The powers that be, soon, will be charging Ben a monthly franchise fee of eight bucks, for sunshine. That, and an eight buck a month franchise fee, for moonlight.
There's a road between Ben and the Norman Castle to his south, where the sunlight and moonlight fees will be going, since Ben enjoys adjacency to a road.
But, don't have too much sympathy for Ben Dover The Ramsey Taxpayer. Because why?
Because:
It's not a tax.
The politicians say so, and if it were a tax they'd call it one, and honestly tell you and Ben and everybody that taxes are being raised despite EDA budgets being fat, HRA budgets being fat, Flaherty being happy with all his subsidy, and whatever - so it comes down to a clear need -- gotta "fee" the folks, because we do not want to impose more tax on them.
So bend with the prevailing wisdom, as bending with the wind, so you don't snap over what quacks like a tax, walks like a tax, looks like a tax, but is not one because government officials like the notion of feeing everybody out of hard earned cash.
There will be a new colloquial usage. "Get feed." Having a double meaning, food and the past tense of the verb, "to fee." As in "to tax" but somehow, inexplicably, different.
Expect all that very, very, very, VERY soon. As sure as the sun rises and the moon shines at night. Ben will be made to pay.
Talking Heads sang, "It's the same as it ever was ...".
Ben does not sing, but he smiles a lot...
______________UPDATE_____________
Can anyone tell me, at Flaherty's adventuresome rental palace, are individual units individually metered for electricity?
For gas?
Not that an answer either way would stop Ben Dover's smiling while it all happens. However it happens. When it happens. You might not even hear it happening.
Where do they mail Ben his utility bills, that's another thing I'd like somebody to tell me.
___________FURTHER UPDATE___________
Bob Dylan has a new song out:
Well, they’ll fee ya when you’re trying to be so good
They’ll fee ya just a-like they said they would
They’ll fee ya when you’re tryin’ to go home
Then they’ll fee ya when you’re there all alone
But I would not call it public greed
Everybody must get feed
Well, they’ll fee ya when you’re walkin’ ’long the street
They’ll fee ya when you’re tryin’ to keep your seat
They’ll fee ya when you’re walkin’ on the floor
They’ll fee ya when you’re walkin’ to the door
But I would not call it public greed
Everybody must get feed
They’ll fee ya when you’re at the breakfast table
They’ll fee ya when you are young and able
They’ll fee ya when you’re tryin’ to make a buck
They’ll fee ya and then they’ll say, “good luck”
Tell ya what, I would not call it public greed
Everybody must get feed
Well, they’ll fee you and say that it’s the end
Then they’ll fee you and then they’ll come back again
They’ll fee you when you’re riding in your car
They’ll fee you when you’re playing your guitar
Yes, but I would not call it public greed
Everybody must get feed
... and say that it's the end ...
And gentle reader, you too shall be feed. Identically, each month to the feeing of Coborn's, Ace Solid Waste, everybody gets feed and feed alike.
___________FURTHER UPDATE___________
With Connexus drooling over putting a "data center" at the former City Hall location on Nowthen across from Ramsey Elementary, will the feeing there be one electricity account, only, the same eight bucks a month you'll be stung for; or eight bucks per server plus per cooling unit, plus per air conditioner? What's just? What's expected of those calling this new tax a "fee?" Justice, justice you want? Look elsewhere. Get feed.