American revolt in London!!

[AGENDA21]

It's not exactly a tea party yet, but the Americans are again revolting against the British over taxation. At issue is the U.S. Embassy's refusal since last July to pay a traffic congestion surcharge when its diplomats drive around central London, where the embassy is situated. The Americans say the fee is a tax, and add that the Vienna Convention protects diplomats from taxes abroad.

First, let us say that whatever the validity of the argument, it's reassuring anytime an American official working for the Bush administration invokes an international agreement. But we don't buy the idea that diplomats are immune to the surcharge.

London adopted congestion pricing to reduce gridlock on its busiest streets and encourage the use of public transit. By those measures, it's been a success, and something that similarly afflicted cities in the United States, starting with New York, should want to consider. The fee, about $14, is supposed to support mass transportation. The British make a good case that the charge is not a tax, but a toll for the use of selected streets. Their diplomats, they note, regularly pay tolls on American roads and bridges.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/31/opinion/edrevolt.php

[malaise]

1. The US embassy is citing the Vienna Convention

while violating the Geneva Convention. Priceless :rofl: :rofl:

[AGENDA21]

2. Amazing isnt it!!

[Cyrano]

3. Bush should get a bunch of thugs to dump tea into the Thames to protest.

Imagine those Limey bastards having the gall to ignore international norms.

[EST]

4. What more should one expect from a grossly rich car salesman

whose vast fortune was tapped to support the chimp in charge in his bid to destroy the world. Friggin' idiot does more damage over a fourteen dollar fee than he can repair in his entire tenure. He should be recalled immediately! Unfit for the job.

[Inland]

5. Here's a concept:

1) find the people at State that have nothing better to do than to deal with this issue.

2) fire about half of them as underutilized and more trouble than they are worth.

3) use the save money to pay the damn tax, thus making us look better with the UK at nothing but saved money.