Alibi sounds about right..
Isn't it the purpose of Billag to collect taxes for the "service public" offered by the various radio and tv channels in switzerland?
Now, while I *do* pay my Billag taxes, I have never ever -to my best knowledge- tuned into an audio or video stream from any of those "local" stations. I don't even have SFDRS programmed on my TV set, for that matter :)
Mostly, I listen to "alternative" music streams, supplied either from overseas or otherwise abroad; Video streams are of no interest to me, except for pr0n of course (hey, I'm just being honest :p).
Now I hardly could believe that *any* of this tax money Billag collects goes in any whatsoever way to those stations I prefer listening to...
Essentially, they are taxing me for a service I don't use, which still somehow ok, because yeah - it's "service public". And given an aftertought, I guess I am ok too with the fact that lill ole Swisserland (sic) runs a bunch of national Radio and TV stations, and pours money into other local stations so they can bring you news, weather info, or just good, plain music. Nevermind those who broadcast advertising because they don't qualify for "money pouring", though...
However, the whole debate about taxing PC's frankly pisses me off. You dont need to pay if you firewall "media ports" off? Or if you don't own a PC? Same thing if you don't own a TV set, you're not supposed to pay? I mean, what the hell? What kind of brain dead scheme is this?
If you own anything that can technically receive broadcasts you have to pay? I guess that's ok with TV sets and the like, because yeah, what else can you do with a TV set or a stereo but watch TV or listen to radio? Now, computers are different, aren't they? There's about a gazillion of other applications for a *Computer*, besides receiving A/V streams. Same applies to "broadband connections" (want "broadband"? move to Sweden!)...
So -in my *humble and totally meaningless* opinion- these criteria totally ridicule the whole system. Because, technically disabling a standard "PC" system with internet connection from receiving streams is like, practically unachievable, and because just having a standard "PC" and an Iinternet connection does in no way imply you are going to receive streams with it. Nevermind the fact that the majority of streams you can receive have nothing to do with Switzerland, or it's "service public".
Futhermore, if receiving streams must be taxed because of "service public", then lille ole Swisserland should start pouring money into ISPs here, pronto! After all, they're the ones *enabling* this "service public".
So, for the sake of simplicity, why not just dump that whole pre-millenium Billag thing, and charge every and all taxpayers for the "service public"? Oh, and nevermind saving money by "circumventing" all of the currently established bureaucracy...
Just my 2 cents Chris
John Morgan Salomon wrote:
OK, so tell me where, as a non-technical user, I can buy a PC without "media-capable" software installed, or a car without the same, or even a phone :)
I see your point, but I'd rather say "let's be honest and say that it's just an alibi tax" rather than "oh, we're really only taxing the people who benefit from Le Service Public" which is essentially what the statement is now.
I think the whole thing is extremely disingenuous (and I'm not blaming Billag, even though I think they're a gang of c***s, they're just the enforcers.)
-John
Daniel Kamm wrote:
<snip>