Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Damn Revenuers
From that article-posting dervish, Yakima Gulag, comes this intersting bit from Reuters UK regardng the Grey Economy in the Land of the Croats. The article's author, Igor Ilic, notes that "many small private tourist businesses here operate illegally. Or, if they are formally registered, they don't declare all their guests to avoid paying taxes.""In the summer, the behaviour of some of those who offer private accommodation is really shameful. For instance, they gather at the bus station and pull tourists' sleeves to lure them to stay in their houses. Their aggressive approach sometimes causes quite unpleasant situations for guests.", he adds. In addition, analysts say the grey economy accounts for up to 15 percent of the European Union candidate country's (Croatia) total GDP, which grew by 4.3 percent in 2005 to 229 billion kuna ($40.15 billion) thanks to booming investment, tourism and exports."
Now, while all this may (or may not) be true, the crackdown, that the Croatian authorities are suggesting they may start, will eliminate one of the endearing qualities of Croatia, namely that most everyone, especially those everyones who happen to own even a miniscule quadrant of property on the Adriatic, see themselves as a minor version of Donald Trump. These folks' displeasure, no, make that hatred, for any taxing or licensing government agency would make the attitude toward the law by the corn liquor entrenprenuers of the back country stills seem like that of your typical charitable organization's. Bootleggers have nothing on these Croatian "beezness" people.
One hasn't experienced Croatia until they've been mugged by a stara baba. Saying "No!!" to a telephone solicitor is nothing compared to denying the pleadings of an older retiree "barely getting by on her $2/month pension." There's a reason these older women are still alive and it has nothing to do with the kindness of strangers. Hopefully, the Croatian Revenuers will leave these poor women alone or at least implement some "catch 'n release" program for them to follow regarding tourists.
And that 15% grey economy estimate? They have got to be pulling someone's leg. The word on the street, well, actually on the beach, last year was that it was closer to 50-60%. How else to explain all of those bakas driving Benz's and Beemers.
Comments:
<< Home Verging on Pertinence Just some more disposable thoughts clogging up the hinterlands
I may be blonder than usual this afternoon, but how does Butch Cassidy and the Hole In The Wall Gang fit into this post?
(Other than hating revenuers!)
Did you know that photo was taken in Cowtown?
Our building has a gigantic panel wall mural of this same photo on the ground floor.
(Other than hating revenuers!)
Did you know that photo was taken in Cowtown?
Our building has a gigantic panel wall mural of this same photo on the ground floor.
A blonde truism. Butch Cassidy, JFK, and Pancho Vilas are all BiG heroes in Croatia, becasue of their dis-like for ....Revenuers. JFK, you may ask? Well, as we all know, his dad was a big-time bootlegger as we well know most American fortunes are built on mis-fortunes of others.
I had no clue that posing for pix was such a bigtime deal in Cowtown. Who would've thunk it?
I had no clue that posing for pix was such a bigtime deal in Cowtown. Who would've thunk it?
It is quite true Croats hate revenuers, in fact all Balkans people hate them.
The region was taxed to death for thousands of years in every possible way.
urdchick
Klingon for 'dog poop'
Bonus Klingon word
phbywr
cold oatmeal scum
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The region was taxed to death for thousands of years in every possible way.
urdchick
Klingon for 'dog poop'
Bonus Klingon word
phbywr
cold oatmeal scum
<< Home Verging on Pertinence Just some more disposable thoughts clogging up the hinterlands
