more concerned about the power the government can wield. like entering your property without cause.

its totalitarianism, not socialism.

[alison]

Its also against the european convention on human rights. I read recently that a man who was told if he didnt pay his parking fine in 2 weeks he would face a fine. He successfully argued that this was against his right to a fair trial. Also coming into your home breaks the same goddamn rules.

[alison]

i read recently ABOUT a man.....that. sorry

[Hugh Green]

As usual the vile Socialists choose to incentivise bad behaviour – if you let your property go to rack and ruin you'll pay less.

Living in a hovel through trying to pay less tax isn't really an incentive. And if it's your property, you're entitled to do with it as you please. Putting up a nice dado rail is not good behaviour and nicking the lead from your own roof is not bad behaviour.

[Madradin Ruad]

Underpaying rates while other honest folks pay through the nose is as dishonest as claiming unemployment benefit while working.

East to twist it another way -

why should an honest soul whose house, bought with already taxed cash, is properly rated pay a lot more than somebody who bought a house needing work and had extensions and other work done via the black economy,increasing the value and cheating honest people who pay their way ?

[aileen]

An invasion of privacy.

[Hugh Green]

What bothers me about this particular form of taxation is its echoing of Bacharach and David. For British inland revenue, a house is no longer a home. The market value of a house is only significant if you are planning on selling it. It is therefore assumed that it is human nature to sell your house, and uproot yourself from your dwellings under the right circumstances. This is all the more ironic coming from a government which has a Minister for Communities.

[David Vance]

I agree Hugh. Like the Bacarach/David reference.

I am also reminded of the poignant Bacarach/Costello title "This House is empty now" - but at least the rotten Government coined it in taxes.

[Richard Carey]

"its totalitarianism, not socialism"

They're hardly mutually exclusive!

[SBK]

If you know they're are going to come around. I'll presume you get a warning. Then shift all your stuff to a mates house or a lock up and then smear all the walls with mud. Net result a decrease in tax!

[aileen]

SBK

I suspect they will be looking for more lasting improvement features so I think you would probably have to knock down the extention ;o)

[Richard Carey]

Madradin Ruad,

"Underpaying rates while other honest folks pay through the nose is as dishonest as claiming unemployment benefit while working".

this makes no sense. What on earth is "underpaying rates"? When has anyone had influence over the banding of their property? It is nothing like claiming unemployment benefit while working.

The question you ask involving someone using workers from the black economy is entirely spurious.

[SBK]

Here's another thought. Bogus caller poses as one of these council tax inspectors, takes a bunch of pictures of your house and property then BAM! A few days later you've been robbed blind by a burglar who knew exactly where too look. Just a thought and it'll be old dears they'll go after first.

[Richard Carey]

SBk,

or another thought: actual council worker visits, photographs etc your property, and tips off his friends in the criminal fraternity.

[Ernest Young]

I am sure there is a title for a book somewhere here; along the lines of "The Myth of Freehold ownership in a Totalitarian State".

It was Ayn Rand, who suggested that a good indicator of how far along the totalitarian road a country had gone, was when the punishment for a 'crime' against the State, - as in refusing entry to a bureaucrat, was more punitive than a crime against the 'person', as in a robbery or mugging...

It would seem that we are almost at our final destination.

[Ross]

I agree that raising local taxation based on house value makes no sense. It would be better if local revenues were raised via local income and consumption taxes.

[David Vance]

Ross,

I agree with that!

[daytripper]

It would seem that we are almost at our final destination.

yeah thanks to you goats and your insistence on security over liberty.

[Ernest Young]

Daytripper,

Thank you, for the gratuitous insult - it seems the rehab didn't work for you...or are you still insisting you were abroad - "working"!

You really are a poor befuddled little lad...

[aileen]

"Ross,

I agree with that!"

so do I, enen though, I would probably be better off.

For some reason, my two bedroom house which was about twice the price of what I sold my one bedroom flat (just round the corner) for, is in a lower council tax band.