Boris Johnson's u-turn on axing western c-charge zone

inspector_monkfish

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

Car drivers are such a bunch of tiresome whiners; want to drive as fast as they like, wherever they like, park where they like, and on petrol that is free. Oh, and the speed limits and other items of the Highway Code don't apply to them personally, because they know how to handle their car at speed- it's the other drivers who are all morons.

Driving in big cities is antisocial and totally unnecessary (exceptions being for business use and genuine health reasons). I support anything that forces people off the roads and onto the public transport they seem to think they are too good for.

michaels

So speaks a man who voted for someone who wanted to twin London with the capital of the 'Peoples Republic' of Venezuela?!

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

Boris has now denied that it will stay.

It seems that 20 outraged Sloane Rangers on the Standard website are enough to force the U-turn for a policy that would be only a very mild fiscal tightening. Imagine the response when politicians start proposing proper tightening.

Or maybe Boris is lying?

At least the next few years will have plenty of dark cynical laughs for me. What a farce.

Sir_Humphrey

JayScottGreenspan wrote: »

For me the policy was a piece of class warfare. I know Ken was all for that, but I find that a distasteful starting point for any policy. I'm much more of a utilitarian, and as such I would reject Pareto inefficient policies.

A Utilitarian would favour taxing the s**t out of the rich, based on marginal utility. The rich would also agree if they were utilitarians as well due to the greater happiness principle.

Sir_Humphrey

michaels wrote: »

So speaks a man who voted for someone who wanted to twin London with the capital of the 'Peoples Republic' of Venezuela?!

Chavez is not as bad as Qadaffi (or the Saudis for that matter). Do not expect the Tories to cut links with Libya and Saudi Arabia however!

This is another example of most people having inconsistent beliefs. People want fluffy foreign policies without dealing with nasty regimes, yet they also want cheap petrol. Politicians (correctly) realise that most people really favour having cheap petrol when push comes to shove.

JayScottGreenspan

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

A Utilitarian would favour taxing the s**t out of the rich, based on marginal utility. The rich would also agree if they were utilitarians as well due to the greater happiness principle.

I do indeed favour taxing the 5**t out of the rich.

All things I would support:
* An increased tax free allowance,
* an increased top rate,
* increased rate of CGT,
* increased rate of IHT,
* abolishing non-charitable trusts as a means of circumventing IHT.

I also happen to be against the western extension of the c-charge, although I do care a great deal less about that. It's not that it's a tax on the rich that I dislike - it's that it is dressed up as something else, and as a result of all this dressing and paraphenalia it is incredibly inefficient.

inspector_monkfish

great thread this.

from West London C charge to Chavez and Libya all within 2 pages.

Good work

:money:

JayScottGreenspan

inspector_monkfish wrote: »

great thread this.

from West London C charge to Chavez and Libya all within 2 pages.

Good work

:money:

Ha ha. :rotfl:

Anyway, not sure we're all gonna end up agreeing Humpy, but always a pleasure to debate with someone who can construct a decent argument. :beer:

Generali

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

Chavez is not as bad as Qadaffi (or the Saudis for that matter). Do not expect the Tories to cut links with Libya and Saudi Arabia however!

This is another example of most people having inconsistent beliefs. People want fluffy foreign policies without dealing with nasty regimes, yet they also want cheap petrol. Politicians (correctly) realise that most people really favour having cheap petrol when push comes to shove.

My feeling FWIW is that people care about foreign policy like they care about fox hunting.

If you ask someone if they like an 'ethical' foreign policy (or being nice to foxes) they say "Yes!".

If you ask people what political issues are important to them then very few will mention foreign policy (beyond war) or fox hunting.

michaels

You rise much higher in the Civil Service if you are able to draft a good note than if you can actually deliver anything

JayScottGreenspan wrote: »

Ha ha. :rotfl:

Anyway, not sure we're all gonna end up agreeing Humpy, but always a pleasure to debate with someone who can construct a decent argument. :beer:

purch

Good work

At this rate we'll have solved the Palestinian/Israeli conflict by page 21 !!!!