Posted on 08/01/2005 11:12:42 AM PDT by Arkie2
f French president Jacques Chirac gets his way, air travelers in Omaha, Bangor, and all across the United States will be honored to pay yet another tax on every ticket.
Not to upgrade airports - that would be selfish. Not for increased security - France apparently believes that 9/11 was just a big misunderstanding, and the US reaction is so, well, very gauche.
Chirac has a higher vision. Seeking to saddle those rich airline travelers around the globe in over-served places like Pasco and Taichung and Juneau with another tax, he wants to use the money to wipe out disease across the world. How, he doesn't say. Who'd get the money? Who cares - it's the intention that counts.
Funny, we missed the news story covering Chirac's coronation as President of the Earth.
Monsieur President would have the funds administered by the United Nations, of course. That is, if they're not too busy funneling oil-for-food money to Kofi Anan's relatives. Or appointing countries like Cuba to their Human Rights committee.
This comes on the heels of an earlier grand proposal by Chirac to tax all air travelers to provide aid to poor countries. What kind of aid? Not sure. But, they really need it.
The guy's a regular Mother Theresa. Except he wants to force people to contribute to his vision of a world-wide soup kitchen.
He's got such good intentions. Here's a suggestion. Rather than try impose his idea of what the world needs on our air travelers, he could start small and prove to the world what a great plan he has, and prove how consumers in countries large and small would rush to contribute to Chirac's vision of the future world.
So, as a start for this experiment, we'd suggest Chirac propose raising the the work week in France from a lazy, enforced 35 hours to, say 37 or 40 hours and tell French workers the extra dough will go to Chirac's latest charity of choice.
Charity, after all, begins at home.
Well, I have no plans to go to France anytime soon, so he can whisle for my tax money.
Besides, someone said over the weekend that there are others poised to take his job away from him.
I think the Froggies should go first on this. We'll see how the French serfs like paying this tax and then we'll make our decision.
No.
As I understand his proposal it would cover ALL International tickets, not just travel to and from France. Also, I've read there's support for it among other EU countries. If they decide to impose it in the EU the tax would be placed on all travel to and from EU countries.
Ok...then I'll stay away from EU countries too. Thanks for the clarification. :)
How 'bout just an air tax? Then the flatulent french can pay through the a$$.
Chirac first proposal was to put a tax on handgun manufacturers. (Of course, almost all are made in the US.) (Of course, AK-47s, RPGs and French weapons would not be subject to this tax.) It didn't fly of course.
His next proposal is airline tickets (of course, the US has the most air travel.)
How about we have an international tax on speaking French instead. The UN can manage that money.
You are missing the point, the tax isn't for tickets to france it is on ALL tickets across the world.
Heh heh. Way-all, there's a new sheriff in town now. Somebody is going to have to stand up and tell John Bolton to his face that they want to put tax on American travelers to fund UN projects. After he gets finished laughing he might get mad and throw a pencil at'em.
No, I wouldn't want to be the striped pants diplomat who has to tell John Bolton about that plan.
Good...then I'll stay home period.
Assuming this tax does happen (which I doubt, especially here in the states), tourism will fall...and once that happens, you can expect the tax will be repealed.
" What do I care. It's not my money."
" What do I care. It's not my money."
It's just another fine french idea, no wonder that country is going down the rathole.
There is a nine year old in the family that can kick Chirac's butt and then draw and quarter him in a few minutes. Meanwhile, Chirac can try to presuade the little dear that a UN tax would be nice to have.
It's just another fine french idea, no wonder that country is going down the rathole.
***
Well, I wish Chirac luck trying to sell that tax in the U.S. I'd like to think the French people will eventually come to their senses and put him out to pasture.
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