"Tax cyclists"? Joke I think.

[661-Pete]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... nd-joggers
...although some of the commenters seem to be under the impression that he's serious. Do you think the article is a joke?

[Mark1978]

I don't think it's a joke at all

First up for having over a barrel would be cyclists, of course. The numbers of people participating in this shallow pursuit is actually increasing. They clog the main arteries into town for those of us who work for a living and make us late for meetings. This collectively damages the economy and causes stress. Imposing a stiff road tax on all cyclists would raise a tidy sum.

It's an 'odious middle class activity' apparently. Assuming that those cycling aren't actually working for a living or going somewhere, and of course ignores the fact that 99.9% of congestion is caused by cars.

[Psamathe]

Probably serious. The author also is involved with the Scottish Daily Mail.

It is probably serious. UKIP hold a not dissimilar attitude towards cyclists and have made similar suggestions in the past. Fortunately, it won't happen and people like this guy (and those in UKIP proposing similar) just mark themselves out as part of the "extreme nutter" group.

I suspect the worse aspect to such articles is that the reenforce those bad drivers who quickly get impatient and angry when delayed briefly by a cyclist (and ignore being delayed for ages by too many other cars). But I suspect there are too many long words in the article for it to be read or understood by such drivers.

Ian

[kwackers]

Of course it's a joke.

I’d also be looking at the annual police bill and seek ways to reduce it. I would impose financial penalties on the plods each time their horses fouled the streets thus causing nearby children to contract Lyme disease and crippling allergies. We could also make a lot of money taxing the cops each time they made a wrongful arrest or beat up the wrong guy.

A prohibitive regime of spot fines could also be levied on many other middle-class activities that lead to angst and cause distress to the rest of us. People who use extendable leads to walk their dogs; members of real ale societies and people who choose to name their children after natural events such as Star and Sky. People who allow their houses to be photographed for property supplements should also be made to feel the full force of the state’s disapprobation with a reasonable levy. Joggers who insist on running in sweat-lashed and intimidating parties of 10 or more should also be made to hand over a supplement. We’d need to look at targeting the boxed sets brigade, too, and men over the age of 30 who insist on wearing baseball caps.

I'd tax anyone suffering from 'sense of humour failure'.

[townbikemark]

Has to be a joke - look at all the other things he's having a go at eg men over 30 wearing baseball caps...

[RogerThat]

Of course it's a joke.

I’d also be looking at the annual police bill and seek ways to reduce it. I would impose financial penalties on the plods each time their horses fouled the streets thus causing nearby children to contract Lyme disease and crippling allergies. We could also make a lot of money taxing the cops each time they made a wrongful arrest or beat up the wrong guy.

A prohibitive regime of spot fines could also be levied on many other middle-class activities that lead to angst and cause distress to the rest of us. People who use extendable leads to walk their dogs; members of real ale societies and people who choose to name their children after natural events such as Star and Sky. People who allow their houses to be photographed for property supplements should also be made to feel the full force of the state’s disapprobation with a reasonable levy. Joggers who insist on running in sweat-lashed and intimidating parties of 10 or more should also be made to hand over a supplement. We’d need to look at targeting the boxed sets brigade, too, and men over the age of 30 who insist on wearing baseball caps.

I'd tax anyone suffering from 'sense of humour failure'.

You'd have to tax half the forum

[Psamathe]

Has to be a joke - look at all the other things he's having a go at eg men over 30 wearing baseball caps...

But is it the article that is a joke or the author that is a joke ?

To me it's too long (you have to plough a long way through, including discussions of budgetary shortfalls, etc. before you even get to the bit where the headline starts to be discussed. And that would suggest he is truing to make a reasoned argument than give people a laugh. And it is something other politicians have come-up with before.

Ian

[townbikemark]

Has to be a joke - look at all the other things he's having a go at eg men over 30 wearing baseball caps...

But is it the article that is a joke or the author that is a joke ?

Could say both - some of the other stuff I've seen Guardian columnists come up with.

[RogerThat]

I think "tongue in cheek' is the modus operandi in this article. I'd tax children. Why should they get away with their carefree, shiftless existence. My own son is at least 20k up in tax free earnings since I started subsidising his daily bread about 18 years ago.

It'll end in tears, my wife says. And she's never wrong.

[townbikemark]

I think "tongue in cheek' is the modus operandi in this article.

That's about the size of it

[Bicycler]

Yep obviously a rubbish attempt at satire. But then again I apparently miss obvious humour viewtopic.php?f=7&t=95520&hilit=give+up#p883516

[661-Pete]

I would tax people who post comments on the Grauniad.
Oooohhh-errrrr!!

[kwackers]

Yep obviously a rubbish attempt at satire. But then again I apparently miss obvious humour viewtopic.php?f=7&t=95520&hilit=give+up#p883516

That's OK. I've looked at that again and still don't 'get' it.

[Paulatic]

The author probably hit on at least one "pet hate" mentioned in the article?
For me it was retractable long leashes for dogs. Grrrrrrrr [emoji6]

[661-Pete]

Probably serious. The author also is involved with the Scottish Daily Mail.

It is probably serious. UKIP hold a not dissimilar attitude towards cyclists and have made similar suggestions in the past. Fortunately, it won't happen and people like this guy (and those in UKIP proposing similar) just mark themselves out as part of the "extreme nutter" group.

I didn't know of the DM connection. That figures. But this is not a DM-style article. Nor does it bear the handwriting of the kippers. The Graun sometimes plumbs the depths, but I'd never have thought, that low!