This is too true to be funny. The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959. 

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. 

C. A billion hours ago Adam and Eve weren't alive.

E. A billion Pounds ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes, at the rate our      government is spending it. 

Value Added Tax
Stamp Duty
Tobacco Tax
Corporate
Income Tax
Council Tax
Fishing Licence Tax
Petrol/Diesel Tax (tax on top of tax)
Inheritance Tax (tax on top of tax) 
Alcohol Tax
Marriage Licence Tax
Property Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Vehicle Licence Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Landfill Tax
Aggregate Tax
TV licence Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was one of the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt.
We had the largest middle class in the world.
Mum stayed home to raise the kids, Dad was allowed to discipline kids, a criminals life was uncomfortable.

What the hell happened?
'Political Correctness', 'Politicians' or both?'
I hope this goes around the  UK and beyond.

Sorry to sound finicky, but is a billion (a) a million million or (b) only 500 million? Income Tax was introduced during the Napoleonic Wars, and before Council Tax it was Rates. And in place of the others there was a range of duties on various products that gave smugglers a living.