I was
leaving the Lounge of the Top Shop, yesterday and Sprint was
sheltering in the doorway while he smoked another 'Coffin' Nail'.
"Why here?" I asked, "and not your usual spot outside?"
"It's raining," he replied.
"Bye
Sprint."
"Bye Horse." Sprint has an issue with remembering names - everybody is 'Horse'.
It was
raining- a soft Irish drizzle and once again I decided – It's a
pity you don't have a small bottle of hair shampoo with you – then
you could get a “Free” wash - and not have to pay for the water
you use.
That's the
way it's going in Ireland now. The Government have set up a “Quango”
to do a job carried out very well by regional councils and have spent
Billions setting it up and now want the citizens to pay again for
water.
We already
pay 23% Value Adder Tax on purchases, 2% of this is earmarked for
water support services. Local Property Tax and Household Levies are
also supposed to be used for local services. Vehicle tax is
collected to improve the roads – but it was diverted last year, and
probably this as well, and was given to Irish Water.
Our
Government collect taxes each year at rates set at Budget Time, and
when it starts rolling in they divert the first big bite, taken from
the revenue for their own salaries, expenses, and pensions.
We have a
population the size of Greater Manchester, and it's catered for by 10
full-time Burroughs Councils. We elect 165 alleged Numb-sculls to
sit in our parliament a few weeks a year for massive salaries and
expenses.
In 2012
(the last year they supplied figures) the Oireachtas, cost the
citizens almost €120 Million, in salaries and allowances.
That's a
lot of water under the bridge!
