05-27-2006, 08:00 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
EU Considers Tax On Email and SMS Messages
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2006-05-26T121239Z_01_L26740888_RTRIDST_0_OUKIN-UK-TELECOMS-EU-FUNDING.XML
"European Union lawmakers are investigating a proposed tax on emails and mobile phone text messages as a way to fund the 25-member bloc in the future. A European Parliament working group is reviewing the idea, tabled by Alain Lamassoure, a prominent French MEP and member of the centre-right European People's Party, the assembly's largest group. Lamassoure, a member of Jacques Chirac's UMP party, is proposing to add a tax of around 1.5 cents on text or SMS messages and a 0.00001 cent levy on every email sent."
Commies. :evil: Of course, they will never be able to collect from the spammers. I personally wouldn't mind a hefty charge, like 10 cents per email, but you get to send around 5,000 free a month. That would take care of all but the most chatty of email users and even some small businesses. But again, no way to ensure it is collected since most spammer's email servers are in the form of malware on user's machines, and that isn't what this tax is about anyway. Just another way for politicians to raise money so they can spend it. :roll:
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 08:30 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
|
|
Ed - using the term 'Commies' here is beneath you. Putting aside how offensive it could be to many Europeans who have actually experienced Communist rule - it makes you sound like one of your more ignorant countrymen who routinely refer to Europeans, any form of left winger and just about anyone they don't approve as a 'Commie'.
It is also a little ironic that you haven't noticed that this measure has been proposed by a right-winger. Hardly suprising as left wing governments in Europe are getting rarer.
Of course this is only a proposal and stands little chance of getting passed - never mind actively adopted.
Perhaps your bile would be better directed at your own politicians - who are on the knife edge of allowing a two tier internet (with two opposing measures set to battle things out) - something that will affect not just Europe but the world? The same people who allowed the DMCA to get passed and will no doubt look at this EU proposal and be thinking - 'good idea'.
It is also worth pointing out that the majority of spam that enters my PC, and doesn't come from Russia, originates from the USA (with spam sent to non-business addresses being illegal and attracting high fines in the EU) - so no - odds are a tax on emails wouldn't be collected from spammers.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 09:35 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 6
|
|
Thanks to Duncan!
Thanks Duncan, for putting this in a polite manner. I might have used stronger words.
Using political labels, and particularly wrong ones, will not serve a community as the Pocket PC Thoughts. (This includes the last sentence in the original post.)
Take care.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 10:36 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Duncan
Ed - using the term 'Commies' here is beneath you...It is also a little ironic that you haven't noticed that this measure has been proposed by a right-winger. Hardly suprising as left wing governments in Europe are getting rarer.
|
I pretty much categorize all politicians as commies, right and left, because they are only right and left of a line that I generally think is way out in left field when it comes to the government's role in my life.
I also don't care much about what people think about me staying inside their definition of political correctness. 
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 10:44 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Just another way for politicians to raise money so they can spend it. :roll:
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Christopher
Using political labels, and particularly wrong ones, will not serve a community as the Pocket PC Thoughts. (This includes the last sentence in the original post.)
|
:?:
Who would you have me direct my anger towards? The politicians that dreamed this up, the people that administer it should it pass, the ISPs that process the email? I think I'll take what's behind door number one, the politicians. :?
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 10:48 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Duncan
Ed - using the term 'Commies' here is beneath you...It is also a little ironic that you haven't noticed that this measure has been proposed by a right-winger. Hardly suprising as left wing governments in Europe are getting rarer.
|
I pretty much categorize all politicians as commies, right and left, because they are only right and left of a line that I generally think is way out in left field when it comes to the government's role in my life.
I also don't care much about what people think about me staying inside their definition of political correctness. |
I apppreciate you have that odd (uniquely American?) view of government - but that really isn't enough Ed. This isn't about being PC. This is about badly abusing a word that is, frankly, offensive in context when talking about EU politics.
Not being PC is one thing - not caring that the words you use can offend for good historical reasons - that's just thoughtless. Not to mention inaccurate. Words have meanings and I would hope that people would want to se them correctly. Would you refer to people as Nazis so easily?
Or will you happily tell an East German poster - someone who experienced real 'Commie' politicians that they are just PC if they find your trivial use of the term offensive? That the actual meaning of the term doesn't matter and you can use it as you want?
Trust me Ed - I'm no PC'er - but in this instance I'm afraid you are simply wrong.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 10:58 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Duncan
I apppreciate you have that odd (uniquely American?) view of government - but that really isn't enough Ed.
|
I find it offensive you criticize my view as odd and then categorize that as American thought in general. :roll:
Do you have any comments on the article, or are you just here to preach again Duncan?
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 11:15 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Duncan
I apppreciate you have that odd (uniquely American?) view of government - but that really isn't enough Ed.
|
I find it offensive you criticize my view as odd and then categorize that as American thought in general. :roll:
Do you have any comments on the article, or are you just hear to preach again Duncan? |
I'm not going to repeat myself - I'm just sorry you can't see the point. Or that you see my words as preaching or offensive.
As to comments on the article - I made them above. You need to be focussing on the real dangers to the internet closer to home - not worrying about this proposition that stands a cat's chance in hell of getting anywhere.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 11:20 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 171
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Duncan
I apppreciate you have that odd (uniquely American?) view of government - but that really isn't enough Ed.
|
I find it offensive you criticize my view as odd and then categorize that as American thought in general. :roll: |
Wow! Spooky! Two people make sweeping and potentially offensive generalisations and offend eachother. I never thought I'd live to see that.
Problem is Ed, Duncan's right and you're wrong.
Quote:
|
Do you have any comments on the article, or are you just here to preach again Duncan?
|
And there was me thinking that when I pay my ISP for a connection that includes access to an smtp and pop/imap server, I'd paid my dues and any taxes. Oh well, wrong again.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-27-2006, 11:36 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by unxmully
Problem is Ed, Duncan's right and you're wrong.
|
my opinion about something that isn't black and white is wrong? interesting...
Quote:
|
And there was me thinking that when I pay my ISP for a connection that includes access to an smtp and pop/imap server, I'd paid my dues and any taxes. Oh well, wrong again.
|
Ha! never underestimate the government's ability to tax you again.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
