Freaking News (What their Mums Taught them Better)

The Romanian l-i-b-e-r-a-l* government has planted a new tax, alongside the hundreds and thousands already in place, some invented by social-democrats, some by themselves. It's a tax for protecting historical monuments, 2% from each amount betted. From the state lottery to the last owner of a slot machine, every "fortune game operator" shall pay the tax. It is not the only one in the industry. There are already in place: license - 5%; the tax for the minister of culture - 1%; the tax for the national sports agency - 5%; profit tax - 5%; social tax - 10%. There is still room for many, so... smile, and make the bets! The winner of the lottery pays taxes only if the amount won is bigger than... I don't know how much. Which is double imposing, anyway (in fact, these are already imposed amounts).

And now, the deliciousness of the fact. Of course, each operator will need another form, which will be filled and registered separately, as it is the case for the dozens of taxes paid by each economic agent. And then, the sum has to be spent. That's the point. Somebody will have some more cash, painting a statue or digging a hole for strengthening it. No wonder if some schmucks will declare their own houses (taken from the former owners lawfully) historical monuments.

For those who don't know what "governing" is: imagine a bunch of guys, most of them irritated, taken from their business, gathered in a room. One of them says, inspired by a mate that has a firm, "Hey, we have a problem out there! The historical monuments!" Nobody cares, and the ones that knows both terms are few. But a voice raise, "let's put a new tax." "On what?" "Well, the lottery hasn't got any tax in the last years." "OK, done." And so on...

*in the old good European meaning!