Post Titled: 1. How DO they Do it? and 2. How Long Can it last?

"The French economy is the second largest in western Europe, even though the country has a high unemployment rate, one of Europe’s lowest retirement ages, and a 35-hour working week. The country is also the fourth largest exporter of goods and the third largest exporter of services in the world." (The Economist Magazine.)

REGARDING Euro-stuff, I was disturbed to learn of the GEZ tax in Germany, basically- as far as I understand- it is a tax that one must pay for the public channels such as arte and the like, as well as radio and internet??? Dude, I didn't ask for this stuff, so... hmm. A dilemma. Out television barely even works and we listen to approximately 5 minutes of radio per week... how does this tax apply to us? Apparently -according to my echter Berliner mitarbeiter- they come door to door, knocking to ask if you payed. Enter: ignorant American- "Tax? What tax?" hopefully that will work if- IF they eve come a knocking. My co-worker said the tax could be as much as €20 per month per television- uhh, can any readers fill me in on this??? Please comment, thanks!
...ugh..

5 minutes later...

Just in-case you were wondering where that money goes:
"ARTE – programming information is given in euros. Of the channel’s total budget ( 352,6 million euros),programmes receive 235,7 million. Themed programmes receive 30,8 million; cinema, 31,1; documentaries and magazine programmes 79,4; fiction 31,5; spectacles 19,3; informative programmes 16,7; other types of programmes 12,5 million of the budget. (Arte 2005.)" CREDIT:
Department of Communication,
University of Helsinki,
Mapping Media and Communication
Research: France, Germany
Communication Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Finland
Liina Puustinen