That’s socialism for ya. Its incremental and scary but Brits have a complex welfare and taxation system, starting with the monarchy and barring a revolution, no sign of abatement. I remember so many years ago that many highly paid entertainers lived offshore to avoid crippling progressive taxation but people just continue to put up with it.
With enough public cooperation and consensus, this is presumably what they want. I believe they have some kind of knife permit too that is unbelievable to American libertarian ideals.
Its their choice but I hope voices of reason will prevail in this issue. The bottom line of socialism is control and that’s where it intersects with more blatantly authoritarian forms of government. And another dimension is the idea that the government “knows better” so they must be right to impose such things. The relinquishing of manhood (or personhood) and being relegated to an irresponsible child that needs constant regulation and monitoring is another difference in our political systems.
Please think of this everytime your municipality/county/state/feds propose a new fee or tax. And its not just the tax having to be paid, that’s merely onerous. But its the implied police power for non-compliance that is chilling. It reaches a point where there are so many laws etc that everyone becomes some kind of criminal because they just can’t meet all the demands of these hyperactive lawmakers.
But everyone knows that buskers are rich, right? So they should contribute and “give back” right?
Too bad for the Lion.
) ).
) I think that your point about going into a bar and doing breathalyzer tests being as bad as going into a private residence is not valid. A bar is a public place, where you expect others (including cops) to be able to enter. A private residence is a very different matter. The expectation of privacy is much higher, as has been held by the US Supreme Court for decades.