The political process hasn't changed very much in three hundred years

[marnanel]

In 1733 a bill went through the Commons to reduce land tax by 75% and replace it with duties on tobacco and wine-- shifting the burden from the gentry onto traders, shopkeepers, and ordinary people. There was a backbench revolt; horror stories appeared in the press; the PM was burnt in effigy in London; the government almost lost the next election. The political process hasn't changed very much in three hundred years.



More: http://mason.gmu.edu/~ayadav/historical%20outline/excise%20crisis.htm