Should Witches Pay Taxes?

Here we are almost at the close of another tax quarter. If you are in business for yourself, or pay an accountant to keep your millions out of harm's way, you still march to the rythmn of the taxman.

New Jersey is not alone in struggling to make taxes cover expenses. Governor Christie could use some new ideas for economic stimulus. The following is something out of the ordinary.

The economically challenged country of Romania recently considered taxing witches and soothsayers.

According to an article in the UK Telegraph, Romanian Senators Alin Popoviciu and Christi Duqulescu of the ruling Democratic Liberal Party recently proposed a levy those who charge for occult services.

Of course the witches protested.


The Senate proposal would require them to keep receipts and track their revenues. As if that was not bad enough, the new law would also make witches and fortune tellers subject to fines if their predictions proved false.

Talk about "quality control". This item alone could provide a lot of work for international law litigators. False predictions...might be under the category of laws of commerce?

The Romanian Senate eventually voted the bill down. It is widely assumed that there was fear that the witches would retaliate with a curse.

Romanian Gypsy soothsayers roam throughout Europe. They are colorful and traditional nomads, many still traveling by horse drawn vans. There is a whole breed of horse now known as Gypsy Vanners, gorgeous black and white spotted beasts with flowing hair at their fetlocks. With their caravans and campfires, the Gypsies draw attention in every town they visit. They do odd jobs or tell fortunes, but tales of chicanery and theft follow in their trail.

Recently France stepped up its efforts to expatriate itinerant Gypsies back to Romania. This has been met with protests on both sides but the French Government does not seem to be as intimidated by the threat of the "evil eye" as Romanian Senators.

This is an interesting slant on the news this close to Hallow'een. I will keep you up to date on developments.

Have a nice day.