Posted on 07/11/2010 8:53:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It's the equivalent of shutting down the best Hamptons hangouts of the rich and famous and then following them to their beachfront homes to seize the places for unpaid real estate taxes.
That's what Greece's tax agents are doing this weekend in a desperate crackdown on its most notorious tax cheats living in posh holiday enclaves dotting Greece's Mediterranean coast.
Greece earlier provoked widespread revolt and weeks of riots, fire bombings and wildcat strikes to protest belt-tightening and pay cuts of civil servants made to tame Greece's bloated budget and forestall default.
Now, authorities are going after the rich. Taxmen first padlocked 10 of the top nightclubs and entertainment centers, starting in Athens and spreading to hip city Thessaloniki, for not collecting taxes from their rich party crowds.
Agents then went knocking on the doors of 990 well-to-do individuals identified by the Ministry of Finance as tax cheats who owe more than $8.5 million in back real estate taxes on their vacation homes and seaside hideaways, on which they failed to report their values totaling $721 million, the ministry said.
"Unless they pay their debts to the Greek state by July 20, the assets will be seized," the ministry said in a statement to The Post.
In recent weeks, such storm-trooper methods have shaken out $2.33 billion from businesses that failed to report sales taxes -- double the amount collected for the entire prior year, the ministry said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Here, you can borrow this “/s”...
Yes....I think we are all new to the concept of Democracy.
Please, enlighten us and where this Democracy thing you speak of works wonders.
Please tell us why our money, some 60% maybe more, for those of us in the top 5% belongs to everyone and why is it that the lower 48% of so called flag waiving patriots are entitled to my loot?
How is that a man earning $100,000 per year as a government employee, can retire with $100,000 in retirement income every year and free medical, when that same man in the private sector, earning the same amount could never hope to retire with $100,000 in retirement income?
How is that fair? and this the Democracy you speak of?
I’m guessing that uber-rich Greeks will be buying second homes in Monaco, Switzerland and Bermuda in the near future.
How much is it worth to you to live in a stable, peaceful, clean, and prosperous nation? One that is the envy of many and leads the world in technology, medicine, and education? When was the last time you flipped your light switch and nothing happened, or turned the tap and found it dry? All of what you have is the product of generations working together to build a better world. Don’t like the way things are now? That’s why we have elections. Want to try the alternative? I’d suggest Somalia, North Korea, or Kyrgyzstan.
And by the way, you’re gonna find out one way or the other, so I might as well break it to you - life ain’t fair.
It won’t be long before government thugs are showing up at people’s doors to simply confiscate whatever they decide the people don’t “need”. The elite government class and its “connected” allies will do whatever they have to in order to get paid. I still like G. Gordon Liddy’s answer: head shots.
I am not against the concept of fair taxation, but what I see is not fair. When the government takes from those of us who produce to give to those who don’t is wrong. When the government privatizes profits and makes debt a public burden is wrong.
The problem is that in America the tax cheats are running the government.
Life may not be fair, but some of us are tired of dragging the bottom half of the country (moochers) on our backs. Yes, hubby and I make a good living (but not as much as most think.) For that privelege, I paid 6 figures in income tax alone last year (more than 25% of my gross earnings). That would have paid college tuition for one of my kids for almost the entire 4 years (and BTW, no aid or loans for me, I make too much) And those I am supporting (unwillingly) are clamoring for more!
Atlas is indeed going to shrug. When I get my kids out of college, and no longer need the income, I will sell my house, pay cash for a small place up in the mountains, and drop out of the economy. You “life isn’t fair” people can find someone else to fleece. And that is eminently fair.
Already here on many levels. Atlanta now has a 'Hit Squad' that goes around to office buildings making sure every company has a current city business license posted as required. Nothing illegal about it, but it is strictly a revenue generator.
You sir are an officous ass.
Thanks for answering the actual subject and acting like so many other confused citizens who suffer from ADHD and can’t follow a subject.
Though you probably shave that loser face of yours every day, let me remind you:
You are still a loser
Or if your a former federal judge (Alcee Hastings) or if you're a swimmer (Ted Kennedy).
Good (but sad) observation.
Now that I read your first response let me remind you of your initial feelings when you wake up every day:
Yes, you are gay and dumber than a potted plant.
Either that or you take money from the state and then come to FR to spout your retarded crap.
You can’t possibly be an original American, otherwise you wouldn’t preach about the wonders of how over taxing me is just so fabulous.
Could you at least say thank you for all the taxes I pay to keep you in your subsidized housing?
I do, after all, pay more in taxes than most people make in a year and after reading your screed feel confident I am supporting your lazy ass.
If you would get out of bed before the sun comes up, you would be worlds ahead of your other food Stamp collecting miscreants.
Wow, you are still gay.
In fact, you must live in Homoville, population you.
How could I not be swayed by such a compelling argument?
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