上周五,意大利当地媒体报道该国议会委员会提议向猫狗等宠物征税,以帮助饱受债务危机困扰的城镇增加收入。这一消息发布后立即受到各界批评,动物权益保护组织称这一做法会让更多动物被遗弃,而不少政界人士则表示这一提议“很古怪”、“不现实”、“很白痴”,“很丢人”。一位议员甚至表示,现在就剩下老婆孩子没有征税了。因为遭遇强烈反对,这一征税提议在当天傍晚被撤回。
A proposal to levy a tax on cats and dogs that stunned Italy on Friday turned out to be all bark and no bite after a wave of popular anger saw it withdrawn on the same day it was made public.
Italy was abuzz for hours after local media reported that a parliamentary commission had proposed a tax on domestic “animals of affection” to raise revenue for debt-strapped cities and towns.
Protests were voiced by everyone from animal rights groups – who said it would prompt more people to abandon animals – to politicians who called it everything from “grotesque” to “surreal” to “idiotic” to “shameful”.
There was so much reaction – all of it incredulous – that one Italian agency ran nearly 40 news items on the proposal in less than four hours.
The proposal was withdrawn by early Friday evening however, and it seemed everyone on the commission where it was discussed was denying its paternity.
“The only thing that’s left to tax are wives and children,” said parliamentarian Domenico Scilipoti.
Italy, like many other countries across the euro zone, is struggling to revive its economy and reduce its public debt, a predicament that has prompted the country’s lawmakers to try to dream up new revenue-raising measures.
上一篇: 清华大学造就最多亿万富豪
下一篇: 辞职时千万不能做这8件事
Top 5 Songs for Week Ending April 2
Obama to speak about his faith at prayer breakfast
Words and their Stories: The Grapevine
Working-Class Anger Fuels Trump’s Popularity in Wisconsin
Sub-Saharan Africa's Dependence on Child Labor Affects Development
President Obama sets his goals for 2013
Anti-Establishment Candidates Popular
New treatments emerging for Parkinson's disease
When collecting things becomes a problem
Words and idioms: put one's best foot forward
New York City restaurant culture
Famous New York train station turns 100
Everything Old is New Again at Met Breuer Museum
Washington week: Focus turns to US-Pacific ties
Smart Cars for the Smartphone Generation
Words and their stories: A chip on your shoulder
This Internal Combustion Engine is 50% More Efficient
Thousands march on White House to protest climate change
HIV cure raises hope
Drone Technology Opens Up New Options for Photographers
Small Business in the United States are struggling to survive
Company Develops Drone to Help Reduce Greenhouse Emissions
The life and resignation of Pope Benedict the 16th
US troop reduction to test Afghans
Leaked White House proposal complicates immigration reform effort
Battle for US immigration reform gathers steam
Doctors say most heart disease is preventable
What is the relationship between age and happiness?
Top 5 Songs for Week Ending April 9
Horse meat scandal spreads across Europe