More tax on my car

mpython

Glad you found my post amusing. I also enjoyed the Oscar Wilde wag who sent me this link. http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/global-warming-mug/index.html

I'm not sure though you picked up on the content of the Inconvenient Truth website. Quote (my emphasis)

The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.

Just because Al Gore fronts the movie doesn't make the science behind it wrong or weak.
http://www.ipcc.ch/,
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/,http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/ghcc_cvcc.html,
http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/ghcc_cvcc.html

This doesn't mean there are not alterative views or conclusions, there's lots of people who completely disagree with much of mainstream science - 2 examples below.

http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm,
http://www.creationism.org/

As these websites show, no matter what the science shows, some people will only listen to evidence that supports their view.

I've yet to hear alternative solutions or what to do about 3k+ deaths each year, speeding motorists & uninsured drivers.

dazco

"I've yet to hear alternative solutions or what to do about 3k+ deaths each year, speeding motorists & uninsured drivers."

True, but yet again paying the Government will not help.

Matt_Nixon

I've signed the petition, but something does need to be done or the whole country will grind to a halt. Small tax increases like the recent Passenger Tax are just revenue raising noones not going on a Holiday because of a £5 Tax!

Maybe the answer is better affordable public transport, longer trains, better and more frequent buses/trams.

I think we need a carrot and stick, not just being beaten with Gordons Huge Tax stick!

mpython

Thanks Dazco, I do think that part of the motivation of Government behind this scheme is increasing tax revenue. I doubt if they will set it so high that people are 'priced' off the road (coz then they'd get voted out - look how scared they were when there was the fuel lorry drivers strike - something they've quietly outlawed now).

I also suspect that there's an army of consultants telling the government how easy the technology will be to develop & deploy and a general amensia will take over the buying departments conveniently ignoring all the mega billion pound overspends on Government IT projects. If it does prove expesive to set up & run, then they may not get that much net revenue (I think this has been the experience in London - but don't quote me on that)

I just think there's too many vehicles on the road with quite a few irresponsible drivers in them.

mrbadexample

MarkyMarkD wrote:

The price isn't going to be over £1 a mile on motorways. That sort of figure is simply b*****ks and scaremongering. Motorway rates will be some of the cheapest and the highest rates will be in inner city congested areas.

And why is it a good idea to drive 400+ miles to deliver some flowers when a local florist can deliver them from 5 miles away?

If congestion charging gets people to cut out ridiculous journeys, then it's no harm IMHO.

The motorways I use are about the busiest in the country, so the prices would be higher. I'm only going on the prices that were bandied about when the scheme was first announced. I work in central Birmingham, and I have to use my car to get from appointment to appointment with a bootful of kit. Public transport is absolutely not an option. It would increase my costs enormously. I could always pack up work, I suppose. :rolleyes:

It's a good idea to drive 400+ miles, because then I actually get to see my mum, which I don't very often.

mrbadexample

mpython wrote:

cars without insurance because police don't know who has/hasn't until they're stopped, etc, etc.

Not familiar with ANPR then?

lemontart

maybe if they actually spent the extra money now being collected from air travel taxes on public transport as they claim it is for dispite all uk public transport now being privately owned people would use their cars less rather than pay the now min fair of £4 on london underground, £12 on short taxi journey after midnight from local hospital in my town and ensured buses ran to where people work and at appropiate times etc etc.

I live in east mids, buses stop at 8pm so it is either private car or taxi to go outside of town or from one side of town to other they start at about 6.30am so nite workers have little or no option, The buses leave the various industrial estates at times incompatable with many working hours of the people there and do not run in middle the day to the those areas, many villages have limited bus services etc...............so basically if you live outside of London or other metroplitan areas where the transport is far more frequent you are basically stuck.

Liz
xx

mpython

mrbadexample wrote:

Not familiar with ANPR then?

No, sorry. I'd be pleased to learn.

lidlest

dazco wrote:

http://www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse/

Can I keep my car now?

Rubbish site that misleads by it's use of terminology. Ok so it doesn't TRAP heat, but it does delay it's release into space, it does cause surface and air temperatures to rise. It says that on the site you posted.

There is NO argument in the scientific community that global warming is occuring... it is.

mrbadexample

mpython wrote:

No, sorry. I'd be pleased to learn.

It's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (I think!). You go past a camera, it checks your registration and "pings" if you have no tax, insurance, MOT etc.

Then they pull you over.