We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

The boss of the whole neighbourhood

“Business bad? fuck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? fuck you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? fuck you, pay me!”

Some of our officials have become so self-important that they not only charge through the nose for imposing their regulations upon us, they even want to charge those who can no longer afford their attentions. Last year I reported on the Scottish care home which, when it was forced to close by the cost of regulations imposed by social services, then received a bill for £510 from the same department for giving the owner permission to go out of business.

A similar problem has been presented to John Swain, whose metal finishing firm Anopol employs 30 people in Birmingham. Some years ago, as a service to other metal finishing companies who used his chemicals, he offered to accept their used chemicals back for storage in holding tanks and safe, environmentally-responsible disposal. Under EC directive 91/156, however, he then had to acquire a waste management licence, for which he had to pay the Environment Agency £3,897 a year.

This helped to make Mr Swain’s service uneconomical, so he told the agency that he wished to surrender his licence. He would continue to use the tanks for his own waste chemicals, but could no longer assist his customers. The agency sent him an eight-page questionnaire and a bill for £2,427 as a “surrender fee”.

This isn’t ‘government’, it’s Goodfellas!

8 comments to The boss of the whole neighbourhood

  • damaged justice

    Due to the “GoodFellas” reference I am compelled to point to this recent shameful example of a company emulating the State:

    http://welovethescoinformationminister.org/

    (The GoodFellas pic is down a bit on the left, but the rest may also be worth a ponder given the libertarian divisions on the concept and implementation of “intellectual property.”)

  • cerberus

    You know, this is exactly the sort of shit that leads to Boston Tea Parties.

  • One can certainly hope! For another Tea Party, that is.

  • Mike Zeares

    You could also try something else that was a popular way to treat government officials here in the colonies: tar-and-feathering.

    It’s time for the British to declare independence from Britain. Come on, we did it! It’s fun!

  • But we American’s failed to secure our independence from Washington DC (see Whisky Rebellion and Civil War).

  • Tatyana

    It reminds me of Nazi Germany govrnment, sending a bill to family of the executed – for the execution and “related expences”…
    Sorry, can’t link it – I think it’s a common knowledge. Or did I confuse it with smthg I’ve read @ Remarque and Boelle?

  • Dave

    It reminds me of Nazi Germany govrnment, sending a bill to family of the executed – for the execution and “related expences”…

    I thought that was in the movie ‘Brazil’