On 18 Sep 2008 at 13:35, Adrian Stott wrote:
> "Bob Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >2008/9/18 Adrian Stott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> >
> >> Well, that would fail. Council Tax is, er, a tax. BW's charges are the
> >> price of a service.
> >
> >Your argument falls almost at the first hurdle. BW's charge is a
> >'licence' and is payable whether or not you use its services.
>
> Nope.
>
> What the boater buys from BW is the right to use waterways during a
> given period. That purchase is discretionary
The purchase of a house is also discretionary. Payment of a tax on
the house DOES provide services. The government could be said to have
a monopoly on houses, as you can't have one without paying the tax,
just as you (in theory) can't have a boat on the canals without paying
the license. Hmm.
> A tax, OTOH, is a compulsory payment, extracted from you by the
> government whether you want to pay or not.
I own a house, I pay the tax. I own a boat, I pay the license (whether
I want to or not).
> (i.e. you don't have to
> buy; you can do something other than boating).
So BW then does NOT have a monopoly? OK, they have a monopoly on
canals, but not on, say, "leisure activities". I'm not sure
this changes any thinking, but it is another point of view.
- george
www.canals.com
