Subj : Re: So.......
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Steve Brooks
Date : Tue Sep 13 2005 19:58:51

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

Nick wrote:
> Steve Brooks wrote:
>
>> John I wrote:
>>> Steve Brooks wrote:
>>>> Kath wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> ......who filled up with petrol [sorry, gas] against government
>>>>> advice?
>>>>
>>>> Not me. I've still got more than half a tank.  Should last 2-3
>>>> weeks easy.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Are you all having a gas shortage too?
>>
>> Now there's a question.
>>
>> A few years ago - when fuel tax was still rising every year
>> supposedly to cut usage - a group of truckers, farmers and other
>> petroleum-hungry malcontents organised a protest against the price of
>> fuel.  Amongst other things they blockaded refineries and fuel
>> storage depots. Many tanker drivers refused to cross their picket
>> lines and there was a real shortage of fuel nationwide. They got
>> significant public support, the government caved in and the tax was
>> frozen (or possibly even reduced slightly, I don't remember.)
>>
>> Now a similar group are planning a new protest. However, they know
>> they don't have the same level of public support since everyone knows
>> the recent rises have other causes. They are planning a different
>> kind of protest and there are unlikely to be real shortages.[1]
>> Unfortunately a whole bunch of over-excitable people have read about
>> this and are remembering what happened last time. They are panic
>> buying. This may well cause localised shortages by itself. It's a bit
>> of a nuisance but no more. I can say that smuggly because I could
>> walk to work.
>>
>> [1] This doesn't mean they won't get what they want. The CBI
>> (Confederation of British Industry ), while carefully avoiding
>> supporting the protesters, does support a cut in fuel duty. They
>> carry a lot of weight.
>
> I don't know if I would label truckers and farmers as
> "petroleum-hungry malcontents".  Somebody has to do it.

Sorry - the word 'other' should have been edited from the final version of 
my last post. The truckers have a point. Their point is that their 
competitors on the mainland can buy far cheaper fuel which makes them 
dangerous competitors. In the end truckers (and transport companies) don't 
give a damn about the price of fuel as long as they can pass that cost on to 
their customers without pricing themselves out of the market.

The farmers IMO have less right on their side. They already get to buy cheap 
diesel for agricultural purposes.  It is true that all rural people have to 
cover more ground to fulfil the necessities of modern life.  But they are 
generally using lightly used roads and IMO they should win back on the 
swings by being charged less for the use of the roads rather than getting 
cheap fuel [1]. If certain farmers are really feeling the rising cost of 
fuel they could trade down from their top-of-the-range Mercedes to a nice 
Mazda (or similar.)

As for the 'petroleum hungry malcontents' - I'm sure you have a few of them 
too.

[1]  Which is why I support our government's road pricing proposals in 
principle even though I think their proposed technological solution is away 
with the fairies.

-- 

SB

.