Gatekeepers

One of the ideas the British government is considering in order to raise more revenue is that of allowing private companies to run the main roads and motorways of England. The idea is that the companies will recoup the money they spend on maintenance and new roads by levying a toll on road users each time they travel.
Revolting Peasant seems to remember something in the history books about the promotion of trade by the French Revolutionaries who abolished tolls and customs posts within French territories, the Zollverein customs union in Germany in the nineteenth century, the absence of customs posts between the states of North America.
The free movement of goods led to trade, exchange, travel, material and intellectual gifts, and a huge rise in prosperity all round.
Unfortunately, the bureaucracy likes to monitor and impede each and every economic action. It is a way of justifying its otherwise unnecessary existence.
Everywhere we see purchase taxes. In some places in Europe, cafes and restaurants must add over 20% tax to the cost of every transaction. Needless to say customers stay away and businesses fold.
By regulating and taxing all our activities, the bureaucrats put an obstacle on everything we do.
It is like riding a bike with the brake on. It’s just hard work.
In the end people give up trying and take the easiest option, inertia, the one where there are fewest gate keepers.
People become poorer and increasingly demoralised.