On Fri, Feb 07, 2014 at 07:00:26PM -0000, Robin wrote:
how can you tax something that people are entitled to, but don't
actually use
HMRC do it all the time. Eg the common one is employees who get
employer-provided private medical insurance but make no claims.

In that case the employees are getting something. Medical insurance.

--
David Cantrell | Bourgeois reactionary pig

There is no one true indentation style,
But if there were K&R would be Its Prophets.
Peace be upon Their Holy Beards.

On Fri, Feb 07, 2014 at 02:56:56PM +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
Recliner remarked:
And they're right. People who regularly travel before 9:30 probably are
still in work, so there would be a loss of revenue. But those who mainly
travel after 9:30 are much more likely to be retired, on discretionary
trips, so there's very little loss of revenue.
Why is this so hard for you to grasp?
Because I know employed people who delay their journey until 9:30 to get
a free ride [tm].

I know people who have three nipples. Doesn't mean that they're an in
any way significant proportion of the population. Likewise, your
anecdata isn't useful.

Mr. Recliner used the word "likely" for a reason.

--
David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information

For every vengeance, there is an equal and opposite revengeance.
-- Cartoon Law XI

In that case the employees are getting something. Medical insurance.

Bus passes/Freedom Passes are not compulsory.

Those who claimed would get something (a pass they could use at any time
if they chose) and have a taxable benefit.

Those who didn't claim would not.

Much as with medical insurance, actual use would be irrelevant.

That does involve people making decisions. But then so does means
testing as claims are required - eg the 42 page form for pension credit
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload.../pc1_print.pdf
- which well over 1 million eligible old people don't claim and so lose
out on around £2 billion.


--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

In message , at 12:18:20
on Mon, 10 Feb 2014, David Cantrell remarked:
And they're right. People who regularly travel before 9:30 probably are
still in work, so there would be a loss of revenue. But those who mainly
travel after 9:30 are much more likely to be retired, on discretionary
trips, so there's very little loss of revenue.
Why is this so hard for you to grasp?
Because I know employed people who delay their journey until 9:30 to get
a free ride [tm].

I know people who have three nipples. Doesn't mean that they're an in
any way significant proportion of the population. Likewise, your
anecdata isn't useful.

Mr. Recliner used the word "likely" for a reason.

I happen to disagree.
--
Roland Perry