Author Topic: License to watch tv? (Read 1478 times)

Masherbrum · « **Reply #45 on:** July 17, 2007, 01:28:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 68ROX
17- Threads started devoid of commentary will not be allowed (i.e. links, cut-n-pastes, clicky, read this...)
__________________

Last edited by MP3 on 07-17-2007 at 07:15 AM

YIKES, Mr. MP3...

He DID have commentary on it before you yanked the post.

If I remember right, it said: "Ya gotta be kidding me?"

68ROX

MP3 went on a roll of "Rule 17's". There WAS commentary in this post too.

lazs2 · « **Reply #46 on:** July 17, 2007, 02:45:14 PM »

lynx.. I think you didn't answer my question. It would appear that you pay a fee to the government to have any tv and watch the stations that you have no choice in.

If you want to watch what you want then you have to do like us and get a subscription.

difference is... if you want to drop the latter it is no big deal... if you try to drop the former without turning in your tv you are arrested correct?

I think we have a difference of opinion on what "choice" means.

lazs

cpxxx · « **Reply #47 on:** July 17, 2007, 03:38:34 PM »

It's no different than paying car taxes or other licence fees. It does seem a little anachronistic now but the original reason for licence fees was to fund the service without recourse to using taxpayers money. At first not everyone had a TV so in fact it was somewhat akin to buying cable TV. Remember too, that if it was taxpayer funded it would effectively be government controlled. The BBC could hardly be described as a British government poodle. It irritates all British governments equally.

Here in Ireland we pay a licence fee too. It pays for three stations and several radio stations. Unfortunately they also show commercials. But it had to funded that way, originally as quite simply it could not have survived in any other way. Without it the only TV we would have would have been foreign or British. The licence fee does give the station the funds to produce local programming. There is a couple of commercial stations here now but their output is dominated by British and American shows. The income they derive from advertising doesn't allow much home produced programming.

Imagine if you will, if all TV in America was foreign produced. You wouldn't like it much.

So in effect, few enough people here or in Britain would really like to get rid of the licence fee. American TV, particularly at the moment, from channels like HBO is superb but we really would like to watch some of our home produced shows occasionally. If a fee is needed then so be it.

LYNX · « **Reply #48 on:** July 17, 2007, 04:37:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
lynx.. I think you didn't answer my question. It would appear that you pay a fee to the government to have any tv and watch the stations that you have no choice in.

If you want to watch what you want then you have to do like us and get a subscription.

difference is... if you want to drop the latter it is no big deal... if you try to drop the former without turning in your tv you are arrested correct?

I think we have a difference of opinion on what "choice" means.

lazs

I see where your coming but I'll define it further.

To own a TV in the UK you have to have a TV license. The LICENSE is 140 quid or free if your over 74 years of age. You can be fined up to 1,000 quid for watching TV, irrespective of what you are tuned or subscribed to, without one. You CANNOT be arrested.

There is about as much "Government" in the BBC, Independent Television, Satellite or Cable as there is in the USA. To broadcast you need government licenses. Often purchased through a "bid" type process. Here they have to abide by certain standards and adhere to laws involved with broadcasting. Including the "public service" broadcasts. I should imagine it's similar in the USA.

Of the stations you "have no choice in" meaning terrestrial broadcasting. The many channels that you receive by virtue of just turning the TV on, only the BBC channels are advert free ......part of the license.

Many of us Brits fined this a blessing and 140 per year (39 Pence a day) a cheap price to pay for uninterrupted broadcasts. No avacadoty adverts no arsing around setting a VCR, no interruptions at the crescendo and foot ball, if your into it, is still a game of 2 halves.

Oh, nearly forgot. The license covers all BBC Radio as well. May I invite you to visit BBC Radio2 on the Internet. You'll then understand the benefits of uninterrupted broadcasting. You can have that one on me and all the License fee payers here in the UK.

lazs2 · « **Reply #49 on:** July 18, 2007, 08:50:50 AM »

How is a licence not a tax?

Yes.. I realize that cars are regestered and taxed and that is purportedly to support the regulation and staffing of the agency that licenses individuals to use the road.. there is an element of safety involved you may admit tho with driving.

I see a huge difference tho with tv or radio.. you buying a tv and turning it on is not at all dangerous and it requires no agency to support safe use.

You will be arrested if you do not pay the fine tho.. if you resist... you will be killed.. that is a tax my friend.

You are paying for the government to choose what you watch. If you want to watch something else... you have to pay a user fee to the supplier but...

you have a choice. Don't like HBO? don't pay for it. Want to watch HBO but not BBC? tough... pay up anyway or face death.

Go ahead.. tell em you aren't paying. tell em if they try to take your property away you will resist. I gurarentee you will see who has the guns in your country and who is willing to shoot you.

lazs

Dowding · « **Reply #50 on:** July 18, 2007, 10:04:56 AM »

Quote

Go ahead.. tell em you aren't paying. tell em if they try to take your property away you will resist. I gurarentee you will see who has the guns in your country and who is willing to shoot you.

And if you don't pay your car license in the US? Does the US goverment just quiver at the thought of you being 'tooled up' and walk away?

lazs2 · « **Reply #51 on:** July 18, 2007, 02:50:46 PM »

dowding.. I fail to see what your point is. All taxes are such that if you resist paying them the government will kill you.

I do think that it is more than a simple matter of degree tho when you get killed over driving without a license and endangering others on the road and when you simply buy a TV and turn it on.

lazs

Curval · « **Reply #52 on:** July 18, 2007, 02:55:05 PM »

Ummm....if you don't pay your taxes you go to jail.

I've never heard of an execution for failing to pay taxes. Texas maybe?

McFarland · « **Reply #53 on:** July 18, 2007, 03:06:46 PM »

I beleive it was called "Ruby Hill" or something like that.

FBBone · « **Reply #54 on:** July 18, 2007, 04:08:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by McFarland
I beleive it was called "Ruby Hill" or something like that.

You may be thinking of Ruby Ridge, but that wasn't about taxes, it was about shotguns. Info here

Curval · « **Reply #55 on:** July 18, 2007, 04:57:30 PM »

Either way...hardly a lawful execution.

If the IRS come to take you to jail and you try and resist there will be gunplay.

They aren't coming to put you in the electric chair.

If they do in Texas though...I stand corrected.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #56 on:** July 18, 2007, 05:11:07 PM »

Lessee, to license my auto every year, $30 per vehicle.
(The boat costs $110 a year though...)

My TV is free of tax, except what I pay on the cable bill.

I like it this way.

LYNX · « **Reply #57 on:** July 18, 2007, 06:13:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
How is a licence not a tax?

Yes.. I realize that cars are regestered and taxed and that is purportedly to support the regulation and staffing of the agency that licenses individuals to use the road.. there is an element of safety involved you may admit tho with driving.

I see a huge difference tho with tv or radio.. you buying a tv and turning it on is not at all dangerous and it requires no agency to support safe use.

You will be arrested if you do not pay the fine tho.. if you resist... you will be killed.. that is a tax my friend.

You are paying for the government to choose what you watch. If you want to watch something else... you have to pay a user fee to the supplier but...

you have a choice. Don't like HBO? don't pay for it. Want to watch HBO but not BBC? tough... pay up anyway or face death.

Go ahead.. tell em you aren't paying. tell em if they try to take your property away you will resist. I gurarentee you will see who has the guns in your country and who is willing to shoot you.

lazs

OK. I get it. Your just taking the piss. Enjoy your incessant adverts. Enjoy your interrupted sporting event. Enjoy arsing about with the VCR editing out commercials with fast forward, gone to far, rewind malarkey.

We're happy watching the BBC:D

McFarland · « **Reply #58 on:** July 18, 2007, 09:20:07 PM »

Commercials only bother people who are impatient.

cpxxx · « **Reply #59 on:** July 19, 2007, 05:35:16 AM »

You got it LYNX. Lazs has a fairly droll sense of humour.