Sometimes a tinpot emperor has a problem with minions where they do not agree with the chosen path and stamp their feet before spitting the dummy and screaming loudly.
This can happen in all types of empires even those that do not really exist.
On some occasions this situation can bring great mirth to the citizens as it often represents a tall poppy being cut down to size or maybe even just knocked down a few pegs with some embarassment thrown in for free.
Often the emperor will put on a brave face and make grandiose claims about the robust discussions involved with free thinking and try to arrogantly suggest that it may even be a celebration of democracy which could only happen in their political party/organisation due to said liberation, free will ... etc.
Of course, you cannot fool all of the citizens all of the time and thus it appears that a tinpot emperor at the top of the food chain but on the side which presides over little more than views which oppose the Grand Poobah has a few problem with revolting minions.
In fact the minions are so revolting that he may soon be just another former tinpot emperor like those who went before him.
Whether it be right or wrong is not for me to say but, the issue that vexes me most is that said moving target is under our employ, that is you and I and all of the citizens pay his wages.
And at the moment we are not getting much in return as he seeks to shore up his position and maintain his power over not very much.
At least he has not yet (to our knowledge) called in a "friend making" person in an attempt to control the minions when he is unable to. When his situation reaches that point, it is likely that he will have become a former emperor if not beforehand.
Our own tinpot emperor (the one who declared herself to be the people's mayor) has been struggling with one of the duties related to ruling an empire.
Whilst she may well be the citizens' mayor (well, for those who voted her in), not too long ago it would appear that she was struggling so much in her attempts to have her minions play nicely that she had to call in a "friend maker" to smooth things over.
Nobody really knows if the "friend maker" made the minions all sit on the floor in a circle and say something positive about the minion sitting next to them or, if they were forced to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, but what we do know is that the citizens picked up the tab.
That's right, because the tinpot emperor was unable to control the minions, we had to pay for someone else to make them play nice.
So just remember that each time tinpot emperor or a minion has troubles, it may well be amusing but we the citizens are the ones who pay for their problems in more ways than one.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Where do taxes and charges come from ?
Sometimes a tinpot emperor runs low on cash to spend on important things like redecorating a throne room or a new chariot or maybe something as simple as a course to form part of one's professional development.
Other times it might be necessary to raise funds because a revenue stream has been eroded or simply vanished...
Of course when this happens it is always due to either of two things
a) the revenue stream was taken over by a bigger more powerful emperor or
b) the tinpot emperor eliminated a low yield revenue stream in exchange for a perception of being a gracious and benevolent ruler.
In recent times when a revenue stream moves up the food chain a mysterious new revenue stream appears from nowhere and the blame for the new revenue stream is often blamed on a higher power.
A few examples of this include the proposals that all of a sudden citizens will be required to pay an annual fee (and sometimes an application fee) for the following privileges:
a) to park a truck on their own property
b) to have a cat on their own property
c) to have a swimming pool on their own peoperty.
In exchange for payment of fees citizens will recieve the following privileges:
a) permission to continue to park a truck on their own property
b) permission to continue to have a cat on their own property
c) permission to continue to have a swimming pool on their own peoperty.
As an added bonus to citizens the tinpot emperor will send minions around to make sure that nobody else:
a) parks a truck on their own property
b) has a cat on their own property
c) has a swimming pool on their own peoperty
without having paid the relevant fees but always remember the following text from the tinpot emperor's manifesto...
"Utilities charges: usually consumer-based. In other words, they are charges paid for services received such as water, sewerage and rubbish collection."
It would appear that to the tinpot emperor and minions, giving permission is providing a service.
Other times it might be necessary to raise funds because a revenue stream has been eroded or simply vanished...
Of course when this happens it is always due to either of two things
a) the revenue stream was taken over by a bigger more powerful emperor or
b) the tinpot emperor eliminated a low yield revenue stream in exchange for a perception of being a gracious and benevolent ruler.
In recent times when a revenue stream moves up the food chain a mysterious new revenue stream appears from nowhere and the blame for the new revenue stream is often blamed on a higher power.
A few examples of this include the proposals that all of a sudden citizens will be required to pay an annual fee (and sometimes an application fee) for the following privileges:
a) to park a truck on their own property
b) to have a cat on their own property
c) to have a swimming pool on their own peoperty.
In exchange for payment of fees citizens will recieve the following privileges:
a) permission to continue to park a truck on their own property
b) permission to continue to have a cat on their own property
c) permission to continue to have a swimming pool on their own peoperty.
As an added bonus to citizens the tinpot emperor will send minions around to make sure that nobody else:
a) parks a truck on their own property
b) has a cat on their own property
c) has a swimming pool on their own peoperty
without having paid the relevant fees but always remember the following text from the tinpot emperor's manifesto...
"Utilities charges: usually consumer-based. In other words, they are charges paid for services received such as water, sewerage and rubbish collection."
It would appear that to the tinpot emperor and minions, giving permission is providing a service.
Here we are gathered....
Here we are gathered to pay homage to the Logan Council and all who are elected by the citizens to serve.
May their decisions be clear, concise and for the enhancement of the lives of all who live, work and play within the boundaries as set down by a balding man in an office far, far away.
May their plans be far sighted, positive and pro active.
May their fees, charges and hidden taxes be fair and reasonable.
May they create an environment where at the very least our lifestyles are maintained and hopefully improved and may the day come that we the citizens have cause to be grateful for the efforts of the elected few and the fruit of their labour.
May their decisions be clear, concise and for the enhancement of the lives of all who live, work and play within the boundaries as set down by a balding man in an office far, far away.
May their plans be far sighted, positive and pro active.
May their fees, charges and hidden taxes be fair and reasonable.
May they create an environment where at the very least our lifestyles are maintained and hopefully improved and may the day come that we the citizens have cause to be grateful for the efforts of the elected few and the fruit of their labour.
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