Even though it is often touted as a "libertarian anthem," I take issue with that notion. This song is poking fun at the "poor little rich boy" attitude. The Kinks always struck me as artists who could complain about something while at the same time making fun of such complaint through song. If anything, it sounds like it could have been based on a news story about a rich man who got busted trying to evade taxes and the government is collecting its due while he refuses to acknowledge what's really going on.
@gregorybrian When the Kinks wrote this, the people in their income range in England were paying out 95% of the money they made in taxes. That's why So many left England and established residency elsewhere -- Sean Connery moved to Spain, John Lennon and Ringo Starr to the US... The tax law was finally re-examined and altered but the taxes are still pretty high there for those generating a lot of income.
@gregorybrian When the Kinks wrote this, the people in their income range in England were paying out 95% of the money they made in taxes. That's why So many left England and established residency elsewhere -- Sean Connery moved to Spain, John Lennon and Ringo Starr to the US... The tax law was finally re-examined and altered but the taxes are still pretty high there for those generating a lot of income.
Even though it is often touted as a "libertarian anthem," I take issue with that notion. This song is poking fun at the "poor little rich boy" attitude. The Kinks always struck me as artists who could complain about something while at the same time making fun of such complaint through song. If anything, it sounds like it could have been based on a news story about a rich man who got busted trying to evade taxes and the government is collecting its due while he refuses to acknowledge what's really going on.
@gregorybrian When the Kinks wrote this, the people in their income range in England were paying out 95% of the money they made in taxes. That's why So many left England and established residency elsewhere -- Sean Connery moved to Spain, John Lennon and Ringo Starr to the US... The tax law was finally re-examined and altered but the taxes are still pretty high there for those generating a lot of income.
@gregorybrian When the Kinks wrote this, the people in their income range in England were paying out 95% of the money they made in taxes. That's why So many left England and established residency elsewhere -- Sean Connery moved to Spain, John Lennon and Ringo Starr to the US... The tax law was finally re-examined and altered but the taxes are still pretty high there for those generating a lot of income.