Thomas Pringle not paying the household charge

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1214/householdcharge.html

It seems the well paid (about €90,000+expenses) are not paying their taxes in solidarity with those that can't afford to.

crazygeryy

Victor wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1214/householdcharge.html

It seems the well paid (about €90,000+expenses) are not paying their taxes in solidarity with those that can't afford to.

I think EVERYONE should get behind him on this.if we all refuse to pay it what can they do?

Victor

crazygeryy wrote: »

I think EVERYONE should get behind him on this.if we all refuse to pay it what can they do?

Close some hospitals?

GSF

In Ireland even the socialists are against property taxes!

MagicMarker

The household charge will raise 150m per year.

The PS pay increments will cost up to 300m per year.

Sense, where is it?

20Cent

Heard him on the radio this morning fair play to him I won't be paying it either.

hallelujajordan

20Cent wrote: »

Heard him on the radio this morning fair play to him I won't be paying it either.

I heard him too . . He said something along the lines of "You have a duty to obey the law, unless you consider that law to be unfair"
[I'm paraphrasing, but that was the jist of it]

Was shocked that one of our legislators could come out with something like that !!

Wibbs

Well he's a rural TD and IIRC rural people are also going to be hit with septic tank charges on top of the household charge? So I'd imagine he'll get a fair bit of support locally. Understandable as the buildup of these charges will really hit a lot of people.

SillyMcCarthy

Why haven't there been any protests against it?
I would have thoughr the unions would have been
up in arms over this!!
I'm another who won't be paying it.
A f**king tax on the home that I paid for.

hallelujajordan

SillyMcCarthy wrote: »

Why haven't there been any protests against it?
I would have thoughr the unions would have been
up in arms over this!!
I'm another who won't be paying it.
A f**king tax on the home that I paid for.

You can't choose not to pay taxes because you consider them to be unfair . . I consider VRT to be unfair (if not illegal !) but I'm not about to buy a car in the UK and drive it around IRL without paying VRT . .

I also get particularly upset about that whole income tax thing. . how dare they take 42% of my hard earned dough !

Tazz T

And as a member of Irish society you have the right to protest against that too.

hallelujajordan

Tazz T wrote: »

And as a member of Irish society you have the right to protest against that too.

You have every right to protest. . that right does not extend to breaking the law and are lawmakers should not openly encourage such behaviour

Tipp Man

SillyMcCarthy wrote: »

Why haven't there been any protests against it?
I would have thoughr the unions would have been
up in arms over this!!
I'm another who won't be paying it.
A f**king tax on the home that I paid for.

Just to put your f**king tax on a home that you paid for in context.

My sister lives in New Jersey USA, bought a nice house there circa 1996 for something in the region of USD 250k - so nice but nothing excessive

The ANNUAL household charge/tax is IN EXCESS of USD 10,000 - so lets not get carried away with your EUR 100 charge

We talk about broadening our tax base to provide a solid consistent income for our government but when the government takes action to do this we get up in arms - that confuses me or is it another case tax everybody else except me? Most developed countries seem to have a household or poll tax from what i can see.

I also fully expect this tax to rapidly increase - probably be up to 1,000 EUR in a couple of years. I think most other people should expect the same and plan accordingly

hallelujajordan

keithob wrote: »

Irish people in majority will pay this charge.

It makes me laugh.

We dont have a bulls notion how to protest or stand up against anything which we believe in.

We are so Fcukn brainwashed by the state controlled media spin that we are ''afraid'' not to pay this charge.

We need a new political force in this country to grab the country by the scruff.

I am sick to the teeth of hearing this person and that person giving out bout this tax and that welfare cut.

Get up off you asses and make a change cause we voted these clowns in to make these decisions for us.

Cheerio

Keith

What do you 'not believe in' . . paying taxes ?

SillyMcCarthy

In effect we're paying for the high rollers who lost it all
after the BOOM & as a guy said in an earlier post, they
won't be re-paying the millions they owe & I won't be
paying to cover them, however small you think it is
to cover the losses incurred.

Tipp Man

keithob wrote: »

Tipp Man...

If your happy to pay a household tax which is in effect recouping monies lost in the Banks Gambling debts pls feel free to do so.

This tax is to pay of gambling debts and not to improve the services of the state.

Of course I'm not happy to be paying a household tax, I'm not happy to be paying any taxes (especially as i pay more than most) - but i am a realist. If the government says it is not increasing income tax then i am realistic enough to expect that they will raise taxes in other forms.

A household tax is a stable form of government income so from that point of view it is a good tax - and as i mentioned earlier most countries now do it so why should Ireland be any different??

Regarding the Gambling debts - i think you need to check out the mess that is the government finances. The huge size of our budget deficit is not as a result of the gambling banks - the interest that we are currently paying to refinance them is still relatively small.

If you want to know why you are having to pay a household charge then look no further than you nearest Public Sector worker or social welfare recipient. Both are overpaid relative to the state of the countries finances and not nearly enough is being done to correct this. They are the reason that a household charge is being introduced

K-9

The money is going towards local Government as funding is being cut for them. The vast majority of central Government goes on welfare and PS pay contrary to this populist speak about bondholders. Even with bank payments they'd probably need to introduce it anyway.

It'll win votes for Pringle and probably keep his seat next time but I doubt it will be that effective.

Manach

This tax, unlike the US equivalent, is not linked to any extra powers for the homeowner; to debate, discuss or decide how to spent the money. Instead it will be funneled into the common tax revenue which has been so far been mis-applied as to lose Irish economic sovereignty.

Son Of A Vidic

Tipp Man wrote: »

If you want to know why you are having to pay a household charge then look no further than you nearest Public Sector worker or social welfare recipient. Both are overpaid relative to the state of the countries finances and not nearly enough is being done to correct this.

I have no problem with you mentioning Public Sector workers, indeed I was once a public sector worker myself and I moved to the private sector a couple of years ago. I'll never see the perks and privileges I once had in the Public Sector again, but such is life. But I do have a problem with you targeting Social Welfare recipients though. Despite the hole we are in, we are still living in one of the most expensive, grossly overpriced countries in Europe. So with the cost of living sky high in this country, considering someone on Social Welfare to be overpaid is laughable. Many, many people in this country have been put on the dole through no fault of their own in recent years. Personally I really don't know how they survive. It's just all a bit Irish alright targeting the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.

Tipp Man

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I have no problem with you mentioning Public Sector workers, indeed I was once a public sector worker myself and I moved to the private sector a couple of years ago. I'll never see the perks and privileges I once had in the Public Sector again, but such is life. But I do have a problem with you targeting Social Welfare recipients though. Despite the hole we are in, we are still living in one of the most expensive, grossly overpriced countries in Europe. So with the cost of living sky high in this country, considering someone on Social Welfare to be overpaid is laughable. Many, many people in this country have been put on the dole through no fault of their own in recent years. Personally I really don't know how they survive. It's just all a bit Irish alright targeting the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.

An unemployed person in Donegal gets more than twice as much in social welfare as somebody a few miles away in Derry.

It is nowhere near twice as expensive to live in Donegal as it is in Derry

this crap that we are "targeting the weakest and most vulnerable in our society" makes me sick to listen to

bijapos

Wibbs wrote: »

Well he's a rural TD and IIRC rural people are also going to be hit with septic tank charges on top of the household charge? So I'd imagine he'll get a fair bit of support locally. Understandable as the buildup of these charges will really hit a lot of people.

Its populist pandering by him, if he had offered any viable alternatives I would have listened to him, but he didn't. He has essentially just kicked off his canvassing campaign for the next General Election.

SillyMcCarthy wrote: »

Why haven't there been any protests against it?
I would have thoughr the unions would have been
up in arms over this!!
I'm another who won't be paying it.
A f**king tax on the home that I paid for.

The unions here stopped representing the interests and rights of the ordinary people some time ago, they have totally disappeared the past few years when they were needed most. At best they are only interested in maintaining high wages for the middle classes whilst they fail to tackle the real issues.

I've gone from being happy to have a union card when I lived in the UK, France and Germany to someone who wouldn't give them the time of day here.

nesf

GSF wrote: »

In Ireland even the socialists are against property taxes!

The socialists are against any tax not implemented by them.

BlaasForRafa

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Haha very good, didn't spot that typo at all till you mentioned it. Is the tax based on the size of your hose, length and width and all that?

Ok, so as to take it away from AH territory. As others have said, I don't like paying any tax but considering the hole the country is it...and what a hole it is, then I will pay it and I hope that anyone that dosen't pay is fined and if necessary sent to mountjoy.

In addition to extra taxes though the government should have had the balls to cut public service pay AND cut benefits like child benefit and pensions across the board.

but43r

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

Ok, so as to take it away from AH territory. As others have said, I don't like paying any tax but considering the hole the country is it...and what a hole it is, then I will pay it and I hope that anyone that dosen't pay is fined and if necessary sent to mountjoy.

True, but the fat cats that are owing millions (if not billions, Sean Quinn anyone?) should be sent there first.

Son Of A Vidic

Tipp Man wrote: »

An unemployed person in Donegal gets more than twice as much in social welfare as somebody a few miles away in Derry.

It is nowhere near twice as expensive to live in Donegal as it is in Derry

Are you seriously trying to compare the cost of living between both jurisdictions? Don't make me laugh.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0914/1224304083111.html

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/ireland-5th-most-expensive-eu-state-2875388.html

Tipp Man wrote: »

this crap that we are "targeting the weakest and most vulnerable in our society" makes me sick to listen to

You are possibly a marvel to medical science since you can actually hear something that you read on a computer screen, a rare gift indeed. I suspect though you might also have already heard this post before you actually read this in thread.

Tipp Man

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Are you seriously trying to compare the cost of living between both jurisdictions? Don't make me laugh.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0914/1224304083111.html

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/ireland-5th-most-expensive-eu-state-2875388.html




You are possibly a marvel to medical science since you can actually hear something that you read on a computer screen, a rare gift indeed. I suspect though you might also have already heard this post before you actually read this in thread.

So the links you provide show that Ireland is an expensive country - I am not denying that - somewhere between 18% and 20% over EU average seems to be the outcome of the 2 links

So tell me if we are 20% more expensive than the EU average how can we justify giving double the social welfare rates in Donegal than they get across the boarder??

Regarding "the weakest and most vulnerable in our society" phrase - you do realise that you did not coin that phrase and 1 only has to turn on the TV or radio to hear it bandied about - it must be the most common phrase used in Ireland in the last few years. So when i say i am sick of hearing it - I mean i am sick of hearing it. It's no rare gift, I don't hear from computer screens. I am just sick to death of it.

opinionated3

I wont be paying either. Rumoured to rise to 1600euro after first two years are completed. Is mr pringle organising a campaign of some sort that we can sign up to? You can dress it up any way you want to but this is just another tax to pay back gamblers who lost. Shame on you kenny, noonan et al....you disgust me.

BlaasForRafa

but43r wrote: »

True, but the fat cats that are owing millions (if not billions, Sean Quinn anyone?) should be sent there first.

Of course they should, I'm not saying that this country is fair or anything, just look at the glacial pace of the Seanie Fitzpatrick investigation.

Still, just because some people set a bad example dosen't mean we all have to follow it.

hatrickpatrick

hallelujajordan wrote: »

What do you 'not believe in' . . paying taxes ?

I pay taxes to fund services, pay public workers and help those in need.

This does not extend to bailing out failed speculators in a cowboy bank who chose to make sh!tty decisions and are now butthurt about it.

Twin-go

I would gladly pay my fair share of House hold tax if:

1. It was soley channelled to my local council
2. It covered the cost of Refuge Collection, Water, and maintenance of the estate (grass cut, footpaths/roads fixed and gritted when required)
3. It is not used to pay for PS incriments
4. It is not used to pay the bond holders

hallelujajordan

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I pay taxes to fund services, pay public workers and help those in need.

This does not extend to bailing out failed speculators in a cowboy bank who chose to make sh!tty decisions and are now butthurt about it.

So, what makes you believe that your property tax is funding the banks but your income tax is funding services etc ? ? . . You're talking nonsense ..

This is about broadening the tax base . . it makes sense . . you don't want to pay it because you don't want to pay tax . . neither do I, but this is no different to all the other taxes we have to pay,.

crazygeryy

hallelujajordan wrote: »

So, what makes you believe that your property tax is funding the banks but your income tax is funding services etc ? ? . . You're talking nonsense ..

This is about broadening the tax base . . it makes sense . . you don't want to pay it because you don't want to pay tax . . neither do I, but this is no different to all the other taxes we have to pay,.

thats rubbish.i dont want to pay it because i cant afford it and im already paying out enough in taxes and getting shag all in return.roads are ****e health service is ****e.............. the list goes on.

fliball123

crazygeryy wrote: »

thats rubbish.i dont want to pay it because i cant afford it and im already paying out enough in taxes and getting shag all in return.roads are ****e health service is ****e.............. the list goes on.

Well CrazyGeryy the sh1t is forming fast and it will be hitting the fan in 2012..Income tax take down and the dole rates not rising by the same amount of people coming out of the income tax bracket would suggest working people who were working in 2011 are emigrating and taking the taxes with them...I wonder how the gov are going to approach next years budget if they remain hell bent on keeping the cpa and dole levels at the rate they are at and pouring more and more taxes on the working man...Keep it going Enda and the only people left working will be those in the public sector

Mach Lei

Thomas Pringle isn,t the only TD not to pay the household charge.

Sinn Féin Social Protection spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said he will not be paying the Household Charge.
Speaking in the Dáil this evening Deputy Ó Snodaigh said he will not be jumping on the bandwagon of the don’t pay campaign but is making a personal family decision.

http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/22210#.Tujdc01KuDE.facebook

HellFireClub

I don't mind paying taxes when the money collected is being used for the common good. That is something that stopped happening in this country a long time ago, taxpayers money is now being used to pay for insane expenditure decisions, such as paying for closed down private banks, etc, while, because small businesses are being attacked by the banks (which are now controlled by the government), the job losses go up month after month after month.

I will not be paying this household charge and I couldn't give a f*ck as to the consequences. This is the thin edge of the wedge, give it 5 years and this charge will be a 4 digit figure, to pay for the Croke Park Agreement and to pay for bank debt that has nothing to do with the Irish tax payer. You would want to be mad to pay this tax, this government have not got a clue what they are doing, they are blagging people on the strategy for jobs, while actually doing nothing about the unemployment problem, and in the absence of a notion as to what to do there, they introduce new tax heading after tax heading, in the absolutely and utterly deluded notion that this is somehow going to return the country to growth.

What we need to do is to hit the pause button on this madness, stand up and say "STOP". I'm all for a property tax, but only for as long as there is some kind of a credible plan shown to the Irish people, for what the plan is in relation to the almost 500,000 people who are unemployed, and the 200,000 of those protected from all reality from austerity thanks to the Croke Park Agreement.

pog it

Tipp Man wrote: »

Just to put your f**king tax on a home that you paid for in context.

My sister lives in New Jersey USA, bought a nice house there circa 1996 for something in the region of USD 250k - so nice but nothing excessive

The ANNUAL household charge/tax is IN EXCESS of USD 10,000 - so lets not get carried away with your EUR 100 charge

We talk about broadening our tax base to provide a solid consistent income for our government but when the government takes action to do this we get up in arms - that confuses me or is it another case tax everybody else except me? Most developed countries seem to have a household or poll tax from what i can see.

I also fully expect this tax to rapidly increase - probably be up to 1,000 EUR in a couple of years. I think most other people should expect the same and plan accordingly

The point is why should the ordinary person pay this tax when the middle management and office based civil service officers on 60k plus per year are not getting salary cuts? Not to mention the special advisor rates.

Until WE get FAIRNESS in this country we will protest against these unjust taxes.

ednwireland

Twin-go wrote: »

I would gladly pay my fair share of House hold tax if:

1. It was soley channelled to my local council
2. It covered the cost of Refuge Collection, Water, and maintenance of the estate (grass cut, footpaths/roads fixed and gritted when required)
3. It is not used to pay for PS incriments
4. It is not used to pay the bond holders

about a thousand quid a year then (pretty much what my family pay in the uk every year ) and they only get main roads gritted and cleaned.

rpurfield

if the council came out to stamullen and fixed the roads, gave us our new graveyard as the old one is full about five years, put some bins in the village, fixed a proper path between estates where a tempoary has been bashed in the wall, planned the estates properly, we got proper garda cover in the area instead of being covered by a part time station 20 minutes away.... i could go on but i know even if by some miracle the 100 euro went to meath county council theyd still not spend it in my area.really hope people not paying are serious about not paying instead of being all bluster

zootroid

Glad to see the spirit of tax evasion is alive and well in this thread :rolleyes:

opinionated3 wrote: »

I wont be paying either. Rumoured to rise to 1600euro after first two years are completed. Is mr pringle organising a campaign of some sort that we can sign up to? You can dress it up any way you want to but this is just another tax to pay back gamblers who lost. Shame on you kenny, noonan et al....you disgust me.

You do realise, that even if we didn't have to bail out the banks, that we're still spending 20 billion more than we take in in tax? So we have to either raise taxes, cut spending, or both. There is no other solution. But some people don't want to live in the real world...

GSF

My main gripe with it is that I live on a private estate where the council dont provide any services. Instead I pay a mangt fee of approx €700 per year, so why no exemption for those paying mangt company fees?

Mr.Micro

If people do not pay, then no doubt, they will be pursued via the courts. Whatever body is given the job of collecting the €100 will be good at that. Then costs, fines etc will add to the bill. It was inevitable that a housing charge, rates in reality, came into force. The state will have no trouble pursuing the ordinary man and woman to pay for the rotters who ruined the country, who will probably be immune from paying this charge even.

Going Forward

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I have no problem with you mentioning Public Sector workers, indeed I was once a public sector worker myself and I moved to the private sector a couple of years ago. I'll never see the perks and privileges I once had in the Public Sector again, but such is life. But I do have a problem with you targeting Social Welfare recipients though. Despite the hole we are in, we are still living in one of the most expensive, grossly overpriced countries in Europe. So with the cost of living sky high in this country, considering someone on Social Welfare to be overpaid is laughable. Many, many people in this country have been put on the dole through no fault of their own in recent years. Personally I really don't know how they survive. It's just all a bit Irish alright targeting the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.

PS workers are getting an unfair bashing IMO, but I'm getting a bit fed up of the weak and vulnerable being so over protected.
Theres a fair many of them doing quite nicely sucking the state dry.

They're the first to have the expensive and gaudy Christmas lights up, and have the biggest TVs so they can look at Jeremy Kyle.

Many in my experience also run cars.

Many, not all, and yes some do want to work.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/revealed-how-your-pay-has-plummeted-in-past-three-years-2961427.html

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/householders-on-average-wage-would-be-just-as-well-off-on-dole-2438296.html

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Cost-of-motoring.aspx

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/workers-turn-down-euro28000-job-because-they-get-more-on-dole-2573644.html

This household charge will once again be another tax placed on the shoulders of those in employment, with those adept in putting on the poor mouth being exempted.

The "weakest and most vulnerable" in this society right now is anyone who is in the self employed sector whose business has failed and are not entitled to any hand outs.

Mr.Micro

Going Forward wrote: »

PS workers are getting an unfair bashing IMO, but I'm getting a bit fed up of the weak and vulnerable being so over protected.
Theres a fair many of them doing quite nicely sucking the state dry.

They're the first to have the expensive and gaudy Christmas lights up, and have the biggest TVs so they can look at Jeremy Kyle.

Many in my experience also run cars.

You are being bit unfair IMO. Would you begrudge such people a decent TV or a car? Its not a crime to be unemployed/vulnerable and a few small comforts are allowed. If anything its the rich bas*ards such as bankers and developers who brought this mess on us not the unemployed/vulnerable.

Bullseye1

zootroid wrote: »

Glad to see the spirit of tax evasion is alive and well in this thread :rolleyes:



You do realise, that even if we didn't have to bail out the banks, that we're still spending 20 billion more than we take in in tax? So we have to either raise taxes, cut spending, or both. There is no other solution. But some people don't want to live in the real world...

Let's start with the cutting first. We have already had two years of tax hikes. The government has lacked balls in tackling the deficit through cuts.

View

GSF wrote: »

In Ireland even the socialists are against property taxes!

I remember hearing years ago that a previous Commission on Taxation had a discussion about this in the Dail in the 80's. The then extreme-left (by Dail standards) Workers' Party came in and demanded taxes on wealth. The Commission then asked would they support a property tax, at which point there was a long "Ahhhh" moment followed by a "No, we wouldn't". After that, even when the Commission members pointed out that if you lived on Shrewsbury Road, you were sure to be a lot wealthier than if you were living in a Council House somewhere, the Workers' Party stood firm on their "No property tax" line.

Going Forward

Mr.Micro wrote: »

You are being bit unfair IMO. Would you begrudge such people a decent TV or a car? Its not a crime to be unemployed/vulnerable and a few small comforts are allowed. If anything its the rich bas*ards such as bankers and developers who brought this mess on us not the unemployed/vulnerable.

I dont begrudge those things, but I am a little fed up hearing that they have it so hard. YEs, some do, but many that I know are doing fine and are content not to make any contribution to society whatsoever and have been brought up with this sense of entitlement, ie someone else will always clean up their mess-ie- errant fathers, unmarried mothers with 4 different partners, and etc.

firemansam4

Going Forward wrote: »

PS workers are getting an unfair bashing IMO, but I'm getting a bit fed up of the weak and vulnerable being so over protected.
Theres a fair many of them doing quite nicely sucking the state dry.

They're the first to have the expensive and gaudy Christmas lights up, and have the biggest TVs so they can look at Jeremy Kyle.

Many in my experience also run cars.

Many, not all, and yes some do want to work.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/revealed-how-your-pay-has-plummeted-in-past-three-years-2961427.html

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/householders-on-average-wage-would-be-just-as-well-off-on-dole-2438296.html

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Cost-of-motoring.aspx

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/workers-turn-down-euro28000-job-because-they-get-more-on-dole-2573644.html

This household charge will once again be another tax placed on the shoulders of those in employment, with those adept in putting on the poor mouth being exempted.

The "weakest and most vulnerable" in this society right now is anyone who is in the self employed sector whose business has failed and are not entitled to any hand outs.

Well What you are saying about big tv's and all that fair enough, but from what i get from what you are posting you don't think its right that anyone on SW should be able to run a car.
Well i'm not sure if you live in a city or in the country but just imagine if you live out of town in the country and the only way to get around is by car because there is no public transport.
Now imagine you have been working for a long time but now because of circumstances you get let go - Does that mean now you should not have the luxury of running a car to get your basic needs? and lose the only way of getting around? does that not mean that you can keep your only means of being able to get another job again?
To some People running a car is not a luxury it is a need and unfortunately is very expensive to do for someone struggling to get by.

So it really is quite shameful the way people like this who still own a car are sucking the state dry, Shame on them!

Good loser

Heard Pringle on George Hook this evening defending his position.

He was pathetic - childish logic.

He is in the Dail to make and/or change laws; if he supported a law change democratically what would he say if people refused to obey it?

Would he include a penalty in his law for not complying with it? Or would he let it optional? A voluntary law - what an absurd concept.

Did his oath of office say anything about obeying laws?

All those TD's who advocate non payment show contempt for the Dail and should be suspended fortwith.

Going Forward

You are making my point for me now, as a car is indeed a "luxury" and not a basic requirment by any stretch of the imagination.

Nobody rides a bike anymore out of nessecity and very few walk.

woodoo

MagicMarker wrote: »

The household charge will raise 150m per year.

The PS pay increments will cost up to 300m per year.

Sense, where is it?

Have you a link to that?

K-9

View wrote: »

I remember hearing years ago that a previous Commission on Taxation had a discussion about this in the Dail in the 80's. The then extreme-left (by Dail standards) Workers' Party came in and demanded taxes on wealth. The Commission then asked would they support a property tax, at which point there was a long "Ahhhh" moment followed by a "No, we wouldn't". After that, even when the Commission members pointed out that if you lived on Shrewsbury Road, you were sure to be a lot wealthier than if you were living in a Council House somewhere, the Workers' Party stood firm on their "No property tax" line.

And Joe Higgins ten years later made a political career out of something similar. Ran in a bye election in Dublin on the no refuse charges ticket. I remember a newspaper piece at the time commenting on the amount of 2 car households giving Joe the vote.*

This was the mid 90's when being a 2 car household meant something, not the average Joe.