Dan Minette schreef:
> From: J. van Baardwijk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> > At 12:58 20-5-01 -0500, Dan Minette wrote:
> >
> > >And, if we do things like raise taxes, we will drive hardworking people
> into
> > >bankruptcy.
> >
> > That's crap, Dan. People won't go bankrupt if the government decides to
> > raise taxes on energy.
> >
>
> Let me give one simple example. A small time owner/operator of a US truck
> pays about $40,000 per year in fuel taxes (this figure comes from the back
> of a number of trucks...but I think its accurate). If fuel taxes were on a
> par with Europe's, that figure would rise to about $300,000 per years
> Yes, they can raise their prices, but at the higher prices, the demand for
> trucking will go down. At that point, the marginal operators will be forced
> out of business.
Excuse me. But at once raising taxes to a standard that we have here in Europe
isn't what anybody suggested. Besides companies get the most part of their taxes
paid on fuel back. Also taxes on goods are lower or non existent for companies.
So this example you are giving is rather incorrect. The only thing said here is
that the gradual increase in this country as in the whole of the EU may have
coused a shift in occupations or to different areas, but it still hasn't
resulted in mass bankrupcy.
There are companies over here that make a nice profit but have to work really
hard for it. That goes for truckdrivers just the same as for a small time shop
or a little restaurant. And there aren't only multinationals and rich people
running them. You think it is easier over here to keep a small business running?
Think again.
And btw I _do_ very much resent your insinuations of rightous hard working
American, pretending to be the only country in the world where people have to
work very hard for their money. The system may be totally different but that
doesn't make us any _less_ hard working or business like compared to you. We do
have a better social security system then you do but that doesn't mean people
like to rely on it.
> You used hardworking Dutchman twice. I would venture that one of these
> drivers works longer and harder than the average hard working Dutchman.
<rant>
Tell that to my parents or some of my nephews (they are hard working self
employed truckdrivers by the way). Or to my dad. He built a very well running
medium sized international trucking company from ground zero starting as
employee. Or to my moms longtime boyfriend who bought and ran the gasoline
service station, during the first few years, off the salary he earned driving a
truck while his family ran the shop. Or should we consider my Uncle who started
his business working also nights doing manual labour to get it started. Or maybe
my half brother who now owns two big shops selling tiles. He also started out as
a truck driver and hasn't gotten anything handed to him (not my dads style). He
had to make long and hard hours as well. Or maybe my stephsister who started a
sowing atelier paying for the machine by doing 12 to 14 hours a day behind a
sowing machine to get here started.
But for the sake of argument lets take my mom and dad. They indeed are a very
average couple running an average business in an average town. Their gasoline
service station (and I mean service not selfservice) used to be open during 120
hours a week with only two days a year closed. And that are only the shop hours.
Bookkeeping and stock keeping not included. It was running on just three people.
Mom, dad and a parttime employee. It had a turnover of more then hfl 1 000 000 a
year with only 4 single equipped gasoline pumps and a small shop. At the end
they could even make a nice living out of it. And you know what bugs me most?
Most of the profit for all _their_ hard work went into the pocket of that sacred
oil company you are so vehemently defending, not to taxes. That spectacular
idiotic low profit margins the gasoline company leaves for the guy who sells the
stuff for them is only 0.05 to 0.2 Dutch cents a liter. So how is that for hard
working. Hard working enough you smug super hero American. You think you guys
are the only ones working hard or what? Jeez.
And I can tell you their situation as owners of a small but well run business
isn't very unique. It usually is the big guys that those smaller businesses
depend on, the multinationals and 'monopolists' that gets them. Like creditcard
firms with their costs and percentages and the suppliers that skim large parts
of the profits providing,.... well not very much to earn it if you ask me. And
not the taxes. And I bet it's the same for those poor American truck drivers you
so fondly keep mentioning.
</rant>
We are not complaining and we don't need any pitty. But I want to get it to your
thick scull that we all have to work hard for the money. And seen what I've seen
of running a small business I'd never consider starting one myself.
Sonja
