Subj : Re: So....... To : alt.tv.farscape From : Steve Brooks Date : Tue Sep 13 2005 21:08:21 From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape Nick wrote: > Steve Brooks wrote: >> Nick wrote: >>> Steve Brooks wrote: >>>> 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.) >>> 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. >> > > I didn't know the farmers already got a cheaper rate for fuel for > agricultural purposes. I only know about our farmers. But they get to buy low-tax deisel laced with a fetching pink dye Every now and then someone gets caught using it for non-agricultural purposes and is prosecuted. ( Being a bit of cynic I can't help suspecting most of these people are caught as a result of being informed on by their neighbours rather than as a result of any proactive police action. ) > What road pricing proposals? Basically - rather than paying a flat rate road tax each year we will be charged depending on how much we drive, when, and on which roads. Busy roads at 8.30 am will cost a lot more per mile than quiet roads at 2.00 am (these will probably be free.) In terms of social justice I see this as entirely reasonable. Unfortunately it is also hellishly complicated and difficult to implement. The government's plan is to use transponders in vehicles combined with GPS and software. I think they've got absolutely no chance of making this work. It's many times more complicated than IT tasks they've already completely screwed-up. -- SB .