Inspired, in part, by this Hugh Green post and this story in the Indo.
The idea people who use vehicles for their work might face prison for using the vehicle for non-commercial purposes is just impossibly ludicrous. It is yet another example of how democracy in Ireland is nothing of the sort. We get to elect people who then have almost free reign to dictate.
I play football with a chap with who uses his work van to drive to games. Under this new edict, unless he can prove he’s using his van for work purposes he could be fined or jailed. The other option is to pay a hugely increased motor tax rate.
And why? Well, because John Gormley has ‘ordered’ local authorities to introduce these rules to close a ‘loophole’. There’s no discussion, no warning, no thought as to the impact on people and not one ounce of common sense. The idea that you can only use your commerical vehicle for commercial purposes is beyond stupid and that yet again the Greens show scant regard for people who are struggling along like the rest of us.
Gormley once again demonstrates how little he knows about the people of Ireland how little he cares once he clings, desperately, to his bit of power as his political career heads towards its inevitable humiliating finale.
Another example: the way Dermot Ahern was able to force off-licences to close to at 10pm. It is 2010 and you cannot buy a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer after 10pm in the evening. We expect 24 hour service in countless industries yet make no allowances for people who have to work outside the 9-5. This legislation was dressed up to prevent teenagers from binge-drinking. I ask you.
The Vintners of Ireland are a powerful political lobby group. You can be quite sure it was under pressure from them that Dermot Ahern made these changes. It was completely arbitrary, the people who are affected have no say in the matter, and we’re expected to just go along with it.
I don’t want to go on about the banks but they have me very fucking cross at the moment, having been stung like a motherfucker in the last few days. I will make complaints, both to the bank and the financial regulator and whoever else I can complain to, but it won’t stop them wasting billions and billions of our money on Anglo Irish Bank.
Maybe we’ve got so used to the idea of this money being wasted that we don’t stop and think about what it does or what effect it has on our lives. This was in the Business Post last week – 100 ways we could spend the Anglo Irish money. Some of it frivolous, of course, but some of it maddening, because we’re being asked to pay for the reckless, fraudulent gambling of a few close friends of the government. And that’s not even counting the money we’ve put into AIB, BOI, Irish Nationwide etc etc etc.
I’ve said it before, how there hasn’t been sustained violent reaction to this embezzlement of our money I’ll never know. We are, as a people, far too passive and entirely focussed on the wrong things. Political interests hijacked the protests to the point where they fizzled out almost before they began.
We’re told Brian Cowen is doing his best to fix things as if he had no part to play in the mess. You can say he inherited a mess, which he surely did, but as Minister for Finance during the Bertie Years – which I sincerely hope will live long as a lesson in how self-interest and hubris can damage a country – it was his policies which led to the never-ending quest for more without one solitary thought for the consequences.
And democracy means we let the same people who got us into this mess get us out of it? That’s not democracy. That’s self-harm. We have elections to choose who governs, but a government is supposed to be for the people, not for the government. It’s not a gravy train for the elected, expenses are not bonus payments, yet that pervailing culture and the total lack of accountability means nothing will change.
They make up the rules and we just have to accept it. The only thing democratic about this country is that we get to elect which bunch of cunts screws us.
You have it right there Twenty. Ireland is not a democracy. It is not a Republic either in legal terms or in practice.
It is a small socially conservative island off the coast of Europe which is ruled by no more than 30-40 families and some 300-400 people for the benefit of their own clique and that will never change until they and their hangers on are done away with.
The reality of modern Ireland is that it is an oligarchy and the vast majority of people are conned daily by this clique who inherited the Ascendancy’s reigns of power and who have simply carried on a British style rule over the serfs disguised as a democratic Republic.
You only have to look at the relatives of members of the Oireachtas ‘co-opted’ onto Local Authority councils, the ‘making’ and appointment of barristers and judges at Supreme, Circuit and District Court Judge level to start getting a whiff of truth about Ireland. A Republic was declared in 1916, subverted by a British spy called De Valera in 1937 and ever since then we as a nation have been living out a lie.
The truest statement about Ireland as a nation is the old saw ‘They haven’t gone away y’know’. The Anglo aristocracy merely handed over the reins to their gombeen men- the auctioneer’s landagents, the Kings Inn barristers and certain professions.
As for the rest the church taught everyone to be subservient to the gombeen men. If I could change one thing about Ireland it would be to sweep away the automated deference to anything that looks like a Protestant on a Horse. That is not intended as a sectarian statement but a social one.
We’ve been fooled. Blinkers put over our eyes by gombeen men. This psychological peasantry has to stop and if it involves spilling blood so be it.
Agreed tweenty, captain. Off the top of my head there’s Mary Hanafin, Brian Lenihin, Mary O’Rourke, Conor Lenihan, Conor Haughey, P. Flynn, Beverly Cooper-Flynn, all interbred, inter-related cunts with their mates like Joe Burke etc appointed to boards and all see themselves as aristocrats and this country as their slush fund. Shithole.
This post has depressed the living shit out of me, but only because I agree with the sentiment so very much.
It’s all very depressing, except the opportunity to buy a “bottle of win”. I could do with a litre of win today. Or any day, really…
Yes indeedy.
But how the fuck do you change it?
I always vote independant, never one of the mainstream parties (that are all the same). What’s that going to achieve?
Finian Fucking McGrath.
Brilliant.
another old saw: it’s not only cream that floats to the top, amply borne out by this country’s “finest”
like the business post article. gives you a sense of perspective on the unbelievable waste of OUR money being perpetrated for “the good of the country”
The obscenity is that in the economic framework, in which we live and they rule , Cowen and Lenihan are doing the right thing. This is what fuels Lenihan’s zeal.
You mentioned a while back about Stockholm syndrome – that hasn’t changed. Our indignation is still pale bourgeois, not prol red.
And for the record –why the fuck do I have to pay more fucking tax on my car the bob the builder ?
There won’t be any sustained violent reaction until people start missing meals. Which shouldn’t be too long actually.
have to agree with allan, its because nothing has changed, most people still go to work those who dont myself included arent really feeling the pinch, YET.
Who were the original Greens?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8750846/Eco-Fascism-Fascist-Ideology-the-Green-Wing-of-the-Nazi-Party-and-Its-Historical-Antecedents-by-Peter-Staudenmaier
http://www.infowars.com/the-green-nazis-environmentalism-in-the-third-reich/
Seems an excessive reaction to gimmeaminutes accident Twenty.
A smug complacent shower of cunts who don’t take an interest in how their country is governed once that get a few bob for whatever.
That’s us since the formation of the state.
YET is the keyword.
Conan had an example here of how it’s going to play – http://twentymajor.net/2010/08/19/newsweek-and-brian-cowen/#comments
Comments 21 and 27.
happeing already twenty my last molar on the left is fucked only a matter of time before it starts to hurt like fuck, medical card wont cover it anymore so ill prob have to miss the rent that week to get it pulled. most of us do know the day is coming when we wont be able to afford stuff like this here internet service,car tax,esb bills,rent,pints. but we will do what the irish have always done, go along get along piss and moan and at the end of the day nothing will change.
Also, the internets is great for dissipating dissent.
I think that’s also a very good point, sadly.
we need a revolutionary leader ‘and start over again
only until we go hungry
And more – http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/boy-pens-letter-to-reveal-need-for-respite-care-128701.html
Sad
That’s what throwing money at Anglo is doing
That young fellow is very articulate,i wonder how many managers the letter will pass through before its thrown in the bin?
Do we really have another 2 years before an election? Another 2 years of Gormless lying awake at night dreaming of ways to fuck with our heads?
Bring back Michael McDowell, thats what I say!
We get the government we deserve.
A nation of ankle-grabbers ought not be surprised
when predators take advantage of presented opportunity and shove it in tight while all the
government and unions do is insist on condoms
and if you’re lucky a lubricant.
An acquiescent populace who for years believed a
virgin can give birth to the messiah will believe
any old guff and it will take more than a few
priests going to jail to wake that populace
from it’s opiated dwam.
Slightly off topic but in a way related. I see the price of Heroin has come way down recently.
Just wait till that goes back up!
The green party is just like the Lib Dems in Britain, they’re included to give the illusion of a multi coloured government representing a wide variety of the populace. They get the odd token law so they feel included, it’s usually some banal shit like this or the lightbulbs.
What’s most depressing is that even if this shower of cunts is thrown out, there will a similar shower of cunts taking over from them as pointed out by 20.
On a similar note, I’m starting to think NAMA is just a landgrab for these rich cunts, along the lines of what JP Morgan, the Rockefellers and their cronies did in post depression America where they picked up entire companies for cents on the dollar.
The system of government by politicians is millennia old, we really need to evolve and find real alternatives to electing criminal arseholes who have only their own interest in minds. Something along the lines of specialised software which uses the scientific method to calculate and develop idea’s before putting it up to a vote for each citizen to consider (this idea needs fine tuning, but it beats anything we have now).
Action man:Crack use is on the increase and Meth is becoming popular too..They are both cheaper than heroin and can be made in a kitchen..when the zombies move on to them we will be truly fuckered..
Given a choice,id rather a load of gear heads running around that meth or crack heads..
Did they ever tell you about ‘Balance’ in blogging school major?
What about the yummy-mummy wives of ‘construction’ workers driving about in fancy SUV’s with commercial tax on them? Where as if the rest of the PAYE world want to drive SUV’s, they pay 1400 euro tax?
Sam, to register a vehicle as commercial, it has to be registered by a company and can only have 2 seats. I’m not a “construction” worker, but I am married to a yummy mummy who wouldn’t be seen dead in my crummy van. Builders’ SUVs tend to be far from “fancy” in my experience.
And Sniffle, cheap motor tax is about the only break small businesses get, they are being taxed out of business as it is.
AS you can see, I’m not very busy today…
So.
This means that ,de facto, the Green Party are insisting on anyone with a commercial vehicle also having another motor? They’re promoting Two Car(at least) families?
Cunts.
Some ‘commercial’ vans (the versions of cars) will actually be cheaper to tax as ‘private’. Gormley would be far better tackling the use of tractors instead of trucks on construction projects – they’re dangerously trailering huge quantiites of rubble and soil along our roads using ‘green’ diesel at 70c a litre and heaven knows if their tax/insurance status is fully legit.
MIf we want change…
Don’t be fooled by fake social divisions;
Don’t be fooled into voting on ‘local’ issues;
Don’t be fooled into voting for an ‘independent’ who can’t see beyond the constitutency;
Don’t be fooled into thinking all public servants are wasters;
Don’t be fooled that into thinking that an interest group has the best interests of Irish society at heart;
Representations made by interest and lobby groups to politicians and/or public servants should be allowable only on the immediate public record;
Politicians should earn and be taxed the same as anyone else – that means benefit-in-kind rules should apply, a ceiling on fully vouched expenses applied; and a set allowance for annual leave;
The elderly, the ill, the low paid and otherwise vulnerable citizens should be looked after by the rest of us;
Businesses and corporate entities do not need to be looked after by the rest of us…
I could go on
And what about the travellers?
I suppose they are always on the job!
Couldn’t believe this when I saw it. These cunts must just sit in meetings discussing “What can we tax them on now?”
And THIS idea is just fucking stupid. How will they enforce it?
We’re not a country, we’re a glorified fucking village, and I’m thinking of just fucking off at this stage…
Sam, the time we spend justifiably giving out about the worst elements of the Traveller community would be better spent working out solutions with those of them who do acknowledge the issues.
Yes, it was a silly thing to say. I’m sure the fuckers dont pay any road tax!
(couldn’t resist, sorry. I’ll be serious now)
Yeah, since the Indo have a reputation for integrity and honest reporting. For fuck’s sake, Twenty, don’t just trust and republish everything the twats at INM throw at you.
There has only been one change to the form for commercial vehicles, which requires people to give their ID number from the Revenue Commissioners. There’s been no change from the existing policy on commercial vehicles; not by John Gormley, the councils, not by fucking anybody. If it’s in the fucking Indo, and it’s written by their environment correspondent, just take mistrust as your default position until you see it elsewhere.
Did they ever tell you about ‘Balance’ in blogging school major?
heh
Pidge is right.
This will only hurt those who want to Lord
it over us in their SUV’s without paying for
the environmental harm such vehicles cause.
These people are symptomatic of Ireland’s malaise.
Something for nothing, a fuck-of motor without paying the taxes that are for little people.
I see no reason to return to ever, EVER live in Ireland again. Its a fucking horrible thing to find yourself saying, but the country is gone to the dogs thanks to the crowd in charge.
Pidge, I distrust the Greens far more than the Indo these days
Sisyphus are us
That’s nice. Still, just because you don’t trust us isn’t any reason to buy whatever happens to come out of Tony O’Reilly’s hole. Wait for a proper fucking newspaper or email the Department yourself.
Anyway, the story’s bullshit.
I have friends who may be affected by this, and I know people have enough shit on their plates…
but…
..if we are to stand up and start acting like the grown-up country that we all would like.. then we are going to have to have fair rules for everybody.
So therefore, if you need a second vehicle to run your business, you will be allowed to tax it at a lower rate, to help you, but if it is going to be used for any other purpose then it has to be taxed as a private vehicle. Its only fair really? No?
i have no axe to grind for any party ‘but i sooner get circumcised with a broken bottle than vote for the greens
Gormley lost any trace of credibility, with his nimby actions on the incinerator.
Pidge:Your Party is a fucking disgrace and you will be lucky to exist as an entity at all after the next election..
Just to fan the flames a little…
Since commercial vehicles are to be used solely for work / business business purposes are they not be obliged to be ‘non-smoking’ areas, and should they not have any ashtrays removed along with excess seating? And should there not be rigorously imposed fines and penalty points for smoking in a commercial vehicle? It’s only logical…
conan, work vehicles are already included in the smoking ban…
So it’s total bullshit, Pidge? Not a screed of truth to it?
But Sam, it should be enforced! All commercial vehicles should have their ashtrays removed, by law, on penalty of fines and points to be introduced at the whim of Lord Gormless.
well now its time for singha beer i am of to thailand’ out of this swamp for two weeks oh happy days bangkok here i fucking come . keep up the good work twenty
Enjoy yerself, otd.
Policy is as it ever was. No policy change, no rule change, no tax change. Only change is that they now have to include tax number, which is totally unrelated to the Indo story. They’re going on some sort of “Green stealth tax” hobby horse lately.
If you want to go on a rant about the Greens, grand. Plenty of legit reasons to criticise us. But this post is bollocks, since it’s based on an article which is bollocks. If your source is bullshit, then you’re probably talking bullshit yourself.
I presume John Gormless came out this morning and made a statement to the effect that the article is bollocks? If so, I missed it, they are still talking about it on the radio…
This is a good news story really, it puts yet another nail in the coffin of the lying traitors in the Irish Green Party.
on the dry,off to Bangkok are we?,and aptly named it is too…
The shower who are running this country are still getting kudos from Newsweek and the like. Problem is that they’re focusing on what’s good for business and not one whit about what’s good for Irish citizens.
For fucks sake people,never watch what they do with their left hand,the real game is going on BEHIND our backs.This is just another ff distraction to avert us from the reality of being fucked. Dont forget this shower of bastards are the most cunning,the most devious of them all,(to borrow a phrase from the great leader).
Captain Con O’Sullivan
August 24th, 2010 @ 10:30 am. Capt,this is possibly the best thing i’ve read all week,well done and please contribute more.
I love what’s happening with ivor “the expense” engine, it’s done more to shine a spotlight on the failers than bertie winning on the horses. “Fianna Fail- the Ivor Callely party….” I wonder what percentage of NAMA funds could have given us a first world healthcare system? AFTER Harney was prosecuted for criminal negligence of course
otd, enjoy yourself. if you get a chance bail dowm to an island called Koh Chang; about 4 hours from bangkok and 1 hour on a ferry, as usual a very dodgy ferry. It’s total switch off island.
True or not, and what is the deal with signing in at the cop-shop (surprise, surprise that’s the one that sent me into apopoplexy, apoplectic, fucking mental)John Gormley is a cunt. A horny leper with a dose of the clap. I used to vote green. I hope they all get the clap for fucking us all over the way they have. They all look like they smell their own farts these days. They are fucking history. Bertie Ahern destroyed the country, the leaders of the green party destroyed the green party. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Cunts. Horrible word for a horrible bunch. Enjoying their 12 week summer break which they used to mental about in opposition. Useless fucks.
Over & out.
‘They all look like they smell their own farts these days’
heh.
Looking like they washed their face in piss…
turned on, tuned in and dropping out to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvSgLHWR16o
and this these days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2gdbQpESNY&feature=fvsr
the xx, crystal castles, phantogram – there’s a trend developing..reminds me of the carpenters
cracking tunes them ^. On the van note maybe I should bring my shitbox into a Garda station and declare, yes Garda, I will only use my vehicle for commercial use. Now, will you give me a lift home, I’ll have to leave my yoke here overnight
Spot on Twenty.
However, if Gormless’ edict can be equally and retroactively applied to the FF’ucken cunts who are using state jets, helicopters and limos for personal/constituency business I can live with it.
Strange how a country with a morbidly obese smoker with few objections to a glass of wine as Minister for Health can annoy the fuck out of its own population on health grounds.
That fat cunt should buy a mirror on Dail expenses- one of the few personal expenses to which the Irish people would no longer object.
I mean Goering was a fat nazi cunt but at least he managed to look smart occasionally.
It’s still bullshit. Any chance of editing your post to reflect the fact?
Yeah, when you lot grow a set of balls and stop taking it up the arse from FF
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0826/1224277611148.html
Still no denial/clarification from the Greens
Eh, the first item on the Green Party website since early yesterday is “Clarification on commercial motor tax”. Here’s the link: http://www.greenparty.ie/en/news/latest_news/clarification_on_commerical_motor_tax
Eamon Ryan’s been talking about this on RTE, NewsTalk and Today FM. John Gormley’s on Today FM about this again today. Mark Dearey’s trying to get the Indo to publish a reply article he wrote.
The first press release on the Dept of Environment website is called “There has been no change in motor tax regime for commercial vehicles.” Here’s the link: http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/News/MainBody,23856,en.htm
Even the article you cite says “A spokesman for the department reiterated that the tax position had not changed, and maintained it was “business as usual” for users of commercial vehicles.”
What would actually work as a clarification or denial for you?